Microfilm has long been used to store historical documents because the material is designed to be durable and retain image quality over periods as long as 500 years. But many organizations are now considering scanning their microfiche documents and storing the data in the cloud…and that’s what we’re discussing in this post.
Why Organizations Are Now Leaving Microfiche Behind
While microfiche has been effective at preserving data, cloud storage is superior for a variety of reasons.
We use the latest technology to convert microfiche and microfilm to a digital format that can be stored in the cloud. Digital ReeL is one of our favorite tools because of its affordability, conversion accuracy
, full-text searching capabilities, and adjustable grayscale image enhancement feature.
Here are a few reasons why you should really consider joining the growing crowd of businesses that are finding that now really is the time to leave microforms behind:
Microfiche Is Hard to Store
While microfiche is highly durable and can last for a long time, it is vulnerable to temperature and humidity changes. Few companies have the necessary level of environmental controls within their storage areas to fully prevent data degradation.
Image Quality Issues Can Arise
Because microfilm can be delicate and sub-par practices were often used to transfer images from the original film, image quality is often a problem. For example, many images were filmed on white backgrounds, which makes them more difficult to read over time.
Microfilm Has a Long Retrieval Time
The time it takes to retrieve information from microfiche/fiche can make the film challenging to work with for team members. Document retrieval requires you to be in close physical proximity to the material. Using the document is also difficult, as you may be required to review 50 or more pages to find a keyword or key passage within the material.
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Digital Scanning Ensures Microforms-Based Data Survives Into the Future
Microfiche or film, was once renowned for its storage quality and durability, but cloud-based digital storage is now the best practice for everyone from medical manufacturers to credit unions. Here are a few advantages of scanning your microfiche content into a digital state:
Digital Data Is Easily Retrievable
As we mentioned, one of the key challenges in working with microfiche is the time it takes to retrieve data from within the film. It’s part of the reason why so many organizations need digital scanning services. Unlike microfiche, digital data kept on a cloud server can be queried and found in seconds through keyword and keyphrase searches.
Cloud-Based Digital Data Storage Is Extremely Affordable
Digital data storage is now more affordable than ever. Rather than having to dedicate an area of your organization’s building as a controlled environment for microfiche storage, you can now store your data securely in a remote cloud server center, where you and other approved users can access it instantly through the internet.
Digital Conversion Costs Are Quickly Recovered
While it costs money to convert your microfiche data to digital content, you can quickly recover this investment by reducing data retrieval times and improving productivity throughout the organization.
Little Training Required for Digital Record Retrieval
When working with microfiche, you might have to train team members on how to work with the film and find the information they require. Here’s where digital storage systems have another clear advantage. You don’t have to train your team to work with the storage system. The system will work similar to all other online data repositories, so most teams can begin using their digital storage system immediately.