If you’ve ever spent too long looking for a file, you’re not alone. In many workplaces, finding the right document can take longer than it should. Over time, these small delays add up.
A McKinsey report* found that employees spend nearly 20% of their time searching for information. That’s one full working day each week. For businesses, this means less time focused on valuable tasks and more time lost in admin. This isn’t just inconvenient, it’s costly.
*https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/technology-media-and-telecommunications/our-insights/the-social-economy
Why It Happens
Most delays happen because documents are stored in multiple places, poorly organised, or still on paper. Paper files may be mislabelled, misplaced or simply buried under more paperwork. Even digital files can be hard to find if there’s no consistent naming or storage system.
What This Costs Your Business
Time spent searching for documents is time not spent working. The knock-on effect can include:
- Missed deadlines
- Frustrated staff
- Poor customer service
- Duplicated work
- Increased operational costs
If your team loses just 15 minutes a day per person on document searches, that’s over 65 hours a year. Multiply that by the number of employees, and the cost quickly becomes clear.
The Solution: Digital Document Management
The good news is that there’s a simple fix. Scanning your paper documents and storing them in a secure digital system reduces search time drastically. At Ardington Archives, we offer document scanning solutions UK businesses can rely on. With digital access, your files are always where you need them, instantly searchable and securely stored.
How Digital Access Improves Productivity
A proper digital storage system gives you:
- Faster search times: Search by keyword, date or document type in seconds.
- Remote access: Work from anywhere, no need to visit the office to retrieve files.
- Security and compliance: Control access, track changes and ensure documents meet legal and GDPR standards.
- More space: Free up physical office space by removing bulky filing cabinets.
In short, productive document storage means smoother operations, happier teams and better results.
How Ardington Archives Can Help
We support UK businesses with:
- Bulk document scanning
- Secure cloud-based access
- Off-site physical storage
- Scan-on-demand retrieval
- Confidential shredding
Whether you’re starting small or ready to go fully digital, we tailor our services to your needs. Our goal is to save your team time, improve efficiency and give you peace of mind.
