Microfilm and microfiche used to be some of the best ways to store vast amounts of information. They were used extensively in libraries, businesses, and other organizations that needed a way to store information that’s organized, relatively compact, and easy to access.
But with the advances in technology, both of these formats have become unnecessary. Today, it’s much more convenient to access data through a computer, which is why most people have not even used microfilm or microfiche in their lives.
And that’s why microfiche scanning services are on the rise, with more people looking to convert microfiche and microfilm to digital and preserve the information and memories they contain.
But what are some of the main benefits of microfilm scanning services? And is it the right choice in your situation?
Let’s look at some of the key benefits that digitization can offer below.
Preserve the Information
Microfiche and microfilm are both great formats for storing data. But just like any pre-digital format, they are still susceptible to deterioration and accidents, which means that the microfilm contents are never truly secure.
What’s more, if you want to prolong the life of your microfiche and microfilm collection, you need to store it in specific conditions and protect it from heat, moisture, and temperature fluctuations. Since that isn’t easy to accomplish consistently throughout the years, it’s only natural that opting for microfiche scanning services is the more logical choice.
That way, you can forgo having to store the collection and try to preserve it, and enjoy it in a digital format that will remain as reliable in 100 years as it is today. You won’t have to worry about some of the microfilm or microfiche getting damaged or losing its quality and will be able to duplicate and store it in multiple locations easily.
Ability to Search
Even though microfilm and microfiche have been the go-to method for storing vast amounts of information, finding what you were looking for was still a hassle. You’d need to have a proven filing system, and even then, you’d need to go looking for the specific piece of information that you needed.
Meanwhile, once you convert microfilm to digital, you can make the entire collection searchable, allowing you to access and extract any bit of information in mere seconds. If you work with a reputable digitization agency, they can set you up with a way to sort and manage the entire collection, saving you vast amounts of time and ensuring that you always find what you’re looking for.
Ease of Access
Information is only as useful as it is accessible. And with microfilm and microfiche, you need to have the equipment, not to mention being in the place where they are stored, to use the information they contain.
But in today’s fast-paced world, you may need to have access to the information immediately, no matter where you might be. And that’s why having a digital version of the data can be so invaluable.
When you use microfilm scanning services, your data can be uploaded to the cloud, accessed from any device you might be using. You can even gain access with your phone, quickly checking what you need on the go, even if you’re on the other side of the world.
Efficiency
If your organization still uses microfilm or microfiche for sourcing information, your employees likely end up wasting a lot of time trying to find what they’re looking for. Sure, these systems were once cutting-edge and the best that libraries and businesses could hope for. But today, the rise of digital technology has made using microfilm or microfiche one of the more considerable bottlenecks for efficiency your organization could have.
You want your employees to spend time on productive activities, and searching through records is not one of them. Once you digitize, you can have all of the information from microfilm and microfiche in a convenient digital system, where it will be easy to sort, search through, and share between colleagues.
Free Up Space and Save Money
Finally, when considering whether using microfilm and microfiche is still worth it, you need to look at how much space and money it costs you each month. Storing information in microfiche can take up a lot of storage space, especially since you also need a filing system and a way to retrieve and access the information.
Meanwhile, if you digitize the collection, you can store an entire library’s worth of information on a single device, dramatically reducing the space you need and the money it costs to maintain the storage facilities.
So, while digitizing microfilm and microfiche does require an initial investment, you will reap the benefits not just in the form of convenience and efficiency but in actual savings as well.