Businesses today are facing a variety of challenges when it comes to managing and safeguarding their information. These issues stem from the pressing need to keep up with domestic and global business practices, new technologies, and increasing legal and regulatory requirements. Every decision about corporate strategy and practice is linked with a records and information management decision. Unfortunately, an uninformed decision without outside guidance on information may have long-lasting consequences. That is why enlisting professional consulting services from an outside records and information management (RIM) partner has become so critical to business effectiveness and success.

If you think that the size of organization would be the deciding factor to seek outside help for records and information management issues, think again. Accountability, continuity and consistency in business practices, information security, legal compliance, rising cost of technology for managing content and its storage are all pressing concerns that can make or break a business regardless of industry or size of operations. The good news is that the increasing complexity of the issues has brought records and information management professionals to the forefront of the race against growing threats to organizations’ information integrity and protection. If your organizational structure and economics do not have room for a permanent records management team, your business should take advantage of outside experts in the field. Information management consulting services may be one of the best long-term investments you will ever make.

RIM consultants have a lot to offer:

• Combined knowledge and expertise in various disciplines such as business administration, law, risk management, information technology, and RIM methodology and practices
• Combined knowledge and expertise from different industries from working with a variety of domestic and international clients
• A database of lessons learned
• An objective outsider’s insight, independent of existing politics
• A bird’s-eye view of your organization’s information assets
• Alignment of RIM objectives with your corporate information governance goals
• Focus on the appropriateness and cost-effectiveness of the proposed solutions
• Streamlined approach to RIM policies and procedures
• RIM education for your senior management and stakeholders, and better management of their expectations
• Value-add deliverables in less time with less money because RIM consultants use a team of experts

Although some records management issues have changed or become more complex over time, the need to design and implement effective RIM programs has remained constant. So, if your organization cannot afford to stumble in the dark maze of paper and electronic records, ask for professional consulting services. Seasoned RIM professionals can help you build a valuable framework for all your information governance decisions. They can take you from a needs assessment to the design, implementation, and maintenance of a legal and cost-effective records and information management program. Ultimately, they can become a trusted partner in your quest for continuous business improvement and sustainable competitive advantage.

For more info on RIM consulting services, see a) Eight Tips for Working with a Consultant (Julie Gable, July/August 2007 edition of The Information Management Journal) and b)  Faster and Better – Why Outsource and When? (Tina Baker, 2009)