DM Jan-Feb 2021

Dm
COMMENT
Editor:
Dave Tyler
david.tyler@btc.co.uk
Sub Editor:
Mark Lyward
mark.lyward@btc.co.uk
Our first issue of a new year often
Publishing Director:
John Jageurs
includes a roundtable type feature in
john.jageurs@btc.co.uk
Sales Manager:
which we get to ask a selection of
Abby Penn
industry experts for their predictions for the
abby.penn@btc.co.uk
Lead Designer
year ahead. This time round we almost
Ian Collis
thought 'What's the point of asking when we
ian.collis@btc.co.uk
Circulation/Subscriptions:
know that everyone's responses will be shaped
Christina Willis
by the ongoing pandemic?' But ask we did,
christina.willis@btc.co.uk
Managing Director:
and I'm glad we persisted: you'll see
John Jageurs
throughout the feature (starting on page 6) that while yes, the virus
john.jageurs@btc.co.uk
and its impact does loom large over much of the conversation, it is
Published by: Barrow &
in fact a largely positive piece, with various contributors agreeing
Thompkins Connexion Ltd
35 Station Square,
that the technologies we focus on in DM are likely to have a good
Petts Wood
influence on how businesses manage the ongoing difficult
Kent BR5 1LZ
Tel: 01689 616000
circumstances.
Fax: 01689 826622
Elsewhere in this issue you'll notice there is a recurring theme across
Subscriptions:
several of the editorial pieces, whether bylined opinions or case
UK: £35/year, £60/two years,
£80/three years
studies: everyone seems to be talking about digital mailrooms! The
Europe: £48/year, £85 two
unprecedented rise in people working from home has thrown a
years, £127 three years.
ROW:£62/year, £115/two
spanner in the works of organisations that were used to moving large
years, £168/three years
volumes of physical correspondence around an office network - a
Published 6 times a year.
Single copies can be bought
digital approach is an obvious solution.
for £8.50 (includes postage &
As Storetec's Amy Wright says "Employers are still facing the
packaging). No part of this
magazine may be reproduced
difficulty of sending staff to the office to collect office post and the
without prior consent, in writing,
from the publisher.
odd bits of paperwork to assist with day-to-day queries. Whilst this
©Copyright 2021 Barrow &
may seem like a 5-minute task, the time taken to travel to the office
Thompkins
in addition to the hours spent self-sorting and scanning the post,
Connexion Ltd
makes this a very inefficient way of working. For departments with
Articles published reflect the
post arriving frequently such as Accounts who process sensitive and
opinions of the authors and are
not necessarily those of the
confidential paperwork, weekly or even daily trips may be required.
publisher or his employees. While
every reasonable effort is made
Furthermore, employers are risking the health of individual employees
to ensure that the contents of
by asking them to visit the office amid the height of the pandemic."
articles, editorial and advertising
are accurate no responsibility can
We also feature a case study from EDM Group that was a close
be accepted by the publisher for
errors, misrepresentations or any
runner-up in the DM Awards at the end of last year, involving a 'rapid
resulting effects
installation' digital mailroom set up for Direct Line Group, which has
helped the insurer to continue operations throughout the crisis.
Direct Line Group's Andy Payne explains: "When the Covid-19
pandemic emerged, we urgently implemented a home working
strategy to adhere to government guidelines and to ensure the safety
of our people. With thousands of mail items being received into our
offices across the country it was imperative we found a way to make
physical mail available to staff at home to keep the business moving."
EDM was able to get the emergency digital mailroom up and running
within a week.
It is innovative approaches like this that will help all of us to get
through the current situation.
Dave Tyler
Editor
david.tyler@btc.co.uk
www.document-manager.com
January/February 2021
@DMMagAndAwards
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