Schools at the K-12 level serve as development platforms for the next generation of people. While the chief factors in that developmental work are the dissemination of information, discussion of ideas, instruction on skills, and teacher-student interaction, so much happens behind the scenes to create and maintain the platform where this can happen—namely, activities that happen in the Main Office or Business Office. This is where student records are kept, HR activity happens, and interaction occurs between the school and the outside world, including parents, the community, vendors, and state officials—the business of running a school. And just like any other business, the Main Office has business processes. 

Now, we here at Imaging Office Systems are quite aware of what we are and what we are not. And one thing we’re not is an expert in e-learning platforms and all the various software ecosystems that comprise that world. However, for all the supporting business activities happening in the main office? You know...those business processes that may have been caught in a technology time-warp (trust me, you’re not alone) and now require more time than they should to handle? We are experts at helping schools leverage technology to streamline those business processes. 

Here’s a look at a few projects we’ve worked on that have helped streamline the work of school office workers. 

Many company leaders will put a lot of pressure on their people to change rapidly when economic, market, or industry conditions shift on a dime. Unfortunately, these types of reactive management moves often result in solutions and decisions that don’t adequately consider the implications for the company as a whole, over the long-term. 

Right now, we’ve been seeing this situation play out with organizations’ responses to Covid-19 and their sudden prioritization of work-from-anywhere modalities and digital transformations. 

In some highly siloed companies, we’ve seen this rush actually exacerbate siloed separations—which represent the opposite of flexibility and collaboration. Silos mean people approach work challenges from vastly different perspectives. Absent a galvanizing force to bring everyone onto the same page, moving a siloed company to a work-from-anywhere, decentralized work posture can thicken those silo walls and create new ones where none previously existed. We’ve seen it happen... 

That’s why it’s important to work with a partner that deeply understands the relationship between business goals, business processes, and business technology—yes, someone like us. However, in lieu of us not sitting across a table from you right now to discuss your digital transformation and work-from-anywhere needs and wants, here are a few tips to help set the stage for these changes. 

We do things differently in Columbia City, Indiana.  

You might say we’re the anti-Silicon Valley...the rebel rouser nipping at the heels of “big tech” and “big data” with the courage of Daniel and driven by our people’s Midwestern values and work ethic, which push us to do things the right way—hopefully the first time! Yes, even we may make a mistake, but doing it the right way involves doing our best to control quality from the outset and to make it right when something goes wrong. Because that’s what makes for great customer service. It’s that simple. 

Len Nowostawski put this customer-first philosophy into action, working on the front lines for Imaging Office Systems as a service manager for the last 46 years! He’s been a valued member of our team in every respect...and part of the brain trust that has made it possible for Imaging Office Systems to evolve our toolbelt in lock step with—and in many cases ahead of—advances in information management technology during that time. 

Len Nowostawski's retirement Celebration Facebook Photo Album

To say, we’ll miss Len is putting it too mildly. Thank you, Len, for everything you’ve done...not the least of which has been handling over 450,000 service calls over the last 46 years...it’s true! I looked it up! 

Among other things, 2020 will be remembered as the year digital transformation became essential to business continuity in a world where working-from-anywhere-except-the-office became the new normal. Now, digital transformation means different things to different people—but one ingredient that any digital transformation worth its gigabytes includes is some type of cloud computing implementation.

The cloud is the like the gasoline of digital transformation—it’s what everything runs on. And that “everything” is becoming inclusive of an ever-increasing list of business processes and information management systems that are revolutionizing how companies operate by introducing a variety of benefits to the organization.  

These benefits are the whole point of digital transformation. It’s not just changing how you do things for the sake of change. It’s the pursuit of competitive advantage, pure and simple. And competitive advantage comes in a wide variety of flavors... 

There’s a lot to be said about the idea of not caring what other people think of you—that can be a liberating stance to take in one’s life. However, if those people are your customers, you probably should care! After all, they are relying on you to make good on what you promise. The success of their business may depend on it. They deserve your best effort.  

And delivering our best effort is what we’ve done with the people quoted here in this week’s blog. Each one got what they needed. Not because they asked for it by name—most wouldn’t have even known what to ask for—but because we listened first. A big part of our job has always been figuring out what our customers need through a comprehensive discovery process. We look at what you’re trying to accomplish with your current information management practices and business processes...and then use technology to re-engineer those practices and processes to make them work better for you. 

Every customer and project presents their own unique set of challenges and obstacles, but since Imaging Office Systems has been doing this for nearly 50 years...we know how to push through to the ultimate goal. The process may not always be predictable—success often means pivoting and reacting to the realities on the ground—but you can count on us to deliver the end result you were hoping for every time...as these folks can attest!