13/04/2010

New Guide Details Requirements for Long-Term Archiving in Europe
Everything Legal

Germering, April 13, 2010 – A recently published reference guide informs readers about the legal aspects of document management in several important European countries. Ideal for internationally operating companies, the guide provides an overview of critical legal guidelines in a compact, multi-language format. DocuWare Co-President Jürgen Biffar helped initiate the publication.

What kinds of retention schedules are necessary in France? Are companies in the UK obliged to archive their e-mail? What kinds of sanctions are applied in Spain if business documents are not stored according to regulation? These questions and more are answered in the new reference guide entitled “Legal Requirements for Document Management in Europe“.

In a clean, well-organized format, the legal aspects pertaining to electronic, long-term archiving of documents are spelled out for the following countries: Germany, France, UK, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Spain. The legal guidelines are explained in an easily comprehensive manner and printed in both a language spoken in the country as well as in English in a separate column. This way readers from all seven countries, as well as companies who have European subsidiaries, can get a quick overview of the different European laws and make sure they are operating in a legally sound way in these countries. The guide is directed at both system providers as well as users.

The guide was created through the “Taxes and Law“, Competency Center of the VOI – (Association of Organization and Information Systems also know as Voice of Information) under the direction of certified accountant Stefan Groß (of the firm Peters, Schönberger & Partner) along with Juergen Biffar, Co-President of DocuWare AG. The publication is free and available at www.docuware.com and may also be ordered in paper-format for a nominal fee of 15€ from VOI.

DocuWare - The Company
Founded in 1988, DocuWare has over 7500 installations and over one hundred thousand satisfied users daily in over 70 countries. This Integrated Document Management Systems (IDMS) producer offers solutions that target small to mid-sized companies, government agencies and departments in large organizations. Over 400 Authorized DocuWare Partners make up a worldwide independent reseller network, employing over 1000 DocuWare experts who bring DocuWare close to its customers.

DocuWare AG is based in Germering near Munich, Germany. The company’s US subsidiary, DocuWare Corporation, is located in Newburgh, New York and is responsible for all activities in North, Central and South America. DocuWare Ltd., its subsidiary in Weybridge, Surrey, handles all activities for Great Britain and Ireland. DocuWare S.L. located in Barcelona is responsible for the market in Spain and DocuWare SARL is located in Paris and attends to France and francophone Africa.

DocuWare - Software for Integrated Document Management
DocuWare is an integrated document management solution that can automate business processes by managing any type of document, regardless of format or source, in a central document pool – for example paper records, letters, faxes, drawings, PC and other electronic files including e-mail. DocuWare supports all forms of electronic signatures. Integrated records management ensures that all access is secure, controlled, and logged. Using the Internet, the central document pool is available around the clock to any authorized user, no matter where they are located in the world.

A wide range of customizable DocuWare add-on modules equip DocuWare for, among other things, automatic indexing, COLD applications and enhanced workflow features. Other software applications are easily integrated with a set of standard tools. Numerous interfaces exist for ERP systems (including a certified SAP interface) and Groupware (like Exchange, Groupwise or Lotus Notes/Domino). DocuWare incorporates all components needed for powerful Enterprise Content Management. Processes in every company can be automated and improved with DocuWare. DocuWare solutions are known for their easy installation, administration and operation, as well as an exceptionally low Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). DocuWare software is available in 15 languages. Enhanced with workflow functionalities, Web Content Management, and universal integration functions, DocuWare provides powerful Enterprise Content Management (ECM) functionality for enabling expansion throughout an organization.