The Laserfiche Institute Conference: A Unique Opportunity to Learn From the Experts
June 23rd, 2007 Comment on this articleBy Jo Miller, Branch Manager
IT PC/Hardware/Software Support, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) has been using Laserfiche since 2003. We replaced our older OpenVMS system with Laserfiche because we needed a newer, more user-friendly system for imaging and archiving documents for the OSBI.
We have about 310 employees, in a variety of disciplines, including law enforcement, forensics laboratory, data entry, IT and fingerprinting. Primarily, we use Laserfiche as an archival system for case files, fingerprint cards, HR records, accounting and purchasing records, as well as other documents.
My co-worker, Norman Reynolds, and I attended our first Laserfiche Institute Conference in 2005. We attended mainly because the conference offered hands-on sessions with the product we had just purchased, and we wanted to learn all that we could. Each year after that, either Norman or I has attended the conference. Our goals each time we go back are to refresh our knowledge of the products we currently use and to learn how the Laserfiche system can benefit us in the future.
At the first conference, neither Norman nor I knew what to expect—we just knew that it would be a good way to learn more about the Laserfiche product. After arriving and getting the chance to meet with not only other users, but also with Laserfiche staff, we were ready to see what the rest of the conference had to offer. By the time the conference was over, both Norman and I decided that if it was at all possible, we would go to the conference every year.
The conference more than met our expectations. 2007 was the third year that one of us here at the OSBI has attended the conference, and it has improved tremendously each time. It was a unique opportunity to talk with Laserfiche experts, and when you talked about your issues or concerns about the product, someone would take your comments seriously and work at finding a solution for you.
Each conference offers so many different labs that it can be extremely difficult to decide on which labs to sign up for. You wish you could be two people so you could go to more of the labs. I attended Advanced Reporting with SQL Report Services, Developing and Implementing an Effective Security Policy, and Getting the Most out of Laserfiche 7.2, among others. Each lab provides a wealth of information and gives users an opportunity to compare notes on how they actually use the Laserfiche system day-to-day.
Because I am the Branch Manager for IT support, I really am only the backup person. Norman Reynolds is the administrator of our Laserfiche system. The role I play when I go to the conference and the labs is to gather as much information as I can to hand off to Norman. I give him a heads up about the coming features and upgrades. The labs help to keep me familiar with the product and prevent me from falling too far behind the curve.
When I go to any kind of training, whether I am a supposed expert or not, I look at the training as an opportunity to learn new things. I have yet to be disappointed in this aspect of the Laserfiche conferences. At each one, I learn new functions/features and find out news ways to use familiar ones.
To me, the most important aspect of the conference is the interaction with other users and Laserfiche staff. Listening to and talking with other users about how they use Laserfiche always gives me ideas on how to either improve on what we already do or to add new functionality to our system.
The entire Laserfiche staff is great. Regardless of what job they have with the company, each one is willing and ready to listen to your concerns, issues and ideas. If one person does not know how to address your questions, they find someone who can, and this is one of the strongest points of the Laserfiche staff. Another thing that impresses me very much is how committed to customer satisfaction Laserfiche is.
I enjoyed the luncheon with the CEO, staff and other law enforcement personnel. It was a great way to really find out how other agencies use Laserfiche and to be able to share your own story. Once in a while, you get to thinking that you are the only one facing challenges and the luncheon provides an opportunity to find out that you are not alone.
I’ve been working with Laserfiche Regional Manager Jim Silvia to start a Laserfiche Users Group here in Oklahoma and I believe we are close to making this happen. Because of the benefits that Norman and I have experienced at the conference, we both have highly recommended that users try to work into their budgets the cost of attending the conference coming up in January 2008. I have also recommended that, if possible, they should try to get someone from management to attend the conference as well.
I personally think that the Laserfiche Institute Conferences have been and are the best conferences I have ever been to. I firmly believe that if someone has not been to a conference, they need to go. The conference gives users a real look at all aspects of a product that is user friendly yet robust, with the tools to manage their documents in a most efficient and effective manner.
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