05.16.2025

WCD and Lithe Announce Strategic Partnership to Deliver AI-driven Digital Mailroom Platform to Businesses across Canada WCD becomes the preferred Canadian partner of the Ondox digital mailroom platform, transforming document workflows for businesses across the country. Calgary, Canada and Glasgow, UK – Tue, May 20 – WCD, Canada’s leader in back-office optimization, today announced a strategic partnership with Lithe IT Limited, a global leader in document and process automation. Through this new alliance, WCD becomes a certified reseller and preferred Canadian partner of Ondox, Lithe’s industry-leading AI-driven digital mailroom platform. “We’re thrilled to welcome WCD as a certified reseller of the Ondox platform,” said Anthony Murphy, CEO of Lithe. “Their reputation for delivering trusted, high-value solutions aligns perfectly with our mission to help organizations modernize their document workflows.” The partnership brings together Lithe’s deep expertise in intelligent document processing and workflow automation with WCD’s leadership in back-office optimization—leveraging their more than 70 years of customer trust and strong regional presence in Canada. By integrating the AI-driven Ondox platform into WCD’s managed back-office services, organizations can capture, classify, route, and process inbound documents in real time. The result: a data-intelligent back office that accelerates workflows, boosts accuracy, and turns mailrooms into engines of business growth and competitive advantage. “Adding Ondox to our technology portfolio strengthens WCD’s mission to connect people, process, data and automation so the back-office becomes a strategic asset and actually delivers competitive advantage,” said Karen Brookman, President and CEO at WCD. “Our customers are looking for smarter ways to manage physical and digital communications. Ondox delivers exactly that – efficiency, compliance, and a seamless user experience.” This collaboration enhances WCD’s ability to deliver end-to-end digital transformation solutions and provides Lithe with a strong partner to expand Ondox’s footprint across North America. ## About Lithe Lithe unlocks the business potential of intelligent automation. Our AI-driven Ondox™ Digital Mailroom platform applies artificial intelligence to transform your whole company, not just your mailroom. For enterprise-scale organizations worldwide, Ondox cuts the cost of operations, increases team productivity, enables faster response to customers, strengthens security and compliance, and helps meet business resilience and sustainability goals. To mailroom operations and document-intensive business processes, Ondox delivers speed, smarts, simplicity, security, and scalability that traditional mailroom operations and other digital mailroom solutions cannot provide. Find out more at Ondox.ai. Media Contacts: For WCD Jennifer Brookman, Vice President, Revenue Operations & Innovation Email: marketing@wcdconnect.com For OndoxHolly O’Doherty, Marketing ManagerEmail: HollyODoherty@ondox.ai

05.15.2025

Why WCD is Leading the Shift Toward Back-Office Optimization For over 70 years, WCD has helped organizations modernize the way they work—digitizing documents, automating workflows, and supporting business operations with hands-on services and technology. Today, we’re proud to announce the next chapter in our evolution: a deeper focus on Back-Office Optimization. This shift isn’t a departure from what we’ve always done—it’s a natural extension of our legacy and expertise. As businesses face mounting pressure to do more with less, streamline operations, and embrace digital transformation, the back office has become a critical frontier for innovation. The back-office is the foundation for enabling growth and holds untapped potential for competitive advantage. “The back office is the engine room of digital transformation. It's where inefficiencies hide and untapped potential lives,” says Karen Brookman, CEO of WCD. "When you modernize these processes, you unlock speed, accuracy and insight. People stop chasing paper and start driving value. That’s how organizations become more agile, more data-driven, and ultimately, more competitive. That’s the transformation we’re enabling." Why Back-Office Optimization — and Why Now? The back office may not be the most visible part of a business, but it’s often where complexity lives. Admin functions, finance, accounting, compliance, procurement, and HR teams are under more pressure than ever to operate faster, leaner, and smarter. At the same time, companies are navigating: Rising demand for cost-efficiency and productivityIncreased regulatory and compliance pressureRemote and hybrid workforces requiring digital collaborationAI and automation opportunities that go far beyond basic task management In this environment, organizations need more than just technology—they need expertise, integration, and insight. That’s where WCD comes in. A Foundation Built for Optimization WCD brings a unique combination of experience and adaptability to this opportunity: Decades of digital transformation leadership: From document digitization and mailroom automation to intelligent workflows and structured data extraction, we’ve been helping clients reduce manual work for years. Hands-on operational support: Our work in managed back-office services gives us a ground-level view into the challenges shared services teams face every day. Growing expertise in smart automation: We’re actively investing in AI-driven tools, cloud-based platforms, and modular service models that give our clients flexibility and scale. Our clients already trust us to manage complex document workflows. Now, we’re helping them reimagine how their entire back-office runs—from intake to insight. What This Means for Our Customers If you’re already working with us, you’ll see this as a natural evolution of our services. You’ll get even more value from a trusted partner who understands your business. For new customers, WCD represents a well-respected and proven alternative to one-size-fits-all service providers—an organization that brings both strategic thinking and executional excellence. Whether you’re in energy & natural resources, finance & insurance, education, government & public sector, transportation & logistics, healthcare, or enterprise operations, we’re here to help you modernize, streamline, and lead. Forward-thinking organizations across every sector are investing in smarter, more agile operations—and seeing the results. We’re here to help them capitalize on this mission-critical transformation, rethink how their back office functions, and build a better back-office. Follow us on LinkedIn for updates or reach out anytime to learn about how we can help you make your back-office into a competitive advantage.

03.25.2025

You’re hunting for an important client contract that you need for a meeting—in fifteen minutes! You dig through inboxes, shared drives, and even a filing cabinet to no avail. What a pain, you think. If this feels familiar, you aren't alone. Many organizations are overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information they handle every day. When that information is scattered across systems or buried in stacks of paper, it slows teams down, introduces risk, and makes collaboration harder than it needs to be. That’s where information management comes in. In this article, we’ll explore the big picture: why information has become one of your most valuable business assets, and how managing it well can create a more secure, efficient, and future-ready organization. What Is Information Management? Information management is the process of organizing, storing, securing, and maintaining access to the information your business uses every day. This includes everything from scanned documents and spreadsheets to emails, forms, and contracts. It goes beyond where files are saved to how they’re structured, who can access them, how long they’re retained, and how easily they can be retrieved. Effective information management improves efficiency, supports better decision-making, and reduces risk. It also sets the foundation for information lifecycle management—a strategic approach to managing content from creation to final archiving or disposal. The Information Lifecycle: From Creation to Archiving Every piece of information in your organization follows a lifecycle—whether you’re managing a one-page form or thousands of project records. Understanding and managing that lifecycle is key to keeping your data useful, secure, and compliant. This process is known as information lifecycle management, and it typically includes five stages: Capture — Information enters your organization—whether through digital tools, email, or scanning physical documents.Organize — Files are indexed, categorized, and stored in a structured system, making them easy to find and use.Use — Employees access and collaborate on the information as needed, with version control and permissions in place.Store — Data is retained in secure systems for the required period, following industry standards or regulatory guidelines.Archive or Dispose — When information is no longer active, it's either archived for long-term storage or securely disposed of based on retention policies. When each stage is managed intentionally, your organization is better positioned to reduce risk, meet compliance requirements, and streamline operations. Without it, information becomes fragmented, duplicated, or lost—making everyday tasks harder than they need to be. Why Businesses Struggle with Information Chaos Despite the best intentions, many organizations find themselves overwhelmed by disorganized, disconnected information. The symptoms might look like missing files, version confusion, or delays in decision-making, but the root causes often run deeper. Here are some of the most common challenges: Disconnected Systems — When documents are spread across shared drives, email threads, personal folders, and paper files, it’s hard to maintain a single source of truth.Manual Processes — Paper-based workflows or outdated systems create bottlenecks and leave room for error. Tasks that should take minutes can stretch into days. Lack of Structure — Without a clear system for naming, storing, or organizing files, teams waste time searching for (or worse, recreating) information that already exists.Compliance Risks — In industries with regulatory requirements, poor information management can lead to missed deadlines, lost records, or data breaches.No Lifecycle Oversight — Without a plan for managing information from start to finish, content piles up and becomes harder to control over time. These issues can create friction across teams and expose the organization to unnecessary risk. The good news? They're also solvable with the right strategy. The Business Benefits of Strong Information Management When information is managed well, the impact reaches every part of your organization. From daily workflows to long-term strategy, strong information management creates clarity, saves time, and reduces risk. Here are a few of the most meaningful benefits: Increased Productivity — When employees can quickly find what they need, they spend less time searching and more time focused on meaningful work.Better Collaboration — Centralized, well-organized information supports smoother teamwork—whether across departments or locations.Improved Compliance — Clear retention policies and audit trails help your business meet regulatory requirements and reduce the risk of fines or penalties.Enhanced Security — Access controls, encryption, and secure storage protect sensitive documents and reduce the chance of data breaches.Lower Operational Costs — Digitizing and automating information workflows reduces reliance on paper, printing, and physical storage, creating long-term savings.Greater Agility — With a structured, accessible information environment, your team is better equipped to adapt, grow, and make informed decisions. What Does Information Management Include? Think of information management as a coordinated set of practices and technologies that help your business handle its information effectively across its entire lifecycle. Here are the core components: Scanning & Conversion The first step for many businesses is digitizing physical documents. Scanning and conversion services turn paper-based records into searchable digital files that are easier to store, access, and protect. Document Management and Archiving Once digital, files need to be organized, labeled, and stored in a structured way. Document management systems (like ImageConnect and M-Files) allow teams to manage access, apply retention policies, and track usage. Archiving ensures long-term storage without cluttering up active systems. Information Lifecycle Management This strategic framework guides how information is captured, used, maintained, and ultimately archived or disposed of. It ensures your organization stays compliant, organized, and efficient throughout the life of each document. Enterprise Content Management Software ECM platforms bring it all together—scanned files, digital documents, and automated workflows—into a central, secure system. They enable collaboration, version control, and access governance across the organization. Process Automation Manual, paper-heavy processes (like invoice approvals or employee onboarding) can be automated to reduce errors and free up time. Automation connects systems and data, creating faster, more predictable workflows. Together, these elements create a more connected, productive, and secure information environment. Real-World Applications: Who Needs Information Management Solutions? Information management isn’t limited to one industry or business size. Wherever documents, data, and collaboration are involved, the benefits are clear. Here’s how different sectors are putting it into practice: Architecture, Engineering & Construction From drawings and permits to contracts and compliance records, AEC teams rely on accurate, accessible information to keep projects on schedule. Scanning and digital storage help reduce rework and support better version control across job sites. Government & Legal Public records, case files, and internal documents need to be securely managed, tracked, and accessed—often with strict retention and privacy regulations. A strong information management strategy ensures accountability and transparency. Healthcare & Human Resources Patient records, insurance forms, and HR documents contain sensitive data that must be handled securely and compliantly. Digital access improves efficiency while protecting personal information. Financial & Professional Services Client documents, contracts, and audit materials require structured storage, fast retrieval, and reliable tracking. Automating document workflows helps reduce manual tasks and maintain a clear audit trail. Corporate & Back Office Teams From onboarding to accounts payable, many internal processes still rely on manual document handling. Information management tools streamline these workflows, reduce errors, and free up time. No matter the industry, the goal is the same: access the right information, at the right time, in a way that’s secure, organized, and efficient. How Enterprise Content Management Software Can Help One of the most effective ways to manage the full information lifecycle is with enterprise content management software (ECM). This type of platform is designed to help organizations store, organize, access, and govern their digital documents from a single source of truth. Rather than relying on disconnected tools or manual processes, ECM software brings structure and visibility to your content. It allows teams to: Store documents in a centralized, searchable repositoryApply access controls, versioning, and audit trailsAutomate document workflows and approvalsTrack retention timelines and support complianceEnable secure collaboration both on-site and remotely With the right ECM solution in place, your organization can move from reactive file management to a proactive, streamlined approach. It's a key part of transforming how your business handles information, turning content into a strategic asset instead of an operational burden. Getting Started: A Practical Approach to Information Management Improving the way your organization manages information doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Whether you're starting from stacks of paper or a patchwork of disconnected systems, the key is to take a structured, step-by-step approach. Here’s how to get started: 1. Assess Your Current State Start by identifying where your information lives today. What’s on paper? What’s in shared drives? Where are the bottlenecks? Understanding the current environment helps reveal opportunities for improvement. 2. Identify High-Impact Areas Focus on the areas that create the most friction—whether it’s paper-heavy workflows, compliance risks, or version control issues. Small wins in the right places can build momentum. 3. Develop a Strategy for the Full Lifecycle Think beyond storage. Consider how information is captured, organized, accessed, used, and eventually archived or disposed of. Planning for the entire lifecycle ensures long-term efficiency and control. 4. Leverage the Right Tools and Partners Whether that includes scanning services, process automation, or enterprise content management software, having the right mix of technology and expertise is essential. Look for solutions that align with your goals and are flexible enough to scale. Information Is Power—When It’s Managed Well Information is at the heart of every organization. It drives decisions, shapes customer experiences, and keeps your operations running. But without the right systems in place, it can also slow you down, create confusion, and expose you to risk. Whether you're starting with scanning and conversion or looking to automate complex workflows, investing in your information strategy sets the stage for a more efficient, resilient organization. Curious where to begin? Explore WCD’s Information Management solutions to see how we help businesses like yours take control of their information and build stronger digital foundations.