The Professionals

When I want to relax, I do enjoy watching westerns and his weekend I rented a great old movie that got me thinking about our industry.  Now it wasn't the movie content, or it's sub-title: "Rough, Tough and Ready", which I know describes a few of you , but more the movie title. 

The reason is because one of the most exciting things that I have seen over the last 10-years has been a shift in the commercial records management industry.  What am I referring to?  Well, it is the transition of the industry that really grew in the 1980's and 90's into the industry that will continue to grow over the next decades, and I refer to that as "professionalizing".  

Now, I don't mean that commercial record centers were not previously professional in their activities.  Far from it, as many of the record centers I have been fortunate enough to visit are some of the best run businesses I have seen.  What I mean is that the industry is changing to meet the demands from their clients for "professional services". 

So what's the difference?  In the past, record centers would lead all of their sales with traditional box storage.  This was the primary, and for some, the only service that was offered.  The problem was that this service started to become a commodity and storage rates suffered as a result.  I don't think it is too hard to find a record center that is charging the same storage rates (if not less) today than five years ago.   To meet this challenge, I am witnessing record centers, both small and large, leading with professional services and gaining storage revenues, but on top of their service revenue. 

What is happening is that there is a wholesale recognition that clients require much more than just storage.  They have a big headache that comes with more and more government regulations, and they are looking for people to help solve those problems.  Commercial record centers are leading the way in offering solutions to companies who would not discover those solutions on their own.

This, of course, is very exciting because we have all heard the comments about the death of the commercial record center, as paper apparently goes away. That's another story, especially as I can absolutely say that, from my view point, the situation is the opposite.  I see the commercial record center becoming more essential in helping their clients meet future challenges.  Just as lawyers or doctors are viewed as "professionals", I am looking forward to the day that commercial record centers are seen in the same light; as experts in their field helping solve records and information management problems.

I am fortunate to be involved in an industry, with fabulous customers, who are allowing me to join them on this journey.

You are "The Professionals".