Is That All There Is? Record Center Diversification by Jim Spinney Spinney and Huber LLC

Startup record centers usually begin with servicing hardcopy records in boxes using high density shelving. An industry unique software program is utilized for the management, tracking, reporting and billing of services and monthly storage.

As customers are added other service opportunities can open up for diversifying the service offering to meet these new requests.

Diversification Opportunities

Open Shelf File Management
Files are stored out of the box on shelves specifically designed for this type of storage. This method of storage is often selected because of high retrieval and access requirements that make box storage labor intensive and costly. Storage is normally charged on a linear foot basis rather than a cubic foot basis.

Forms and Inventory Management
This type of service includes the storage of bulk quantities of printed forms and supplies. On hand inventory status is managed and reported and service usually entails providing pick and pack services with desk top deliveries.

Media Vault Service
For many types of vital records, normal warehouse storage environments are not sufficient. This opens the opportunity to provide media vault services for these records. A media vault normally provides temperature and humidity controls as well as specific fire protection and security requirements. Records needing this special protection include computer back-up media, microforms, and business records identified as vital records.

Destruction Services
In today's regulated environment, proper records destruction has become a vital and mandated service. Shredding and recycling of records and daily paper production is a necessary part of many corporations' day to day business activities. This service can be offered as a plant based or mobile service.

Imaging Services
Digital imaging of records is a growing part of many record centers overall business activity. Scanning, indexing and sometimes providing on-line storage capabilities can be a very profitable ongoing business that fits nicely with the storage and management services provided by records centers.

Fulfillment Services
This type of services provides not only the storage and management of inventory items, but also the sorting, assembly and packaging of the items. Sometimes referred to as kitting, this provides the client with a ready to ship package to their client.


Electronic Vaulting
Electronic vaulting offers a business recovery solution that is an alternative to the physical movement and storage of back-up computer tapes. Company servers are provided automated online backup via communication lines connected to an offsite secure server location.

Release of Information Service
Release of information service is designed for healthcare providers to process Release of Information requests for medical records. This service offers a secure, efficient and cost effective manner for healthcare providers and their patients. The record center handles the time consuming fulfillment requirements such as logging, tracking, requestor relations/communications, and physical distribution of requested information.