Once appropriate records have been identified and business processes have been optimized, placement of the image system along the life-cycle continuum of records must be determined. This will involve consideration of work flow, staffing, and the uses to which digitized records will be put. Imaging should occur as close to the point of records creation as possible to minimize handling and storage requirements for paper records. Organizational factors may preclude image capture at an early stage in the life cycle of records. Nonetheless, the point of input must be clearly established and responsibility for image capture assigned.
Image systems can exist as isolated workstations, or as nodes on a network.
The uses of records and the information infrastructure available will largely determine whether networking is desirable. Networked imaging systems can facilitate the use of records within an organization. The ability to move large image files along networks requires relatively more sophisticated hardware, software and communications devices and should be implemented only where warranted by business requirements. Networking can increase security risks in imaging systems by potentially increasing access to records files. Hardware and software for image capture will depend on the nature of the records.