Fresh Look - Higher Ed
As higher education’s response to recent changes moves beyond a focus on continuity towards operational transformation, institutions are realizing it’s time for a fresh look.

With learning virtual and workforces mobile, much of higher education is viewing the pursuit of operational transformation as the next step in delivering a secure, convenient virtual experience. Institutions are reexamining the campuswide benefits of deployed technologies, the need for additional content or process digitization and the seamlessness of current operations overall.
For those lacking complete digital records, there is a real need to take a fresh look at Enterprise Content Management (ECM) and how well electronic forms, workflow automation and content management are supporting their key systems of record. Understanding your time is more limited than ever, we’ve pulled together some helpful resources that will make it easier to take a fresh look at ECM and a fresh look at Softdocs.
Having our documentation in a centralized location has been key for us. Everything is stored and organized electronically in a single place, allowing a wider range of people to get access to it when they need it.
MontE Christman | Associate Director of Information Technology | Central Carolina Community College
We believe this is the type of tool where we can empower end users in new and sophisticated ways.
Chuck Ray | Director of Enterprise Applications & Data | Nazareth College
ELECTRONIC FORMS
Responses to recent change have revealed a need for additional digitization of processes, to optimize the completely virtual experience of students and staff.
CONTENT MANAGEMENT
Supporting the creation of comprehensive, digital records, ECM provides institutions with secure, anytime access to content and documents.
WORKFLOW AUTOMATION
Increasing process visibility, ECM ensures data consistency across disparate systems and standardizes how content is collected, processed and distributed.

CLEAR COMMUNICATION
Are operational inefficiencies within departments or between peer offices hindering your ability to attract or retain students? A fresh look can help.
BROWSER BASED
Featuring a mobile-first design, Etrieve allows users to easily perform all actions within a single browser window - including scanning and system administration.
SEAMLESS INTEGRATION
Supporting comprehensive, digital student records, Softdocs’ ECM solutions complement the key systems within your campus’ technology stack.

PROVEN CLOUD
Leveraging Microsoft Azure, Softdocs provides a secure, auto scaling cloud environment, which includes Softdocs-managed maintenance and security.
ENTERPRISE DEPLOYMENT
Combining e-forms, workflow automation and content management, Softdocs’ Etrieve solution provides secure, uniform access to content - from HR to FA.
SECURE ACCESS
Supporting single sign-on, Etrieve Security provides institutions with a variety of tools to define roles, create groups and assign user privileges.

EDUCATION FOCUSED
Serving Higher Ed for 20+ years, Softdocs is THE education-focused ECM provider. We architect, implement and advance our solutions to meet your key initiatives.
CUSTOMER DRIVEN
From client development partners to the Softdocs Community, customer engagement is our top priority. Together, we ensure product roadmaps are a smart, strategic fit for all.
VALUED PARTNER
If you feel an urgency to extend ECM’s benefits across campus, but simply aren’t sure where to begin - we’d be honored to help you complete your fresh look.

Resources
We’ve pulled together the following resources to help you take a fresh look at the role of ECM in your campus technology stack and your pursuit of operational transformation. These articles, case studies and recordings showcase the benefits document management, e-forms and workflow automation are already providing higher education institutions - at almost every level and department.
On-Demand Webinars
Answering the Question: What is ECM
Enrollment and funding are decreasing, the demands on your time are rapidly increasing and the push to go mobile is now mandatory. Operational transformation seems to be the term everyone uses as the answer, but how can your institution achieve that? For many educational institutions, Enterprise Content Management (ECM) is a strategic fit.

Document Management, Electronic Forms and Workflow in Higher Education
Responding to recent change has driven many institutions to take a fresh look at their utilization of document management, electronic forms and workflow automation solutions. This webinar discusses the need to create the complete digital student record, process improvements through workflow automation and simplified data collection via secure, online e-forms.

Cybersecurity in Education – Prevention is Key
Those in higher education are encountering new threats to data security every day. Institutions must be able to recognize and react to this ever-evolving threat landscape, while ensuing information remains readily available to students, parents and faculty. In this webinar, cybersecurity experts profile security frameworks within education, review instances of recent cybersecurity attacks and provide best practices for data security.

A Fresh Look at E-Forms and Workflow in Higher Ed
With Education’s widespread, rapid shift to virtual learning, many institutions are finding it’s the right time to take a fresh look at electronic forms and workflow solutions. Capable of empowering a mobile workforce with cloud-first and mobile-friendly functionality, the Softdocs Etrieve platform provides the necessary flexibility to create new efficiencies and deliver the optimal digital experience to every student, teacher and faculty member. This brief webinar reviews the benefits available through e-forms and automated workflows, before demonstrating the ins-and-outs of Etrieve by Softdocs.

Improving the Digital Experience in Higher Ed
The spotlight on higher ed’s ability to operate virtually and efficiently has never shined as bright. With a complex campus system map and heightened awareness of institutions’ need for strong communication and efficient processes, the question remains where do we start to make improvements? This webinar explores how higher education institutions are leveraging Enterprise Content Management (ECM) to unify diverse campus systems, develop data consistency and create new efficiencies. Come learn how digitalization of content and processes with ECM betters the student experience and benefits employees institution-wide.

An Account of ECM Transformation with Loyola Marymount University + Softdocs
Pressure is ramping up across higher education, to work more efficiently and become more competitive. And while technology can help, a clear path forward is absolutely essential!

Building Efficiency in Higher Ed: Financial Aid
Feeling pressure to streamline or transform processes within financial aid? This 30-minute webinar demonstrates the impact of electronic forms and automated workflows on time-intensive financial aid processes. Learn how to eliminate bottlenecks and improve the efficiency of your FA team with cloud-based, easily scalable content management solutions.

Building Efficiency in Your Purchasing and AP Processes
How you manage AP and purchasing functions can be critical to your institution’s success. Automating and digitizing everything from purchase requisitions, purchase orders within your ERP system, and AP approval forms can help you streamline the process, eliminate errors and generate vital reporting. Learn how to eliminate bottlenecks and improve the efficiency of your AP functions with cloud-based, easily scalable electronic forms, automated workflow and content management solutions.

Building Efficiency in Employee Onboarding and Contract Processes
Are you struggling to efficiently handle onboarding and staff/teacher contracts? Digitizing the process of bringing newly hired employees into the system, mass distribution and tracking of employee contracts and securely providing needed documents to employees through easy self-service functions, is possible through the use of enterprise content management (electronic forms, automated workflows and content management). Learn more specifics about how in this short webinar.

A Fresh Look at E-Forms and Workflow in Higher Ed
With Education’s widespread, rapid shift to virtual learning, many institutions are finding it’s the right time to take a fresh look at electronic forms and workflow solutions. Capable of empowering a mobile workforce with cloud-first and mobile-friendly functionality, the Softdocs Etrieve platform provides the necessary flexibility to create new efficiencies and deliver the optimal digital experience to every student, teacher and faculty member. This brief webinar reviews the benefits available through e-forms and automated workflows, before demonstrating the ins-and-outs of Etrieve by Softdocs.

Building Efficiency in Higher Ed: HR and Payroll
The need to communicate effectively and increase workflow efficiencies while still protecting sensitive human resource and payroll files, has become a priority. This short webinar presents ways to effectively use enterprise content management (electronic forms, automated workflow and content management) to organize, package and share files, while still providing a detailed audit history. Learn how to eliminate bottlenecks and improve the efficiency of your HR team with cloud-based, easily scalable solutions.

The Dynamics of Change: A Fresh Look for Education
Join Marcia Daniel, Associate Vice President for Executive Engagement at Ellucian, and Laurel Stiller, Softdocs’ VP of Marketing, for a discussion of the dynamics affecting change within higher education institutions today, as well as influential stressors created by change and their potential impact on working relationships. A brief presentation and prepared remarks will be followed by Q&A.

Building Efficiency in Higher Ed: Admissions and Registrar
How do you keep up with the changing demands of student admissions and records? How do you increase the efficiency of these functions while also balancing accessibility with security and privacy needs? Many educational institutions are turning to enterprise content management (electronic forms, automated workflow and content management). During this brief webinar and solution demonstration, you’ll learn more about the how these solutions can help with everything from application submission to transcript evaluations and advising.

Prioritizing the Voice of the Customer & Other Key Objectives of an EdTech Cloud Vendor
Being an Education IT leader, you feel the pressure to position your institution with the cutting-edge technology it needs to be successful WHILE satisfying the needs and expectations of your users. Right? We get it. At the end of the day, user buy-in is one of the most important boxes to check. Hear how this EdTech cloud vendor’s development team prioritizes the voice of the customer, and other key focus areas, to guide an agile development process. Discover how you can take these best practices to help you make the most effective software choices for your institution moving forward.

Customer Stories
Video Library
Explore How an Etrieve Migration Will Advance Your Utilization of ECM
Whether with Softdocs’ legacy solutions or competitive platforms, you’ve experienced the many benefits that enterprise content management (ECM) delivers. Through your ECM deployment, you’ve created time-saving efficiencies, increasing productivity and reducing costs across campus. Learn how migrating to Etrieve by Softdocs will help you build upon these successes, advance your utilization of ECM and better satisfy the changing needs of your institution, employees and students.

Etrieve Content: Electronic Content Management Made Easy
Etrieve Content is a fully browser-based content management solution that allows your institution to store and organize your data all in one place. With document management from Softdocs, student and employee data is consistent, organized, and easily accessible.

Etrieve Forms: Electronic Forms Made Easy
Etrieve Forms eliminates the need for paper and slow, paper-based processes. Automatically see the status of a form and review, approve, deny or comment quickly and easily.

Etrieve Flow: Automate and Manage Business Processes Easily
Etrieve Flow simplifies your workflow by automating repeat business processes. Automatically store and organize documents, quickly route completed documents and forms for authorization, and maintain a detailed history of the path all your data has taken.

Fresno Pacific Innovation Award–Integrating Payment Processing with Etrieve by Softdocs
Fresno Pacific University integrated payments into their registration workflow with Etrieve by Softdocs. By doing this, they were able to create a streamlined and effective student and staff experience.

A Growing Concern in Education: Cybersecurity Threats on the Rise
In a time of both growing cybersecurity threats and growing digital transformation needs, Mike Williamson, Vice President of Development and Innovation for Softdocs, discusses the yin and yang of cybersecurity and interoperability within software development.

Blog Posts
Digital Transformation and the Modern Student: A Case for the Cloud
Steve Johnston

Contact Us
If you have any questions or are interested in seeing a product demonstration of our Etrieve platform, please let us know. We would be honored to help you and your institution take your fresh look at ECM.