INNOVATIVE STORAGE SOLUTIONS

April is Records and Information Management Month

It’s April, which means it’s Records and Information Management Month! During Records and Information Management Month, we can really take the time to think about how RIM impacts organizations, and what we can do to efficiently manage records and information. So, in the spirit of recognizing and celebrating Records and Information Management Month, I thought it was time to tell you something you might not know. We have an entire division devoted to records and information management – Southwest Solutions Group Information Management Solutions (SSGIMS).

What Services Does SSGIMS Offer?

SSGIMS handles everything you could think of that relates to records and information management: document scanning, consulting services, backfile scanning, media conversions, RFID and barcode file tracking, file conversions, digital imaging, document relocations, records and assets inventories, and so much more. Seriously, the list goes on and on.

Why do we provide so many services? Because we understand that every organization is different, which means every organization will need different records and information management solutions. It also allows us more options so that we can tailor and personalize a specific solution just for you. Our goal isn’t to sell you something, but to make your information work for you.

Try Our Document Scanning Services for Free

Because SSGIMS is committed to providing the best records and information management services, we will let you try one at no cost to you. Right now you can try our document scanning services for free. We will scan a box of your documents either on-site or at our off-site facility, index your documents however you prefer, and upload the documents to our secure viewer or your ftp site.

More Information on SSGIMS’ Records and Information Management Solutions

SSGIMS’ director, Anna Stratton, recently published a series of blogs on how to get started with document scanning. Also, please feel free to send us a message or give us a call at 1-800-803-1083 with any questions you might have.

Finally, if you happen to be attending ARMA Houston Chapter’s Annual Conference and Expo April 24-25 at the Houston Norris Center, please come visit us at booth 14 for more information on our records and information management services!

How People are Using Libraries

I recently came across two very interesting infographics about how people and students are using libraries. The first one brings up the technology trend that is happening in libraries all over the country. The second one explains how college campuses are failing to meet their student’s space needs. What they both boil down to is that there is a change happening in the way people use libraries. They are no longer just there to read and check out books; people want access to computers and professional services or places to study and work on group projects.

But with limited budgets, libraries aren’t able to expand and are finding it challenging to reconfigure their existing space to meet all of these demands. So how can they solve their space problem? We have an answer: Compact Mobile Shelving. (view images of Compact Mobile Shelving for libraries)

Saving and Creating Space with Compact Mobile Shelving and Architectural Walls

With Compact Mobile Shelving, libraries can efficiently store books, journals, magazine, periodicals, and more in way less space than traditional static shelving. Mobile Shelving takes static shelves and puts them on tracks so that the shelves compact together. To access material, all you have to do is turn a handle or push a button to create an aisle. It’s possible to recoup over 50% of your book storage space with Compact Mobile Shelving.

Now, in the space libraries will be able to add those features that their customers want. The library can use Architectural Walls and create small rooms where students can get together and work on group projects. Or the library can use the space for private job counseling rooms where people can get help applying for jobs. And by using Architectural Walls in conjunction with the Mobile Shelving, the library can easily adapt to any changes because Architectural Walls are modular and easy to reconfigure.

Contact Us for Compact Mobile Shelving to Solve Your Library’s Space Problem

We have many different products and solutions for how you can solve the space problem at your library. For more information on Compact Mobile Shelving and Architectural Walls, give us a call at 1-800-803-1083 or send us a message. We will put you in touch with the library specialist in your area.

Also, if you are going to be at the Texas Library Association Annual Conference this year in Fort Worth, please feel free to visit us at booth 2225!

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Create Beautiful and Functional Spaces with KI Architectural Movable Walls

The main purpose of a wall is to divide space and provide privacy. With KI Architectural Movable Walls, you can quickly and easily create and reconfigure your office space any time your needs change. Both lines of are KI Architectural Movable Walls, Genius® and Lightline™, are cost-effective and sustainable and can be used for storefront and divisional space applications. For example, you can use the Architectural Movable Walls for basic offices and communal areas that just need a basic enclosure with a sound barrier, or for management offices and executive boardrooms where more elegance and structure is required.

Genius Architectural Movable Walls

KI’s Genius® Architectural Movable Walls improve the function of your space, have tons of design options to meet your preferences, and are made of green friendly materials. Some of the functionality features and options of the Genius Walls include reducing noise, delivering power and data, and integrating with furniture and structures. The walls are constructed using ecologically sound materials and processes to maintain sustainability and are extremely durable to withstand years of use and reconfigurations. With tons of options for materials, textures, colors and configurations, Genius Architectural Movable Walls offer the design flexibility to make a striking visual impression. (Click to read more about the Genius Walls)

Lightline Architectural Movable Walls

The Lightline Wall’s distinctive ability to be specified with unlimited butt-glazing allows you to design spaces with no visual breaks. KI’s Lightline Architectural Movable Walls seamlessly connect to maximize natural light and create brighter, more attractive spaces, which warms the interior environment to enhance worker morale and productivity. (Click to read more about the Lightline Walls)

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Designing and Installing KI Architectural Movable Walls

Southwest Solutions Group® provides businesses and offices in Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, and San Antonio with Genius and Lightline KI Architectural Movable Walls that are tailored to your unique requirements. Send us a message or give us a call at 1-800-803-1083 so we can put you in touch with the KI Wall expert in your area.

High Density Shelving and Vertical Carousel Cabinets for Paraffin Block and Glass Slide Storage

When patients have tissue removed at a hospital or outpatient surgery center, this tissue is sent to a pathology lab or histology lab for processing, examination, and diagnosis. During this phase, lab technicians need easy access to the tissue, which is stored in paraffin blocks or glass slides. The paraffin blocks and glass slides need to be kept on hand for testing, but they also need to be kept long term. This causes issues because there are increasingly more tissue samples to store with increasingly less space to store them in. We provide High Density Shelving and Vertical Carousel Cabinets for storing paraffin blocks and glass slides that will recover space and improve organization. (view paraffin block and glass slide storage images)

Saving Space Storing Paraffin Blocks in High Density Shelving

Everything about the High Density Shelving is customized to leave no wasted space while storing paraffin blocks. High Density Shelving removes unnecessary access aisles and compacts to save storage space. To save even more space, the shelves are adjustable, which means the paraffin blocks stack together and fit perfectly. In addition, the shelving can extend all the way to the storage room ceiling to maximize every inch of available space. Pathology labs will be able to double their storage in the same amount of space and still have room for future growth.

Video Showing How Easy and Safe the High Density Shelving is to Operate

Storing Glass Slides in Vertical Carousel Cabinets Short-Term and Long-Term

While the tissue specimens are being tested and analyzed, they need to be easy to locate and retrieve. We provide fixed shelving with drawers for short-term glass slide storage. The glass slides are arranged in trays that fit into the shelving drawers. This system keeps them easily accessible and organized.

Once the tissue specimens are ready to be archived, the Histology Technician can remove the entire tray and transport it to the basemen where the Vertical Carousel Cabinets are located. A Vertical Carousel Cabinet is a fully enclosed storage cabinet system with rotating shelves that move up and down along guide tracking to deliver stored items to an ergonomic work counter.

Vertical Carousel Cabinets Benefits

The Vertical Carousel Cabinets offer many benefits for storing glass slides:

• Dramatically increase glass slide tissue specimen storage capacity
• Store microscope glass slides in the same trays to prevent re-organizing them
• Eliminate the need to bend over or stand on a ladder to retrieve stored tissue specimens
• Protect the tissue specimens from dust, dirt, and insects
• Lock to keep microscope glass slides safe and secure
• Extend vertically to turn unused overhead space into productive storage space

Contact Us for High Density Shelving and Vertical Carousel Cabinets Storing Paraffin Blocks and Glass Slides

We provide pathology and histology labs with High Density Shelving and Vertical Carousel Cabinets for storing paraffin blocks and glass slides. Contact us by phone at 1-800-803-1083 or send us a message and we will provide you with a free space analysis.

The Case of Lateral File Cabinets versus High Density Shelving

When a Dallas law firm had to decide between using lateral file cabinets or high density shelving in their new office, they asked the storage and filing professionals at Southwest Solutions Group® to help them with the case. Lateral file cabinets and high density shelving were compared in four categories: using less floor space, more storage capacity, faster return on investment (ROI), and better flexibility. After careful deliberation verdict was in; the law firm determined that high density shelving was the unanimous winner in every category! Continue reading below for the court transcripts. (more law firm storage solutions)

Category One: Using Less Floor Space

The first category that was looked at was which system uses less floor space. To start the proceedings, lateral file cabinets took the witness stand and determined they would take up 1,370 square feet. High density shelving was next on the witness stand and revealed they would only use 350 square feet of floor space. High density shelving also countered that because they would save over 1,000 square feet, the law firm could lease a smaller office space. (view high density shelving image gallery)

Category Two: More Storage Capacity

The next category was which system had more storage capacity. The lateral file cabinets admitted that the law firm would need 30 more file cabinets to reach the same storage capacity as the high density shelving.

Category Three: Faster Return on Investment (ROI)

After admitting that the law firm would have to lease more office space and buy more file cabinets, the lateral file cabinets conceded that the high density shelving would produce a faster return on investment (ROI). The lateral file cabinets would actually cost the law firm money; whereas, the high density shelving would pay for itself in space savings and increased storage capacity.

Category Four: Better Flexibility

Even though the high density shelving was clearly winning at this point in the case, they had one more category to go – which system provided better flexibility. High density shelving took the stand and declared that the law firm can store more than just files in the shelving; they can store record boxes too. In fact, the high density shelving could store all 1,334 record boxes the law firm had, eliminating their off-site storage.

High Density Shelving Declared the Winner

In the end, deliberations lasted only one hour, and high density shelving was unanimously declared the winner.

If you need help making the case between your existing filing or storage system and high density shelving, the experts at Southwest Solutions Group can help. Just give them a call at 1-800-803-1083 or send them an email!