What Is an Electronic Management System?

An electronic management system (EMS) is a software application designed to automate business processes and manage an organization’s files and documents—also referred to as electronic document management systems. EMSs are used to manage inventory, track sales, or automate customer service. Electronic document management provides a method for storing considerable volumes of digital documents centrally and making them accessible from multiple locations. 

An EMS helps companies save time and money by automating their business processes. They can also improve productivity, cut down on mistakes, and have features that make it easy to find documents quickly.

Types of Electronic Management Systems

Local Electronic Management Systems

A local system stores data locally on your own devices, best suited for small businesses that only need basic tracking capabilities. Local EMSs are easy to set up and maintain, but they aren't always reliable. If your internet goes down, then your data could be lost forever.

Cloud-Based Systems

A cloud-based electronic management system is one where data is stored online. This means that you have access to your information from anywhere at any time. You don’t need to worry about losing your data if you lose your phone or computer. Cloud-based systems are great for businesses that want to stay connected no matter what device they use.

Some of the most common examples include:

• Dropbox
• Google Drive
• Box
• Notion
• Microsoft OneDrive
• Microsoft SharePoint
• Basecamp

While cloud-based systems provide a solution to keep your files organized in one place, advanced search tools like Unleash integrate with EMS, improving electronic management systems and helping you find work files across all platforms. 

With Unleash, you can improve Dropbox search and other file management and storage tools—even email, collaboration apps, and project management apps.