When you’re deciding on a document management system, you want to know the benefits that you’ll receive with each system. However, it’s often easier to find qualitative descriptions of the benefits of a business management software than it is to find reports of quantitative results. That’s why we’re excited to inform you about a recent Forrester study that quantified the benefits of M-Files across every aspect of a business.
M-Files is an intelligent document management system that automates workflows, secures your data, and organizes your documents based on what they are, not where they are stored. In August 2023, M-Files commissioned Forrester to determine the economic impact their software has on their customers. To better understand the benefits and costs of M-Files, Forrester conducted interviews and carefully researched the effect of the solution on customers.
In order to come up with concrete numbers, Forrester aggregated the interviewees’ experience and the companies’ data into a fictional composite organization with 800 employees and a revenue of $400 million each year. They then constructed a financial model that was representative of the interviews and risk-adjusted that financial model.
Forrester concluded that M-Files would achieve a 294% ROI and a $5.59 million NPV (net present value) over three years. Let’s break down those numbers a bit more.
Costs
First, a brief note about costs: Forrester estimated that the composite company would spend around $1.9 million on M-Files, including licensing, hosting, implementation, support, and internal management.
Quantifiable Benefits
Forrester estimated that the organization would experience $7.5 million in benefits. If you subtract the costs from that number, it leaves us with $5.59 million. So where did Forrester get that number? Here are some of the quantifiable benefits that they found:
- $3.5 million through improved searching functionality: With its advanced searching capabilities and effective metadata use, M-Files cuts the search time for documents in half. This 50% reduction translates into $3.5 million saved.
- $1.9 million through faster filing: By largely automating metadata tagging and file naming, M-Files reduced document filing time by 65%. M-Files allows for seamless filing through Word and Outlook, also contributing to the time reduction.
- Over $750,000 through efficient workflows: M-Files has extensive automation capabilities, saving both time and money in all areas of your organization. In addition, strict version control means that employees can more easily collaborate.
- Over $600,000 through compliance and security: By helping the organization adhere to regulations, avoid data breaches, and restrict document access, M-Files saves time during an audit.
- Nearly $400,000 in revenue uplift: Through improved documentation of client agreements, M-Files helps the organization collect additional revenue.
- Nearly $350,000 by decommissioning legacy systems: M-Files can replace multiple business software solutions at once.
Qualitative Benefits
The Forrester study does also cover some unquantified benefits of M-Files that are worth mentioning:
- M-Files improves the customer experience through user-friendly processes.
- M-Files enables effective and secure remote work.
- M-Files can save employees’ time and ensure standardized documentation through document templates.
- M-Files integrates smoothly with other software solutions such as CRM, ERP, a client portal, and Microsoft applications.
Want to Read the Study for Yourself?
Click here to read the whole Forrester study, including detailed notes on their methodology and a wealth of quotes from the interviews they conducted. The full study also provides in-depth analysis of each of the benefits it mentions.
If you’re ready to achieve a great ROI through implementing M-Files, let us know! Our team of experts is ready to help you implement, customize, integrate, and support this transformative business software. Contact us today to get started.