As we leave the hazy days of summer behind us and head into the fourth quarter, I'm reflecting on what has truly been a summer of content at AIIM. Our partners and AIIM have been hard at work developing new resources that address some of the most critical challenges facing IT and information leaders today.
As we navigate AI's integration with the practice of information management, I've been particularly fascinated by a noteworthy shift in how organizations approach their data strategies. We're witnessing a fundamental transformation from information management as mere storage to strategic utilization. Leaders seem ready to embrace AI and, as a result, the awareness of the importance of managing semi-structured and unstructured data has multiplied.
Yet across every conversation I have with leaders today, a common thread emerges: the gap between AI aspiration and practical implementation.
Whether we're discussing mainframe systems housing decades of transactional data, long-term content scattered across Microsoft 365 environments, complex business processes that resist traditional automation, or vast repositories of unstructured data—the fundamental challenge remains the same. Organizations face a paradox: they possess immense amounts of valuable information but struggle to extract meaningful value from it.
This isn't just about technology. It's about transforming how we think about information as a strategic asset.
This productive summer has yielded four comprehensive resources that tackle the most pressing questions facing information leaders today. Each addresses a specific aspect of the broader challenge of turning information into competitive advantage—perfect timing as you develop your strategic plans for the fourth quarter and beyond.
For process owners, business analysts, operations managers, and IT leaders implementing workflow automation
An eBook by Papyrus Software explores how organizations can handle complex business processes that defy traditional automation while keeping humans in the loop. Traditional BPM and RPA approaches often fall short when dealing with dynamic, exception-heavy workflows. This resource demonstrates how adaptive case management balances structure with flexibility, combining the efficiency of automation with the irreplaceable value of human insight and expertise. Get your copy.
For records managers, compliance officers, information governance leaders, and Microsoft 365 administrators
Working with Preservica, we examined how organizations can turn their Microsoft 365 compliance burden into an AI-ready strategic asset. With one-third of Microsoft 365 data requiring long-term retention, this resource provides a maturity assessment and practical framework for transforming compliance requirements into a foundation for competitive advantage in the AI era. Get your copy.
For data engineers, AI/ML practitioners, content managers, and digital transformation leaders
Our collaboration with Hyland addresses how organizations can unleash their trapped unstructured data to power next-generation AI systems. Data quality remains crucial—incomplete information leads to unreliable results regardless of AI sophistication. This resource demonstrates how to contextualize unstructured data, transforming it into knowledge that powers intelligent decision-making and prepares organizations for advanced AI implementations, including agentic AI systems. Get your copy.
For mainframe administrators, data architects, legacy system modernization teams, and enterprise data leaders
Through our partnership with Rocket Software, we investigated how organizations can unlock decades of mainframe data for modern AI and analytics. Mainframe systems contain some of the most sensitive and important transactional data in the enterprise, yet accessing this goldmine of insights remains challenging. This research-backed resource provides practical guidance for overcoming both technical and perceptual barriers that prevent organizations from fully leveraging this critical resource. Get your copy.
What strikes me most about these challenges is that they all point to the same strategic imperative: organizations must move beyond reactive information management to proactive knowledge creation. This requires identifying solutions and experts who can tackle these issues head-on—simplifying integration while providing solutions that make valuable data accessible to both technical and non-technical users.
Our summer of content has produced timely resources to help you effect change in your own organization. The organizations that will thrive in the AI era aren't necessarily those with the most advanced technology. They're the ones that recognize information as their most valuable asset and invest in making that asset truly actionable.
As you think about the strategic questions you need to answer in the fourth quarter, I encourage you to review all four resources and identify which resonates most with your current priorities. The key to overcoming these challenges involves identifying the right combination of technology, expertise, and strategic thinking. These resources provide the roadmap—now it's time to take action.
Download all four comprehensive resources. Start your fourth quarter with timely tools that transform specific information challenges into competitive advantages in the AI era.