5 Lessons Learned from ARMA InfoCon 2019

5 Lessons Learned from ARMA InfoCon 2019

Last week in Nashville, Everteam participated in the 5-day-long ARMA InfoCon 2019 conference, where information professionals gathered to network, learn, and discuss the future of records management and information governance with colleagues and vendors alike. This year, the overarching theme of addressing risk and compliance through full lifecycle management and information governance programs was enhanced by keynote speakers, roundtable discussions, industry intelligence and educational sessions, and expo hall vendors. Below is a summary of the lessons we learned at the conference.

1. AI is the future and is happening now: embrace the change. As Everteam Chief Customer Officer and Thought Leader Ken Lownie pointed out in his Industry Intelligence Session, “How AI is Transforming Records Management,” artificial intelligence (machine learning, deep learning, and natural language processing) are not ideas of the future; they are technologies being leveraged now. RIM and IGP professionals willing to embrace the change and learn about AI will be able to make informed decisions and implement software that utilizes the power of artificial intelligence.
    
2. Artificial intelligence doesn’t compare to human intelligence. Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, and Blockchain dominated conversations in educational sessions, the expo hall, and after dinner-and-drink conversations. While technology can save time and ease manual burdens of responsible information lifecycle management, it doesn’t replace human intelligence. These technologies enhance information visibility and oversight, but do not yet have contextual knowledge needed to handle the job alone. This is where records managers and information governance leaders can take the reins and steer the organization towards responsible information lifecycle management, reducing risk and ensuring compliance.
3. Records and information managers provide a platform for information governance ethics. Records and information managers have an important role to play in how their company extracts, uses, and stores customer information. In fact, a fundamental aspect of the RM/IM role is to protect information from misuse or mishandling. They’re the gatekeepers that can protect both consumers and organizations alike from careless information privacy practices, and therefore must lead the process of ethical information governance.
4. ARMA has a hopeful vision. After the conference, we spoke with Nick Inglis, Executive Director of Content & Programming at ARMA International. He shared some thoughts that sum up the goals and future objectives of the association:

“ARMA International continues to wholeheartedly support the Records Management community while also providing resources to those who have entered the Information Governance space. As I shared in my keynote, Records Management continues to shift, and we need to find new ways to approach Records as our previous models have reached or are reaching their capacity to continue to reduce organizational risk. ARMA is going to be there every step of the way in helping to guide the Records Management profession into the future.” Final thoughts: Attendees that visited the Everteam booth were eager to learn more about enhancing their organizations’ information governance strategies. As one of the first key players in the federated information governance sector, Everteam has provided leadership for organizations striving to build strong digital records management foundations, secure customer relationships, and growth for their organizations. Discover more: subscribe to our newsletter, read more on our blog, and download whitepapers and data sheets from our website. We welcome questions and inquiries – contact us today for more information.