Micro Com Systems Celebrates 50 Years of Document Management Innovation

Vancouver's Micro Com Systems has reached a significant milestone, marking 50 years of service in the document management and scanning industry. Founded in 1975 on Powell Street, the company began as a modest service bureau specializing in Computer Output Microfilm (COM), helping organizations reduce processing time and minimize paper-based expenses. This longevity matters because it demonstrates how businesses can successfully navigate multiple technological revolutions while maintaining core service values.

Initially focused on micrographic services, Micro Com underwent substantial transformations over the decades. In the early 1980s, the company expanded its operations, moving to a larger location off Kingsway and broadening its service offerings. A pivotal moment occurred in 1992 when two employees purchased the business from the original owner, strategically introducing digital services like document scanning. This transition from physical to digital document management represents a critical shift that many companies in the information sector had to navigate during the digital revolution.

The company's growth trajectory included absorbing smaller competitors and relocating to a four-story building in Vancouver's Mount Pleasant neighborhood. As technology evolved, Micro Com adapted by adding services such as microfilm/microfiche scanning and Aperture Card scanning, ultimately occupying nearly 22,000 square feet of workspace. This expansion demonstrates the growing importance of document digitization and archival services as organizations increasingly recognize the value of preserving historical records while making them accessible in modern formats.

Leadership transitions marked the company's journey, with one managing partner departing for the Caribbean in 2010, leaving Craig Hollingum as the sole owner and operator. Throughout these changes, Micro Com maintained its core mission of providing innovative document management solutions to local businesses. The company's ability to sustain operations through ownership changes highlights the resilience required for long-term business success in rapidly evolving technological landscapes.

Today, the company offers a comprehensive suite of services including document imaging, archival scanning, medical imaging, optical character recognition (OCR), large format scanning, enterprise report management, high-speed printing, and specialized capture software and equipment. This diverse service portfolio reflects the complex document management needs of modern organizations across multiple sectors, from healthcare to corporate environments. Micro Com Systems' 50-year history reflects not just corporate longevity, but a testament to technological adaptability and strategic innovation in the document management sector. From its origins in microfilm to today's advanced digital scanning technologies, the company has consistently positioned itself at the forefront of information management solutions, serving as a case study in business evolution and technological adaptation.