Micro Com Systems (MCS) has reached a significant milestone, celebrating 50 years of operation in the document management industry. The Burnaby-based company has demonstrated remarkable resilience, navigating economic challenges and technological transformations since its establishment in 1975. This longevity in an industry characterized by rapid change underscores the company's ability to adapt and maintain relevance across multiple technological eras.
The company's journey began with micrographic services that spanned British Columbia, serving communities from Victoria and Kelowna to Prince George, Kamloops, Nanaimo, and even extending to Whitehorse, Yukon. This extensive geographic coverage established the foundation for what would become a province-wide success story. The company's early commitment to serving both urban centers and remote areas positioned it as a comprehensive service provider from the outset.
A pivotal moment in MCS's evolution occurred in 1992 when the digital revolution began reshaping document management. Recognizing the industry shift, the company made strategic investments in document imaging technology, purchasing its first document imaging scanner. This forward-thinking move marked the beginning of MCS's expansion into digital services, allowing the company to offer a broader range of solutions including document and microfilm scanning and data capture services.
Today, MCS processes hundreds of thousands of documents monthly, handling diverse formats from standard letter and legal documents to oversized drawings, maps, microfiche, microfilm, and photographs. The company has developed specialized expertise in medical records conversion and legal document digitization, serving organizations pursuing paperless operations. This specialization has become increasingly valuable as businesses across sectors recognize the operational efficiencies and cost savings associated with digital transformation.
The company's success extends beyond technological adaptation to include human capital. MCS employs over 30 team members, many with more than a decade of service, creating a depth of expertise that provides significant value to clients. This staff stability contributes to consistent service delivery and institutional knowledge that benefits long-term client relationships. The company's mission emphasizes providing quality products and services with demonstrable value, focusing on handling work that clients cannot or prefer not to manage internally.
MCS's operational flexibility, offering both in-house and on-site scanning capabilities, combined with its status as a 100% Canadian-owned and operated business, provides distinct market advantages. This combination of local expertise and comprehensive services creates competitive differentiation in an industry often dominated by larger international corporations. As digital transformation becomes increasingly critical for business operations, MCS's scanning and digitization services have grown in importance, with the company's half-century of experience providing trust and reliability that newer entrants cannot match.
The 50-year achievement represents more than historical significance; it demonstrates MCS's capacity to anticipate industry shifts and adapt accordingly. The company's journey from micrographic services to comprehensive digital document management illustrates the importance of strategic evolution in maintaining business relevance. As organizations continue to prioritize efficient document management and digital workflows, MCS's extensive experience positions it to support these needs effectively, potentially for decades to come.
