• As a result of technology, there has been a global records inundation!! It is far easier to send an electronic communication and copy it to 50 people than it was in years gone by when you had to put ink to paper and buy stamps!
• Documents are being sent electronically and are being duplicated, stored on different media and over multiple locations with multiple owners.
• Everybody is deleting records including the originators and the person who received the information. No-one takes responsibility for the storing of a record.
• There is a loss of control over the versions of documents and retention policies and an increase in non-compliance with business rules which in turn make complications for records managers. There is also a lack of knowledge regarding the SA Laws e.g. the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act (ECT Act) of 2002 and the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA).
• There is a lack of knowledge of the fundamentals of records management.

People have not kept up to date with the changes in technology and systems and companies do not have updated, published policies and procedures with regards to records management.  If they do, their staff are not aware of them.   The records management policies and procedures should be introduced as part of the induction programme in organisations.  The SANS 15489 which was adopted from the ISO 15489 in 2001 outlines the general guidelines of proper records management.