Monthly Industry Trends & Insights From Colligo CEO Tim Brady
To sound like a broken record (again), the quality of an organization’s data and information has never been more important—especially in this race to deliver value with AI, automation, and enterprise search. AI isn’t a silver bullet that fixes everything overnight, but we believe it can drive real, tangible improvements—if organizations invest in the right foundation.
That foundation must consist of more than just clean, reliable data; modern governance; secure and modern solutions and infrastructure; and targeted training. Qualified professionals, including information governance managers and records managers, must play a central role.
The Experts Behind Clean, Compliant, and AI-Ready Data
Ensuring your organization’s data is clean, complete and trustworthy is no small feat—and it doesn’t happen automatically. This critical work should be led by skilled professionals who understand both the value and the risk of unmanaged information. Information governance managers, records managers and their peers develop and enforce policies to identify, classify, and retain high-value data—while eliminating the ROT (redundant, obsolete, and trivial).
These professionals bring a systems-level perspective: they’re not just managing documents—they’re managing risk, enabling knowledge discovery, and laying the groundwork for scalable, ethical AI. Their work ensures that data pipelines are trustworthy, that records are preserved with integrity, and that sensitive information is managed in compliance with ever-evolving regulations.
The Right People at the Table
Information governance and records managers are well-positioned to lead the charge. According to AIIM’s 2024 Industry Watch report, the findings “underscore the vital role of information leaders in driving organizational success, the universal prioritization of information management, and the ongoing evolution of the technology stack.”
We’re also seeing a positive trend: the convergence of IT and information governance teams. When these groups collaborate—especially alongside legal and compliance—they create real value. But when they operate in silos or compete for budget, progress often slows or stalls. We believe alignment across people, process and technology is a blueprint for success.
It’s About More Than Compliance
Properly preserving business-critical files and records isn’t just a regulatory requirement anymore—it’s foundational to enabling AI and automation. These professionals bring deep expertise to the table.
That’s what makes it all the more concerning to see the devaluing or elimination of records management roles within parts of the U.S. federal government. Regardless of politics, the need for digital preservation and governance continues to grow. Gutting these roles while the volume of digital records explodes looks like it will create significant challenges.
A concrete example: as AI adoption accelerates, we’re seeing governance frameworks and ethical guidelines being authored by these very professionals. They’re defining best practices and helping ensure AI is used safely and responsibly.
Elevate the Roles
If data and information are the gold of the digital economy, then how we manage and govern them determines the real value we can extract. Information managers, governance leaders and records professionals are the ones best equipped to help organizations strike that balance—and they need a seat at the table.
As the AIIM report notes: “72% of respondents agreed that information management will become more important in the next twelve months.” We couldn’t agree more.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are solely my own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Colligo. Think of them as ‘strong opinions, loosely held.’ Proceed with curiosity and a sense of humour!
