Vancouver's Micro Com Systems has achieved a significant milestone, celebrating 50 years of document management services that have adapted through multiple technological transformations. Founded in 1975 on Powell Street, the company began as a service bureau specializing in Computer Output Microfilm (COM), helping organizations dramatically reduce processing time and paper distribution costs.
The company's journey mirrors the technological evolution of document management. Initially focused on microfilm services, Micro Com gradually expanded its offerings to embrace digital technologies. In 1992, when the original owner departed, two employees purchased the business and began integrating digital scanning services, including document and large-format scanning.
Throughout its history, Micro Com has demonstrated remarkable adaptability. The company relocated multiple times, eventually settling in a four-story building in Vancouver's Mount Pleasant neighborhood. By adding services such as microfilm, microfiche, and Aperture Card scanning, the company positioned itself at the forefront of document management technologies.
The transition from analog to digital document processing represents more than a technological shift; it reflects fundamental changes in how businesses store, retrieve, and manage information. Micro Com's ability to navigate these changes has been critical to its longevity, offering services like document imaging, archival scanning, optical character recognition (OCR), and enterprise report management.
Current owner Craig Hollingum has continued to steer the company through ongoing digital transformations, maintaining a commitment to helping local businesses manage their document workflows more efficiently. The company's comprehensive service offerings now span multiple industries, including medical imaging, high-speed printing, and specialized capture technologies.
Micro Com Systems' 50-year trajectory illustrates the critical role of adaptable, customer-focused businesses in supporting organizational information management. By continuously evolving its technological capabilities, the company has transformed from a small service bureau to a comprehensive document management solutions provider, demonstrating the importance of innovation and flexibility in sustaining long-term business success.
