This much data can be converted to digital form and stored on DVDs and CDs for easy future retrival.

Storage Tech is a new Gig Harbor-based technology business offering secure electronic filing, storage, and document retrieval services. Brian Overland, CEO, a retired Microsoft executive, put his head together with a friend in real estate to develop the business concept. They researched the technology and business model for a year and decided electronic filing was a high growth industry.

The picture of 90,000 files from a title company client, before and after e-filing, paints the story very well. The application suits medical files, legal and government documents, and virtually every business sector. O’Neil Barcode software ensures reliable database accuracy. Storage Tech offers clients several options for their documents, according to Ron Verone, Operations Manager.

Hard copy documents can be physically stored in the company’s 25,000 s sq. ft. building, a former retail building in Gig Harbor. Documents that are physically housed at Storage Tech are bar-coded upon receipt. This allows them to be retrieved quickly, scanned on demand, and emailed within an hour. Sometimes the turn around time is less than 15 minutes. Title companies, attorneys, and medical professionals must maintain hard copies by law. Storage Tech frees up space at the client’s site and streamlines document retrieval. Hard copies are stored for between 18 and 45 cents per cubic foot, based upon volume.

Another option is an eCabinet which allows immediate document access from anywhere in the world via an Internet browsers. Storage Tech purchases eCabinets from Ricoh Silicon Valley for approx. $10,000 each. Each eCabinet supports 100 clients and holds documents equivalent to 150 million sheets of paper. Files are scanned upon receipt and stored electronically for instant, on-demand password access by clients. Privacy is ensured because Storage Tech cannot access these files — only the client can. Scanning an entire file-box of documents is $20.00.

A very popular option is for clients to have their documents scanned on to CD’s or DVD’s by to augment or replace the paper originals. This alternative is ideal for eliminating paper files. The State of Washington recently verified that real estate agents do not have to keep hard copy files. They can maintain electronic copies. A standard CD holds 5000 pages and a DVD holds six to ten times more data. It is $4 to burn a CD or $7 for a DVD.

Verone stated that a dozen new clients are currently being processed by Storage Tech. He said they come from the fields of real estate, title companies, insurance companies, attorneys, and government clients as well as doctors and dentists.

The firm is also receiving documents from out-of-state companies. The company has only five employees, since the business is not labor intensive. Storage Tech has 2.5 acres, adjacent to its existing facility, for expansion.

For information, call 253-858-1159.