Cutting Out Time And Paper.

This article reports that a Florida engineering services firm has built a system to automate distribution of its construction materials testing reports electronically. "We wanted to create a product to save us money and create a service for our customers," says Greg Edmonds, CEO of Ellis & Associates, Jacksonville. Edmonds says the company spent a year with a consultant developing "E-Reports." It uses e-mail to alert clients when reports are posted to their Web-accessible accounts. Clicking on a link in the e-mail brings a list of reports that also note whether they passed or failed. Clicking on a title opens a secure, digitally signed PDF version of the full report that can be examined, archived, routed to a pre-set distribution list — or even printed.