Process and Challenges of Digitization: a Case Study of Road Transport Department, Kenya Revenue Authority

Abstract

Digitization is the process of converting records from paper form to electronic form. In the context of Kenya Revenue Authority’s Road Transport Department, a focus is placed on e-government. This study has three objectives namely; to establish activities involved in digitization, to determine the rationale behind activities of digitization and to determine challenges facing digitization. It contributes to how digitization can be used by the government in enhancing access to information and services in the Road Transport Department. It is trying to understand why organizations are opting to manage their information in electronic form by even going further to convert their earlier paper records into electronic ones The study is qualitative and thus demanded collection of information to describe the qualities of what it was exploring.The sampling strategy that was used for this research is purposive/convenience sampling. The sample was conveniently picked to include those well versed with the operations in the various sections of the department and a total of fifteen respondents were picked. . The findings reveal the various activities digitization that include scanning of documents like logbooks as well as having information available electronically as opposed to paper records. Benefits accruing from digitization that include less storage space, ease of access and speedy service delivery are also highlighted. Digitization therefore is a critical effort that must be expended in our businesses to effectively and efficiently manage records, despite the challenges of resistance to change and the ever competing needs of what to digitize and how best to do it.. The study therefore observes the benefits accruing from digitization and the need to embrace digitization as an efficient and effective method of records management.