The Guidelines are designed to help Australian Government agencies interpret and use the ERMS Specifications to design, purchase, build and evaluate electronic records management systems (ERMS) software.

The Guidelines also describe how the Specifications relate to similar documents produced in other jurisdictions, such as the European Commission’s Model Requirements for the Management of Electronic Records (MoReq Specifications) and the UK National Archives’ Requirements for Electronic Records Management Systems.

The Guidelines are detailed and technical but relevant to Australian Government agencies and Industry software developers and vendors that:

• manage records in an ERMS
• prepare tender documents to procure ERMS software
• audit, assess or review existing ERMS software
• develop ERMS software
• market ERMS software to government agencies

The Guidelines provide detailed explanations of some – but not all – of the requirements included in the Specifications. Explanations are only provided for requirements that:

• require special consideration by agencies
• address complex issues

See Appendix 2 for further information.

The Specifications and Guidelines deal with systems for managing the creation, use, maintenance and disposal of electronic records for the purposes of providing evidence of business activities. They do not deal with records management capability in software systems that support the core business of an agency but do not make and keep records as their primary function. The publication Specifications for Business Information Systems Software serves that purpose.

This publication complements the Specifications for Electronic Records Management Systems Software. The Guidelines will help Australian Government agencies use the Specifications to design, purchase, build and evaluate electronic records management systems software.