Every member, and department of your organization from the top down, most likely uses paper to complete their day-to-day tasks. Despite this dependency on paper, many business processes can be successfully completed without it, helping to save on costs while reducing the impact on the environment.
Although a paperless office is within your reach it can’t happen overnight. There are a number of steps you can take now to help speed up the process, including:
- Crunch some numbers. Establish a baseline to project your potential savings, and to establish where and when the bulk of your printing occurs. Track print volumes manually using the meters on your print equipment, or partner with a Managed Print Services provider for a more accurate, detailed report.
- Connect in the cloud. Talk with vendors, clients, and associates to see if they are willing to move your communications to the cloud, for added security, increased efficiency, and to reduce paper usage.
- Switch to online banking. Pay your bills, view account information, transfer funds, and perform a number of other functions online, eliminating the need for paper statements from your financial institution.
- Make it legal. In this digital age, most countries have opted to accept digitally signed documents as legally binding, saving time and money.
- Reduce and reuse. Eliminate, or rework outdated equipment such as fax machines. Innovative software allows you to send and receive faxes electronically, for paperless communications.
- Ask for help. Get employees on board with your paperless initiative by offering them incentives for finding alternatives to paper.
- Get scanning! Scan, rather than file all future relevant documentation, storing it in the cloud, scanning to email, or in your network drive.
The Benefits of Going Digital
In addition to the costs savings, benefits of reducing your need for paper include:
- Increased efficiency
- Enhanced productivity
- Ease of collaboration
- Less clutter
- Document security
- Disaster recovery
- Ease of communications
- Reduced carbon footprint
- Quick access to information
- 24/7/365 access from anywhere with an internet connection
The average employee spends up to 40 percent of their day searching for information that has either been filed, or misplaced: time that could be better spent growing your business! A paperless office environment helps to make your information easily accessible, increasing efficiency, and saving time and money. Talk to us about our solutions to help you reduce your reliance on paper!
