Paper and digital documents can work hand-in-hand
Digital advancements in the office are becoming more apparent every day. International headquarters around the world are competing to become the most innovative workspace, taking advantage of new technology in all aspects of the company, while small and medium enterprises are introducing new working processes where they can to boost productivity and reduce operational spend.
From automated room booking systems to virtual personal assistants, the possibilities are endless when it comes to the future of the office.
As new technologies come into play, people continue to ask: does paper still have a place in the modern office?
Paper has been essential to the human race for centuries and is still heavily represented in many offices. The average office worker gets through a staggering 10,000 sheets of paper a year, almost 30 sheets a day.
There’s no doubt that we use a lot of paper, but if the prospect of being a paperless office is too daunting then don’t despair. At Karlson, we believe that paper documents and digital document management systems can work hand-in-hand to create a more streamlined workplace.
Sometimes a printed document can do more than its online counterpart, but often there are times when documents are better left in digital form.
Sharing and workflow software has made it easier than ever for multiple people to work on a document at the same time, eliminating the need for multiple copies. Additionally, cloud-based storage systems provide security for thousands of documents without taking up any physical space in the office. Furthermore, digitising and archiving old documents and using keywords and tags to categorise the information makes finding what you need much less time-consuming.
However, when deciding whether paperless is a viable option, consider your company’s associates. If their processes don’t match your own, then paperless is going to be more difficult to achieve. Similarly, there are many departments in any organisation, HR, legal, finance for example, that both present many opportunities to trial digital document management techniques but also typically have a need for physical documentation too. Utilising both online and physical documents means, as a business, you can choose the right method for individual circumstances, while still improving workflow productivity, information security and reducing waste.
Until there is a major overhaul in the way society works, printed documents will still have their place in the office. Paper is going to come in and out of your business, so instead of condoning it, embrace the paper-lite movement and take control.
Partnering with a print and document management service provider will help you to achieve your paper reduction goals. We work closely with you to assess your current processes before making practical suggestions that you can implement with our help.
Make contact today and take the first step of your own paper-lite journey.
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