WHY SHOULD STARTUPS GO PAPERLESS?
Going paperless is the best decision for an enterprise in regard to both environmental and workflow advantages. Ventureburn writer Ingrid von Stein recently recommended that if an entrepreneur is planning a startup, he or she should consider making the business paperless from the very beginning. Fear and doubt Using physical documents and putting document management software aside can lead to an office full of reports and files. Ventureburn pointed out that 62 percent of businesses continue to archive hard copies. "Fear, uncertainty and doubt," the source says, are the reasons why paperless offices haven't been completely established in the private sector. The need to keep a physical copies of original documents, despite the security of document management software, is another reason paperless offices are being stalled. Business Solutions cited the AIIM report "Paper Wars 2014 - Update from the Battlefield," which said 68 percent of organizations are pushing for document management software instead of paper-filled offices. Additionally, the study mentioned that only 44 percent of organizations are 10 percent of the way to an entirely paperless office. All of this information begs the question: Why would a startup not consider going paperless from the get-go? Paperless tips Creating a paperless office takes some work. CIO listed some tips for businesses to use
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document management software. To reduce paper use in an office, and a worker can track physical media and see how much paper is printed each day. Even keeping colleagues in the loop and emailing the paper usage information to everyone can discourage people from using paper documents. CIO also added that making it less convenient to print in the office can push employees to move toward paperless documentation. If there is a limit to how many forms a worker can print, many will be discouraged from over-printing in the workplace. Being realistic is something that business owners need to keep in mind when thinking about going paperless. Completely eliminating paper may be difficult for some employees in the office. The importance of a signature Companies like Adobe have pushed for the paperless office. According to PCWorld, in 2011, the company bought Echosign, a provider of electronic signature and signature automation tools, which allowed Adobe to develop its business with electronic workflow and paperless document management. "We see the majority of contracts being signed on the web in four to five years - up from one percent today," said Kevin Lynch, Vice President and General Manager of Acrobat Solutions, and Digital Enterprise Solutions for Adobe, according to the source. "Printing out paper, signing with a pen, and faxing or sending it in an overnight envelope will not be the way of the future and in the coming years will feel as antiquated as using film for photos." Electronic signatures in the office have been a product that has moved offices toward paperless. IT-Online cited AIIM's 2012 report "Digital Signatures - Making the Business Case," and noted that 58 percent of respondents in the survey said that electronic signatures are essential in the business world. Electronic signatures and invoice automation have improved the approval process, saved costs in paper and increased budgets for mail services. Getting over the fear Startup businesses can take advantage of the options that are available for an aspiring paperless office. Using document management software comes with improvements in the workplace that include saving money annually and giving the business a competitive edge, according to Ventureburn.
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If a startup can get over the fear of technology and realize the security advancements the tech world has made for document management software, it can reach its full potential in the business world. _________________________________ Ready to kick your paper habit? Register for an upcoming webcast! Learn More about PaperSave: Case Studies | Demo | News and Events | WhitePapers | Webinars | Videos | Contact Us Tags: electronic workflow, Industry News, paperless office, document management software
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