Over the past decade, companies have worked hard to reduce their paper usage. By doing so, workplaces have become streamlined and more productive. Less time is wasted hunting for an elusive document and workers have become less bogged down in mountains of A4. However, there are still aspects of our affinity with paper that just won’t go away causing inefficiency to creep into our daily working lives. Take a look at these tips to help your business banish the paper waste once and for all.
Organization
If you like your t’s crossed and i’s dotted, then you may like the enhanced organization that a streamlined, paper limiting workplace can give you. By utilizing a system like Symfact contract management software, you will be able to store all of your documents that once took up space in filing cabinets into one central electronic database. Space will be saved in the office, your company will be enhancing its eco-credentials, and you will no longer have a need for paper contracts.
Legally, contracts are sound when using digital signatures and being stored in a management system or on a cloud based server. There is no legitimate reason why any of your documentation should be printed out.
It’s time to ditch the snail mail and use email to communicate with your clients. If you are sending an invoice, there is no need to print it off and post it. The emergence of email as the ‘go to’ method of communication between company and client means messages, contracts, and documents are received instantly.
Keep Everything Safe
When documentation is printed out and filed, there is space for human error. As files become larger and more complex, and a greater level of organization is required, somebody will have to recategorize and file documentation appropriately. By using an electronic database, your system of organization can be added to without the need for human physical interference. Your contracts and files have no chance of getting lost.
Sustainability
Once thought of as a bit of a gimmick, the idea that sustainable businesses can be successful and turn a profit is picking up speed. By investing money into reducing your paper waste, your claims of being an eco-friendly company are strengthened. This sits well with potential customers.
Consumers are more likely to pay a premium if they know that the product that they are purchasing is produced by a company that cares about the environment. Make responsible claims of sustainability on your website and social media channels. Make it clear to your potential customer base that doing your part for the environment is an important factor in your business decisions.
The overflowing waste paper bin at the end of the every day across offices up and down the country is now an image of the past. With the advancements in technology, allowing a more nuanced and efficient way of cutting paper usage, your business can now embark on a green pathway towards enhanced efficiency and increased profits.
