Estimates suggest that the average office worker goes through 10,000 sheets of paper per year.
Think about that for a second: how often do you even interact with that paper? In most cases, documents slide across your desk, you look at them once, then toss them into the trash.
Going paperless at work is about so much more than saving the planet. By ditching paper products, you can help your team save money, improve productivity, and more!
Curious to find out how? Then keep reading!
A Transitional Strategy
Whether you’re in an office of 10 or 1,000, creating a paperless environment takes time. After all, you can’t toss everything in the trash, claim you’re a paperless office, and call it a day.
You have documents to digitize, policies to update, and so much more! Therefore, you’ll need to gather your team and construct a plan for changing your office’s protocols.
Give yourself breathing room. It can take up to a year for most companies to switch plans, so don’t expect sweeping changes to occur right away.
Instead, plan for small, incremental steps. Think of it as a staircase.
A Big Budget Adjustment
The good news is that going paperless frees up space in your budget!
The bad news is, you’ll need to use that extra cash to beef up your cybersecurity strategy, invest in server space, and equip your team with the tools they need to move to a digital-only platform.
At first, you may end up spending more than you’re saving.
However, studies show that switching to a digital platform can help you cut down on storage costs as well as office supplies, thus saving you money longterm.
Don’t skimp on your tools here. A cybersecurity firm or server company that seems the most affordable isn’t always your best bet.
Find a Reliable Platform
Next, you’ll need to think about the kinds of software your office requires to go paperless.
Often, this means utilizing a combination of cloud-based software and digital form storage. Fortunately, you can find plenty of options for both.
Google’s G Suite, for example, allows users to create and collaborate on documents, organize meetings, and browse emails.
As for the latter, something like the More App is worth looking into. It’s a quick and easy way to digitize your documents, integrate data into spreadsheets, and more.
Realistically Going Paperless at Work Isn’t Easy
As you can see, going paperless at work takes a lot more planning and effort than simply making a decision one day. You’ll need to consult the rest of your team, plan for monetary changes, train your team, and secure your data.
But, rest assured, going paperless is worth it at the end of the day. While it takes a great deal of planning upfront, you’ll save money and time in the long run.
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