Saturday, 23 August 2014

Corporate Document Scanning: Making Paperwork Evaporate

By Loris F. Anders


Transactions and other business processes require a paper trail. This is part of the law, and is also necessary for bookkeeping or tax purposes. In the past, this would have entailed the use and disposal of vast amounts of paper. However, the modern trend is to optimize office performance through the use of corporate document scanning, electronic document archiving and document cloud solutions.

A paperless office makes administration much easier, and also saves time. Paper records might be misplaced or accidentally discarded. This is not possible on a computer hard-drive if the files have been backed up. Processing and sending paperwork electronically is faster than using hard copies. The quality of the documents is also higher, because nothing is lost in printing them.

Document clouds are online sites that present users with substantial storage space. Users may upload and store material on the site, out of the physical office. This detached method of backing up records is somewhat more secure than physical techniques, whether paper-based or electronic, because the files cannot easily be stolen, sabotaged or eliminated. One way of backing up records online is to e-mail them to a designated e-mail address.

Accuracy in corporate paperwork is very important. Legal contracts or other papers require absolutely perfect printing and faxing, which is not always a possibility. The quality of documentation generally is linked to the impression that a business makes on the public, so electronic media ensure the best possible presentation.

Record-keeping is another function that is related to customer service. Customers hate being told that documents are missing or that their file has been damaged. Yet this often happens in the older paper-based environments. Computer archives have the ability to hold many records or extensive business information in a safer format that can be quickly searched and takes up far less physical space. The corporate image of the business is thus protected by its immediate response to administrative inquiries.

The expense of a paper-based operation is partially eliminated by the introduction of paperless office techniques. Expenditure on stationery is reduced or almost entirely absent. Electronic systems also give workers more options in the processing and design of documentation, leading to easier branding and a more professional customer experience.

Modern businesses should consider switching to a paperless environment. Besides the money that is saved in this way, customer satisfaction is increased and staff spend less time on paperwork and correspondence. Paperless offices represent the business model of the future, and it is better to adopt this strategy sooner rather than later, as it becomes harder to interact with customers and suppliers who already have.




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