Kodak Paper-less Challenge - Thinking before Printing
The paperless office has been a vision that's been around for many years.
Computers were a promising invention to help us in creating a paperless work environment but we know that this is not accurate. It seems in many instances it did not reduce but even increase the use of paper. Now we have entered the digital age and with it, we do have a real chance to go paperless.
Just think about how digital photography has changed how we take and view photos. I have boxes full of printed photographs stored away, taking up space. In contrast, digital photos are stored on PC or portable storage device, or even at an online site.
The principle of reduce, reuse, recycle has been embraced by me for quite some time. To avoid creating what is not needed, I entered the world of digital documentation by:
- using online contract forms and addenda
- sending forms, documents, and anything that used to be in letter i.e. on paper by email or electronic fax
- encouraging customers to send documentation by scanning and emailing them
- paying bills online which also saves postage
Additionally,
- I have now signed up for DocuSign to enable customers to sign forms electronically
- I am scanning files for electronic record keeping rather than keeping stacks and file cabinets full of paper files
- while I don't have a business card scanner, it's quite handy to use a camera or my phone to capture documents as a jpg file for later viewing and storage.
and lastly
- I am the queen of reusing paper before recycling it.
Realizing that reusing paper is limited to my personal use, my printer at my home office is stacked with paper that has already been used on one side. Every blank side of paper is reused before it finally goes into the recycle bin or shredder.
As a side effect of all this electronic transmission of information, forms, and virtual paperwork, thinking before printing is always in the forefront. The question is, do I really have to print this letter, article, or form, or can I just read it and save it either online or on my computer or electronic device?
The paper-less challenge is to get more people into the paperless mode one at a time. Some people are not yet comfortable to let go of a tangible hard copy. Some people are wary of electronic signatures but with patience, education, and making these options available to them, more people will be thinking before printing. I'm doing my part, are you?
Kodak Paper-less Challenge - Thinking before Printing
"This post is written as a submission to the ActiveRain & Kodak Paper-less Challenge contest. I have the chance to win the high speed KODAK SCANMATE i1120 Scanner, great for helping real estate professionals reduce their stacks of paper by scanning contracts, photos and business cards in seconds."
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