Going Paperless - Progressively Reducing the Need for Paper

Going Paperless - Progressively Reducing the Need for Paper

Going paperless - when I wrote my first going paperless challenge post back in February 2011, my focus had already been on saving paper with the motto of reduce-reuse-recycle in mind.

Since then, I have continued what I had already implemented in my own business practices - using online forms , emailing documentation rather than faxing - as well as at home and tried to expand them even further going as far as educating my customers how to scan and email documents. 

Even better, our brokerage has adopted the principle of the paperless office as well.  All our forms, instructions, and other office documentations are in electronic form, accessible from anywhere via our office website.  

All our transaction files are also stored electronically eliminating the need not only for paper but also for filing cabinets.

To expand the paperless concept, I am no longer printing CMAs for listing presentations.  Instead, I use my iPad --- I finally bought one and can truly say, I wish I had done it sooner.   I have to say, my sellers really enjoy this form of presentation!  I can then email the presentation to the sellers while they are still sitting in front of me.  Or, if they happen to choose not to list, they won't have a need for my documentation.  Again, the paperless presentation is of benefit as no papers need to be left behind! 

Some new applications that I am using are also helping to contribute to going paperless: 

• Dropbox allows me to access documents, photos and files on several computers. 
• Evernote - again on my iPad - has replaced my paper notes and gives me the advantage of filing my notes systematically for easy retrieval at any time.
• PDF Expert lets me fill out pdf forms so I can save them and email them without ever having to print.

Is there room for improvement?  Of course, there is. The paperless office is not perfected.   Although I can see the benefit of using DocuSign, I haven't implemented electronic signing as much as I thought I would.  Which means that although I am saving paper on my end, somewhere along the line, someone is still printing, signing in ink, and then emailing documents back to me.  

Still new at using my iPad, I'm constantly searching for new applications that will help me keeping things virtual rather than on paper.  It's a learning experience, some things seem to work better for me than others.  

Finally, in revisiting my post from last year, I realized I still haven't gotten that business card scanner! I'd better go look for one!

Going Paperless - Progressively Reducing the Need for Paper