Hand to CAD provides businesses with advice on how to reduce paper consumption. Large format Paperless Office Scanning When it comes to reducing paper consumption, there are a multitude of tips and tricks available to help individuals and businesses reduce their paper usage. The majority of this advice, however, is impractical for businesses to implement on a daily basis, given that they must continue operating and, in many cases, increase output in response to rising customer demand. For many years, Hand to CAD has been at the forefront of the paperless movement. Their innovative expertise has helped tens of thousands of businesses, both large and small, reduce their paper consumption. As a successful company that has been in operation for over two decades, the company has witnessed firsthand the shift in industry thinking and the impact that going paperless can have on businesses. Since this is the case, the company might be the best one to give advice to businesses that want to use less paper. 

So what are the pioneering company’s top tips for businesses looking to reduce waste and up their green credentials?

For most, the golden rule is “Think before you print.” However, this is a broad term that is not always clear. When it comes to printing in the workplace, emails, documents, and images are all commonplace; however, by implementing a few simple changes, the amount of paper used can be reduced by almost half. Emails are one of the most frequently printed documents in the workplace, according to Michael Herman, managing director of Hand to CAD Group. “And while some emails do need to be printed for meetings and reference, the reality is that when you click “print,” you end up with unnecessary signatures and replies. Instead of printing the email immediately, you should copy and paste the necessary text into a document and print it from there. “This will typically reduce your paper usage by at least half every time you print an email.” It is possible to reduce the amount of paper used to print text documents. Changing the text font size to 9 or 10 points can significantly reduce paper usage, especially for large documents. Most programs are preset to 11 or 12 points, so reducing this by two or three points can significantly reduce waste. Moreover, this can be enhanced by configuring printers to print on both sides of the paper by default. If a large number of documents need to be printed, it is also a good idea to place non-sensitive information on scrap paper so that the back can be used for note-taking. Herman adds, “Every day, the world uses one million tons of paper.” And it’s not unreasonable to suggest that a significant portion of this could be mitigated by taking simple steps. It has been suggested that at least a 20% reduction is possible in the majority of offices; all that is required is a slight shift in perspective and practice. “It will soon become the norm.” Creating a paperless office is one of the best ways to reduce paper consumption, and many businesses have adopted this strategy as the world has become more digitalized. Scanning existing documents and adopting digital principles, such as digital mailrooms and survey scanning, can help to reduce paper usage enterprise-wide and streamline businesses in order to increase overall productivity. Has the paperless movement contributed to the rise in work-from-home opportunities? Large format Paperless Office Audit In the past, working from home was considered unusual. However, working from home has become the norm for many.

What has helped push this trend forward?

Going paperless has had a significant impact on home work. Unquestionably, the paperless movement has contributed significantly to the almost unprecedented rise of remote work. Despite the fact that the paperless movement has been relatively under the radar for the past decade, the increased importance and continued reliance on computers and technology have pushed the idea of going paperless forward. As a result, the paperless office is no longer considered a pipedream, with organizations around the world striving for a paper-free workforce. Paperless work forces have saved businesses millions of pounds due to increased productivity and decreased expenditure on paper and ink, to name a few advantages. And now the rise of remote work is having a similar effect on businesses. Going paperless liberates staff It is now commonplace for workers in the Western world to work remotely, either regularly or ad hoc, to meet their needs. Companies allow employees to work from home in order to reduce commuting costs, assist with child care, and, of course, save money on office space. And the transition to a digital workforce has enabled all of this. Going paperless grants employees unrestricted access When people work remotely, they have instant access to all of their files, folders, and documents. Unlike paper files, documents are now stored on clouds and computers, allowing for instant access from anywhere and at any time. If, for example, a person wanted to work from home but did not work in a forward-thinking, paperless office and did not have the necessary documents on hand, this would be nearly impossible. And it is in this instance that going paperless truly shines. Paperless operations increase collaboration. Paper files simply cannot compete with digital files when it comes to the ability to collaborate, receive, edit, and return work from anywhere in the world. Which has led to the obvious question, “Do we really need to go to work, or can we be just as productive, if not more productive, at home?” What are your thoughts on the rise of remote work? Have you implemented it in your organization? Are you interested in implementing a paperless office? Learn how we can assist you.