If you believe pop culture and the influence of the tech world, then it’s easy to believe that paperless offices are the new norm. But is this really the case, or have things been slightly over-exaggerated?

 

Certainly, for some business sectors, the paperless office may never be a reality; particularly, solicitors, accountants, schools and estate agents – and others operating within highly regulated working environments – it must feel like paper is here to stay. But is there an alternative way? 

 

 

Perhaps for now, sectors who must use paper could instead focus on becoming a ‘reduced paper office’; it doesn’t fully realise the paperless dream, but it’s certainly a good step with plenty of the same benefits along the way. And paper reduction starts with simpler, smarter document management, just like you get with NWD’s digital document management system, Papercut.

 

A Painless Papercut

 

So what Is Papercut? We’ve said it before, but our Papercut is truly revolutionary; we really mean it – this is the undisputed future of document management.

 

 

Papercut is brilliant, because it harnesses all your printing, scanning, copying and faxing functions in one place. Using one, easy to use programme, installed across your office network or computers, Papercut helps the business to;

 

• Track all staff printing across your whole business
• Generate savings through smarter printing rules and restrictions set by you
• Remotely send prints to a shared printer nearest to staff, reducing the number of individual printers
• Reduce waste and monitor spending through reporting by employee, function or location
• Support cultural change with customised popups and reminders that will also encourage responsible printing.

 

What’s more, you can even print from any device, including company laptops, personal tablets and even smartphones. Plus, it’s secure enough even for the most sensitive of documents.

 

Overall, Papercut saves you time and money, streamlines your workflow, reduces waste, and increases efficiency and productivity. It’s an easy to use and straightforward system that can be rolled out for all staff regardless of tech confidence.

 

 

The main thing to remember though is that taking this step towards a paperless office means taking back control of your paper use and waste and, by using a system like Papercut, you’ll be completely in charge of how much is printed and why. By setting controls, you will be able to eliminate the pattern of habitual printing, challenging staff to think before they print.

 

What’s more, as well as influencing staff behaviour and reducing the costs to your bottom line, you’re also preventing becoming the environmental wasteland that some paper offices can be! Reducing thoughtless paper use can help to improve your environmental impact, so you’re not just taking control of your own environment, but reducing your impact on the wider one too.

 

The Pros and Cons of Going Paperless

 

But whether you decide to use Papercut or not, the overall benefits of going paperless are undeniable, with just some of the many and varied bonuses being;

 

• Improved environmental impact by saving paper and reducing printing waste
• Better digital record keeping and document control
• Reduced impacts from external threats, such as fire or theft
• Improved security with less paper to be lost, shared or destroyed

 

 

Yet, having said that, going paperless can be a massive step for any organisation, so it’s crucial that you bear some major factors in mind. And one of the biggest things to remember is that your company culture needs to be ready to embrace the reduced paper environment.

 

Before you panic though, North West Digital and Papercut are here to help, and we can help guide both employers and employees through the process towards innovation. With the right training, support and monitoring of success, your transition will be as smooth as possible and all your employees will feel comfortable working digitally before you know it.

 

Get In Touch

 

The alternative is here. With technological advancements and the right support from us, the possibility of going paperless is even closer than you think. Both North West Digital and Papercut can help you take that first step towards the dream of the paperless office, even though you may not be able to achieve it straight away.

 

 

So are you ready? If you think it’s time to make the step towards your paperless office, then please get in touch with us today. Our friendly expert team are waiting to help you. Call 0161 477 8950, email info@, or submit an enquiry form through the website and we’ll get back to you as quickly as we can!