Practical advice on how to print less paper in the office. Easy quick tips and strategic technological solutions to help save money and be more productive.
2. How To Print Less Paper
Why Do People Still Print So Much Paper?
Printing documents, emails, e-tickets is a die-hard habit, at home
and in the office. Most of us still do it, sometimes to keep a paper
trail of correspondence, sometimes absent-mindedly. Needless
to say, our environment pays the highest toll for our carelessness,
but our work productivity is, in fact, often affected by this
practice.
Younger generations, better acquainted with online storing and
sharing systems have embraced the cloud and use it without
hesitation, because they grew up with it. Yet, things are very much
different for the rest of us.
But why is it so?
3. How To Print Less Paper
Security
Many people still tend not to trust the cloud or other forms of paperless storage: often keeping important
documents tucked in a file on a computer or in a filing cabinet. This is in spite of the notable advances in
security technology of the past decade: today even banks advise their customers to choose e-statements
to avoid waste, but also to keep things safe and controlled. Current technology makes it very safe for all,
households and businesses alike, to store safely the most important of documents without the need of
printing them.
Habit
Printing and using so much paper is often done out of sheer habit. Keeping a physical copy of everything is
the way some people and companies still preserve what is important. Times have changed though and we
have to change with them.
Old Systems
Business systems often evolve over a long period of time and are maintained by people who still believe in
them or can’t see another alternative. The prospect of changing a system of printing and local storage can
4. How To Print Less Paper
be perceived as too big of a job to handle given the existing volume or people involved. Change can be
hard… but it’s our job at Nano Solutions to make it easy and manageable. Doing so can free up more time
and make your company more competitive.
But first… here are a few easy fixes anyone can do.
Quick Solutions To Reduce Office Printing
Excessive printing, especially at work, is detrimental to both the environment and our productivity. You can
begin to dismantle this old habit by implementing some simple tricks:
• Place reminders and post-its near printers and photocopiers to make you think twice about
printing/photocopying that document.
• Create a checklist to find out if printing a document is truly necessary.
• Use already printed paper to print in-office documents.
5. How To Print Less Paper
Technological Solutions Can Greatly Reduce Paper
Printing
The following solutions are real game changers and can have a
remarkable effect on the way you do business.
We can save even more paper and time by getting acquainted
with the myriad of technological solutions available that can help
reduce the amount of printing we do. For instance, we can:
• Use an automated system to back up all data in real
time: this allows access to files anytime, anywhere and decreases exponentially the risk of losing
information by failing to regularly save documents manually; it also means files do not need to be
printed out every time a change is made.
• Use file and document sharing applications to keep the team connected and up to date at all
times: Dropbox, Google Docs, but also in-house apps and portals are great solutions to give every
6. How To Print Less Paper
member of staff access to common files, agendas and timetables, saving time and smoothing out
networking. It also cuts greatly the need to print documents.
• Use e-sign technology: this allows documents to be signed directly on computers or mobile devices
and cuts the need to print forms out to be signed.
The Benefits
Ultimately, integrating modern cloud systems and printing less is beneficial for plenty of reasons:
• Creates more time for you and your staff.
• Enhances communication as information is available anywhere.
• Proper use of systems increases productivity and competitiveness.
• Helps the environment.
7. How To Print Less Paper
Nano Solutions Can Help
If you are thinking to finally embrace cloud technology to improve your business’ performances, Nano
Solution can help you.
Nano Solutions specialises in cloud systems for businesses and can develop an in-house system perfectly
tailored to the necessities of your own firm. Kick off a change for the better and give us a shout today to
discuss the possibilities.