In 1975, Bloomberg Business Week published an article focusing on the office of the future. Business professionals projected a paperless office environment by 1995.
“I’ll be able to call up documents from my files on the screen, or by pressing a button,” George E. Pake, an executive of Xerox Corporation Research Center, said. “I can get my mail or any messages. I don’t know how much hard copy [printed paper] I’ll want in this world.”
Pake’s prediction was on par. However, nearly 40 years later, many companies are just beginning to embrace paperless technologies, according to Forbes. The trend is starting to pick up as various corporations are leaving folders and filing cabinets behind and are now turning to digital document management software, such as ERP solutions. Not only does ERP software save people from the occasional paper cut, but it also comes with a range of benefits, such as reducing clutter around the office, saving ink, toner and printing costs and supporting an environmentally friendly work culture.
By going paperless, the environment benefits significantly. Published in a Tech New World article, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says paper manufacturing is one of the worst polluters to land, air and water of any industry in the country. Paper manufacturing contributes to deforestation, the greenhouse effect and global climate change, according to World Watch Institute.
ERP software allows companies to see the nitty-gritty details of the manufacturing process. According to Metal Forming Magazine, operators can access real time information on work instructions, material needs and product lines. Since operators don’t have to worry about a misplaced piece of paper, communication to the production floor is streamlined and greatly reduces errors in the production line. With all of these benefits, the transition to paperless documentation with ERP solutions is worth the investment.