Is the thought of a true paperless office just a dream?

We have been hearing about the paperless office for what may seem like years now, yet most workplaces today still rely on fax machines, copiers, and forests worth of paper documents. Is the paperless office just like the individual jet pack? Long promised but never delivered? The simple answer? No. The world is still moving toward paperless offices. It’s simply taking more time than some would like. 

The advantages of paper

Digital copies of documents and communications are nice, but paper continues to be useful in many cases. Even individuals who work at the most eco-friendly offices, with reduced paper use policies, find a need for paper. Paper can be extremely portable and quick. You can quickly jot down a phone number on a sticky note and slip it in your pocket or leave your cubicle neighbor a quick note saying the boss stopped by. If you’re responsible for going over important documents prior to release, hard copy editing is usually much easier than editing on a computer screen. Sometimes it is easier to spot small typos on a physical copy.

Less paper than ever

Paper is becoming less and less important.  Many of our past paper processes can now be done on a computer. Team communication is handled via email. Even instant messaging has taken the place of paper notes to coworkers. Smartphones and tablets have taken over the need for a physical calendar/schedule system. If you take a glance back at how far business has come in the past decade, it’s pretty clear that paper, while not fully obsolete, is no longer king.

The future

It’s obvious that offices of the future will rely on less paper than even we do now, but will paper ever really go the way of the milkman? Maybe. Some people still prefer having their milk delivered from a local dairy but most are content to pick it up from the store when they need it.

Paper will most likely go the same route and it will be a personal preference as to how much paper is consumed in the office. As many of our business processes rely on digital solutions, there will always be a select few who prefer good old-fashioned pen and paper.