Going paperless can be a dream for many businesses in any industry, but achieving these goals is often far from idyllic. The stress and challenges of eliminating physical documents and implementing key paperless resources can be overwhelming for IT leaders and other key business decision makers alike. In order to streamline these processes and hopefully simplify the shift from a paper-centric company to a purely digital one, many firms should consider investing in high-quality BPM software first.
From reducing operational costs to increasing the accuracy and speed of workflow, going paperless has many benefits. First and foremost among these is the optimized efficiency of processes. The ability to focus on work, get results faster and be able to turn week or day long processes into hour or minute long ones can be incredibly helpful for firms of all kinds. However, in order to achieve these goals companies have to get rid of the paper roadblocks in their way.
Implementing improved business process management software helps redirect workflow in several ways. It streamlines the flow of information and helps improve automation - the removal of the human element for key tasks in order to expedite them and reduce the risk of error. Both of these efforts help improve general processes in ways that further a company's ability to eliminate paperwork and start moving toward digital workflows.
In order to fully optimize the approach to going paperless, however, businesses also have to understand where their paperwork comes from. Paper isn't just internally created, partners, vendors, suppliers and clients all generate it as well, in the forms of contracts, invoices, supply sheets and receipts. By getting all of these different information creation points onto the same page, or implementing the conversion services necessary to make them a non-issue, a business can enhance the flow of data throughout every facet of operations and focus on efforts such as automation to continue enhancing workflow.
While the complete elimination of paper might be the final goal, improving processes and workflow through BPM deployment is incredibly beneficial on its own. These efforts will boost productivity and reduce operational costs while paving the way to future innovations like going completely digital. By taking this road, a firm can refocus its efforts on true optimization, and leave little room for error as it drives progress into the modern age.
Malcolm Ross
Vice President of Product Marketing
