How Cloud Technology Benefits Paperless Processes

Going paperless has been a longtime concept for businesses, but many have been hesitant to execute it in their own offices. This hesitation is often due to the fear of losing hard-copy reports and being dependent on electronics alone. There are a variety of tools, however, that have convinced the most fearful of the paperless office. One of those is cloud technology, which has become prominent in the corporate world. Now, it is becoming integrated with paperless document management as a new beneficial characteristic.

For those who have never experienced the cloud and how it works, what are some ways it can benefit companies?

How it works

The cloud, to put it simply, the concept of saving information on the Internet as opposed to on a hard drive. Hard disks come with bigger risks of failing and losing data, while the Internet tends to be much more secure in this aspect. The Global Dispatch explained many have used Facebook’s cloud to save photos for the last few years, for instance.
The benefits cloud hosting provides make it sound like a heavy investment, but it is not pricey. It’s also much more reliable and performs faster processes with enhanced CPU speed and memory, according to the source. While cloud solutions are available for entire business infrastructures, they have also been combined with specific programs such as document management software.

Why it’s beneficial

Outside of its speed and cost, the cloud offers more advantages to its users. Cybersecurity has become a necessity for any new technology within a business, and it has to be implemented with not just one solution, but a multi-layered approach, according to Business 2 Community. The cloud includes basics such as firewalls and encryption, and then adds qualities such as data backup to ensure preservation if the worst does happen.

Collaboration is a characteristic of any successful team, inside or outside a company. The cloud enhances it by allowing groups to work together on projects through technology, rather than having to make paper copies for everyone. Documents in the cloud can be accessed only by those with the right authorization, which means that there’s security with any kind of report in the system. Employees can view the project through the cloud either in the same room or remotely, and work together no matter their location.

For organizations looking to streamline their processes and improve their work environment with technology, document management software with cloud integration may be a worthwhile investment. Companies that become paperless become greener, more efficient, and better able to provide faster solutions for their clients and employees. As technology grows, so do programs that encourage paperless offices, as they’re always improving by integrating new qualities and benefits.