Paperless office

[eilano]

Has anyone had experience using a paperless office? We are a third party administration firm that is considering going this route. Any comments would be appreciated.

[Guest [Pat M]]

What type of data are you looking for? Manual-to-auto process conversion feasibility, project specifications, software needs, hardware, web interfaces, project implementation plans, timeframes, programming costs, client conversion planning modules?

[eilano]

We've got the hardware and software to scan a majority of our files and store them on our network. We're trying to determine if there are any potential problems going to a paperless office.

[david rigby]

Call me old fashioned, but to me there is only one original of a document, and it should have a signature on it.

Also, I find it difficult to understand a paperless set of "worksheets". We have had many examples of researching old files, including worksheets, and part of our analysis has been determining the date of some notes and even whose handwriting they are in. Perhaps there are ways for all of us to reduce the amount of paper stored, but there are some records where you will want to have a hard copy.

One possible way to compromise is to retain both electronic copies and paper, and then after a certain time, say 3-5 years, then the paper (or some of it) can be tossed. The other way to help this issue is to print more things double-sided. Some items intended for outside distribution can be done this way, and most things intended for your own files can be.

[This message has been edited by pax (edited 04-20-2000).]