In any business large or small, paperwork is a necessary evil. Whether it is job applications, accounting forms, or other pieces of paper about this and that, it can become very easy for you and your staff to get bogged down in what seems like a never-ending pile of paperwork. Fortunately, there are many steps you can take to simplify paperwork for your business. If you’re ready to do so, keep these tips in mind.
Handle Each Piece of Paper Only Once
If you can get into the habit of handling a piece of paper only once, you will be amazed at how much easier your company’s paperwork becomes on a daily basis. Instead of sending a document from one stack to another, take care of it the first time it gets into your hand. This can mean paying a bill when it arrives, delegating the task to an employee right away, or making a phone call while the document is on your desk.
Go Digital
Should you be tired of staring at file cabinet after file cabinet, consider using E-Form software to help your business go digital. This will not only make keeping track of everything much easier but also free up plenty of office space once the file cabinets disappear. However, remember to create backups of all computer files, just in case something happens.
Paperless Billing and Statements
As you know, bills and other financial statements can quickly pile up on your desk as well as those of your employees. To make this a thing of the past, try going paperless with billing and statements sent to vendors and customers. Also, try going paperless with your company’s banking and utility services. Once you enact these steps, you’ll get far less mail, meaning there will be far fewer pieces of paper to clutter up your desk.
Change Your Way of Thinking
Finally, you may need to change the way you and your employees view paperwork. For example, try getting everyone in the habit of not printing out emails and other online information unless it is absolutely necessary. Once this gets started on a company-wide basis, the number of paperwork people have on their desks will be substantially reduced.
Though it may take some time to put each of these steps into practice, your efforts will eventually pay off. Before you know it, your desk and those of your employees will be virtually paperwork-free, setting the stage for increased productivity and efficiency.
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