Entrepreneurs sometimes lose sight of the little things when focusing on the big picture. It’s important to keep an eye on details that help increase efficiency and cut costs. Go paperless!
Drowning in paper? Technology can help you reduce or even eliminate your need for paper. Try the following options to free your office from overwhelming piles of paper.
Computers: PCs, laptops and handhelds can be combined for document creation mobility and flexibility, stamping out rampant paper use.
Scanners: Scanners create digital images so that documents can be exchanged electronically and preserved easily. When scanning, remember to employ image compression to maintain network performance. Make sure to choose a single, standardized electronic document format so that images can be indexed and searched easily.
E-mail: E-mail is a great substitute for paper memos. Effective e-mail systems should allow users to filter content and file messages electronically by topic. They also should let workers combine e-mail with fax and voice-mail retrieval in a unified messaging system.
Storage systems: Affordable, robust storage technology is essential for high-speed, centralized electronic information management. Check out low-cost systems built upon RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) technology or iSCSI-based storage-area networks.