How to stop good paper from turning bad
Why folder inserters should be a part of any digitisation strategy
New research by Canon Europe1 highlights one of the surprising aspects of
the modern workplace, the enduring appeal of paper. In an international
survey of 1,000 business people, 57% of office workers said they print
more documents today than they did three years ago and more than three
quarters (78%) of decision-makers described document printing as
essential or very important to their business.
That people still choose to print in an era of digitisation, mobility and
anytime, anywhere access to documents is testament to the enduring
appeal of paper. It also raises some important questions about the
function of paper in the modern workplace.
Print management consultants NewField IT says it is important to make a
distinction between good and bad paper2. The first category features
activities where paper has an advantage over digital, such as for reading,
annotating and sharing. The second includes ones where paper creates
waste, additional expense, delays and inaccuracies, such as using it for
information storage, billing/invoicing or signatures.
It is also important to recognise that 'good' paper can turn 'bad' if it is not
managed properly, if print-outs are allowed to accumulate on people's
desks or if paper-based information can't easily be accessed and shared
with others. To prevent this from happening, NewField IT advises
organisations to manage paper use in offices through the implementation
of clear desk policies and scanning and paper recycling once the paper is
no longer needed.
Such measures are good for controlling paper produced by third parties
(i.e. employees, customers, suppliers). But what about documents
produced for third parties, such as letters, bills, statements, proposals,
brochures etc.? Even businesses committed to paper-less working may
still need to produce printed documents, because certain customers prefer
to receive paper documents or because printed material is effective at
generating business (e.g. direct mail). How can you prevent this 'good'
paper from clogging up and delaying your business processes and
compromising a digitisation strategy?
The short answer is to speed up the time between printing and despatch,
with a high level of automation so that offices don't become clogged up
with paper and employees don't have to waste time collating mailings and
filling envelopes. Output management software, high speed printers,
intelligent franking machines will all help in this regard.
So, too, will folder inserters which automate envelope filling. There are
many good reasons to invest in a folder inserter, including reduced
mailing costs, improved accuracy, a more professional appearance,
personalised communications and more impactful, effective mailings. For
businesses attempting to eliminate the inefficiencies of working with
paper, a folder inserter also frees staff from having to waste time collating
documents and filling envelopes by hand.
The slowest folder inserter can process mailings more than 13 times faster
than by hand, with the quickest operating at speeds of up to 12,000
envelopes per hour. Some models can be linked with franking machines in
a fully automated process, from insertion to postbag.
It is safe to assume that folder inserters are rarely considered as part of a
digitisation strategy. However, as long as paper continues to be produced
by businesses to communicate with customers, suppliers and prospects
they have an important role to play in negating the complications and
inefficiencies associated with paper handling/processing. By automating
and streamlining the production of mailings within organisations, folder
inserters minimise the amount of time printed communications are kept
on site and can help prevent 'good' paper from turning 'bad'.
To find out more about how folder-inserters can benefit your organisation,
visit www.neopost.co.uk/filling
1 Canon Europe Office Insights 2016, www.canon-europe.com
2 Good Paper: Bad Paper, NewField IT 2014, www.newfieldit.com/good-paper-bad-paper/