1. YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH PAPER YOU
USE ON A DAILY BASIS, LET ALONE WHY.
Without the right data in hand on print habits, it’s difficult to
uncover the hidden opportunities for digitization. You’re stuck
guessing what might work, which is never as reliable as well-
analyzed data. Armed with solid print analytics, company executives
can then make informed decisions about optimizing or
automating key processes.
2. YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN BAD AND GOOD PAPER.
“Good” paper refers to documents that have a valid reason to be
in hard-copy form, such as documents that originate on paper, like
customers’ handwritten letters or documents that require a “wet
ink” signature.
“Bad” paper refers to documents that are in paper format, but
without any compelling reason to be so. These could include documents
that were printed from digital originals or documents that
get shared, stored or transported using physical systems.
Understanding the distinction between them helps identify
where you really need to use paper, and where you can get rid of it.
3. YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR WORKFORCE
AREN’T ON THE SAME PAGE.
Going digital involves changing the way people work and how
they think. People fear the unknown so communicating the reasons
and benefits of change is crucial. By far, the greatest barrier
to change is institutional culture. There has to be company-wide
buy-in to effect real change.
4. YOU’RE STORING REAMS OF DOCUMENTS
BECAUSE YOU “HAVE TO.”
Many organizations are required to retain a variety of documents
for regulatory reasons. In the past, that used to mean banker’s
boxes and multiple copies of the same paperwork. In many cases,
government agencies and regulatory bodies now accept digital versions
and electronic signatures.
5. YOUR COMPANY ISN’T AS COMPETITIVE AS
YOU THINK IT SHOULD BE.
The weight of paper-based processes is holding many Canadian
firms back from keeping up with competitors who have already
made the digital transformation. Unnecessary paper use wastes
resources, undermines productivity, bogs down workflow and
prevents them from realizing advantages derived from becoming
digital enterprises.
Keep an eye out for these telltale signs that your ties to paper are
too strong. Just recognizing you may have a problem is a good start
that you need to get your digital house in order. And it’ll help you
avoid those bad feelings you get waiting by the machine for those
papers you never needed to print. n
Mohan Mailvaganam is the director of digital process automation at
Xerox Canada.
technology
GOING DIGITAL INVOLVES
CHANGING THE WAY PEOPLE
WORK AND HOW THEY THINK.
faithie / Shutterstock.com
32 ❚ AUGUST 2017 ❚ HR PROFESSIONAL