Data management helps companies go paperless and go green

Posted by Justin Hesser on July 24, 2013

Going green is one of the key initiatives at many organizations, even those that aren't in environment-related industries. New regulations are being written each day that mandate environmentally friendly operations, so it's up to companies to find new ways to reduce their carbon footprint. 

Strategies range from installing high-end solar and wind energy solutions to implementing simple changes to office policies, like requiring employees to shut down all computers at the end of the day. Phasing paper out of the daily workflow is one tactic that has received universal adoption, as it offers numerous advantages.

The removal of paper in the office can reduce the risk of lost information in the event of a fire or natural disaster, it can improve operational efficiency and it can help with environmental initiatives. Rather than using large quantities of paper to record information, businesses that go strictly digital will likely see an improvement in these areas of their operations.

The proliferation of mobile devices in the corporate environment has helped increase the usefulness of a paperless office. Instead of carrying around stacks of physical documents, employees can pull them up on their smartphones or tablets, giving them access to the same information. This is both an efficient and environmentally friendly practice, but it requires strong data management.

An article in the online publication Smart Data Collective lists a number of advantages companies can enjoy by implementing a big data strategy. Chief among them is a reduced reliance on paper.

"There is no need to continue the use of shipment forms or other paper documents when filing information," the article says. "Business data management in 2013 should be based around the advanced IT and data management systems that are available. All shipping documents, client portfolios and stock inventory should be kept within a centralized data server, whether it is a mainframe computer system or an outsourced cloud service."

Of course, having the right data solutions in place is imperative. If companies are going to be successful in their efforts to ditch physical documentation for digital information sharing, data must pass through a system that can collect, process and store information quickly and efficiently. Using FileMaker development to build a custom database software system will give businesses this advantage.

Ultimately, enhancing data management processes allows companies to move forward and implement innovative new strategies that boost efficiency and reduce environmental impact.