How much does it cost to go paperless?

Document scanning and the goal of going paperless has been one of the biggest talking points for businesses over the last few years. The incredible benefits offered by simply scanning existing documents and moving towards a digital way of working has allowed businesses in all sectors and sizes to reap the productive and financial rewards of this modern way of working. However despite offering up a range of advantages, some businesses are still reluctant to make the switch due to the initial financial outlay.

But exactly how much does it cost for a business to go paperless?

Essentially, and somewhat frustratingly, for business owners there is no set price. All businesses have different needs, wants and goals, therefore, we accurately say, “It will cost £XX to make your company paperless.” Depending on the size and requirements, document scanning can cost as little as a couple of hundred pounds, and rise up to thousands of pounds, with potential additional hardware investments on top of that. And although this may seem like a lot of money, the initial outlay and cost of going paperless is by far eclipsed by the incredible savings that can be made.

Reap the financial paperless rewards

Those who have embraced the paperless revolution have reaped the rewards; in fact the number one drive for businesses to go paperless is the potential cost saving. YouGov states that SMEs in the UK waste over £42.2M per day on finding and retrieving information. But once a company relies less on physical documents, this figure drops significantly.

So with that in mind, why haven’t more businesses taken the leap and looked into paperless solutions? Essentially, the human race is against change. As a species, we resist change whenever and wherever we can, only taking small steps at a time. And overhauling a workplace in order to embrace the benefits of a paperless environment is often seen as one step too far for many. Yet with such high levels of inefficiency, it’s astounding that so few businesses have rebuffed the idea.

The YouGov survey mentioned above also suggested that 65% of UK SMEs are still to take this very step, while 31% of respondents highlighting that if they weren’t looking for documents, they could use the time to work on business growth and development.

With such incredible statistics, it really is unbelievable that businesses are still focussed on physical and paper documents – and particularly striking that SMEs, which are usually seen as pioneers, are putting off these developments.

What are you waiting for?

If you’re thinking about taking the leap towards a paperless working world, get in touch with us and see how we can help your business improve its efficiency and give it room to grow with our document scanning and management services. We offer free, no obligation quotes and can work with you to meet your needs, on your budget.