Paper use in the office is declining

Our offices are still not entirely paper-free, but we're slowly getting there. This optimistic prediction has been published in a new report by AIIM, entitled Paper-Free in 2016, Are we there yet?. According to it, the amount of paper going into offices is declining, while digital inbound documents are increasing, for two thirds of business executives.

The report launches as part of the run up to World Paper Free Day (WPFD) 2016, AIIM says, taking place on November 4. "The once elusive concept of paper-free business operations is today a real possibility and real progress has been made over the past 12 months", says Bob Larrivee, chief analyst at AIIM. "It remains unrealistic to think that all business processes and transactions will be paper-free in the near future, but there are definitely certain processes where paper can be removed".

There are "strong signs" of paper usage reduction in certain departments, the report says, with Human Resources decreasing in recruitment by 49 percent, and employee lifecycle by 48 percent. For 41 percent of people in Accounts Payables and for 39 percent in Accounts Receivables, paper use is also decreasing.

"World Paper Free Day 2016 is a really important day, as despite the undoubted progress made over the past year, many organizations are still clogged up and slowed down by paper", says Peggy Winton, acting President, AIIM. "This year we want to pass on our thoughts and expertise in helping to reduce paper-use in the workplace and would like to invite anyone – business, department or individual -- to come and join us on World Paper Free Day 2016".

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