With all of the "Go Green" messages in the marketplace, we are frequently asked to help businesses minimize their dependence upon resource-draining practices, such as consuming reams of paper and contributing the depletion of fossil fuels, as well as an increase in pollution. Our approach is one of improving your efficiency/productivity through technology and being a good steward of the resources on earth.
There are numerous ways to both improve efficiency and productivty using very simple technology implementations. For assistance implementing these technologies, please contact us!
- Use your website to provide marketing information that you used to print. Rather than printing brochures, consider providing the same information as content on your website, or provide a downloadable PDF of your brochure. You may not eliminate all of your printing needs, but most businesses would prefer to view the content on their timeframe and electronically, rather than storing a hard-copy document. If they wish to have a printed copy, they can print it themselves. The self-print version might not be as slick and high-quality as your 100# cover stock version, but printer paper has a much lower depletion footprint.
- E-mail invoices rather than printing them. Most billing systems now provide the ability to e-mail invoices rather than mailing or faxing them. Not only does e-mailing save paper, it also saves you postage and allows for immediate delivery. If a client requires a hard-copy version, they can choose to print it, but most appreciate the flexibility that an electronic version provides them.
- Develop a document repository for sharing internal documents rather than printing and/or e-mailing documents to your associates. Document management tools can be very simple and inexpensive to set up, yet provide granular access to protect updates and downloads of information.
- Allow your employees and sub-contractors to telecommute. Tools such as document repositories, CRM (customer relationship management) systems, e-mail, Skype (instant messaging), telephones, and online meeting tools, like GoToMeeting, can provide the same level of communication that you get inside a physical location without forcing your team to commute to the office. This approach saves gas, reduces pollution, and generally reduces the level of stress for your team. It is important to note that not all jobs and/or personality types are the right fit for telecommunting, but most businesses have an opportunity to implement a telecommuting program for at least a portion of their workforce. You will also have to outfit an employee with the right equipment and communications tools for telecommuting, but compared with leased office space and the reduction in their costs to come to an office each day, those costs are quickly paid back to an organization.
- Can't do full telecommuting? Let the more self-managed members of your team work a partial telecommuting plan, where they come to the office on certain days. Even minor modifications can have a big impact on your company.
These ideas can help your office run more smoothly, improve the overall morale of your workforce, and help save our natural resources. Be sure to bookmark this page, as it is updated frequently.