The most satisfying thing about change is the results, so make sure you’re keeping track of what paperless document management is doing for your operation. This is like the cookie at the end of the chores: it makes any effort worthwhile, and motivates you to forge ahead.

• If you were able to eliminate your existing paper documents by scanning them into an online system, how much space did you reclaim from onsite storage?
• How much are you saving each month in offsite storage bills?
• Were you able to do anything with this extra space or money – maybe expand a break room, add a day care center, or hire another staff member to support your growing business?
• What about productivity – how much time did it previously take you to file or find a document, and what’s it down to now?
• What have you been able to do with that extra time? Has it helped you get more work done without hiring additional staff? Be more responsive to internal and external requests for information, or spend more time with customers or patients?

The proof is in the pudding when it comes to shifting from paper to pixels – and you may be surprised at just how much your old filing system was holding you back.

Making the move to a paperless workflow doesn’t have to be daunting. Whether it was a solo decision made on the spot or a months-long process that required buy-in from several decision-makers at your organization, you chose paperless because it was right for you. When you take the time to briefly map out a plan, figure out what happens once the system’s up and running and keep track of your results, you’ll find that a hosted document management system makes even more sense than you originally thought.

Oh, and one more thing: Don’t forget to enjoy yourself. Look around your office – more space, less paper, more productive employees. Aren’t you glad you made the change?