The disadvantages of paper are plentiful, and likely lamented often, but the truth is that going paperless isn’t simply a matter of scanning all of your documents and calling it a day. All processes involving data and communication would need an overhaul. Is it worth it? Manufacturing is by nature all about established processes, so it’s easy to see why for so many organizations this road might look like going against the very essence of their business model.

Going paperless is not only about saving the trees. The need for paperless manufacturing is here to stay and those who refuse to embrace it run the risk of being unable to navigate today’s increasingly digital environment and miss on tomorrow’s growth opportunities. Let’s take a look at why it’s worth making the leap.

Paper isn’t safe

You can’t safely store data that are kept on paper. Data can’t be encrypted, everything can get easily lost or damaged, even destroyed, and catch the eye of an unauthorized person. With paper, there is never a guarantee that the information stored is where it should be, and used only by those it should be used by. And even if you have a system in place, tracking the location of every piece of paper is a time-wasting operation. Especially with increasing data protection legislation, such as the GDPR, data safety becomes a priority. Using paper can no longer ensure compliance.

Paper doesn’t provide a top-level view

Manufacturing businesses deal with an immeasurable amount of data, all necessary to drive the company forward. How can you have full overview of what’s going on if some data is stored on paper? Having paper also doesn’t facilitate easy sharing. Digital environments promote accuracy, in-depth analyses that go out of the box, and efficient communication. Everything necessary to make smart decisions and bring your company to the future.

No more stress about compliance

An audit or regulation check will never cause stress again when your data is safely and clearly stored, and you already know, because it’s right in front of you, that everything is in order. When you can see all of your up-to-date permits in one place, your safety checks, all incident and risk reports, data from the last audits and the action points that were taken, … when all of this is centralized in a software program, there’s no doubt you’re compliant, and you’ll meet the next auditor with confidence.

The cost of paper-related mistakes is much higher than the cost of a software program

Easily avoided costly mistakes include: miscommunications, misplaced permits leading to fines, unreported incidents or machinery malfunctions leading to unexpected costly maintenance and repairs,… these types of errors cost the industry millions each year, much more than investing in a software program that digitizes data. A software system might require a serious rethinking of your internal systems and processes, but the ROI goes beyond monetary advantages. You invest in improved quality, safety, innovation, and collaboration.

Does your company still use paper? What’s holding you back from stepping into a fully digital future? Let us know, and don’t forget to subscribe for more industry insights!