Did you know the Ontario Government’s Treasury Board Secretariat projects it will save $26,200 a year just by eliminating paper at meetings and briefings—and that’s just one ministry! The benefits of a paperless agency aren’t limited to cost savings alone. According to Iron Mountain, digitizing processes can also improve employee morale, workflow and response times.
With these tips and government promotional product ideas, you can dive into the digital age. Here’s how:
Improve employee morale
According to the Iron Mountain article linked above, many government processes are still reliant on paper documents that can hinder productivity, which decreases employee morale. With digital files, there are fewer handoffs. That leads to improved workflow—and more time to deliver quality public service.
Convenience
As Iron Mountain also mentions, those working in paper-intensive agencies can spend upwards of 40% of their time trying to locate documents? And 7% of documents get misfiled or, worse yet, lost? Digital documents are always available, and with an excellent electronic filing system, they can be quickly located too.
Quicker response times
Going paperless not only improves workflow, it shortens response time. Imagine how happy your constituents will be when they can request a form or document and receive it the very same day! Digital documents are easily emailed, eliminating the need for an in-person visit to your agency—or the wait time that comes with delivery via regular mail.
If your agency is ready to take the digital plunge, here are some tips to get you started.
Up to speed
Get everyone up to speed on your new paperless processes with training on software, procedures and compliance. Cover everything from file-naming conventions to accessibility and sharing limitations to security. Encourage participation with useful training giveaways, like lanyard USB drives and stylus pens.
Buy-in
Employee and constituent buy-in are a must if you want digitization efforts to be successful. Demonstrate how going paperless can make your employees’ jobs easier. Post fun facts on your intranet or in your employee newsletter (think stats on time savings and employee satisfaction). Poll your stakeholders to find out what processes or services they’d like to see digitized. And reward constituents who choose digital options over paper ones. A prize draw for a premium gift, like this smart writing set, makes a great incentive.
Lead by example
Make sure each department or agency head leads by example. Set goals for each department or branch. For instance, reduce the amount of paper in the recycling bins. Or have a certain percentage of documents in electronic format by year-end. Reward those who meet their goal with a prize. Touch-screen memo pads or dry erase boards are great paperless promotional product ideas.
Whether you’re new to a paperless office or on your way to being fully digitized, these tips and government promotional product ideas can get you moving in the right direction.