The use of paper in collecting data at your workplace or in business is slowing your work down. The processes involved in paperwork are lengthy and can be messy, leading to boredom by people both handling and submitting the data.
At the face value, paper-based forms may seem to be economical and cost-effective but the opposite is true, it can be very costly in terms of wasted time and low productivity.
Below are the 5 key reasons to switch to the digital way.
1. Lower Costs
The cost factor is very important and needs to be put into perspective — it does not only refer to the hardware. Electronic devices of course cost more than reams of paper, even if you buy them in bulk at huge discounts.
Besides, when you factor in the requirement of hiring, training, and employing data entry staff for the paper processes, in addition to buying and setting up the data entry machines, it ends up being costlier.
2. Automated Workflows and Fewer Errors
Electronic forms allow you to make sure the right things happen as soon as data is submitted and make the data collection task run smoothly with zero or few errors.
In addition, collecting data digitally enables you to take the following actions: Automatically trigger alerts and notifications, Place and manage work orders, Update product inventory in real-time and set off your own business workflow as the form is submitted.
3. Immediate access to information
When data is stored digitally, and not on paper in files, accessibility becomes real quick and easy. Employees, consumers, and business owners have access to all data, contracts, and customer files with just a few mouse clicks. This eliminates having to locate the file or form, which saves everyone time.
4. Visibility and Tracking
The analytical tools that come with storing data digitally enable you, the business owner, to keep track and better manage people and assets.
5. Better and Smarter data collection
The transition from pen and paper to digital data collection increases the accuracy and relevance of your data, As your data collection needs change, automatically update your electronic forms for specific members of your team or across your entire workforce while maintaining prior versions for data integrity, Pre-populate form fields with information that you already have in your database, Capture the most accurate data in real-time, even without an internet connection and Dynamically present form questions based on your own business rules and logic.
The transition from pen and paper to digital data collection increases the accuracy and relevance of your data
Ready to make the move to mobile? Start automating your data collection processes now by signing up for Elekatech