Summary
Realistically, the parties in many entities and transactions are not ready for a completely paperless environment. The ideal situation is that paper is replaced by electronic formats (imaging), resulting in electronically created information that reduces paper dependency and provides automating processes that effectively make using paper an option rather than a necessity. Large corporations began the move to becoming paperless with imaging and electronic data interchange (EDI), when they realized that online information, being more readily available, reduced their costs. Small businesses are moving in a similar direction, including using e-signatures, thereby eliminating the need to print an original, only to copy it and then scan it back into the system. Of course, in order to achieve this level of automation, we need to shed our reservations about technology and accept that it is a viable way to conduct business that is stable enough to be trusted. The increased use of electronically created, forms-based information rather than hard copy moves us into a more fluid environment. Enterprise content management, while making information more manageable and accessible, should still be used in conjunction with a strong records management policy that is documented, regimented, and defendable.
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Going Paperless: Are We There Yet?
This year's PCPS/Texas Society of CPAs National Management of Accounting Practice (MAP) survey reported that 41% of CPA firm respondents indicated that they would consider going paperless, and 20% already have done so. In addition, 23% of the firms are planning to go paperless, but 13% will not consider it. In the following article, the author takes a historical perspective of efforts and advances that made the paperless office possible. By highlighting the milestones, he identifies and discusses the issues to be addressed and the obstacles to overcome in going paperless.
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