I remember about 15 years ago when my boss still managed almost everything on paper. Even though we were an IT company, the printer was an indispensable tool in our daily workflow. Whenever we had to visit clients, we carried everything with us—from documentation and emails to invoices that needed to be submitted.
This was right around the time of the transition. Everything was already recorded digitally, but the older generation still couldn’t let go of paper.
As a young employee and a proponent of innovation and efficiency, I didn’t quite fit into the picture. I remember being the one who set up our first cloud-based server so that the vast amount of data we worked with wouldn’t be confined to the local network. We visited companies, installed and maintained systems, and this transition proved to be incredibly useful. Back then, Google Drive wasn’t widespread yet, though many were already getting familiar with Dropbox.
Speaking of which, my name is Gergő Vasas, creator of ClickMe Smart Card. After leaving the aforementioned company, I spent nearly two years traveling around the world while working online. This was before the COVID era, a time when it wasn’t yet obvious that everything could be done online. The culture of remote work and similar practices was not as established as it is today.
During this time, I came across numerous online solutions that significantly enhanced workflow efficiency.
I understand that even though the internet has been an active part of our lives for over 20 years, certain technological transitions—especially for older businesses—are still challenging.
While many companies already use online servers, CRM systems, and data collection and analysis tools, personal interaction with clients still lags behind in terms of modernization.
A vast number of contracts worldwide are still managed on paper, even though there are now many legally certified digital alternatives that can replace them.
It’s shocking to think about how much waste we produce just to deliver business offers to potential customers in print. Digital solutions in this area are already deeply embedded in our lives. However, the most effective approach remains targeting our specific audience with educational online content and newsletters. This is also the most discreet method, as users have the right to decide whether they want to receive marketing content or not.
They are almost as useful as printed promotional materials. People take them and then throw them away. In the best-case scenario, they collect dust among other paper scraps in an office for about a year.
Modern businesses now equip their employees with NFC-based digital business cards. The major advantage is that when tapped against a client’s phone, all relevant contact details are immediately saved in their address book. Beyond just phone numbers and email addresses, today’s digital business cards can display promotional materials in the form of PDFs or videos.
Many people are unaware that digital business cards can also work via QR codes, making them easy to place on any surface or even in an email signature.
Nowadays, we measure everything. We analyze our processes and collect feedback from our customers and guests. Yet, in many cases, this still happens on paper. A waiter asks, “How was your meal?” A paper-based survey is passed around at the end of a presentation, or, in the best case, an email is sent later—but response rates are often disappointingly low.
Wouldn’t it be much more elegant to have a stylish wooden plaque with a QR code, simply asking the guest to scan it and leave instant feedback? Whether directing them to Google’s review platform or an internal feedback form, both are great solutions.
Paperless Business and reducing waste is no longer just a PR move for environmental consciousness; it’s an expectation within progressive business operations.
Completely transitioning to a paperless business won’t happen overnight. As with everything, it all starts with the first small step. That’s why it’s crucial to take that step today and gradually move toward the ultimate goal.
