With many paper manufacturers increasing paper prices by up to 10 per cent – and more expected to follow suit – small and medium-sized businesses need to brace themselves for further hikes in their stationery and printing costs.
The paper price increases are fuelled by rising pulp costs and UK paper shortages, with some suppliers restricting volumes of paper into the UK. The shortage has been exacerbated by the closure of the UK’s last remaining paper mill in Ellesmere Port earlier this year.
Draycir Director, Robert Ball, says: “This isn’t just about paper becoming more expensive, it’s the knock-on impact it will have on printing, stationery and other office costs too. On the back of the recent postal strikes, it’s just another reminder that businesses need to move away from counting increased costs to counting the savings from going paperless.”
Research by Envirowise shows that much of the paper used by businesses just goes to waste. Office workers get through an average of 50 sheets per day, most of which goes straight into the bin. In fact, 80.6 million tonnes of printing and writing paper enters the UK waste stream each year – that’s almost a quarter (24%) of all UK waste.
With paper shortages worsening and prices spiralling upwards, there’s never been a better time for SMEs to reduce their paper consumption. Measures like double-sided printing and eliminating unnecessary email printing can reduce costs by around 20% – but going totally paperless is a realistic option for SMEs.
Spindle Professional, the paperless office software from Draycir offers businesses a straightforward, low cost way to go paperless – virtually overnight. The software integrates with many existing applications, including Word, Excel, Sage and many more, and allows all documentation to be sent by email or fax, and to be archived electronically.
SMEs using the paperless office software are saving an average of £5,000 on annual postage and stationery costs. Even switching to electronic rather than paper invoices can cut costs, as well as improving cash flow through prompter payments.
Huntingdon-based electronic instrument manufacturer Thurlby Thandar Instruments (TTi) invested in Spindle Professional last year.
TTI’s Production Director, Keith Purely, says: “Today, 95% of our customers receive sales acknowledgments automatically via email so we’re running a virtually paperless office. As well as the customer service benefits, we’re saving more than £10,000 each year in reduced printing and postage costs.”
Spindle Professional won the Paperless Office Software category at the 2009 Software Satisfaction Awards, which was voted for by end users – reinforcing Draycir’s position at the forefront of the paperless revolution.
Businesses can work out the cost savings of going paperless using Draycir’s Spindle Professional savings calculator, which is available on request from sales@draycir.com