Reliance on paper is leaving IT sector open to compliancy disasters

Across businesses in the UK, a fifth of employees have also witnessed vital documents and information incorrectly filed, which has led to major losses within the company.

Relying on paper isn’t making the job of working efficiently and compliantly any easier for staff, with over half (53%) finding it hard to store and keep paper files organised. 43% also think that it takes too long to properly fill in paper forms, and almost a third (30%) feel they are spending too much time sending documents to the correct recipients.

But an over-reliance on paper is also putting employees at an increased risk of injury while at work. One in 20 workers have spotted an accident happen because their company was too reliant on paper, and this resulted in an employee injury. A common example of this is through employee handbooks being lost and a member of staff being injured due to correct procedures not being followed.

Colin Yates, chief support officer at WorkMobile, said: “With technology now so readily available for businesses to adopt and modernise their working practices, it is surprising to see that so many are still relying on paper. Ultimately, it is putting businesses at serious risk of financial losses, and also possible legal action, but more worryingly, it is also putting employees in danger.

“The issue with paper documents is that they can be easily damaged, but they can also be lost, meaning that confidential documents could end up in the wrong hands. If sensitive information is compromised, this could leave clients and the business open to scams or being hacked.

“Implementing technology, such as mobile devices and the cloud, can help to eliminate the need for physical paperwork, meaning that these vital pieces of information can be stored securely online and can be accessed in a few clicks. In the search for greater compliancy, adopting the latest innovations can help businesses secure their futures and safeguard the wellbeing of staff.”