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Operating a Business Remotely? Here’s How to Manage Your Documents and Forms

Published: April 30, 2020 (Updated: November 30, 2023)

OnTask form automation

 

So, thanks to a global pandemic, you’ve been forced into running your business remotely. Perhaps this is a scenario your company was prepared for. Far more likely, you’ve found yourself scrambling to move to a 100% remote workforce with little time to prepare. The good news is: no matter where you find yourself on the preparedness scale, it’s not too late to set your business up for success.

There’s a popular Chinese proverb that says: “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” Basically, if you want success and growth in the future, the time to prepare your business for remote work is now, rather than wasting time wishing you’d taken action earlier.

So, where does one begin when remote work has been so suddenly forced upon you? Certainly, there are dozens of issues to consider when it comes to optimizing a remote workforce — too many for us to adequately address here. So, for now,  we’ll stick with what we know best — how to manage your documents and forms.

Why Automation and Digitization Is Critical

To begin with, if you’ve been operating with paper-based processes — entering data manually on forms, distributing and filing paper-based documents, or collecting in-person signatures — those days are over…at least for awhile. So, if automating and digitizing your paper-based processes was on your “nice to have” priority list, it’s probably time to move it into the “must-have” category, pronto.

When it comes to managing a remote workforce, there’s also the tiny issue of security. Simply put, digital files are generally easier to secure than paper documents. This is especially important when your employees are working from home, where you have less control over who has access to those documents. 

Scanning and sending documents via email also poses a potential security risk if the documents are lost or stolen in cyberspace. Not to mention the fact that your employees’ inboxes are likely flooded with messages, making it hard to keep track of and manage those documents effectively. 

Many business leaders also feel that automating your documents, forms, and processes can help your business better weather the storms of an economic recession, including the one we appear to be entering now. According to  Forbes, 63 percent of business leaders say that automation tools will help safeguard operations against economic downturn.

Automation Offers Long-Term Benefits to Business

Even when you’re back in your office, there are probably many processes you can implement now that will help streamline your business for the future. According to TotalProSource, implementing a well rounded digital automation software solution can benefit your business long-term,  in many different ways, by enabling you to:

  • Access and complete documents easily, from anywhere, whether using a mobile device on the road or working offline at home. 
  • Collaborate with team members no matter where they’re located, and eliminate manual processes. 
  • Collect information and signatures and put them to work on automated workflows.
  • Integrate with systems you already use to get the most ROI.

Choosing the Right Digitizing and Automation Solution

When it comes to your business, we know that a document isn’t just a document and a form isn’t just a form — they’re both critical components of how your business operates. That’s why you must look for an automation solution that easily integrates with your existing systems to ensure you are getting the most productivity and ROI.  

In order to help your business succeed in this changing environment, you need a solution like Docubee, a process automation tool that simplifies the creation, routing, review, and approval of documents and forms. Not only will Docubee help optimize your business for a remote workforce, it will also help enhance your operations for the future by allowing you to:

  • Digitize your forms and document in minutes to collect the right information the first time and put it to work.
  • Route, revise, and approve documents with multiple collaborators.
  • Empower employees to build their own configurable workflow solutions.
  • Automate workflows that enable your team to work and collaborate more efficiently.
  • Create workflows to meet your unique needs and integrate with your CRM and other favorite tools, using a configurable, no-code workflow designer that puts you in control of the process.

Ultimately, by automating and digitizing your forms and documents, you’re not only setting up your remote workforce for success now, you’re also preparing your business to avoid disruption in the future — anytime you, or any key team member is unable to make it to the office.