It seems like I have been told about this paperless office for a very long time. However, I am yet to work in one of these places, despite the fact that I have been working in a variety of offices for decades. Here in India, we love our offices and have been, in many instances, missing them due to the COVID-19 lockdowns. Many of us are looking forward to getting back to work in the office in cities around this nation. I do think that the pandemic has hastened the digital revolution and reduced the amount of paper being used but paperless? No way Mahatma! Another factor to consider is document destruction in the paperless office: Myths and realities abound.

Technology Driving the Great Leap Forward in India

Is the paperless office an Indian myth in the 21C? Or is Indian business embracing the digital revolution and saying Namaste to paper? Like most places I think a bit of both is true in India in 2020. Technology is acknowledged as the driver of the great leap forward in our country and around the globe. It is, also, much easier to get turmeric stains off a digital copy than from paper, in my own experiences. Of course, the reality is that very few offices are genuinely paperless, so if you think they are, and therefore have neglected to put in place a strategy for document destruction of hard copy material, you’re leaving your intellectual property and secrets wide open to theft.

People Still Love Paper in Particular Places

There will always be a need for document destruction paper shredding machines in the same way that roti wraps dhal. The world does not change that much in truth despite all the grandiose claims forever bandied about. Paper has currency in India and elsewhere around the world. Stuff that you can touch continues to hold the attention of human beings, even in the 21C. Some paper is as highly valued as your wedding day photos. However, document destruction in the paperless office: Myths and realities remain to be considered on an individual case by case basis.

Things like Sharepoint intra-web reducing the amount of documentation in your office can really be a progression in the greater scheme. We all love paperless offices when they work but bemoan digital programmes and hardware when they stuff up. Really it can be a catch 22 situation, where you are caught out at the wrong times with the wrong equipment. There are security issues with both old and new technologies. Therefore, you must be prepared to cope with failures in all situations. Don’t be caught without paper with your pants down!