Accountants and businesses have no desire to go paperless

Research has today shown businesses and accountancy firms throughout the UK have no desire to run paperless offices by 2020.

The survey by IRIS Software found on average almost a third of companies in the UK aren’t planning on removing paper from their daily activity. Worryingly, this number skyrockets when looking at accountancy firms, with 60 per cent stating they aren’t planning on being paperless by 2020.

The 15 per cent of UK companies which already run paperless offices have been reaping the rewards, and Murray Pullin, founder of digital accountancy firm Zoosme Accountants, finds it hard to believe so few are taking advantage of the increased efficiencies this change brings.

He says, “Paper has traditionally played a key role in the accountancy industry but this has changed as businesses realise the efficiency gains running a paperless office offers.

“Paper is expensive, both in terms of purchasing and time wasted. Document sharing and communication can both be covered digitally and is vastly more efficient than using paper. Businesses can approve documentation online at the click of a button and important information can be shared instantly, rather than formal letters being sent in the post. Instead of communication taking days, it takes minutes. The time saved can then be spent much more wisely, ensuring accountants are adding true value by becoming mentors to support its clients’ objectives, rather than focusing solely on traditional accountancy.”

Steve Cox, product director at IRIS Software, says, “It’s worrying to see so many businesses and accountancy firms failing to see the benefits of running a paperless office. Although the environmental value of such a change is clear, many may not realise the increased efficiency an office has when employees aren’t relying on paper.

“In the digital age we live in, it’s scary to think so many accountancy firms still receive stacks of physical receipts from their clients. Not only does this increase the likelihood of human error but it adds to the time taken to produce accounts. This whole process could be largely automated using cloud technology, saving time for both the accountant and its clients. This is the perfect example of how a seemingly marginal gain can have a vast impact on productivity – after all, time savings add up across all clients, meaning accountants can focus on adding true value to their service.”