-This article was last updated on 22 September 2021-
Being ‘green’, ‘sustainable’ and ‘environmentally friendly’ are no longer just buzzwords; they are becoming a global trend in the way we run our businesses. Becoming ‘green’ is now easier than ever. With the implementation of cloud technologies, companies have not only made environmental feats, but have made substantial savings and improved data management.
So How can the Cloud Contribute to This?
Cloud platforms allow businesses to store vast amounts of information and easily access it online. As the information is stored digitally, there is no need for paper filing cabinets or giant servers taking up valuable office space. This saves on paper and ink for printing and electricity for running printers and servers. The average office worker in the UK uses 10,000 sheets of copy paper each year, and of those 6,800 are considered wasted. As there are over 10 million office workers in the UK, this alone equates to over 100 billion sheets of paper or approximately 12.5 million trees per year. Cloud platforms can reduce a company’s paper trail by turning paper processes digital. Employees can access documents electronically instead of wasting paper unnecessarily. This can also minimise the risk of losing important files and also means that companies are in line with HMRC’s new digital approach to tax.
The average UK medium sized business’s electricity consumption produces approximately 13.5 tonnes of CO2 annually. The cloud acts to reduce this consumption by eliminating the running of heavy-duty company servers. It would be misleading to say, that cloud computing wipes out your carbon footprint. However, the reason why it produces bigger energy savings is because the servers are stored and run in a purpose built facility. This facility spreads a server’s processing power over a multitude of different companies. This means that businesses do not need to hoard their own inhouse servers just for their singular needs. Companies can now use software as a service (Saas) to externalise their business processes to a cloud system. One big way that companies are doing this is by moving their expense management to the cloud. This ensures processes are automated and everything is on one secure platform.
So What other Benefits can be Gained from Using the Cloud?
Without having to tap into computer networks employees can work remotely. This means less commuting and therefore less CO2 emissions. Flexible working styles have been found to increase employee productivity. A study by YouGov found that UK office workers believed that they became 30% more productive when they worked remotely.
Another benefit is that cloud based systems allow companies to employ flexible scalability for their data space needs. You can add or decrease the amount of power and storage based on your requirements. This eliminates the problem of dormant machines if you find that your needs decrease. Neither having to worry about the time and money associated with upgrades and maintenance.
At ExpenseIn we have recognised all of these vast benefits when it comes to utilising cloud computing. Companies can store, manage and process their expenses on our online system. We have also embraced the advantages within how we run our business. We encourage all of our employees to work remotely. This has helped to shape a productive team as well as increase our employee satisfaction.
