Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Discover the importance of switching to Paperless Invoicing

By Cris Cutt


Paper is an integral part of our lives since its invention in 105 AD. We use papers for a number of reasons in our daily work routine and today it has completely transformed the way we communicate, record history or write down literature. Paper invention has led to other inventions like new cleaning products, printing and even foods and not to forget that the benefits paper provides to millions of freelancers and businesses world-wide. Paper is portable, thinner and smaller and today it has become such an inseparable part that we cannot imagine our world if it vanishes.But, it is the only way to let us know how precious paper is for us.

We are well aware of the significance of invoicing in a business enterprise. Paper invoicing helps in receiving the payment for the products offered or services rendered to the clients by your venture but, are you aware of the truth that how much harm paper invoices cause to the environment and the major contributors or culprits in this process are corporate America and freelancers. A survey by oDesk revels that out of 70,000 plus US based contractors, 32% have opted to become freelancers after the job cut. Freelance designers are being offered plenty of job opportunities by the web and these opportunities are not limited to just one but they can come from anywhere around the world. And the same goes for freelance writers, this is because today businesses seek for the convincing content for their websites, blogs and reviews and even twitter account. The report of Strategies of Management predicts that there will be an increase in freelancers gross revenues from over $3.4 billion in 2004 to over $3.8 billion in 2009 and the number of graphic design freelancers is expected to rise by the end of decade from its present figure that is 74,000 to over 86,000.

In the United States there are about 50 large graphic design firms, however they are a mere 1% of the total number of design firms. That being said you should know this small number of design firms are raking in 16% of the total invoicing, which comes to about $1.3 billion of total invoicing. Let this huge figure sink in for a moment and you will begin to get an idea of just how much paper invoicing waste there really is.

When you look to corporate America, the numbers are even more alarming. Considering the fact that over 13 billion invoices are exchanged annually in the United States, suggesting there are about 25 billion pieces of paper used within the average office each year. Imagine what a difference electronic invoicing could make!

Around the world, trees are cut for a variety of uses and invoices account for about 10% of the global count. Then there is also the electricity used to produce paper in the first place. Which brings the actual consumption up by the equivalent of 20 million homes.
Perhaps it is time to learn from our neighbors the European Union. Since January 1, 2004, it has been a legal requirement for businesses to accept electronic invoices.

Change is beyond overdue and taking a page from the European Union handbook might be a good place to start. Today businesses are legally obligated to accept electronic invoicing thanks to laws passed in 2004.

A study has also revealed that it is possible to cut down invoicing cost by 70%. Switching merely a 50% from current paper invoice to electronic invoice would save almost one million trees and 240,000 tons of paper every year. Apart from monetary benefit, it is also in the interest of our environment. Therefore, why do not we all make a sincere effort to protect our environment and switch to online invoicing?




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