• Embracing/trying new technologies
• Streamlining processes
• The opportunity to use web-based applications across tablets, mobile devices, or desktop setups
• Staying compliant; making it easier for employees to follow protocols
• Reducing or balancing workloads for overworked employees
• Increasing efficiency in general
• Physical benefits, like maintaining different records
• Harnessing data to use it electronically
• Making cumbersome workloads simpler
• Making electronic processing easier
• Analyzing data, sharing information, or storing important information
• Potentially, reduced costs

But one reason that we haven’t talked much about is increased security. Yet, digital transformation does, ultimately, help to increase security.

Here are some thoughts from PaperlessNOW founder, Gary Yip, on the subject…

How does digital transformation increase security?

“So, it goes back to what we were talking about before. When you have something in the physical world, you’re going to be affected by the risks of the environment. We work with a lot of retailers, we work with a lot of restaurants, and things like break-ins happen.

These files that have extremely sensitive information: bank information, health information, etc., they’re just locked in a cabinet somewhere. What if you lose your key? What if the key is in the keyhole and anybody can walk in and just open the cabinet? What if there’s a flood? What if there’s a fire?

I think there are huge risks in terms of security in a physical format, ‘cause there’s only one of everything. And in the digital world, for example, what we do, is we keep two backups of everything.

So, whatever happens, if one server goes down, we’ve got two different copies that we can use to restore the document. And that’s absolutely big. 

I think a really important point that I would like to make is that, yes, I understand inertia’s a very powerful force. I completely get it. But complacency is how we’re going to get into trouble.

Everything has a lifespan. All processes, all workflows, have a lifespan. We really need to see what’s out there from a technological standpoint to stay in tune with the modern world. 

I’m just so shocked anytime I go into a restaurant or a retail shop and the amount of paperwork that they’re still doing. And they’re all running around saying, I’m so stressed! I have no time for anything. 

The help is there. But you just have to try it and have an open mind.

We’ve had so much rejection saying, Hey, we’ve been here for 40 years. We do well, we’re fine. Your product looks cool, but we’re fine. 

But these things add up and one day there’s going to be a straw that breaks the camel’s back. 

And when that happens, the business is way too far behind. And I’m not trying to scare people. I know inertia is powerful, but you have to keep an open mind for how to make your business even more lean for when a rainy day comes.”

Wrapping up

To summarize, Gary touched on some big points here, like:

• Reducing the threat of break-ins to restaurants and retailers when it comes to the records they keep
• Minimizing the risk of unauthorized access to important files
• Preventing damage to sensitive information from natural disasters, fires, floods, etc.
• The ability to keep multiple back-ups of important files and records

These are just a few of the ways in which going paperless, or introducing digital transformation, can help increase security. We hope this snippet helped you learn a little bit more about the topic.

Plus: be sure to follow us on LinkedIn to stay up-to-date on all our latest content.

And, if you want to harness the power of digital transformation to increase security in your business, contact us today. We even offer a 30-day free trial.

The post Does Digital Transformation Increase Security? appeared first on PaperlessNOW.

As we covered in our last blog post, What is Digital Transformation? Why Try It?, there are many interesting reasons for businesses to go paperless.

But one thing we wanted to chat about today is the fact that, for restaurants and retailers, there are unique challenges faced that make the digital transformation process specifically helpful.

And who better to talk with on the subject than PaperlessNOW founder, Gary Yip? He’s been serving those industries for years with SAFEcheck Systems, which has recently been successfully rebranded under the PaperlessNOW name.

Back in November 2022, we sat down with Gary to ask him about this important topic. Here are his thoughts…

Q: Why should restaurants and retailers go paperless?

A: “It’s pretty clear these days that a lot of folks in these industries are overworked. There’s a shortage of folks that are interested in working in these places. There’s a recruiting issue.

As a result, everybody has to bite off more of a piece of the main piece of work. And I think that really affects folks with their workloads. So, the question is, how do we make these people be able to survive and not burn out in the workplace, and have these folks stay in the industry?

I think that’s the most critical thing. And I think that’s why it’s just so important to make things as efficient as we can. Because people are wearing 25 different hats already. Eventually, it’s not sustainable and people are going to burn out. And it’s a lose-lose for everybody involved.”

Q: What are the unique advantages of going paperless for retailers and restaurants? 

A: “Going paperless is absolutely huge. There are definitely physical benefits.

In most cases, in Ontario, you have to retain records — employee records — for seven years under the Ministry of Labour laws.

Imagine, kind of a high-turnover environment, where people are coming and going, especially in this day and age. And you’re just going to keep files for every single one of them for seven years?

Sure, you could not do it. But you know, if ever somebody comes across and sends you a legal notice, and there’s a lawsuit, and you don’t have your ducks in a row, you’re in big trouble.

So, there’s clear physical benefits to that. And, outside of the physical sphere, though, you know…being able to harness data, and to use it electronically, is absolutely huge. 

Let me explain. A lot of folks now do their payroll outside — they outsource it. They send it to a team here and they send it to a team there. Or, the restaurant might be in Toronto, but the payroll person might be in Welland, for example, right?

If it’s paper-based, how do you get that information over to the payroll person? We’ve seen people scan things. They do it paper-based, and then they scan it into a computer, and they email off the scanned document. That’s so cumbersome and you’re adding more work to the process.

But if you start everything from paper and you’re able to transmit something electronically, you know, or maybe even in real-time, like how we do it here, it’s going to open up even more time for everybody. And it’s a much better experience. 

So, I think, you know, there’s obviously physical benefits, but it’s taking the data online, and there’s so many unique ways you can use that information — whether it’s analytics, whether it’s information sharing, whether it’s storage. You can really store it for way more than seven years if you really wanted to. And it’ll be at an immaterial cost.”

Summary

In summary, there are many specific reasons for restaurants and retailers to consider digital transformation, like:

• Reducing/balancing workloads for already-overworked employees
• Increasing efficiency to reduce burnout
• Physical benefits, like maintaining employee records
• Harnessing data and using it electronically
• Simplifying cumbersome processes
• Improving the electronic processing experience
• Analytics, information sharing, or storage
• In certain cases, reduced costs

Hopefully, now you’ve got a better handle on just why digital transformation is so crucial for businesses today — but especially for hourly workplaces.

Follow us on LinkedIn to be the first to hear about new blog posts, and if you’re interested in going paperless for your restaurant or retailer, claim your 30-day free trial of PaperlessNOW by getting in touch today.

The post Why Should Restaurants and Retailers Go Paperless? appeared first on PaperlessNOW.

According to Wikipedia, its definition is the “adoption of digital technology by an organization to digitize non-digital products, services or operations.”

The process can help bring businesses into the future, whether they’re in restaurants, retail, or other spaces. 

And here at PaperlessNOW, digital transformation is what we do. Our founder, Gary Yip, describes the concept as…

“Digital transformation means so many different things to different people. But ultimately, for us, it’s really introducing current technology — or even new technology — to current workflows. 

I think some of the things we see with a lot of our clients is that they run such a successful business, and they’ve done it for so long…sometimes inertia is a powerful force, right? And they don’t want to change, because things are working.

And I think that’s where our job comes in. We have to go convince these folks, and bring new technologies to the workplace, and make them even more efficient.”

Examples of digital transformation offerings

For example, here are some of our relevant offerings that help businesses every day in their efforts to embrace digital transformation for their workplaces:

• ONBOARDING — You can utilize e-signatures to create digital employee files for 24/7 access. You can also digitize the entire onboarding process. Yup, you read that right! Plus, integrate with payroll and POS to streamline even more processes. 
• TRAINING — Once onboarding is complete, have your new hires dive straight into training with PaperlessNOW University. Simplify the launching of classes and the tracking of progress. 
• MANAGEMENT — You can conduct employee reviews in mere moments. Try our award-winning “1-Minute Review” process! See for yourself with our intuitive, people-friendly system. 
• FEEDBACK — Take the chance to survey your team and understand how they truly feel at work. Receive actionable feedback and measure the mood of your team. The best part? It’s completely web-based. Use it on your favourite mobile device, desktop setup, or tablet.
• COMPLIANCE — Perhaps our most signature offering, we help you stay compliant in today’s digital age. Maintain accurate checklists, logs, notes, and signatures that your workplace needs to run smoothly. 
• TEAM ACCOUNTABILITY: One of our retail clients raves about how she loves “the transparency of the checklist. Now we can see exactly who did the checklist, when it was done, how long it took to complete, and the detail in which it was done.” Keep your team on the right track with PaperlessNOW!
• OPERATIONAL CONSISTENCY: Ensure that your workplace’s standards are being followed across the board. Have your team members follow your protocols with ease. One client in the food services industry says: “We had four restaurants, all independently owned, with four management teams. Everyone in theory operates under the same standards. But I didn’t have absolute certainty.”

Summary

To review, digital transformation involves digitizing traditionally non-digital offerings and operations. It helps eliminate paperwork and bring everything to the web. 

Stay tuned for future posts where we’ll break down just how this benefits the retail and restaurant industries, and how security is boosted, as well. Plus, follow us on LinkedIn for regular updates on new blog posts. 

Looking to digitally transform your business? Claim your 30-day free trial of PaperlessNOW by reaching out today.

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