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Using your web connection and email program to send and receive faxes is becoming increasingly popular with individuals and businesses alike. Why has this relatively new technology grown so rapidly? There are many reasons, but for the sake of brevity, we’ll narrow it down to four main reasons.
Cheaper costs – Using an online or Internet fax service or provider is much cheaper than using a traditional fax system. Mainly because email fax is a paperless system, so you’ll save money on paper, inks, toners and even the cost of buying/running a fax machine. Everything is done on the web through your email account and web connection. Monthly costs can range from $5 to $10 or even a little less if your fax requests are minimal.
Easy to set up and use – Since your online fax number and service are via the web, setup can be done in minutes. With most fax providers you can even “port” your current fax number to these services, so there’s no loss of business. Using an online fax service is as easy as using email. Once you sign up, you’re provided with a local or toll-free number and an online account where you can log in to read or send all your faxes. Once a fax is received, an email is sent to you with the fax attached, usually in a Tiff or JPG file. Most services also have apps that can be placed on your desktop computer or smartphone.
Green solution – Given today’s dramatic weather patterns and extremes, everyone is becoming aware of the damage we are doing to our environment. Online faxing is often seen as a green solution because it is a “paperless” system that will save countless trees from being cut. Then you also have to take into account all the energy saved by NOT having to produce all those papers, inks, toners and faxes. Plus the energy we save by NOT having to run a fax machine 24/7/365.
Global integration – Even taking all of the above valid reasons into account, perhaps the overriding factor in the popularity of online fax has to do with integration. Internet fax is digital and we now live in a digital world. All your faxes can be easily stored online or in all your computer gadgets. They can be retrieved easily with just a few mouse clicks, whether the fax was received yesterday or last year. Also, all your vital faxes can be shared with all your employees or sales force so that everyone can be on the same page. Furthermore, online fax is completely mobile and can be used anywhere, especially considering that it can be easily integrated into smartphones, tablets and laptops. Your business can be open to the public 24/7 and accessible from anywhere.
These are four good reasons why you or your business should at least consider an online fax service. It is much cheaper and much easier to use than traditional fax machines. Furthermore, a “cloud based” web system can be fully integrated with all your computers and smartphones in minutes. This is a green “paperless” solution whose time has definitely come, but like all business decisions, it’s up to you.