The use of web connection and email program to send and receive faxes is becoming more and more popular among individuals and businesses. Why has this relatively new technology grown so quickly? 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 faxing is a paperless system so you will save money on paper, inks, toner and even the cost of buying/operating a fax machine. Everything is done over 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 demands are minimal.
Easy to set up and use – Since your online fax number and service is done over the web, setup can be done in minutes. With most fax providers, you can even “port” your existing fax number to these services, so there’s no loss of business. Using an online fax service is as easy as using your email. Once you sign up, you are 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 you receive a fax, an email is sent to you with your fax attached, usually in a Tiff or JPG file. Most services also have apps that can be placed on your desktop or smartphone.
green solution – Given today’s dramatic and extreme weather patterns, everyone is realizing 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 down. Then you also have to factor in all the energy saved by NOT having to produce all those papers, inks, toners and fax machines. Plus the energy we save by NOT having to use a fax machine 24/7/365.
overall integration – Even taking into account all the valid reasons above, perhaps the biggest factor in the popularity of online faxing has to do with integration. Internet faxing is digital and we now live in a digital world. All your faxes can be easily stored online or on all your computer devices. They can be easily retrieved with a few mouse clicks, regardless of whether the fax was received yesterday or last year. Plus, all your vital faxes can be shared with all your employees or sales force so everyone can be on the same page. Plus, online faxing is completely mobile and can be used anywhere, especially when you consider that it can be easily integrated into smartphones, tablets, and laptops. Your company can be open 24 hours a day 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. Plus, a “cloud-based” web system can be fully integrated with all your computers and smartphones in a matter of minutes. This is a green “paperless” solution whose time has definitely come, but like all business decisions, it’s your decision.