Quick Tip: Go Green with e-Faxing
e-Faxing is a completely paperless alternative for the environmentally conscious.
Check out this Fact from Energy Star:
According to Energy Star, one of the most energy-intensive pieces of business equipment is the paper-intensive fax machine, because it is often left on around the clock. A single fax machine consumes between 30 and 350 watts per hour. Also, paper production is second only to petroleum in terms of energy used by U.S. industries.
Benefits of e-Faxing:
- Works as easily as email
- Access faxes by email from any online source
- Saves space in your office
- Eliminates the worry and hassle of running out of paper or emitting a busy signal
- Saves you money on the extra fax line and fax supplies; plus, you can save many faxes electronically rather than print them all out.
Of all the new and old e-fax companies you’ll find on the web, there’s no “one-size-fits-all” option for every business. You’ll have to consider your company’s specific faxing needs and then choose accordingly. Here are some guidelines of what to consider when choosing the right e-faxing service for your business and a quick comparison of a few popular e-faxing companies:
What to Consider When Choosing an e-Faxing Service:
- Do you need a local or toll-free fax number?
- What type of incoming and outgoing fax volume does your business produce?
- How much do you want to spend per month?
- Does the company offer modified fee packages for light users versus high-volume users?
- How many fax numbers do you need?
- In what format do you want to receive faxes?
- Do you mind downloading and installing specialized software?
A Quick Comparison of a Few Popular e-Faxing Companies:
Best for businesses who:
- Deal nationally or globally and prefer a toll-free fax number
- Keep a strict budget, only $10 a month
- Prefer faxes to come over in the universal PDF format, attached to an email
Best for businesses who:
- Deal locally and prefer a local fax number
- Send and receive a high volume of faxes per month
- Prefer faxes to come over as a TIF (and requires the one-time download of eFax’s proprietary software)
- Need faxes to come over in a higher resolution
With a little online research, you can find and set your business up for the best in e-faxing. Just think – you’ll save money, space, trees, and probably even a little energy in the long run.