The Future of Fax
Now that email and other digital modes of communication dominate the corporate environment, faxing may seem to be outdated. However, for those organizations who use faxing in their day-to-day work, it is very much alive and is typically viewed as a more secure method of document transmission.
Fax machines are still widely used in various industries. Law enforcement agencies often use them to deliver bail posts and a host of other public documents. Similarly, fax machines are commonly used in healthcare facilities to protect medical records and personal information. Although there have been several efforts to replace faxing with alternative technologies, faxing continues to operate worldwide due to legislative ambiguity, the internet security faxing provides, and the speed with which it can send large files. In this blog, we talk about the benefits of faxing today and where faxing is headed in the future.
The Speed of Fax
Sending a fax takes roughly thirty seconds to one minute per page of text, assuming both machines have a clean connection and current technology. The time needed to fax a document also varies depending on the file size, number of pages, and how many graphics and text are included. However, fax technology often compresses the fax transmission which shortens the delivery time. When physical documents need to be shared or a signature is required, faxing is likely faster than other methods which require printing and scanning before sending.
Faxing is not a form of instant communication, but from where the speed of faxing started compared to where it is now, the delivery time has shortened immensely and, with constant technology improvements, the speed will continue to increase.
Reliable Security
Today, faxing is one of the most secure platforms in which to send data and substantial compliance information. While email, instant messaging, and other forms of communication are prevalent, it is much easier for those platforms to be hacked or suffer from spam attacks. As technology updates are developed, improved security measures are implemented so that the information that is sent will remain confidential and protected. These improvements to security are implemented with minimal to no heavy lifting from companies or fax users.
The Ease of Digital Faxing
Sending and receiving faxes previously required precise timing, massive amounts of toner, and a committed person stationed next to a fax machine. Now, online faxing, also known as cloud or electronic faxing, sends and receives faxes using the Internet. This communication method has become one of the most popular methods of sharing information due to its security, low cost, and ease of use. This affordable option just needs three things: fax services, an internet connection, and an email account.
The steps to send an online fax are simple, efficient and reliable:
- Open the software provided by your online fax service provider.
- Choose the file you wish to fax.
- Enter the fax number where the fax should be sent and click Send.
- Wait for the transmission of the document to complete.
- Send a new fax or exit the software.
With its end-to-end encryption, digital faxing is less likely to experience security breaches, making it an excellent alternative for sharing documents that contain extremely sensitive information.
By combining the user-friendly aspects of email with reliable encryption, online faxing is the perfect communication method for many organizations.
Lane provides faxing services primarily to healthcare, banking and other commercial businesses. To see a demonstration on how secure, reliable faxing would benefit your organization’s communication strategy, schedule a meeting with our expert.