How does cloud billing contribute to combating the climate crisis?

The current context, which has impacted both personal and work environments, has highlighted the need to reinvent and increasingly strengthen work dynamics such as teleworking and the circulation of documents in the cloud.

Thanks to these new workflows, companies are also making a commitment to caring for the environment and the planet.

A climate crisis requires efficient solutions

The measures taken around the world to prevent the spread of the virus, such as isolation or reduced travel, have brought industrial activity to a standstill. And although at first glance this appeared to be a total disaster, it was one of the best things that could have happened to our planet: pollution levels were reduced and major cities could once again enjoy blue skies.

On the other hand, the climate crisis has long called for an awareness of the need to rethink processes and change lifestyles, both in everyday life and at work. This is why it is necessary to implement and develop new work dynamics that, on the one hand, allow companies to participate in the process of preserving the planet and, on the other hand, allow them to save time and money.

What are the new working dynamics?

To be well prepared and to really benefit from the current situation, companies need to be aware of the tools and new work dynamics that are available to them. One of them, so popular in recent months, is teleworking.

Many of us have had to face the new reality and get used to a different organisation of responsibilities. However, after several months, we realise that remote work can be efficient, comfortable and can serve as a lever for development.

People who work from home are 22% happier than other employees. They experience less work-related stress and work more than office workers.

Owl Labs.

The former is closely related to flexible working hours. People feel free to work when they feel most comfortable. One of the greatest advantages of teleworking is the disappearance of a fixed working day. Employees experience greater freedom when they can, for example, leave in the middle of the day to go to the doctor and return to work afterwards.

It is no longer a question of being tied to a desk in the office without being able to take care of other matters. In this sense, flexitime has an impact on:

• The well-being of employees,
• the efficiency of their work.

And although some employers think that it is a disadvantage as they lose control of their employees, it may be an opportunity to introduce other methods of work monitoring, such as time tracking through dedicated software.

By working via the Internet, it is possible to optimise the work processes that define the tasks in the office. Through different tools, it is possible to reduce the time spent on projects and to leave many formalities and paperwork behind. This is the case, for example, with the digitisation of documents and their management in the cloud.

Invoicing

Traditional invoicing, for example, means large-scale use of paper and printing. In Spain alone, each person consumes an estimated 170 kg (7.2 million tonnes) of paper per year. According to the CESCE (Compañía Española de Seguros de Crédito a la Exportación) report, the global demand for paper and board will increase by some 490 million tonnes between now and 2030.

Careless and unnecessary printing not only wastes paper, but also the trees and water used to produce it. High paper waste can result in a lack of fresh water. In addition, paper production is the leading cause of deforestation. According to Greenpeace, 13 million hectares of forest are lost annually due to increasing demand for paper.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) notes that:

The disappearance of forests produces 18% of the carbon dioxide released annually into the atmosphere, increasing the greenhouse effect.

Paper production plays a significant role in the phenomenon of global warming; a real threat to the future of our planet. Paper mills are also responsible for the release of harmful gases such as CO2 and nitrogen dioxide.

Ecological turnover

During the pandemic and the confinement, many companies - large and small - as well as the self-employed had to move their business to the Internet and implement remote working. Although the world of work was already accustomed to the new technologies and quite familiar with them, many were surprised by the new reality.

Many of the changes consisted of:

• Saving documents in the cloud,
• signing them online,
• managing them on devices, not on paper.

This situation made it necessary to find useful, fast and intuitive tools to be able to continue working smoothly. In addition to this, the European Commission, by means of Directive 2014/55/EU, took a step forward by making electronic invoicing mandatory in the European public sector by 2020.

Compared to traditional invoicing, e-invoicing is more convenient because it saves not only space, but also money. It is estimated that a company can save approximately 3.5 euros on sending each invoice. Sending invoices by e-mail is completely free of charge. In addition, cloud invoicing reduces the risk of losing or destroying important documents.

Not only does eco-invoicing facilitate work of any kind (remote or on-site in the office), it also helps to combat paper waste and can save thousands of hectares of forests. Every entrepreneur can become a green hero thanks to cloud invoicing. It also helps to improve the company's image and gain respect.

Innovative eco-invoicing solutions such as BitFactura - a web-based invoicing system - allow companies to generate different types of documents and store them in the cloud. The documentation is always available in the same place and accessible from anywhere in the world. In addition, the security of important data is guaranteed, which is essential for companies and the people who use their services.

Technology as an environmental ally

To protect our only home - the planet - businesses have a responsibility to adopt all the tools that technology makes available to them.

Managing and storing invoices and other documents through dedicated platforms means savings in environmental terms. It is crucial for our generation to contribute in the most effective way possible to taking care of the planet. Actions such as implementing tools and processes like eco-invoicing allow companies to set a good example and encourage households, friends and colleagues to do the same.

Sponsored article. Expert contributors are authors independent of the Appvizer editorial staff. Their opinions and positions are personal.