Improve Efficiency with Electronic Forms

Forms are used in almost every business process at some point or another. These can include sales orders, purchase orders, invoices, statements and other basic business documents. In fact, a large majority of your intellectual property is probably held in a variety of forms.
With electronic forms, you will be able to streamline business processes that are currently plagued by paper forms. Electronic forms come in two different varieties. One type is client or user-based while the other type is server-based.
Client or User-Based Forms
A user-based form is one of the simplest ways to improve the efficiency of information processing. Creating this type of form can be as straightforward as using a Microsoft Word document that allows a user to add text to the form, or it can be as advanced as a Microsoft Excel or Adobe Acrobat form that can aggregate the data and automatically submit it into your workflow. Basically, this type of form is driven by the user and it increases efficiency simply by eliminating the need for the user to print, complete and then scan or fax a form.
User-Based forms offer enhanced efficiency through an increase level of automation. When a user completes a form, the information can be routed to the appropriate location for further processing or indexing.
Server-Based Forms
Instead of adding data to a database, server-based forms can increase efficiency in retrieving data from a database. This type of form translates the data from your database into a format you choose. For example, you can create a custom invoice from your accounting systems by collecting the data into a format that is acceptable to you and your end-users. Invoices and billing statements created from accounting programs are the most common server-based forms.
In addition to basic invoices or billing statements, server-based electronic forms can format the documents to print with color and graphics to suit your needs – without expensive pre-printed paper forms. You can print the design of the form at the same time as the data of the form on a low cost color multi-function system.
A Better Way
When used appropriately, user-based and server-based electronic forms can have a positive impact to your bottom line. Whether you provide your employees or customers with an easier way of processing the data they gather or create creative and personal documents from your database, using electronic forms in your organization will increase your efficiencies and have a great effect on your bottom line.