Discovering The Finest Tools For Business: A Concise Overview
Since the time of the invention of the facsimile machine in 1846 by Alexander Bain, the equipment has certainly come a long way. Called a telefax machine, it was a gadget regarded as useful as the telephone which was developed 11 years before. Long a standard in the modern day office, the fax machine has gone through a number of upgrades including thermal paper to plain paper you could buy at any office supply company, speed upgrades in the technology and decrease in overall machine size.
As with all things, the clunky, large fax machine that used major desk space in your office was replaced by a smaller, more efficient model which was then replaced by digital fax to email and email to fax services which demands no paper or machinery at all.
While a lot of people still make use of the fax machines at the office, there are already many individuals who turn to online fax services that no longer require both paper and equipment, but faxes are sent or received as PDF files, and could easily be stored and printed. Online fax services however may vary in terms of service, which makes it necessary for you to do some research before opting for one. Most services are inexpensive, but that isn't the only thing you need to worry about.
Some things to look for when transitioning to an online service include the following:
Would you be able to send and receive faxes via email - This is important because you would surely like to be informed when a fax has arrived, and beyond that you want to have the easiest means of accessing the fax. If a fax comes in via email, you should receive a PDF attachment which is readable in all systems.
Unique facsimile number provided - You would be able to receive a telephone number that your clients could use if they want to send you a fax, just like having a fax line. Where you had a dedicated fax line in your office, you ought to have a number that is local to your area and unique to your business.
Numerous email address distribution - An online fax service that allows you to deliver mail to multiple addresses, makes it a a lot more efficient system. This also reduces the possibility of mistakes whenever you are forwarding documents.
Free trial to try out the service - while there are a lot of services out there, you should look for services that offer a free trial. Being able to try out the service would allow you to figure out the type of extras and services that you would like. You would also be able to determine if the service that they offer is just right for you.
Services for archiving messages should be available as well - There may be a lot of fax to email services available but only those that provide a message archival service to their customers are considered as really good ones. This service is necessary in case something goes wrong on the email delivery or you need to retrieve the fax again at a later date.
The mentioned options are all worth trying out but don't forget to compare the services, and also lookup various reviews from people. Longevity is one sign of customer satisfaction, and if the reviews on the website are positive from people who have been with the service for a long time, you can probably move forward with confidence that the service is worth trying.
As with all things, the clunky, large fax machine that used major desk space in your office was replaced by a smaller, more efficient model which was then replaced by digital fax to email and email to fax services which demands no paper or machinery at all.
While a lot of people still make use of the fax machines at the office, there are already many individuals who turn to online fax services that no longer require both paper and equipment, but faxes are sent or received as PDF files, and could easily be stored and printed. Online fax services however may vary in terms of service, which makes it necessary for you to do some research before opting for one. Most services are inexpensive, but that isn't the only thing you need to worry about.
Some things to look for when transitioning to an online service include the following:
Would you be able to send and receive faxes via email - This is important because you would surely like to be informed when a fax has arrived, and beyond that you want to have the easiest means of accessing the fax. If a fax comes in via email, you should receive a PDF attachment which is readable in all systems.
Unique facsimile number provided - You would be able to receive a telephone number that your clients could use if they want to send you a fax, just like having a fax line. Where you had a dedicated fax line in your office, you ought to have a number that is local to your area and unique to your business.
Numerous email address distribution - An online fax service that allows you to deliver mail to multiple addresses, makes it a a lot more efficient system. This also reduces the possibility of mistakes whenever you are forwarding documents.
Free trial to try out the service - while there are a lot of services out there, you should look for services that offer a free trial. Being able to try out the service would allow you to figure out the type of extras and services that you would like. You would also be able to determine if the service that they offer is just right for you.
Services for archiving messages should be available as well - There may be a lot of fax to email services available but only those that provide a message archival service to their customers are considered as really good ones. This service is necessary in case something goes wrong on the email delivery or you need to retrieve the fax again at a later date.
The mentioned options are all worth trying out but don't forget to compare the services, and also lookup various reviews from people. Longevity is one sign of customer satisfaction, and if the reviews on the website are positive from people who have been with the service for a long time, you can probably move forward with confidence that the service is worth trying.
About the Author:
Sending fax to email has never been simpler for internet users. Everybody using a personal computer and an electronic mail account can easily receive or send faxes over the internet using an inexpensive fax to email machine - without the need for an extra telephone line or fax equipment.