The Pros And Cons Of Digitizing Your Entire Business

Julie Starr • November 19, 2020



Over the last three decades, businesses have been getting increasingly more digital. There are now office-based companies that handle their entire business through a computer from bookkeeping to taking phone calls. Some manufacturing companies meanwhile are reliant on robots for their production process. Moreover, most companies use Business phone systems to streamline communications on any device and CMS systems while allowing them to transcript voicemails into emails, losing the need to write anything down on paper. There can be great benefits to going wholly digital and there can be drawbacks. This post weighs up some of the pros and cons.

The Pros

Improved speed

Digital technology makes things a lot faster by automating processes. Tasks like accounting have been dramatically sped up with the help of software. Less time doing tasks can also result in lower running costs because less manpower is required.

Improved accuracy

Digital technology can also result in increased accuracy. Many types of digital machinery can carry out tasks more accurately than traditional machinery – this includes everything from digital cutting machines to digital scales as found at https://www.arlynscales.com . Digital cash registers and accounting software can meanwhile help to prevent counting errors.

24/7 monitoring

 

Digital technology can allow processes to be constantly monitored. This is particularly thanks to the cloud and the internet of things, which have allowed business owners to monitor factory machinery and security cameras any location with an app on their phone. Businesses can also use a Siemens 6AV2124-0MC01-0AX0 touch screen display unit to enhance operational control and facilitate real-time data analysis. These touch screen units provide a user-friendly interface that lets operators quickly access system statuses, alarms, and actionable insights without the need for extensive training. By integrating such advanced hardware with IoT devices and cloud computing, businesses can streamline their operations, reduce downtime, and predict maintenance needs before failures occur.

 

No paper

Digitizing everything renders paper obsolete . There are many drawbacks to using paper – it requires more physical storage space, it has the potential to be damaged, and it’s not particularly environmentally friendly. Digital records are much easier to organize and can be shared more easily and efficiently than paper documents. 

The Cons

Initial cost

Going digital costs a lot of money. While you may save money in the long run by automating processes, you need to be able to afford the upfront costs of adopting the technology without taking out large debts. This puts off a lot of people from switching to digital processes.  

Security concerns

Digital technology is often connected to the internet, which opens the door to cybercrime. While there may be security benefits to switching to digital methods (digital records cannot be as easily burgled), you also need to be wary of the new security risks that come with an entirely digital business. Some companies still send sensitive documents by fax for this very reason. 

Increased energy usage

While less paper consumption means less deforestation, increased use of computers means higher energy usage. Not only does this have a negative impact on the planet, but it also means higher bills. Fortunately, computers are becoming more energy-efficient and so this is becoming less of a problem.  

Dependence on working technology

When everything is done digitally, you become dependent on technology. If this technology fails, your business could come to a standstill until you can fix the problem. Digitally-reliant businesses are often forced into downtime if there’s a power cut or internet problem. There may be ways to keep technology alive such as maintaining it well and having backup power generators on-site, but there may still be a risk of technology failing.

5 Everyday Items That Can Quietly Boost Your Brand

By Julie Starr • July 17, 2025
The best branding doesn’t always come from big campaigns or expensive graphics. Sometimes it’s the smaller stuff that leaves the biggest impression. Things people actually use, touch, or carry with them. That’s where your brand can quietly make its mark without needing to shout about it. If you’re only focusing on social media and business cards, you’re leaving a lot on the table. Here are five overlooked ways to get your name out there that feel natural, useful, and more personal. Thank-you slips If you’re already sending out orders, there’s no reason not to include a short thank-you slip. You can easily get these made through any decent online print shop , and they’re usually pretty cheap to run off in small batches. Just a simple note that says thanks, maybe with a reminder to follow you online or a cheeky discount code for next time. It’s quick, thoughtful, and makes the whole order feel more finished. Customers notice that kind of detail, especially when everything else they buy online comes with zero personality. You don’t need a complicated design either. Just something clean with your logo, a message that sounds like you, and maybe a social handle. The point is to give them a reason to come back or remember your name without it feeling forced. Branded zip pouches If you sell physical products, offer services, or run events, small zip pouches are surprisingly effective. Think of the kind you’d use for stationery, receipts, or travel bits. You can get your brand printed on the side and hand them out with purchases or include them in welcome packs. People keep them because they’re actually useful. They get tossed in handbags, school bags, or glove boxes and your logo just keeps turning up. Cleaning cloths for glasses or screens This one works brilliantly if you’re in tech, health, beauty, or anything involving screens or eyewear. A simple microfibre cloth with your branding on it can go a long way. Everyone needs one. Whether they use it for glasses, a phone screen, or their laptop, it’s something they hang onto. It’s not the kind of thing people throw away, and that means your name sticks around too. Receipt envelopes You might already use little envelopes to hand over receipts or business cards. Branding those envelopes is a small change that makes a big difference. Instead of someone getting a scruffy bit of paper in a plain sleeve, they’re handed something that feels a bit more finished. You can even add a message inside. Doesn’t need to be anything dramatic. A simple “thanks for visiting” or “see you next time” is enough to add a personal touch. Wet wipes or mini hand gels If your business is in hospitality, food, or anything hands-on, branded wet wipes or pocket-sized hand gels are surprisingly popular. People actually use them, especially at festivals, food stalls, pop-ups, or kids’ events. They end up in handbags or cars and stick around longer than you think. They don’t scream “marketing” either. They’re practical, and when done right, they make your business feel thoughtful. That’s what good branding does, it shows you’ve thought ahead.

How Student-Led ‘Energy Audits’ Are Cutting School Costs (and Lighting the Way Forward)

By Julie Starr • July 14, 2025
What happens when students stop waiting for adults to fix things and start conducting their own energy audits? Money gets saved. The lights get switched off. Data gets analyzed. And a quiet revolution in sustainability begins—inside schools that once overlooked their own inefficiencies. Across the globe, student-led energy audits are proving that change doesn't always need to come from a policy shift or a major capital budget. Sometimes, it begins with a clipboard, a spreadsheet, and a group of curious minds asking: Why are the hallway lights on at noon when sunlight floods the building? The Energy Detectives These audits aren’t science fair projects. They’re rigorous investigations, often done in collaboration with facilities staff, local environmental nonprofits, or even engineering mentors. Students go from classroom to classroom measuring electricity usage, checking for phantom loads , and identifying where heat is escaping in winter or air conditioning is leaking in summer. One high school in Ontario saved over $12,000 a year after its Grade 11 physics students ran an energy audit and suggested simple changes—LED upgrades, motion sensors in bathrooms, and smarter heating schedules. They didn’t just propose ideas. They pitched them with spreadsheets, thermal images, and payback timelines. It worked. Learning That Pays Off—Literally Unlike textbook learning, these audits blend real-world math, environmental science, economics, and persuasive communication. Students aren’t just learning about sustainability. They’re doing it. And the savings add up. From dimming overlit hallways to reprogramming HVAC systems that run all weekend for empty buildings, students are surfacing blind spots that administrators often overlook. In some districts, their findings are influencing energy policy. Elsewhere, the audits have inspired school boards to hire sustainability coordinators—often alumni of the student programs themselves. There’s something poetic about a school funding new books or laptops from money saved by students who found out the vending machines didn’t need to be plugged in 24/7. Why This Matters More Than Ever With education budgets tightening and utility costs rising, every dollar saved is a dollar that can go back into classrooms. And here’s where it gets interesting from a family finance perspective, too. If you’re a parent setting aside money for post-secondary savings, every bit of school efficiency helps. Fewer energy costs might mean more programming, better STEM facilities, or even bursaries. That raises a broader point: when families save for their children’s future, they often look into RESPs (Registered Education Savings Plans). And many wonder—is a RESP deduction available on my taxes? While contributions themselves aren’t deductible, the gains grow tax-free, and students often pay little to no tax when they withdraw the funds during school. A Movement Worth Replicating These audits aren’t just an exercise in environmentalism. They’re leadership labs. Students learn how to spot inefficiencies, speak up in board meetings, and make a business case for change. They don’t just flip switches—they shift mindsets. And they carry these habits into adulthood. The result? A generation growing up not only with climate anxiety, but also with tools to tackle it.