It can be a little surprising when inspiration strikes. It is widely believed that an apple hitting Sir Isaac Newton on the head led to the theory of gravity. Now, according to a report out of Niagara, New York, a snowstorm has opened the door for a paperless city council.

Last week, Alderman Sue Ellen Merritt brought up the issue of going paperless during a meeting after an experience changed her way of thinking. Originally expressing doubts about an electronic document sharing system, Merritt was enlightened during a recent snowstorm that slowed mail delivery. A member of the township "risked their life" to deliver her agenda package.

This caused her to reopen the debate about purchasing iPads and going paperless since everything can be delivered electronically. Mayor Doug Joyner backed Merritt's plan.

Alderman Lou Di Leonardo said he has never been one for technology but does acknowledge the amount of waste and staff time spent printing agenda packages, which can be dozens of pages long. He added that he is willing to learn how to use a tablet to cut down on the paper usage.

"I don't even know what Twitter is," Di Leonardo told Niagara This Week. "I'm tired of all the paper."

While there were security concerns expressed, proper management of the devices can keep any issues in check. Additionally, the benefits of saved staff time that was spent photocopying and preparing each agenda package as well as the cost of paper, are too great to ignore.

With the help of a document scanning and management service, any company can start taking advantage of a paperless approach and shift into the digital world.

The ability to go paperless is sure to be a topic of conversation being held in boardrooms and around the water cooler of companies all over the country. While the office discussion makes plenty of sense on the ground, it has now taken off in the skies.

According to a recent Skift article, American Airlines has become the first U.S. airline to get approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to implement an iPad as a replacement for paper charts.

Traditionally, every aircraft is required to have a Kitbag which is filled with up to 25 pounds of paper documents that pilots use as a reference. It includes with flight manuals, approach plates, navigation charts, policy manuals, minimum equipment lists and taxi charts. For a fleet that has almost 900 planes in it, that is a lot of paper being wasted.

To get approval, AA needs to not only prove that the iPad could replace the operational side of the physical papers but also the rigors of flight – specifically that the device could handle rapid decompression and still be functional. They also had to arrange for a mount test to show how the tablets would look when locked in place.

"Despite AA's many troubles over the past year, it has become an early adopter among airlines from SXSW hackathons to paperless cockpits," Samantha Shankman, the author of the piece wrote. "This is a trend that can truly differentiate the new American."

While your typical organization does not need to worry about a decompression test when thinking about going paperless, it does show the extent to which some businesses will travel to get rid of the clutter of paper. Most companies can also partner with a document scanning and management service to start.

It's that wonderful time of year again when offices around the country start coming together to talk college basketball and start filling out their 2013 NCAA Tournament Bracket. It is a time honored tradition of ponying up $5 or $10 to take your best shot at bringing home the total grand prize and having bragging rights around the office. And by now, the process has most likely gone completely paperless.

Recent reports suggest that millions of American's will be taking part in the world largest office pool this week. Traditionally, one or two employees would spearhead the event by handing out paper brackets after Selection Sunday and participants would have three days to turn them back in. Now, thanks to Web-based portals from companies like ESPN, CBS and countless others, most of the leg work that was required by organizers and took time from the work day has been replaced by an automated system.

While employers may not like to know that March Madness costs an estimated $2 billion in productivity losses, according to a Finchannel article.

An MSN survey conducted after last year's tournament found that only 4 percent of respondents said they would not be partaking in the tournament in anyway – watching or doing a bracket. Also, 86 percent confessed to following the games while in the office.

While the chances of filling out a perfect bracket is more than 9.2 quintrillion to one (that's 9.2 with 18 zeros after it), it helps bring comradery and a spirited sense of competition to workers. By using a paperless system, it streamlines the process and makes it easier for businesses to manage the simple bracket setup.

This exact reasoning can be used to see why partnering with a document scanning and management service is a great way to save time and move into the digital realm.

The Jackson County Courthouse is not unlike many organizations these days. Located in Illinois, the building is trying to find the most cost-effective and simple way to transfer its numerous paper documents and records into something digital. Paperless office solutions have become more of a necessity with computer systems evolving, and it is important to find an option that meets a business' daily needs.

According to an article in The Southern Illinoisan, State Attorney Mike Carr said that the documents stored in the courthouse basement are secure. Some of the pages, stacked floor-to-ceiling, date back to the 1970s. While a few no longer require storage – old traffic offenses are not critical, he said – others have to be kept forever.

Information concerning old murder cases, for example, must be safely stored, Carr said.

A document scanning program has already been installed on the third-floor in the state attorney's offices, but the lawyer explained that an automated system for storage could cost up to $60,000. However, Carr said that he can make a pragmatic argument for the improvement and funds can come from an office collection.

Judge William Schwartz told the news source that he is aware of the issues from storing paper in the courthouse basement. Even so, each page has a storage cost, he said.

"You want to keep the least amount you can, but be responsible in what you're getting rid of," Schwartz said. "In this day and age of electronics there ought to be an electronic method of storing a lot of this stuff that is unlikely to be needed in the future."

Businesses and organizations across numerous industries can benefit from using document scanning and storage software. That way, the information stays intact and secure, but the bulk of paper can be eliminated.

Not to alarm you, but is only one month left to get your taxes filed with the state and federal governments. If you were hoping to mail it in, bad news, the deadline has passed. Not to worry, as there is always the option of e-filing – which is a system that may become the norm before too long – whether you like it or not.

According to an article in the Boston Globe, the state of Massachusetts is looking to have an entire digital system in place as early as next year. Amy Pitter, the Department of Revenue Commissioner said that her goal is to have nobody file on paper. Currently, only 6 percent of residents still file on paper.

It is easy to understand why the state wants to get rid of paper filing and it comes down to cold hard cash. According to the report is costs $1 million per year to print, distribute, store and process paper tax forms. The IRS estimates that is costs 15 cents to process an electronic return compared to $3.50 for a paper one.

There is also the environmental aspect. Pitter said that there are many trees killed every year to produce all the paper that is filed, copies and eventually shredded. Plus there are thousands of forms created that are never used.

"Just from an environmental perspective, it's awful," Pitter said.

Residents will still be able to file in paper in the coming years but as Pitter explained "it won't be impossible but we are going to try to keep it so you do it only if you really, really want to." Those interested will need to request the paper forms be mailed to them prior to filing by using the department's website.

The electronic age is here and every business can benefit with the help of document scanning and management service.

It seems that every industry can benefit from the use of a paperless solution. As technology evolves, the need for paper is dwindling. However, while tablets and digital communication become more commonplace, it takes more to manage the system than just buying the devices.

A recent CITEWorld article detailed how auto mart Jones Junction in Harford County, Maryland made the switch. The company used to require every sales person to carry an "evidence manual," which was a heavy binder filled with sales brochures, customer testimonials, competitor information and more. With 11 different car brands on the lot, that became a mountain of information to keep organized and updated.

Last year over the summer, the executives started talking about deploying iPads instead. After shopping around they finally pulled the trigger in September and spent $50,000 to incorporate 130 tablets into the sales system. They also added a document management service and mobile applications to keep everyone on the same page.

"From a training point of view, it's absolutely fantastic," Drew Bauer, the sales trainer and recruiter for Jones Junction, told the news source. "Before [the app], I was going through reams of paper and printing PowerPoint presentations for people all the time, which were later thrown away. Now I just download the PowerPoint presentation into the app and I'm done. And recipients can't tell me they didn't get it anymore, because I know you got it. It's the same with memos and announcements."

He went on to say that he is able to pinpoint who receives certain documents, whether it's just the newer sales reps or everyone, and it has saved several hours and hundreds of dollars per month in paper costs alone. In the long run, the company expects to save $100,000 per year with the new system.

As you can see, for the solution to run successfully, Jones Junction executives needed to partner with a document scanning and management service to ensure it was able to get the most out of a paperless approach.

The paperless revolution is here and many offices are looking for ways to eliminate the stacks of paper from the backroom. Mobile applications and devices are making it easier for businesses to collaborate and share information. This approach is hitting every industry from accountants to archaeologists.

Unsurprisingly, the world of archaeology is not what you see on the big screen with Indiana Jones. There are far fewer action set pieces and more writing down of information and taking pictures. However, there is a new trend of mobile devices and Web portals that is taking paper entirely out of the equation.

A recent CITEWorld article profiled Chicago University PhD student and archaeologist Michael Jennings. Traditional during an excavation, workers take lots of photos, go through multiple notebooks writing notes, drawing sketches and collecting it all in large binders. These stacks are then loaded into luggage and transported around the world. As with any air travel, there is the possibility that that luggage can be lost, which has happened.

This is nothing something Jennings is concerned with. He created a database and mobile application on an iPad that allows him to upload photos and audio, make drawings and write up notes. Through a Web portal, multiple users can watch the updates and add their own.

While these features are a bit more than most businesses need, it does show that even an "old school" occupation like archaeologist can benefit from tossing out the paper and picking up an iPad. Companies can partner with a document scanning and management service to start the transition into the digital realm.