The old adage “less is more” is true in many situations, from the length of speeches to the consumption of natural resources as well as golf strokes. It is also valid when it comes to the use of paper during board meetings. To become a paper-free board requires careful planning and commitment from the entire team. The results will be worth the effort. The article below, from our friends at BoardEffect offers a few key things to keep in mind when transitioning to a paperless board.

One of the biggest challenges that boards face is the time taken to review board meeting materials and prepare for every meeting. A board portal enables directors to access documents before meetings, and they can look them up on any device. Directors can even virtual data rooms sign the digital board book which permits unanimous written approval outside of the meeting. This eliminates the need for printing distribution, distribution and global shipping costs.

Another obstacle which can be tackled with the aid of a software for managing boards is ensuring that the meeting materials are up-to-date. A board management software allows updates to be reflected instantly for all users. This makes the process more efficient and can save countless hours of resource time.

Like any new software, it is important to provide sufficient training and support for board members. This will allow them to become familiar with the software’s functionality and improve their productivity.