With technology advancing more every day, constantly changing work environments are common. New computers are bought; better internet service is acquired; even new phones are installed. Fax machines have been largely unaffected by this trend, but times are changing fast. More and more offices are choosing to get rid of fax machines and are teaching their employees how to send a fax over the Internet.

Using this new method sounds much more complicated than it really is. There are no really big changes you have to make. All that will really happen is that you or your business will be able to stop paying for a second phone line (hopefully) and get rid of those huge, obsolete fax machines. Just like everything with the internet, all you really need is a computer!

WHAT:

So the first step in learning how to send an Internet fax is learning how the process works. As with fax machines, you’ll need a little “outside” help. You’ll need to subscribe to a service like eFax, MyFax, or RingCentral; they are the ones that will connect you. They’ll give you a fax number like the one you used to have, and then you’ll not only know how to send an Internet fax, but you’ll be able to receive it too.

Now, the service can be a monthly plan or an annual plan; annual plans tend to be cheaper per month, but it’s not really that expensive either way. Most services start at $8 per month and you receive a certain number of incoming and outgoing messages per month. Overage charges are per page, not per fax, and are pennies.

There are other benefits too: you save a ton of money not only on paper, which helps the environment, but you also save on ink. Most services also offer tree testing programs, so there’s no harm in giving it a try!