Three Office Items That Will Soon Be Obselete

When new technology becomes available, older, less-efficient items tend to become obsolete. This is especially true in the workplace, where productivity is essential. As the workforce becomes more mobile and communication continues to take place more through technology than face-to-face, the list of obsolete office items will only continue to grow.

According to a LinkedIn survey, 58 percent of workers believe the Rolodex — and the business card for that matter — will be an obsolete office item by 2017. There are two reasons this is likely to happen. First, social media profiles, especially those created on Google+ and LinkedIn, function as business cards. Often, a user's employer, email and phone number are easily accessible on social media sites. Unlike a business card, though, a social media profile lists much more information that is relevant to networking.

The second reason the Rolodex is expected to become the next obsolete office item is fewer people communicate face-to-face. With less time spent communicating in person, it is often far more effective to put your contact information at the bottom of an email than print business cards.

Another future obsolete office item is the fax machine. However, faxes are still essential for many businesses that need to send contracts, legal notices and medical records. For these businesses, scanning a document and attaching it to an email is not secure enough. This is why, according to Mike Meixler, the founder of GreenFax, businesses are increasingly turning to online fax services. These services allow businesses to send and receive faxes via the cloud. Since this only requires a subscription and an Internet connection, outdated office equipment like the fax machine will become obsolete.

Various studies show that about one-third of the population believes the desktop computer will soon be eliminated from the workplace. Mobilizing the workforce will only get easier as technology evolves. Businesses already have numerous options when it comes to coordinating employees online and holding meetings via video applications. Additionally, many programs have responded to security concerns that arise when employees use technology to complete work.

Further evidence of the desktop computer becoming an obsolete office item is revealed when the numbers are considered. Desktop computer sales were down by 10 percent late in 2013 during the busy holiday shopping season. On the other hand, tablets sales spiked. Aside from sales, Apple recently released a version of Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint for the iPad. This eliminates one of the barriers that previously prevented tablets from becoming valuable in the workplace. As technology continues to adapt to mobile devices, this trend will only continue, resulting in the desktop computer no longer having a use separate from mobile devices.

The decline of outdated office equipment is welcomed by many. The inevitable rise in tablets and laptop computers makes mobilizing the workforce easier and increasing productivity possible, especially for traveling employees. By all accounts, the Rolodex, fax machine and desktop computer are all well on their way to being obsolete office items.

(Photo courtesy of Renjith Krishnan at FreeDigitalPhotos.net)