Did you know that fax machines have been around for over a century? Alexander Bain invented the first fax machine way back in the 1840s. However, it was not until the late 1900s that fax machines eventually rose to fame.
For years, fax machines dominated the corporate world. They were the go-to solution for business communication and document exchange. But are fax machines still relevant?
Today, fax machines seem to have been replaced by email and instant messaging. Surprisingly, many individuals and businesses still use this traditional mode of communication.
Let’s take a closer look at how faxing has been given a new lease on life and why it’s still an essential office tool.
Table of Contents
- Why Are Fax Machines Still Relevant?
- What Is an Online Fax Service?
- Online Fax: 9 Interesting Facts That You Should Know
- How Can You Fax From Your Laptop?
- What Is the Best Online Fax Service?
Why Are Fax Machines Still Relevant?
Fax services continue to remain a pillar of business communication, thanks to advanced technology. Nowadays, faxing is possible even without fax machines. All you need is a stable internet connection and an internet-ready device.
This has made faxing even more convenient. Instead of searching for nearby fax services, you can conveniently send confidential documents from the comfort of your home.
What Is an Online Fax Service?
What replaced fax machines are online fax services that allow users to fax via the web. An online fax provider gives you the advantage of using your computer, laptop, or mobile device.
Faxing online is also easier than sending traditional facsimiles because there are no complicated machine setups. You also get more freedom to choose how you want to fax. If you do not want to pay for recurring subscriptions, you can look for online fax services that offer one-time fax.
Online Fax: 9 Interesting Facts That You Should Know
Did you know that there’s more to faxing than meets the eye? Here are some interesting facts about this communication tool that highlights why fax machines are still relevant.
1. Faxing has evolved
Fax services have certainly kept up with the times. With modern fax technology, you don’t need to own a machine to send files and documents. Everything can be as easy as clicking a button or tapping a screen. Fax service providers also offer apps that let you transmit files and documents using your computer and mobile device.
Faxing these days is as easy and convenient as sending an email, but with added security.
2. Fax services are highly reliable
These days, there’s a wide selection of fax service providers. You can also do an online search to look for fax service reviews. This way, you’ll know which service to get and which to avoid. A reliable fax service provider can guarantee that your faxes will arrive safely and on time.
3. Using the internet to fax is safe and secure
Traditional faxing may pose security risks, but things have changed for the better. Online fax services are designed to provide an added layer of security. Modern faxing offers more ways to secure fax transmissions and avoid cyber threats that lead to information breaches and data loss.
4. Fax services provide transmission receipts
One of the most significant advantages fax services have over other technologies is the availability of a receipt that confirms the date and time of the transmission. This transmission receipt can provide legal protection. It also serves as a paper trail for your transactions and messages.
5. Faxes are considered legal documents
Aside from transmission receipts, fax signatures are also considered valid in contract law. This means that in legal battles, faxes hold weight whereas emails are still not considered admissible evidence.
6. Say goodbye to piles of paperwork
Handling and managing paperwork is undoubtedly a daunting task, especially if you have to go through a pile of printed documents and physical folders. With online fax services widely available, you can store all your documents in the cloud. You don’t need a physical cabinet for storage because you can access your fax records online.
7. Online fax services are cost-effective
Online fax providers like iFax offer affordable plans for sending and receiving faxes. You can choose a subscription that best suits your budget and matches your needs. For example, you have the option to pay per fax if you do not need to send facsimiles that often. There’s no need to worry about expensive fees when you send a few pages.
8. In times of emergency, you can rely on fax
It is always wise to have an emergency communication channel. Having some type of fax service, be it traditional or online, provides your business a way to deal with urgent matters without having to wait for documents to arrive via mail.
9. Faxing is still widely used in the business and healthcare sectors
Regular users may not use fax that much. Even so, many businesses and healthcare providers continue to use fax as one of their primary methods to send and receive documents, especially those that contain sensitive financial and health information. And it looks like these sectors aren’t thinking of stopping using fax anytime soon.
How Can You Fax From Your Laptop?
With modern faxing, it’s easy to send faxes using only your laptop. To do this, you need to use a service like iFax. Once you have a fax service, you can install fax software on your laptop or use your web browser to access your online fax dashboard.
Check out our detailed guide below to learn how to send faxes using your computer.
How to use iFax to send faxes from a laptop or computer
What Is the Best Online Fax Service?
Finding the best online fax service can take up a lot of your time, but you don’t need to go through all of that. If you use iFax, you are guaranteed to have a secure and reliable fax provider. Your documents are safe, accessible, and easy to send using any computer or mobile device.
iFax is simply modern faxing at its finest.
Final Thoughts
These are just some of the reasons why fax is still relevant today. Despite plenty of technological advancements when it comes to document sharing, there is still a place for faxing in this digital age.
Do you want to ensure your business is enjoying the advantages of fax services without the hassle? Start faxing online today.
Sign up for an iFax account and feel at ease knowing that you can send documents at any time.
