As inflation rises, gas prices increase and raw materials become more scarce there are many progressive professionals that are now looking for alternative solutions to managing paper documents. Regardless if we are discussing medical records, legal documents, government logs, real estate entries, or general business tracking and maintenance it is clear that some of the smartest people in their respective industries are now recognizing just how valuable it is to start looking at ways paper scanning, document imaging and digital data ocr services can elevate the efficiency, effectiveness and work in their fields of expertise. One such person that happens to be embracing this new paperless trend in business, healthcare, government, law, and real estate is Hamilton Tennessee County Clerk Bill Knowles. As proof of this Bill Knowles recently announced that his office will become the first county clerk’s office in the entire state of Tennessee to become “paperless” when it comes to processing vehicle title transactions.

Serving his 12th term in office which is a record for an elected official in this office it is clear that Bill Knowles is a leader and a trend setter that we all should be taking notes on (digitally of course). The County Officials Association of Tennessee (COAT) elected him as the Outstanding Official of the Year for 2006 noting his dedication to keeping his office on the cutting-edge of technology and he continues in this thought process and tradition with his latest efforts to make vehicle title transactions digital. Some of County Clerk Knowles other paperless and digital accomplishments during his tenor include becoming the first in Tennessee to computerize County Commission minutes, digitizing title and registration information, opening Hamilton County’s first Tag and Title Branch location, and computerizing marriage records so citizens and genealogists can conduct marriage research online. So let’s take a look at some of the real-world benefits Bill Knowles constituents will get from having such an innovative leader.

 Paperless Vehicle Title Transactions Processing Benefit #1: Testing

This vehicle title transactions paperless processing project was made possible by the clerk’s office successfully piloting a program for the Tennessee Department of Revenue. By testing new digital document management approaches, scanning services, and paperless processes you can identify other avenues and aspects of your personal and professional life that will benefit from going paperless.

Paperless Vehicle Title Transactions Processing Benefit #2: Saving Money

Mr. Knowles noted that this new paperless workflow from Hamilton County to Nashville will eliminate the cost of purchasing and shipping over 660,000 sheets of copy paper annually saving the taxpayers at least $20,000 a year. It’s clear going paperless not only reduces the stress on resources but also the pressure on budgets as well.  

Paperless Vehicle Title Transactions Processing Benefit #3: Partnerships 

Hamilton County’s IT Department moved to new software that interfaced with the state in 2010 and it was this change that allowed County Clerk Bill Knowles to digitally transfer files which gives life to projects like the new one. By partnering with Revenue Commissioner Richard Roberts and his excellent staff under Governor Haslam’s administration digital and paperless improvements allows for easier working environments and stronger professional connections.

County Clerk Bill Knowles is no stranger to technology or success in office and his continuous transitions to a more paperless society should be strong reminders that we should be taking the same mindsets into business life. He is setting paperless trends in government and the people he represents could not be better off for it. If you could shift any one part of your life to a more digital and paperless experience what would it be?