Ask HN: Why is a digital process better?

3 points·tom-yo··3 comments

CNN just published an article critiquing the Japanese banking system for using physical documents and stamps: https://archive.is/mfa0C

But why? Much of the business world, especially those things that must be done properly, still rely on having physical records and manual process.

I don’t want to kill trees and want efficiency, but where should the line be drawn?

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Governments whose rules and procedures are dictated by laws and that therefore change very slowly are where paper records preside. Businesses, which change in accordance with leadership whim, where speed dictates winners and profits, where truth and history are written in accordance with marketing, are where digitization is proceeding apace. Doing things properly is only a thing when you are profitable.

https://archive.is/mfa0C

> Much of the business world, especially those things that must be done properly, still rely on having physical records and manual process.

Can you name one business that is using physical records where this is not mandated by law? All accounting around me, including banks, is done digitally. The only one I can think of are businesses run by people born before computers where a thing (some still exist). Note that governments and regulated industries can change very slowly, but that's almost always result of not needing to compete, not an intentional choice.

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