There is a whole generation of adults in the workforce who have never, or rarely, had to use a fax machine. Fax machines, or early iterations of them, have been around since the mid-1840s, and have been a critical technology in business communications and transactions ever since. But in the age of eSignature, 5G, and the cloud, why are we still faxing? 

In this article, we investigate the longevity of this crucial business technology.  

Faxes have standards. 

Since the 1980s, fax machines have been operating on an international technical standard. Meaning, fax machines (and other systems capable of fax transmissions) conform to all current and previous standards. Fax machines therefore never become too outdated to use, and compatibility is maintained across all models.  

Likewise, because these standards apply across the globe, fax is still useful in doing international business.  

Faxes are secure. 

Because faxing isn’t done via the internet, instead relying on the connection between two devices, it’s an incredibly secure way to send information. That’s what makes it the preferred method of industries like healthcare, legal, and more. In fact, as much as 70% of healthcare providers still choose to use fax, despite modern software alternatives.  

Faxes are regulation compliant. 

Because of the tight standards and security fax technology offers, fax is built into the regulations for some industries. Depending on the nature of the information being transferred, your organization may be required to use fax.  

They’re still included in many telecom service offerings. 

You may not think about faxes very often, but service providers and their business customers still do. Faxing – or an eFax solution – is included in modern VoIP service offerings. Businesses searching for comprehensive communications suites won’t have to look far to find fax solutions.  

Sometimes, it just comes down to habits.  

Whether it’s user preference, or a resistance to change established systems, some businesses use fax machines because it’s the way things have traditionally been done. If it’s not broke, right?  

eFax is an option.  

eFax is a service that allows users to send and receive faxes electronically over the internet. It eliminates the need for a physical fax machine and phone line, and instead allows users to send and receive faxes through email or a web-based interface. With eFax, users can send faxes as email attachments, receive faxes as email notifications with attached fax documents, or access faxes through a web portal.  

eFax services also often include features such as digital signatures, fax archiving, and the ability to send and receive faxes from multiple devices, such as computers, smartphones, and tablets. eFax is commonly used by businesses and individuals who still need to send or receive faxes but prefer a digital, paperless solution. While it provides convenience and flexibility, it may not be as secure as traditional faxing methods in certain aspects, due to the required internet component.  

In conclusion… 

The global fax services market is expected to grow at 11.03% per year until 2027. In other words, although faxing may seem antiquated, it shows no signs of leaving our business culture. Due to its consistent standards and practical uses, the fax machine is here to stay.