When the fax machine became a common business tool in the 1980s, it seemed that technology had broken an information barrier, where facsimiles or copies of documents could be sent across distances in a matter of minutes. Now, with the Internet becoming the crux of many businesses since the 1990s, the speed and manner in which documents can be transmitted from one location to another took another major leap forward. The Internet fax is becoming a multi-functional business tool for most small to medium-sized companies today.

A transformation in technology from traditional faxes to the Internet fax reveals two important shifts in business processes. The first is that information being sent from one destination to another is no longer simply just words on paper. That information can be re-purposed, reused, and sent to multiple users simultaneously. This leads to a significant advantage in efficiency. Distribution of information is now instantaneous and can be shared, regardless of location or the presence of a fax machine. Information is now more flexible as it can be indexed, searched, filed, retrieved and manipulated in so many ways, that the applications are seemingly endless.

The second major shift that the Internet fax suggests is the decoupling of the need for traditional fax machines. As technology progresses, devices that support one type of format and one type of transmission are becoming redundant, as computing devices from cell phones to net books are capable of receiving and sending information in various formats. Technology is increasingly allowing for inter-compatibility of software and hardware, making information much more portable and seamlessly connected to other devices.

The implication for small to medium-sized businesses includes the importance of managing and organizing information, as well as saved time resulting from increased efficiency. New opportunities for business are crystallized from new technology and new modes of information. The benefits of utilizing Internet fax technology are robust, including increased efficiency, staying competitive with industry-standard technology, and providing new solutions to emerging business challenges.

Faxing over the Internet is more efficient than traditional fax machines, saving time and money in reducing paper and fax maintenance costs, in addition to facilitating the dissemination of information more quickly. The information can quickly be reprised in different forms and allows for a much more flexible business process. Small to medium-sized business in particular will appreciate the multi-functionality of an Internet fax, how it is able to send faxes to traditional fax machines in a more capable and precise manner, as well as receive faxes from traditional fax with the ability to transmit much more information. This not only cuts down unnecessary processes, but it creates flexibility and strengthens the company's position on information management.

The Internet fax is quickly becoming more than a technological trend; for many businesses, it's becoming an operational necessity. As competitors use technology to expedite their business processes, can a small to medium-sized business afford to fall behind the pack? Small to medium-sized businesses have the most to gain from the Internet fax because of the cost-saving features and flexible deployment costs. The Internet fax is part of a shift in business processes. From reliance on old technology and old ways of thinking to new technology and the flexibility and efficiency it brings, faxing over the Internet allows for businesses to focus on innovation and improvement, rather than maintenance and up-keep.

As traditional fax machines require upkeep, they are prone to the same challenges that have plagued small businesses for decades: operational error, maintenance issues, and the compromise of information security. The Internet fax significantly reduces the chances of error during the transmission process. Its ease of use is appealing to younger, start-up companies because it's seamlessly integrated into the current technology-based information model that utilizes e-mail, cloud computing, and centralization of tasks and tools into one easily accessible platform. New workers entering the work force are already familiar with technology-latent business concepts such as multi-functionality and repurposing content and information. The Internet fax requires no new concepts in knowledge for these workers, making it much easier to train and implement than traditional fax machines.

How businesses view and manage information is crucial to competing in the new global landscape. The Internet fax gives small to medium-sized businesses the technological advantage to solve increasingly demanding challenges regarding information management and communication. Providing greater efficiency and cleaner and streamlined pathways to handle faxes is a fundamental shift in business processes where Internet faxes can be a valuable asset.