As we celebrate Earth Day, it’s the perfect moment to rethink how we interact with paper. From invoices to surveys, contracts, and application forms, so much of our daily work still relies on paper. While it may seem like a small inconvenience, paper usage quickly adds up. So why not swap it for something more sustainable, efficient, and better for the planet? That’s where online forms come in.
With PlatoForms, you can turn your existing PDFs into fillable, shareable web forms in just minutes. Thanks to AI-powered form recognition, it’s now easier than ever to eliminate paper and create digital workflows that save time while reducing environmental impact.
What is AI-powered form recognition? It’s a smart feature from PlatoForms that finds all the fields in your PDF—like text boxes, checkboxes, and dropdowns—automatically! No more dragging fields one by one. We’ve always detected basic fields, but now with AI, it’s faster and way more accurate. Less work for you, faster forms for everyone! 🎉
Why go paperless?
Going paperless isn’t just good for the planet—it’s good for your workflow, your team, and even your budget. Here’s why online forms should be your go-to:
🧾 Cut the clutter
The average office worker goes through 10,000 sheets of paper a year—most of it printed, signed, scanned, then tossed. That’s a lot of trees (and time) wasted!
🏭 Shrink your footprint
Paper production fuels deforestation and uses massive amounts of water—two growing environmental concerns we can’t ignore.
💡 Boost your efficiency
Digital forms are faster to build, easier to share, and quicker to process. No more printing delays, filing chaos, or chasing signatures.
🎯 Better for business
Less paper means lower printing costs, reduced admin time, and smoother workflows for your whole team.
Switching to online forms is a simple, impactful way to support a more sustainable future—while also working smarter. And with AI-powered tools, going paperless is easier (and cooler) than ever. 🌱
Features that help you go paperless with our AI form builder
Here are the core features of PlatoForms that make going paperless even easier while boosting your efficiency:
🧠 AI field recognition
Forget the hassle of manually entering field data—simply upload your PDF, and let PlatoForms’ AI recognition detect the fields automatically. Whether it’s checkboxes, radio buttons, or text fields, AI will map them out for you. You can tweak the details later, but most of the heavy lifting is already done!
✍️ E-signature support
No more printing, signing, scanning, and re-uploading! With PlatoForms’ e-signature support, you can collect signatures digitally in a snap. This feature eliminates the need for paper contracts and agreements while ensuring compliance with digital signature laws.
🔄 Workflow automation
Going paperless means more than just forms—it’s about building smarter workflows. With PlatoForms, you can set up automatic triggers for approvals, notifications, and data processing. No need for physical documents to pass through multiple hands.
📤 Smart integrations
Why stop at just collecting data? PlatoForms integrates seamlessly with tools like Google Sheets, Zapier, and Slack. Responses from your forms are automatically stored, tracked, and even sent to your team for follow-up—no printed spreadsheets required!
💾 Save & resume
Forms don’t have to be filled out all at once. Allow respondents to save their progress and resume later, eliminating the need for paper drafts or multiple printouts.
🗂️ Submission history & export
All responses are stored digitally. You can easily export them into PDFs or other formats for review, analysis, or archival, cutting out physical storage and file cabinets.
How it works: from PDF to online form
Switching to paperless forms is easy with PlatoForms. Here’s a quick guide to getting started:
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Sign up for free
Creating a PlatoForms account is easy and free! No credit card required—just head to PlatoForms and get started today.
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Upload your PDF
Whether you’re starting from scratch or converting an existing document, PlatoForms makes it simple to upload PDFs. Our AI recognition feature will automatically detect fields like checkboxes, text fields, and dropdown menus.
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Customize and share
Once your fields are recognized, tweak the layout, apply your brand colors, and adjust the fields to your needs. You can send your form to recipients via email, SMS, or even embed it directly on your website.
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Track responses
Login anytime to check how your form is performing. View submissions in real-time and export your data in the format that suits you best. All data is stored securely, eliminating the need for paper storage.
Read more: Turning Your Submission Data into Stunning Charts
Small step, big impact
By switching to online forms, you’re making a meaningful impact on the environment. It might seem like a small change, but the collective effect of reducing paper use can help preserve forests, save water, and reduce carbon emissions.
You’ll also be cutting down on waste in your business operations, improving efficiency, and offering a better experience to your customers or employees. Going paperless is a win-win!
Earth Day activity ideas for a greener future
In celebration of Earth Day, here are some ideas to get your team involved in going paperless and supporting sustainability:
Host a paperless day challenge
Encourage your team to go paperless for the day—no printing, no scanning, no paper waste! You could even turn it into a friendly competition, with prizes for the team or individual who goes the longest without using paper.
Organize a virtual clean-up event
While reducing paper waste is great for sustainability, it’s also important to keep the environment clean. Organize a virtual event where team members can contribute to cleaning up their local areas—whether it’s picking up litter or cleaning out digital clutter.
Plant a tree for every form completed
Get creative by setting up a system where a tree is planted for every online form filled out and submitted using PlatoForms. This can tie directly into Earth Day by combining eco-friendly digital efforts with tangible environmental actions.
Host a webinar on going paperless
Share insights and tips on reducing paper use and improving workflows through digital solutions. Invite experts to discuss the environmental impact of paper consumption and showcase tools like PlatoForms to help businesses become more sustainable.
Donate to environmental charities
Consider a company-wide initiative where each person’s switch to paperless forms earns a donation to an environmental charity, helping support global sustainability efforts.
Ready to go paperless?
Make the switch today and celebrate Earth Day by going paperless with PlatoForms. It’s simple, it’s efficient, and it’s better for the planet.
Start your free account now and take your first step toward a greener future!
📌 Frequently asked questions
What are paperless forms?
Paperless forms are digital forms that replace traditional paper-based forms. They help reduce paper waste, streamline processes, and are ideal for sustainability-focused businesses.
How does PlatoForms help my business go paperless?
PlatoForms lets you convert PDFs into fillable online forms, automate workflows, collect digital signatures, and store data online—no printing required.
Is AI-powered form recognition accurate?
Yes! PlatoForms uses AI to automatically detect form fields in PDFs with high accuracy, saving time and reducing manual work.
