Fax Machines Bid Farewell to the German Bundestag's Halls
In the realm of personal life, fax machines have long been relegated to the annals of history. However, the tale is distinct in the world of business and politics. Yet, even these realms are now bidding adieu to fax machines, as they head towards obscurity. The budget managers have bestowed a reprieve upon them until the summer, but their time is running out.
The Finance Committee is determined to eradicate all fax machines from the German Bundestag's premises. In a motion titled, 'Measures to Implement', the budget managers advocate for the abolition of all fax machines in the Bundestag's buildings by June 30, 2024, at the latest. This decree was passed during the committee meeting to revise the 2024 budget. All work processes and activities that still rely on these devices must transition to a digital format.
FDP politician Torsten Herbst expressed his delight at the committee's decision. "I am thrilled that the Finance Committee has decided to phase out all existing fax machines, as suggested by us," he said. "The time has come."
A Bitkom survey conducted just last May revealed that a staggering 82% of German companies still utilize fax machines to transmit documents occasionally. The survey also showed a downward trend in usage, with 33% of companies stating they use faxes frequently or very frequently. In comparison, this figure stood at 40% in 2022 and a whopping 62% in 2018.
Bitkom attributed this persistence to the established nature of faxes. "Once a communication channel has established itself, it takes time for it to be entirely replaced, even when more convenient and secure communication channels have emerged," they said. Bitkom further pointed out that the high level of traceability in business communication is one of the primary reasons faxes remain popular.
The coronavirus pandemic revealed another surprising truth: many medical practices in Germany still rely on fax machines. In another Bitkom survey conducted in 2021, one in five general practitioners (22%) stated that fax was their preferred mode of communication. Only one in twenty doctors mainly communicates via email with other practices, pharmacies, or patients.
With the Finance Committee's resolution, the German Bundestag aims to digitize its operations completely, making its fax-free transformation by June 30, 2024 a reality. This initiative aligns with the trend observed in 82% of German companies who still use fax machines occasionally, although its usage is waning year by year.
Enrichment Data:
Unfortunately, the sources provided do not contain information about the current status and future plans for the use of fax machines in the German Bundestag. They primarily focus on diverse topics, such as the German judiciary, public service broadcasting in Nepal, and the German Bundestag elections. Thus, it is impossible to derive a present state or future prospects for fax machines in the German Bundestag based on these sources.
