In one of my recent posts, I developed a list of business-related items that I felt people should travel with when they wanted to be able to conduct business while away from home. Two items on the list were identified as “optional” – a scanner and a printer. I just got back from a Florida trip where I DID take those items (actually I shipped them ahead of time), and they were lifesavers. Even though my hotel had a fully accessorized business center, the ease and convenience of having these items at my fingertips, in my room, and available on a moment’s notice was well worth it. I didn’t have to worry about access to the business center, availability of a computer, access to a functioning printer (with adequate paper supplies) or viruses that could infect my thumbdrive, or even worse, track my keystrokes and have access to my corporate system.
In fact, when my plane landed, I had a message from a Fortune 500 company that had sent back to me a signed occupancy agreement, and they wanted a fully executed copy back before the close of business that day. Once I got to my hotel room, it took me no more than 15 minutes to connect my laptop, portable printer (HP470) and scanner (ScanSnap), and I was able to print the emailed version of the agreement the client transmitted to me, sign it, and then scan it back to him. Both the client and the real estate broker involved in the transaction were amazed at how quickly and easily I was able to turn around the document. We were done well before the close of business, and everyone appreciated that.
Both items came in handy throughout the rest of my one week trip, and I was glad that I had them. I will definitely take them on future trips where I want to be able to continue to be fully operational from a business standpoint.
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