Executive summary

The financial services sector faces significant challenges, from document overload to compliance. reMarkable's paper tablets — devices that combine the elegance and simplicity of paper with powerful digital tools — can serve as a strategic asset for efficiency, operational excellence, and client engagement.

We conducted a 10-week study with Mainstreet Credit Union, a nonprofit financial institution based in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Together, we found that the average employee working in the industry can save nearly two and a half hours a week by replacing paper-related tasks with a paper tablet. This includes:

This article explores how reMarkable addresses the financial sector's challenges and presents evidence from our study, highlighting a clear, measurable return on investment (ROI) through efficiency and productivity gains, and wider strategic advantages.

Navigating the documentation deluge in financial services

Of the many challenges facing the financial services industry, a few stand out:

• Document overload: Professionals manage vast volumes of documents, which Deloitte found can consume up to 20% of operational time.
• Time management: In our study, we calculated that employees spend more than two and a half hours a week on document-related tasks.
• Meeting efficiency: Unnecessary meetings are on the rise, which McKinsey estimates can lead to a 15% productivity loss.
• Security and compliance: Financial services companies are particularly vulnerable to higher data breach costs, which makes secure document management is critical. Paper use presents a systemic risk.
• Focus and distraction: Digital interruptions disrupt deep financial analysis. Research from the University of California, Irvine, suggests it takes us more than 20 minutes to refocus after each interruption.

reMarkable: Your ally in the digital age

reMarkable's paper tablets combine of the tactile feel of paper with the efficiency of digital tools. Here's how they can help companies in the financial services sector:

• Distraction-free environment: Our paper tablets are distraction-free by design, which lets users focus on financial analysis and client engagement. A neuroscience study found that concentrating on a single task on a paper tablet was 35% less stressful than on a PC.
• Efficient document management: Digital note-taking and storage capabilities streamline document handling, reducing administrative overhead. And despite the old saying about messy desks, a clutter-free environment can boost your productivity.
• Enhanced meeting productivity: With reMarkable, meetings can feel more personal and interactive, making them more effective and actionable. More than 70% of our business users say they were more effective in meetings when they took notes on their paper tablet.
• Security and compliance: Digital notes with encryption capabilities offer a more secure approach to handling sensitive financial information than paper.
• Collaboration and communication: With Screen Share, users can instantly present what they're writing or sketching on a big screen, turning their paper tablet into a whiteboard. It's perfect for team brainstorming, or for more interactive presentations.
• Sustainability: Features like PDF annotation and Send by email significantly reduce the need to print and file documents, supporting the wider strategic push for sustainability in the industry.

Evidence from the field: Mainstreet Credit Union's experience

Testimonials from our study with Mainstreet Credit Union illustrates how reMarkable's features directly address the financial services sector's challenges:

• Document management: One participant highlighted reMarkable's paper-like reading experience and annotation capabilities:
  
  "For every meeting, I compile and prepare a PDF package for the board. reMarkable has made a vast difference; instead of staring at a screen, I can read these packages comfortably on my couch, especially with the new reading light on reMarkable Paper Pro. Then during the meeting, I use reMarkable to annotate issues and what adjustments need to be made before the package is archived."
  
  A simplified document editing process led to a 41% reduction in time wasted organizing and reviewing notes and documents, saving an average of 72 minutes a week.

• Meeting efficiency: Another participant, who works on process revisions and technology rollouts, praised reMarkable's ability to streamline workflow and enhance time management:
  
  "I edit procedures by putting the PDF on my reMarkable, where I can mark directly on the document. It's much better than printing everything out, eliminating the clutter of paper. reMarkable has allowed me to banish sticky notes."
  
  Across all participants, Mainstreet saw a 74% reduction in meeting preparation time, saving 48 minutes weekly.

• Productivity and focus: One participant appreciated being able to combine handwritten and typed notes on a single device:
  
  "Love the ability to annotate on my lengthy PDF packages on the fly — the addition of the keyboard makes those edits much more permanent — very handy."
  
  Features like handwriting conversion and our Type Folio keyboard case accessory contributed to a 55% decrease in time related to rewriting or digitizing handwritten notes, which translates into 23 minutes saved a week per employee.

• Enhanced learning and retention: Another participant shared a personal anecdote about how reMarkable helped them reconnect with taking handwritten notes:
  
  "I ran calculations by hand, like I was in engineering school. It helped me understand the model I was using and solve the problem.... Writing notes by hand means I can stay better engaged in conversation and recall what I wrote much easier."

The total time saved across these activities averaged 2 hours and 23 minutes a week per employee. In other words, each reMarkable paper tablet will self-finance in a matter of months.

How can we help?

We're committed to creating hardware and software that helps the financial services industry pursue a paperless future — with innovation, security, and client satisfaction at its core.

Let's talk about how your company can replace paper with paper tablets, improving the quality of your services while ensuring compliance. Click the link below to contact us.