The fax machine is dying out – and that's a good thing.
For a long time, it was synonymous with office communication: the fax machine. Anyone who entered an office in the 80s or 90s heard it almost everywhere – the whirring, beeping, and rattling of a device that sent documents over the phone line. Today, however, the fax is a relic from another era.
Only 18% of companies still rely on fax – and the trend is downwards
A recent survey of more than 600 German companies with at least 20 employees clearly shows: Not even one in five companies still regularly uses a fax machine for internal or external communication. In 2023, it was around a third. Within a year, the proportion has fallen significantly.
Engelmann Software has also stopped sending faxes – for good reasons. We consistently rely on modern, digital communication channels and completely do away with analog relics.
Why the fax has no future
The problem with the fax machine lies not only in its outdated technology, but also in its structural weaknesses:
- Slow transmission
- Quality heavily dependent on paper and ink levels
- Questionable in terms of data protection (e.g., in the case of misdirected faxes)
- Cumbersome archiving
- Hardly any integration options into modern work processes
Data protection, in particular, is a critical point. Because anyone who sends a fax to the wrong number cannot retrieve confidential data – a clear contradiction to today's requirements for security and GDPR compliance.
What companies use instead today
A look at digital practice shows:
✅ 100% of all surveyed companies use emails
✅ 94% regularly use smartphones for communication
✅ 93% still use landlines
✅ 67% resort to video conferences
✅ 66% work with messenger services such as Teams, Signal or Slack
This variety shows: communication has become faster, more flexible, and more secure – and the fax simply no longer has a place in it.
The fax as a symbol of backwardness
Increasingly, the fax is no longer seen merely as outdated technology, but as a sign of institutional inertia. Authorities often stick to fax – not out of conviction, but because structures or processes have not been adapted. The Bitkom CEO aptly calls it a "symbol of backwardness".
Conclusion: The fax is obsolete
The trend is clear: anyone who still relies on fax today must ask themselves why. Modern alternatives have long been available – faster, more secure, and more cost-effective. It's time to say goodbye to another "dinosaur" of office history.
