What is the most common method of filing?

Organisation in the office can be tricky - especially if your team keeps growing but storage solutions stay the same. Luckily, there’s nothing that an upgrade in filing systems can’t fix!

Although it may seem like a simple task, establishing what time of filing system is best for your office can become pretty overwhelming. This guide will take you through two of the most popular types of filing systems, vertical and lateral filing, to make your decision as easy as possible.

The Importance Of Filing

Before we delve into vertical vs. lateral filing, let’s quickly discuss the importance of filing. If you’re sat wondering whether introducing a filing system into your office is worth it, the following information is for you.

Although much of the important information we keep as a business is kept online these days, some documents must remain as physical copies. To prevent important documents from getting lost or damaged, filing systems are used to keep them in one place. Filing systems help to keep important documents safe, organised, and easy to find.

What Are Vertical Filing Cabinets?

Vertical filing is the most common type of filing - most filing cabinets follow the vertical method. To put it simply, the files hang vertically with the identification tab on the top edge. Papers are added or retrieved from the top.

As this type of filing is used in drawers or filing frames which pull out, it has the benefit to the user in being easier to operate at lower levels. This type of filing system also means that you can save space in the office, as the cabinet stands tall rather than wide.

Key Features Of Vertical Filing Cabinets

Files hang vertically
The draws are often deep and pull-out
Files are labelled with tabs at the top edge
Documents are added and retrieved from the top
Easy to operate at lower levels
Easy to organise alphabetically
Saves office space by standing tall (rather than wide)

What Are Lateral Filing Cabinets?

Lateral filing is when papers are added from the side of the file and the identification tab is on the side of the file. To pull the document out, you grab the sides edges.

The main benefit of this type of filing system is that it is more space efficient. A typical two metre high filing cupboard can house 6 rows of filing, double that of suspended filing. Many people also find that lateral filing cabinets are easier to access, as they don’t always require drawers.

Key Features Of Lateral Filing Cabinets

Files sit on their side
Files are labelled on their side
Space efficient (you can store a larger amount of files)
Easier to access due to not needing drawers

Vertical Vs. Lateral Filing

When examining speed of filing and retrieval, it’s clear to see that the lateral filing system is better. Files tend to remain in a semi permanent location and therefore in the memory. Again, as there is no drawer filing, retrieval is a quick single handed action. However, adding in new files can be an obstacle as the file can sometimes be difficult to move along the rail. TUB or coat hanger file can alleviate this. Although lateral filing wins in terms of speed, vertical filing takes the lead in terms of organisation and accessibility.

What Type Of Filing Is Right For Your Office?

At the end of the day, both types of filing techniques are excellent for storing important documents. The type of filing cabinet you choose will entirely depend on the space in your office and the amount of files you need to keep safe. For example, doctors and hospitals may prefer to use lateral filing systems due to how easy it is to store large volumes of documents. Smaller businesses, on the other hand, may benefit more greatly from vertical filing systems. They don’t have to be an eyesore either - we have many attractive wooden filing cabinets available that’ll be sure to blend in with your office furnishings.

Organisation Doesn’t Need To Be Stressful

We hope that this guide has helped you to establish the differences between vertical and lateral filing systems. Both provide excellent organisation solutions without any added stress! Whether you choose to use both types of filing cabinets or feel confident with choosing one type, your office is about to get a whole lot more efficient.

What are the 2 most common filing techniques?

There are 2 main methods of filing, which are Loose Leaf method and secondly, the Collective method. Documents are filed individually in a normal file, holes are punched in the documents and then they are filed. Documents can be filed and de-filed very easily.

What is the best method of filing?

The vertical method of filing is considered to be the best because it has a “large number of advantages.

What is method of filling?

Filling Methods refer to the various field relationships between the selected data table and current data table. 1. Filling data table and filled data table are all defined based on the "Single Field" and/or "Multiple Fields". 2.

What are the three most commonly used filing systems?

Filing and classification systems fall into three main types: alphabetical, numeric and alphanumeric. Each of these types of filing systems has advantages and disadvantages, depending on the information being filed and classified.