Fax Isn’t Dead: Why Some Businesses Still Rely on Faxing
“I’ll fax it over” may sound like a phrase from another decade, especially given how common digital communication and instant file sharing are. Nonetheless, faxing still plays an important role for many businesses in 2026 and is far from a thing of the past for several business tasks.
In this post, we outline:
- Why faxing still exists and what industries still use a fax most often
- The reliability faxing can offer businesses
- The security benefits faxing can offer businesses
Why does faxing still exist?
There are several reasons why some businesses may choose to send documents with a fax machine. For example, faxing is widely accepted for sending signed paperwork, forms, legal contracts, and other important documents that require clear and reliable transmission. Additionally, businesses that operate across the country or internationally may opt for faxing if it is a preferred communication method for the recipient, which may be the case for businesses that haven’t adopted newer technology or that require secure document send-off. In Canada, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is the largest federal department that continues to rely heavily on fax machines, processing millions of faxes annually for tax returns, supporting documentation, and identity theft declarations.
Businesses that may still use fax machines for document sending include:
- Healthcare facilities (e.g., hospitals, pharmacies, etc.)
- Government offices
- Suppliers for inventory requests
- Legal firms
- Financial institutions
Faxing can be more reliable for businesses than email
Emails are notorious for ending up in spam folders, bouncing back, or simply going unnoticed in a crowded inbox. For small business owners, faxing can offer a more direct and reliable way to send important documents without the back-and-forth that often comes with email. This can be especially useful when working with suppliers, healthcare providers, or government offices where faxing may still be a commonly accepted method for submitting forms or signed paperwork and where confirmation is needed that a document has been sent and/or received.
Security benefits faxing can offer businesses
Small businesses that need to send personal or confidential data may prefer faxing because it offers greater security than email, which could be subject to hacking or unintended forwarding. By using fax for sensitive documents, business owners can be confident they are sending information directly to their intended recipient without concerns about what might be happening behind the scenes with an email.
Faxing with The UPS Store
In need of a fax machine but don’t want to deal with finding space for one, especially if you do not fax that often? The UPS Store can help! Many of our locations can send and receive faxes for you. Reach out to a location near you for more information. Also, be sure to check out our Small Business Solutions for even more services, including scanning, shredding, shipping, and mailbox rentals, to help optimize your business operations.