PDFs are created and used in their millions every day around the world, and for many businesses they represent the gold standard file format for important documents.
Of course, they are far from the only format available, so what is it about PDFs that makes them so indispensable? Here is a quick look at the main perks that they provide which allow them to remain relevant today.
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Convertibility
While a PDF may be enough to use in its original form without any alterations or amendments, this is not always suitable for the task at hand. Thankfully, it is incredibly straightforward to convert them to a different file type so that they are compatible with other programs and can be used and accessed by as many people as possible.
Even better is the fact that this free converter tool means you can change PDFs into Word documents and other formats without needing to download and install any software locally, making it even more convenient.
Security
Document sharing often involves the transfer of files containing sensitive, private information, so of course the issue of security should be at the top of the agenda in this context.
Through the use of PDFs it is possible to place a password-protected lock on any file you want to keep safe, meaning that only the people with the right code will be able to open it and view the contents.
Furthermore, access restrictions can be adjusted further, giving a tiered approach to security. If you want to share a file and make it viewable, but not editable, to others, then this is an option.
Size
Just as PDF files can be converted to other formats, they can also be compressed and made as compact as possible.
This is beneficial to businesses for two reasons. Firstly it means that large amounts of information can be minimized and made to fit more easily on storage solutions with limited capacities. Secondly, it makes it faster and simpler to transfer this data elsewhere without eating into network bandwidth or monopolizing whatever data allowance may be in place on a given device or connection.
As the amount of data that businesses are expected to handle is increasing dramatically every year, such considerations are rising to the top of the agenda.
Widespread compatibility & formatting consistency
A side effect of the almost ubiquitous uptake, acceptance, and adoption of PDFs in the business world is that they are thoroughly compatible across a whole host of operating environments, meaning that they can be opened on everything from a desktop workstation to a mobile device.
In turn, this means that there is a consistency to the way that information is presented across all devices which is reassuring for both the creators and readers of these documents.
Add in the fact that multimedia content can be displayed alongside text, and it is easy to see why PDFs are still a dominant file format for enterprise as well as personal use.
