You have a LOT of files to store

If you work in a doctor’s office or another type of office, wherein having access to all of your files—both old and new—is imperative, HON lateral filing cabinets are extremely useful. This is because a lateral filing cabinet can hold a great deal more than a vertical filing cabinet. More files per drawer can go into lateral filing, so you can keep all of your archives on hand when necessary. Also, they tend to be more stable in terms of weight distribution, which means that lateral filing systems are less likely to fall over. Lateral filing lets you store about the same amount of files in each drawer, which creates balance and a stable unit.

You need quick, easy access to your files

In today’s busy business world, easy access to files is a necessity. With lateral filing, you have the benefit of being able to see all of the files available immediately upon opening the drawer. With vertical filing, you often have to thumb through each and every tab before you can get to what you need, which can take a really long time if you have hundreds of alphabetized (or numerical) files present. When you’re dealing with customers or clients in a time-sensitive manner, quick access to files is imperative. Also, when you can see all of your files in one go, you may not have to open the drawer all the way when seeking something. This can help maximize space and keep foot traffic flowing smoothly in a busy office.

You have a ton of square footage but low ceilings

Some vertical filing cabinets require relatively high ceilings, but lateral filing doesn’t. If your office is spacious in terms of square footage but doesn’t boast soaring ceilings, lateral filing can keep everything organized without dwarfing the space. Having furniture and filing systems that work with the specifics of the office promote a feeling of good feng shui and, thus, employee (and customer) comfort.

You need versatility in terms of storage

HON lateral files can store legal or letter-sized documents, which means that you won’t have to get a different kind of filing system for multiple document formats. Keeping different types of records together—say, in one patient’s file at a dentist’s office—can make filing much easier and practical.

Another benefit in terms of lateral filing versatility is that you can organize records sideways or from front to back. This can be beneficial if you have strangely sized files and papers or if you have a large volume of files. Also, if you decide to digitize some information, lateral filing cabinets let you rearrange your filing system to accommodate the lessened volume of files.