According to Techopedia, managed print solutions is “the holistic and efficient management of printing and imaging services and devices such as printers, fax machines, copiers and multifunction devices”. Managed print solutions will generally be outsourced to suppliers with specialist expertise in the streamlining and efficient management of print and document output and the equipment associated with these processes.
Having no control of the print environment leads to several inefficiencies and exposes an organisation to unnecessary costs. Old, end-of-life equipment remains on the printer fleet long after it should have been replaced with newer, faster, more cost-effective devices. Staff may be printing large volumes of documents for private use at the organisation’s cost. Documents may be produced unnecessarily where a less costly process such as email may be employed to achieve the same result.
Who Provides Managed Print Solutions?
Managed print solutions are aimed at the optimisation and cost control of a company’s document output, whether for internal or external use. These programmes are typically part of the product offering of office-equipment providers. Office-equipment suppliers leverage their knowledge of printer hardware and software to assist organisations by improving productivity, information security, and the total cost of document output.
Managed print solutions are usually underpinned by software applications created specifically for managing the document and print output of organisations of all sizes. An external expert, usually with a team of specialists (depending on the size of the organisation), investigates, designs, and implements a plan to optimise the entire printing infrastructure of the organisation, including equipment selection, software functionality, printing consumables management, technical support, output quality, and obsolete equipment replacement.
Managed print solutions software will provide accurate tracking of the use and performance of all printers, copiers, faxes, and multifunctional devices in an organisation’s document output fleet.
It’s Not Just About Direct Costs
Managed print solutions also provide improved workflow and increased productivity. Placement of equipment with reference to the type of work a department or division does can significantly improve productivity. For example, the training department is more likely to need a high-volume A4 printer than a large-format drawing plotter.
Consolidation and rationalisation of print hardware eliminates superfluous equipment and the cost of maintaining it. Older, energy-hungry devices are replaced with newer, more energy-efficient devices. The data collected by the system provides accurate data about the true cost of document production across all the devices in an organisation, highlighting areas for possible savings. The hidden costs of document production that management would otherwise be unaware of are also exposed.
Engage with the Experts
We at Raydian are not only recognised as experts in the provision of printers, copiers, and multifunctional devices for the office environment but are known to have an enviable track record in the implementation of managed print solutions. If you want to understand your print costs, or even more importantly, wish to reduce them, call us today for expert assistance. We have a team of dedicated professionals that will put you in control of your document output.