Your printers print, your copiers all copy: what can a managed print partner do that you’re not doing already?
It’s not an uncommon question for IT professionals to ask themselves. When you’ve got pressing issues like your budget, network security, and connectivity on the line, making sure your printers are managed can seem like small potatoes.
Here’s a number that might cause you to think twice—14! That’s the average percent of revenue global companies are wasting on document- and printing-related inefficiencies.
From hidden costs associated with copier leases and ink to faulty machinery that takes up your team’s time, that unassuming office printer can turn into your enemy. We’ll further discuss how that revenue is lost later on, but it boils down to this: In order to maximize efficiency, IT needs a partner to take care of the details of print management.
That’s where a managed print service (MPS) comes in. With managed print, you reduce that 14 percent of wasted revenue and free up time so you can focus on the IT priorities that best further your strategy.
But what exactly does a partnership with a managed print service look like on day-to-day? Here are a few elements you may not know about:
1. Managed Print is More than Toner Delivery
There are companies that exist to sell you equipment and there are those that exist to change your print cartridges, but true managed print does all that and more.
A great service is equal parts extra limb to your IT department, personal office supply store, and partner in strategic planning. They provide you with new supplies, bolster your IT support by taking on maintenance tasks and integrate them into your IT strategy to help you maximize your outcomes.
But when you’re in the market for a managed print service, go for the ones that place a high value on customer service: they’ll be best prepared to take on those responsibilities and provide you agile support with whatever else you need.
Whether you’ve got a question about how to repair a faulty scanner, a major repair that’s halting progress or you just want to gain more insight into the usage of the third-floor scanner, they’ll be there to help.
2. Managed Print Goes Beyond Just Print
MPS is a bit of a misnomer. A good partner won’t just help you manage print: they’ll help you keep track of your scanners, copiers, IT staff, and strategy as well.
Why?
The best MPS companies work with you to understand your goals and help you determine the best print processes, supplies, workflows, and much more. Each of these assets will maximize your efficiency, both in terms of your equipment and your people, so everything works better.
3. Managed Print Saves Time
It’s estimated that up to 50 percent of help desk calls are related to printers. Most of these requests end up with your IT department to fix, distracting your team from critical initiatives and wasting their time.
With a managed print service, you’re provided both on- and off-site support to help with all printer-related problems. Now your IT team can get that time back and be more efficient than ever.
4. Managed Print Saves Money
Without a managed print service to streamline print costs, it’s difficult to account for every area of your company’s spend. This is because it’s broken up between service contracts, equipment leases, and purchase receipts. It’s a herculean task to compile all these separate records and get an accurate read on what you’re spending.
A managed print service partner makes it so you don’t need to deal with that accounting. By taking all print-related expenditures, they present you with a single invoice with everything accounted for, bringing you the level of transparency you need to understand true print costs.
What’s more, they can implement processes to decrease the amount of paper your company prints, saving you money.
5. Managed Print Give Peace-of-Mind
With a managed print company, you don’t need to worry about your printers. That frees up your department’s time to focus on strategic initiatives and gives you the ability to ensure your strategy is actually being implemented. That means you’re better equipped to heighten company security, streamline processes and maximize IT efficiency.
Do you want to know more about working with a managed print partner? Call the team at imageOne! In a 10-minute, zero obligation chat, we’ll discuss smart strategies, tools, workflows and more that’ll save you time and money.
Your printers print, your copiers all copy: what can a managed print partner do that you’re not doing already. Connect with me on Twitter and LinkedIn and keep up with my company imageOne. Check out my website or some of my other work here.
