By Bill Melo, Chief Marketing Executive, General Manager – Considering our still tepid economy, financial officers continue to scrutinize organization-wide budgets, with particular interest in shaving IT expenditures. While some companies have been able to operate at or near optimum levels under these circumstances, others are struggling to operate as efficiently as before.
Fortunately for all involved, companies may reduce print costs by up to 30 percent – according to market research firm, Gartner – by adopting a managed print services (MPS) program. To implement an effective and comprehensive MPS initiative, it is important to create a program covering all aspects of document management.
[Tweet “Companies may reduce print costs by up to 30 percent with MPS”]
Preliminarily, MPS experts must assess an existing print fleet by taking stock of all multifunction products (MFPs) and printers. This assessment phase includes optimizing asset placement to ensure the most efficient print fleet possible and integrating usable networked printers where appropriate. This step needs to occur before procuring or replacing devices.
Another important element in any leading MPS program means incorporating document output and device management solutions within an organization’s networked MFPs. Such solutions are designed to help simplify and optimize fleet management issues as well as control print volumes while bolstering document security.
Aside from better protecting sensitive documents, these solutions help foster eco-conscious printing allowing organizations to operate more sustainably and cost effectively. To further promote an organization’s green initiatives, a well-conceived MPS program should feature a toner recycling program. As a company placing an emphasis on protecting the environment, Toshiba collects and recycles its customers’ spent toner consumables.
Since the start of its Zero Waste to Landfill program in late 2008, the company has collected nearly 450 tons – the approximate weight of 180 full-size pick-up trucks – of e-waste thereby eliminating this significant amount of the environmentally harmful material from filling open land.
Finally, in addition to re-configuring a print fleet allowing for maximum efficiency, an effective MPS program should incorporate strategies and technology to manage – and ideally change – user behavior. As an early adopter, Toshiba is a company that has helped many companies reduce printing, lower costs and encourage environmental responsibility.
