e views - January 2009 - (Page 11)

Creating a print intelligent enterprise While many organisations have invested resources in managing their IT infrastructure, few apply the same strategic focus to the document output environment. This can represent a huge cost drain, estimated to represent between one percent and three percent of total revenue. A managed and optimised print environment will lead to significant cost reductions while improving productivity and boosting any organisation’s green credentials. A typical printing and imaging environment is a mix of old and new hardware and software which is costly and complex to manage Purchasing and ownership of printing and imaging devices is often fragmented across lines of businesses, departments, and locations meaning that little attention has been paid to the overall needs of the business. Consequently, businesses own a complex and diverse mix of products, software, and underutilised devices leading to high operating and maintenance costs as well as strained IT resources. Print management tools should be used to manage, monitor, and control output devices Such tools offer a myriad of features such as remote configuration, access control, troubleshooting, and proactive supplies management as well as document cost accounting. This is fundamental to ensuring the print environment is not only well managed but can also be optimised through a better understanding of device utilisation. Most organisations have no idea how much they are spending on printing and imaging Few organisations realise the true cost of ownership (TCO) of their printing and imaging fleet. This not only relates to direct costs such as hardware, supplies, maintenance, and IT support but also indirect costs such as loss of employee productivity due to device downtime. Many organisations have yet to exploit the cost and productivity benefits of using versatile networked MFPs Today’s networked MFPs, which combine printing, copying, faxing, and scanning, offer powerful document capture, distribution, and management capabilities. However, these devices are often not being used to their full potential. Conducting a formal assessment of printing and imaging infrastructure provides an understanding of current costs and enables planning for better optimised device deployment Such an assessment should cover a study of usage behaviour, business workflows, device ratios, and the direct and indirect costs associated with owning and running printing devices. It aims to determine an optimal balance of devices that minimises costs and maximises employee productivity. It is estimated that optimising the print infrastructure through conducting a document assessment can reduce annual spend on printing by up to 30 percent. Organisations can reduce the headache of managing print by turning to managed print services A managed print service provider assumes responsibility for the management of the print environment and can handle the full gamut of activities including assessment, asset management, preventative maintenance, device upgrades, and supplies replenishment. As IT environments continue to grow in complexity, many organisations are focusing on managing and rationalising a diverse infrastructure of applications, hardware, and storage across many locations and an increasing number of users. The rising threats associated with network and software security, along with managing the growth of networked and mobile devices, makes the task of managing a distributed and multifaceted IT infrastructure ever more challenging. While organisations are concentrating on these core elements of the IT environment, few are giving the same strategic focus to the printing and imaging environment, which is an essential component in most organisations’ document workflow process. The office printing environment has undergone a significant change in recent years, characterised by a convergence in technology. Printing needs to be considered an integral part of the IT infrastructure Due to their network connectivity, office printers and multifunction peripherals (MFPs) are susceptible to the same risks as any network PC or server. With regulatory compliance, downtime, and security vulnerabilities high on the agenda companies need a standard, consistent, and proactive approach to managing their printing and imaging devices. 11 Issue 7 January 2009 e• views Journal, Xplor UK & Ireland Edition

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of e views - January 2009

e views - January 2009 Contents Technology Management Creating a Print Intelligent Enterprise The Future of Broadband Connectivity: @ 320 kph? TPE Master Class Cover Story TransPromo and the Credit Crunch Xplor Europe News Service Directory

e views - January 2009

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