Are you in the market for managed print services? If your business uses an extraordinary amount of paper, you may be interested in hiring a company to control equipment, supplies, maintenance, and efficiency of your printing. Managed print services providers can cover the needs of many devices, including printers, copiers, scanners, and fax machines. They can also use device analytics to help you understand what equipment is being used, how often, and by whom to optimize your printing practices.
So, how can you tell if a print management service company is right for your business? Here are three questions you must always ask before signing a contract with one.
1. What Kind of Support Can You Offer My Business?
Support for businesses goes well beyond re-supply deliveries, maintenance appointments or access to technicians when a machine breaks down. A reputable service provider will have the support infrastructure in place to track usage of each device. This tracking means knowing precisely what kinds of paper and how much of what types of ink have been used. It’s crucial for billing and invoicing, along with device analytics. A print management services company that stays on top of this information themselves can save you a lot of time and money.
2. What’s Your Track Record?
This question is another way of determining the quality of a service provider’s infrastructure. If they have the systems and resources in place to show you how well they conduct print management services and device analytics, it’s a good sign. It may also be an excellent choice to visit the service provider personally. You will get a chance to meet the support staff and get a peek at the tracking software they use. They will also be able to clarify any questions you have about workflow and customer support, which can give you an idea of how comfortable you would be working with them.
3. Will You Conduct an Assessment of My Business?
Managed print services companies shouldn’t merely offer basic printing solutions; it’s crucial for them to understand the printing environment in your business. They should be able to create a map of your office’s printing landscape, which includes where each printing device is located and how many people a particular device serves. From this information, a specialist needs to evaluate the printing environment and develop an immediate plan of action and a long-term printing strategy for your company to optimize the use of every printing machine.
Finally, they should have a device analytics system in place to produce reports based on trends, including color printing, monochrome printing, average print volume, which devices see the most demand, and so on. The service provider should be able to collect all the relevant data required to increase efficiency.
Kingsbridge Technologies has the tools and staff to conduct a thorough inspection of your business. Contact us for an assessment of your printing environment.