OneHP: How HP Intelligent Workflows Are Transforming Canadian Businesses

OneHP: How HP Intelligent Workflows Are Transforming Canadian Businesses

For many Canadian organizations, document management still involves far too much paper.

A contract arrives and gets printed. Someone signs it, scans it, and emails it to another department. An employee manually enters the information into a business system. The original document gets filed away, only to become difficult to locate weeks or months later.

Every manual step takes time. Every additional touch creates an opportunity for errors. Every physical copy of a sensitive document can create security and compliance risks.

When these processes are repeated across hundreds or thousands of documents, the costs quickly add up.

This is where OneHP can make a difference.

OneHP brings together HP’s printing, scanning, security, workflow, and digital document technologies into a more connected approach to workplace productivity. Instead of treating printers and multifunction devices as standalone pieces of hardware, OneHP connects the device environment with the information and workflows that keep a business running.

For Canadian businesses, SmartPrint 360 provides the expertise to design, implement, integrate, and manage this connected environment through a single managed services approach.

What Is OneHP?

OneHP is built around a simple idea: organizations should not have to manage their print devices, document workflows, security, and related services as disconnected technologies.

Modern multifunction printers are no longer simply devices that print documents.

They can become secure points of entry into an organization’s broader digital ecosystem.

Through the OneHP approach, businesses can connect:

  • HP printers and multifunction devices
  • Document capture
  • Intelligent data extraction
  • Workflow automation
  • Document management
  • Security controls
  • Cloud and enterprise applications
  • Managed print services
  • Ongoing support and optimization

The result is a more unified technology environment where physical documents can become digital information and digital information can move efficiently through business processes.

OneHP and Intelligent Document Workflows

A major part of the OneHP value proposition is the ability to connect the physical document environment with automated digital workflows.

HP Intelligent Workflows can help organizations capture, process, classify, route, and manage information while reducing the amount of manual intervention required.

Imagine a document being scanned at an HP multifunction printer.

Instead of simply creating a PDF and leaving the employee responsible for everything that happens next, the workflow can be designed to automatically process the information.

The document can be:

  1. Captured at the device
  2. Converted into a searchable digital format
  3. Analyzed for relevant information
  4. Classified according to its content
  5. Routed to the appropriate person or system
  6. Stored securely
  7. Added to an audit trail
  8. Used to trigger the next business process

This is where OneHP moves beyond traditional managed print.

The printer becomes part of the workflow rather than the end point of it.

HP Capture & Route: Connecting the Device to the Business

HP Capture & Route is an important component of an intelligent document environment.

It allows organizations to capture documents from HP and other multifunction printers, scanners, and digital sending devices and convert them into digital formats such as PDF, Microsoft Word, TIFF, and JPG.

Users can route documents to destinations such as:

  • Email
  • Network folders
  • Cloud storage
  • Fax
  • Microsoft SharePoint
  • Document management systems
  • Enterprise applications

This eliminates many of the repetitive steps that employees perform every day.

Instead of scanning a document, saving it, renaming it, opening an email, attaching it, and manually filing it, a user can initiate a defined workflow directly from the multifunction device.

OneHP in Action

Consider an accounts payable department.

An invoice arrives as a paper document.

Under a traditional process, an employee might scan it, save the file, rename it, manually enter the invoice information, email it to an approver, and eventually file it.

With an integrated OneHP environment, the document can become the starting point for an automated process.

The invoice is captured at the device, processed, and routed according to predefined business rules.

The result is less manual handling and a more consistent process.

The same approach can be applied to contracts, purchase orders, employee forms, customer documents, delivery records, and other information-intensive processes.

HP Scan AI Enhanced: Turning Documents Into Data

Capturing a document is only the beginning.

The real value comes from being able to understand and use the information contained within that document.

HP Scan AI Enhanced uses OCR and intelligent recognition technologies to extract information from documents such as invoices, forms, contracts, and other business records.

This can reduce the need for employees to manually enter information that already exists on a document.

For example, an invoice workflow can identify information such as:

  • Invoice numbers
  • Dates
  • Vendor information
  • Purchase order numbers
  • Amounts
  • Tax information

That information can then be used within downstream business processes.

For high-volume environments, this can represent a significant productivity opportunity.

From Scanning to Automation

Traditional scanning creates a digital copy.

Intelligent processing creates usable information.

That distinction is important.

If employees still need to manually review, rename, categorize, enter, and route every document after scanning, the organization has digitized the document without fully transforming the process.

OneHP provides the opportunity to connect device-level capture with the broader technology environment.

Connecting Documents to Business Processes

The next step is workflow automation.

An invoice could automatically be routed to an approver based on its value.

A customer application could be sent to the appropriate department after required information is captured.

A contract could be identified and routed for legal review.

An employee onboarding package could trigger the next stage of an HR process once the necessary documentation has been received.

This is the difference between document digitization and business process automation.

The document is no longer simply something that needs to be stored.

It becomes information that can initiate an action.

Why OneHP Matters for Canadian Businesses

Canadian organizations have specific challenges when it comes to privacy, security, geographic distribution, and document management.

OneHP provides an opportunity to address these challenges through a more connected approach.

Security and Privacy

Organizations routinely handle sensitive customer, employee, financial, and business information.

Paper-based processes can make it difficult to control access, track documents, or determine where sensitive information has been sent.

An integrated digital environment can provide capabilities such as access controls, encryption, authentication, audit trails, and automated document processing.

For organizations operating under federal or provincial privacy requirements, these capabilities can support more consistent information management.

Technology does not automatically guarantee compliance, but it can provide the controls and visibility required to build more secure processes.

Bilingual Work Environments

Many Canadian organizations operate in both English and French environments.

This can introduce additional administrative complexity, particularly for organizations operating across multiple provinces or serving customers in both official languages.

Digital capture, classification, and routing can help standardize processes and reduce the need for separate manual workflows.

Distributed Organizations

Canada’s geography also creates unique document management challenges.

Organizations may have offices, employees, customers, and operations spread across multiple cities and provinces.

Physical documents have to be transported, stored, and manually distributed.

A connected OneHP environment allows information to be captured at one location and securely routed to the appropriate people or systems elsewhere.

This can reduce delays while improving access to business-critical information.

The Hidden Cost of Disconnected Technology

Many organizations have already invested in digital tools, yet their document processes remain surprisingly manual.

They may have cloud storage, ERP systems, document management platforms, email, printers, scanners, and other applications, but these technologies are not necessarily connected.

The result is a series of information silos.

Employees become the connection between systems.

They download documents, rename files, copy information, send emails, upload attachments, and manually update business applications.

That human effort represents a hidden operational cost.

OneHP addresses this problem by connecting the document environment more closely with the broader technology ecosystem.

SmartPrint 360: Bringing OneHP Together

Technology is only one part of a successful transformation.

The real challenge is designing a solution around the organization’s actual processes.

That is where SmartPrint 360 comes in.

SmartPrint can help organizations assess their existing document and print environment, identify opportunities for automation, and develop a OneHP strategy that aligns technology with business objectives.

Rather than managing devices, workflow software, support, and services separately, SmartPrint 360 brings these elements together under one managed services model.

Expert Workflow Design

Every organization handles information differently.

SmartPrint can map existing document processes, identify bottlenecks, and determine where automation can create the greatest impact.

The goal is to solve real business problems rather than simply deploy another piece of technology.

Seamless Integration

A successful OneHP environment needs to work with the systems an organization already uses.

That could include:

  • ERP platforms
  • Microsoft SharePoint
  • Cloud storage
  • Document management systems
  • HR platforms
  • Financial applications
  • Line-of-business software

SmartPrint can help connect the document environment to these existing systems so information can move where it needs to go.

Training and Adoption

Technology only creates value when employees use it effectively.

SmartPrint provides training and ongoing support to help organizations adopt new workflows and make the most of their OneHP environment.

Ongoing Management

Business requirements change.

Document volumes grow. Employees change roles. Applications are updated. Processes evolve. Security requirements become more complex.

SmartPrint 360 provides ongoing management and support to help keep the environment optimized as those requirements change.

OneHP Is More Than a Printer Strategy

The biggest misconception about managed print is that it is simply about controlling printer costs.

Modern managed print has evolved.

Today’s multifunction devices can serve as secure access points to digital information and automated business processes.

That means the conversation is no longer just about:

How many pages are we printing?

It is also about:

How does information enter our organization?

Where does it go?

Who needs access to it?

How much manual work is required to process it?

How securely is it handled?

Which business systems need that information?

These questions move the conversation from print management to workplace transformation.

That is the opportunity behind OneHP.

The Business Benefits of a Connected Document Environment

A well-designed OneHP environment can help organizations achieve improvements across several areas.

Greater Productivity

Automating repetitive document tasks allows employees to spend less time scanning, filing, emailing, and entering data.

Improved Accuracy

Reducing manual data entry and repetitive handling can help minimize errors.

Stronger Security

Digital authentication, access controls, encryption, and audit capabilities can provide greater visibility and control over sensitive information.

Faster Information Flow

Documents can move digitally between people and systems rather than being physically transported or manually forwarded.

Better Visibility

Automated workflows make it easier to understand where information is within a process.

Lower Operational Costs

Reducing unnecessary printing, manual processing, physical storage, and administrative work can help lower the overall cost of managing information.

Start With the Workflow

The most effective way to begin a OneHP transformation is not by starting with the printer.

Start with the process.

Look at how documents enter your organization.

Look at who touches them.

Look at where employees manually enter information.

Look at where documents get delayed.

Look at where sensitive information is stored.

Look at which processes involve the highest document volumes.

Then determine which of those steps can be automated.

This approach helps organizations identify the areas where technology can deliver the greatest measurable value.

The Bottom Line

Canadian businesses are under constant pressure to improve productivity, control costs, strengthen security, and make information easier to access.

Paper-heavy processes make each of those objectives more difficult.

HP Intelligent Workflows provide the technology to capture information, extract data, automate routing, and connect documents to business processes.

OneHP takes that capability further by connecting HP’s device, workflow, security, and managed services technologies into a more unified environment.

SmartPrint 360 provides the expertise to make that environment work in the real world.

From workflow assessment and design to implementation, integration, training, support, and ongoing management, SmartPrint can help Canadian organizations move from disconnected document processes to a more intelligent and connected workplace.

The result is not simply fewer printed pages.

It is a faster, more secure, more efficient way for information to move through the business.

If your organization is still printing, scanning, emailing, filing, and manually entering information that could be automated, it may be time to look at the bigger picture.

OneHP can help turn your print environment into a connected part of your digital workplace.

Contact SmartPrint to discuss a workflow assessment and discover where OneHP could make the biggest difference in your organization.

Enhancing Print Security and Efficiency with HP Secure Print and HP Print Insights for Canadian Businesses

HP SECURE PRINT AND INSIGHTS

In today’s fast-paced digital world, businesses need secure, efficient, and cost-effective ways to manage their printing infrastructure. As organizations grow increasingly digital, protecting sensitive information, minimizing waste, and streamlining workflows become critical. HP Secure Print and HP Print Insights offer powerful solutions to achieve these goals, ensuring your business’s print environment is both secure and efficient. With SmartPrint, a leading Managed Print Services (MPS) & solutions provider in Canada, you can leverage these tools to optimize your printing infrastructure, reduce costs, and enhance productivity.

Continue reading “Enhancing Print Security and Efficiency with HP Secure Print and HP Print Insights for Canadian Businesses” →

Boost Your Print Security with SmartPrint and HP Security Manager

HP Security Manager

As a leading provider of office printing solutions North America, SmartPrint understands the critical role your office printer or MFP plays in your day-to-day operations. With HP being the top choice for businesses, chances are that your company relies on HP devices, whether it’s a single printer or a full fleet. If that’s the case, you need to be aware of the cutting-edge solutions HP offers, especially the HP Security Manager.

Continue reading “Boost Your Print Security with SmartPrint and HP Security Manager” →

Simplify Your Document Management with HP Capture & Route

HP Capture & Route Ontario SmartPrint (1)

Efficient document management is a key component of any successful business. Traditional paper-based workflows are slow, costly, and prone to errors. By leveraging HP Capture & Route, SmartPrint helps businesses across Canada and the U.S. transition to digital processes that boost productivity, enhance security, and reduce operational expenses. Discover how this powerful tool can revolutionize the way you handle documents.

Continue reading “Simplify Your Document Management with HP Capture & Route” →

Transforming Document Management with HP AI

Social-HP-AI

In the ever-changing landscape of business technology, staying ahead requires innovative solutions that drive efficiency, security, and productivity. SmartPrint, Canada’s leading managed print services provider, specializing in managed print services & solutions, is proud to spotlight HP’s AI-enhanced solutions—a transformative leap in document management and workflow automation.

Continue reading “Transforming Document Management with HP AI” →

Top 5 Reasons Why Dealing With the Manufacturer Direct Is Not Always the Best Option

Calculating the Top 5 Reasons Why Dealing With the Manufacturer Direct Is Not Always the Best OptionThere are a lot of buyers that think they can’t get a better deal from the manufacturer direct. Time and time again we have proven that this is not the case. There are many reasons that our clients continue to acquire MPS (Managed Print Services) from SmartPrint, the independent MPS experts.

Here are the top five.

1. Support, services, and expertise for 100% of the office printing environment. Several years ago, managed print services companies typically managed just the printers and small multi-function devices. Copier manufacturers held control of the large copiers. Today, independent MPS experts can easily manage all components of the office print environment, from the desktop personal printer on an executives desk to the large production copier in the print shop, and of course, the required software solutions and integration services to make it all work for your business, simplifying everything. 

2. Solutions that don’t tie them to hardware brands. Independent MPS companies will provide software solutions like FollowMe printing secure access, workflow software, document management platforms, print infrastructure security software and more with no scheme of trying to tie the client with a hardware brand by relying on the hardware to work with specific software. The approach should be best in breed software, and the ability to change hardware brand in the future depending on user requirements, cost, and security. 

3. Flexible services to support custom programs; you are not a number. Given that independent expert managed print services companies typically only focus on MPS, they can be nimble and provide services, service desk relationships that work, custom reporting, simple billing, and access to an expert live on the phone, when required, that knows their account. 

4. Better total cost of ownership. Independent MPS companies should provide assessments that include balanced deployment of new hardware, and management of existing hardware. We find that when a manufacturer proposes a plan to improve a client’s print environment, it’s about selling as much new hardware as possible with a like-for-like replacement strategy, rather than a balance of user efficiency and cost control. 

5. And, yes, better hardware pricing! Independent companies are more nimble, have lower sales, admin, and general business expenses. Leading managed print services companies can be more competitively priced on the same hardware devices as compared with the actual manufacturer of the hardware. It simply costs the manufacturer more to run sales, delivery, and implementation. If you think differently check into it!

If you are interested in understanding more, please contact us.

Copier Buyer Beware: MPS Is Not a Lease Extension Plan – the Devil You Know Is Not Always the Best Option

man from mps company holding an mps lease extensionAs many true Managed Print Services (MPS) companies will agree, a lease extension or equipment upgrade prior to the end of term is most often not a good idea from a total cost of ownership perspective. It’s interesting that we have recently seen the following tactics from copier manufacturers.

1. We have seen them extend leases at low costs to keep machines that they manage in place with hopes of differing their customers’ decision on going to market.

2. We have also seen them offer unsolicited proposals to try and get their clients to upgrade equipment with as much as 3 years left in their current lease commitment. There are some important things to think about.

Top 4 things to think about before approving the copier company’s proposal:

1. Significant cybersecurity risks. Copier equipment typically has significant risk from malware attacks and as a network entry point for hackers; and almost all copier device brands (old and new) can’t be managed with software tools that can support automating locking devices down from threats, remediating a cybersecurity attack if one happens, or reporting on potential areas of risk and cybersecurity activity.

Recommendations:

  • Dig deep, most of the manufacturers will assure you that their devices are bulletproof from cybersecurity threats. They aren’t! No matter which brand there is always the risk from hackers, but there are some leading brands in this space that are many years ahead of the competition.
  • Deal with independent experts, independent MPS companies are services companies and should provide
    recommendations for best in breed equipment, while taking cybersecurity hardware brand capabilities into account. If they can’t explain how you are best protected (automated security profiles, reporting etc.) then keep looking for the right partner. On the other hand, when you deal with the manufacturer, the sales rep/dealer rep has one purpose, to sell as much hardware as possible; therefore, not necessarily in the best interest of the customer.

2. Early upgrades can cost your company dearly. If the copier manufacturer or reseller sold you on a 60
month lease and the equipment is already failing to meet the expected up-time for your users, then it is the
wrong manufacturer and partner. The early upgrade is typically positioned where they say they will make the
existing lease go away; in actual fact, they are always adding the remaining financial commitment of the old
lease to the new lease amount. Re-financing is not recommended!

Recommendations:

  • Do not replace failing equipment with the same brand of equipment. You will most likely be in the same
    position in 36 months.
  • Find a leading MPS company to help you with short and long-term strategies to improve your office printing environment, which may include moving troubled device(s) to a lower volume area and getting them out of the environment when it makes sense.

3. What you had before is not what your users need today. Like for like replacements are usually not a good idea. A lot has changed since your company last upgraded copier hardware. It’s time to look at the full office printing environment.

Recommendations:

  • Engage a trusted independent MPS company to assess your environment and recommend devices and
    software that will improve your business’s competitive edge with more efficient document workflow and lower total cost of ownership.
  • Be sure that your buying committee looks past historical brand preferences. As experts in this space, many of the biggest brands have not invested enough in research and development to build equipment and solutions that will keep your organization efficient and safe, now and in the future.

4. It costs more to run that old equipment. Extending an existing copier lease is the wrong decision. The old copier devices are typically more expensive to run, even with the cost of capital (whether leased or purchased) factored into the monthly operating cost. With printing and imaging devices it now seems to fall in line with Moore’s law as related to the processing power and storage capabilities of technology that consistently doubles every two years.

Recommendation:

  • Find an independent MPS company that will recommend best in breed hardware that will last for the required term of your company’s refresh plan.

If you are interested in understanding more, please contact us.

Still Going About the Old Way? Office Printing-As-A-Service Is the Future

At SmartPrint our Managed Print Service (MPS) Consultants work with clients every day to help them improve their office printing environment.  What’s quite amazing, is that we consistently run into mid-sized companies and large enterprise organizations that on the outside look well organized, and I’m sure they are in core areas of their business, but frankly, their office print environment is almost always out of control. Nothing is more frustrating for users than an out of control print environment.

Here’s a typical environment we see:

The IT help desk is overwhelmed with print issues, users are frustrated with devices that can’t support what they need to accomplish; from an expense standpoint there are too many copiers (MFP/Ds) that are on expensive extended leases and are underutilized, and there are often printers in work groups and on desks that are over 15 years old. Finance management is asking what does all this cost, and no one knows. The print devices on the network can be huge security risks, and the person who is responsible to run the RFP for the copier upgrade is ready to lease new copiers that are also a security risk. IT management and the help desk want to get away from supporting the print environment and focus on core IT projects and keeping the lights (IT infrastructure) on for the users. Often the organizations think that this is just how it is. Well, it really doesn’t have to be.

It’s time to change! There is a better way! It’s time to look at office printing-as-a-service and get out of owning and managing print hardware and software. You can ensure that users have what they need and that the print infrastructure is highly available, and managed as service. According to IDC by 2021, 45% of all office print device shipments worldwide will be sold as part of a printing-as-a-service contract. We’ve had this offering for a number of years and it is growing in popularity.

Another interesting prediction in the same analysis is that by 2021, 60% of  MPS RFPs will include the provision of ongoing security auditing services of the print and document infrastructure. IDC is a very reputable firm in the global technology industry for market intelligence, so, it is very exciting for SmartPrint to already be ahead of the curve offering both MPS as a service, and print infrastructure security remediation and management as a service, especially when you look at what it could cost to deal with a  cybersecurity breach. Further, IT World Canada recently published an interesting article about the potential vulnerabilities of print devices on the network and the cost of a potential security breach.

SmartPrint can easily take over the management of the whole environment through a proven, rapid implementation process; upgrade technology; implement important security software and other secure document processes, and workflow software, all while saving more than 50% over the current state costs! We can do this with no capital investment (as-a-service), and we can get companies away from the legacy equipment that is dragging down productivity in their businesses.

If it’s time to clean up your print environment while saving money, freeing up IT headcount, resulting in happy users, it’s time to do it with a printing-as-a-service program. If you can get out of ownership at half the cost, there is no barrier to entry. Also, through the same process, you can lock down your print infrastructure.  If you’re ready for change, reach out to us to see if we can help.

 

 

Photizo Group Selects SmartPrint as Leader in Managed Print Services

2016 Leaders Index badgeLexington, KY (February 14, 2017)—Photizo Group has recognized SmartPrint Inc as a leader in managed print services (MPS). SmartPrint Inc was one of 11 independent channel partners that Photizo Group selected to participate in the 2016 Leaders Index for MPS Channel Partners, based on demonstrated leadership in MPS.

The Leaders Index for MPS Channel Partners is a collection of hand-selected, independent MPS partners from around the world that are regarded as the gold standard in managed print and document services. Photizo Group classifies this index of elite providers from across North America, Europe, Africa, and Australia as a lens to view the current landscape of MPS.

Tim Lomax, President of SmartPrint Inc shared his reaction, “it’s a great achievement to be recognized as one of the Top 10 MPS Providers within the 2016 Worldwide Leaders Index, based on our significant revenue growth, operational excellence and service performance that drives an outstanding experience for our clients.  This recognition not only validates our continued MPS market leadership, but inspires us to continue reinventing to outperform in a rapidly evolving industry.”

Ed Crowley, CEO of Photizo Group said:

“As the managed services landscape reaches maturity in many markets, we continue to see a demonstrated need for measurable best practices and benchmarks built on real-world results by recognized leaders in managed print and document services.”

Crowley continued:

“These MPS leaders not only demonstrate leadership in MPS, but a genuine interest in the pursuit of best practices that benefit the industry and the customers it serves.”

About the Leaders Index for MPS Channel Partners

The Leaders Index for MPS Channel Partners explores many aspects of the partners, including the following:

  • partner profile;
  • financial and performance metrics;
  • customer profile;
  • team structure;
  • sales and marketing approach;
  • service, support, and operations metrics; and
  • key performance benefits.

Only partners that Photizo Group determines to be among the best in the world are invited to participate in the Leaders Index. These aggregate results serve as a tangible set of benchmarks other partners can compare their own performance against.

Chosen MPS partners receive no compensation for participation.

About SmartPrint:

SmartPrint, Canada’s most recognized independent MPS provider, helps organizations make sense of complex print environments. SmartPrint’s team of Managed Print Services (MPS) consultants leverage the markets best tools and systems offering best in breed office printing equipment and software to help simplify printing, scanning and document workflow. Our clients experience dramatic improvements in user efficiency, reduced costs of 30% to 50%, reduced helpdesk calls by 25% and significant administrative efficiencies through vendor consolidation. SmartPrint’s solutions are not about printers and copiers, they’re about people.

To find out more about SmartPrint, please explore our website: www.smartprint.com.

For Press or Analyst inquiries please contact:
Rob Farrell
rob.farrell[@]smartprint.com
905.475.6177 x234

About Photizo Group:

Photizo Group is a leading Marketing Intelligence and Strategic Consulting firm for the imaging industry. The firm has twice been on the Inc 5000 list of fastest growing privately held companies. It has received three (2011, 2012, and 2014) leadership awards from the Managed Print Services Association. Photizo launched the industry’s first Advanced Analytics Division in 2015 and is pioneering the use of Predictive Analytics to bring value to the IoT data generated by over 100 million digitally enabled imaging devices installed globally. The firm conducts research and consulting in over 40 countries globally, and has offices in North America and Japan.

For more information, please contact Mario Diaz at +1 602-571-6530 or mdiaz@photizogroup.com.

The 3 BIG Benefits of Print Vendor Consolidation

Is your print fleet out of control? Are your print vendor management and procurement processes becoming too complex and time consuming?

If you answered yes to one or both of these questions then it’s time to consider working with a Managed Print Services (MPS) expert.

print partner print vendor consolidation benefits We consistently see organizations with office print environments that are a mess. There’s little to no standardization or cost control over their print fleet, often due to the fact that they have been buying print equipment and services from a number of different companies.

For example: The office services team is leasing copiers from a copier manufacturer, and is working with a “copier rep” who is constantly selling the latest and greatest equipment and services that have all the bells and whistles that will of course save them money! The IT team is buying print devices from a large reseller, and the purchasing team is dealing with big box office supply companies to support the print environment for toner, service calls and whatever else they need.

In many cases, one department has no clear idea what the other department is doing. What complicates things even further is that organizations don’t employ experts that can make strategic decisions on print services and equipment purchases. With the right type of print partner, organizations can save thousands of dollars a month, simplify vendor management and procurement processes and increase user satisfaction.

Consolidating office printing and imaging suppliers is a proven strategy that increases buying power, which in turn leads to reduced costs. Furthermore, vendor consolidation leads to the simplification and minimization of vendor interactions in the areas of procurement process and risk reduction.

By moving to one independent Managed Print Services partner that will manage 100% of an organization’s printing and imaging needs, the following benefits can be realized:

1. Hard cost savings for equipment, software, supplies and services

  • A leading print partner is able to leverage their market knowledge with the right manufacturers to provide standardized pricing that is far better than the organization can negotiate on their own. This market knowledge is a huge factor in reducing capital and operational costs.
  • A balanced deployment of equipment with the right devices in the right locations to increase user productivity.

2. Reduced vendor relationship management and procurement costs

  • Managing procurement calendars with multiple suppliers takes time and focus; vendor consolidation simplifies this process.
  • Reduces accounts payable processes dramatically; often from having to deal with 100’s of monthly invoices to 1 detailed quarterly invoice.
  • One simple web-based interface for the IT Helpdesk and/or Users to interact with, reduces training time and confusion when technical support is required.

3. Reduced risk and increased user satisfaction

  • One print partner / vendor / sales relationship means only one group of technical resources entering your premises to give control and standardized building access, and adhere to your non-disclosure policy.
  • One standardized process that eliminates finger pointing, resulting in the simplification of support processes for IT and users.

Through the assessment of print environments and the implementation Managed Print Services, SmartPrint has helped numerous mid-market clients reduce their print vendors from 5 or more down to 1, on average. In working with large enterprise type organizations, vendor reductions are generally more along the lines of transitioning from 30 print vendors down to 1.

Read this Case Study to see how this organization benefited from print vendor consolidation.

Many of these organizations initially had no idea that their vendor relationships were so out of control and that implementing print vendor consolidation would be so beneficial. The value of consolidating multiple print vendors down to one vendor, although hard to measure in soft cost savings, has been seen by C-suite executives as extremely valuable from a bottom line perspective. And from an environmental standpoint, the reduced administration and use of paper when working with one strategic print partner supports the reduction in an organization’s carbon footprint.

Gain some additional insight into your print environment and request a no obligation print assessment.

Learn more or contact one of our print vendor consolidation specialists to see how imaging and print vendor consolidation can benefit your organization.