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The Art of Network Design
August 2, 2023 4:20 pm Leave a Comment
Networks are a pillar for everyday business functions and a network with a well-planned design to meet your business’s needs will perform these functions better. This is where network design comes in, this is when IT professionals take the time to evaluate, plan and map out the infrastructure of the IT network where they identify any design requirements and create a plan to meet these requirements creating a network that is suitable for a business’ needs. This visual representation of the network integrates information including:
- Logical map of the network to be designed
- Cabling Structure
- Quantity, type, and location of network devices and endpoints
  - Routers, switches, servers, etc.
- IP addressing structure
- Network security structure
- Overall network security processes
Networks can be simple but businesses with bigger operations can find themselves needing more complex network design plans. While your specific design will depend on what your business needs there are a few basic steps that go into planning any type of network design regardless of size, operations, or industry.

Gather The Requirements

Network design is not one size fits all and every business will have different requirements depending on size and operations. To prepare a proper network design there are three steps that you can start with:
1. Evaluate your existing network and identify your current infrastructure and collect data including:
  1. Types of network devices
  2. WAN technologies and circuit speeds
  3. Cabling layout/office floor layout
  4. Routing protocols
  5. Network management
  6. Security controls
2. Clearly define your goals for the new network and how to reach those goals by:
  1. Improving network performance metrics
  2. Upgrading to the latest technologies
  3. Improving networking security
  4. Simplifying network management
  5. Improving network availability
3. Do not shy away from constraints such as budget or other limitations with factors such as cabling, Wi-Fi use, and compliance requirements.
Integrate Security Early On

Network security is more important than ever and should be considered a priority when planning a network design. Install firewalls, anti-virus, or anytime type of network security tool your business needs and implement best security practices such as:
- Performing network audits
- Using private IP addresses
- Establishing network security maintenance systems
- Encrypting critical data
- Employing multi-factor authentication
- Backing up data and having recovery plans
- Revisiting and communicating security policies
- Encouraging employees to create strong, unique passwords and use better password practices
  - Inform them to not use passwords more than once, change them regularly, and never use personal information in passwords
- Practicing mobile device management
- Keeping software up to date
Size Your Network and Office Floor Plan

It is impossible to develop a network that works for your business without knowing the size of your network. This includes how many devices are going to connect and how intensely they are used. These devices are not even limited to computers, they include VoIP phones, servers, printers, and IoT devices. Really anything that adds to the demand for bandwidth needs to be accounted for. To ensure all these devices are accounted for, study your office floor plan. During this study, make an inventory of where the exact locations of endpoints are, how many there are, the locations of desks, meeting rooms, and common work areas, and of any Wi-Fi-connected devices.

Create Network Design

Creating your network design is creating the heart of your network. Your design should help meet the specifications you identified when gathering requirements and should be able to support security and performance goals. When planning your network design, you will decide on:
- Network Topology – the structural arrangement of the network
- Network Type – the physical extent of your network
- Physical Network – the physical network consisting of cables, patch panels, and other basic infrastructure work
- Network Equipment – the physical equipment consisting of routers, servers, switches, and hubs
Plan For Growth

A critical part of creating and implementing a stable network is selecting systems that will allow growth when needed. If you adopt new technologies, increase products, services, and employees, or expand locations that are going to require more bandwidth and potentially cause network congestion if your network is not designed to handle it. Having the ability to see your current infrastructure gives your business the insight to outline any hardware, software, or bandwidth you could potentially need.
Embracing Cloud Computing
June 1, 2023 5:37 pm Leave a Comment
“[The] Cloud is about how you do computing, not where you do computing.”

–Paul Maritz, VMware CEO

Cloud computing has been around for quite some time and has had a steady effect on the way we do business. In layman’s terms, cloud computing is the delivery of different computing services (including servers, storage, databases, networking, and software) through the internet aka “the cloud”.

While it may have taken some time for businesses to embrace the cloud, we see how much it has recently flourished, especially in a more digital working world. Check out these stats gathered by explodingtopics.com that support this:
- The cloud applications market is currently worth over $150 billion
- It is predicted that there will be 200 ZB of stored data in the cloud by 2025
- It is forecasted that in 2023, $200 Billion will be spent on SaaS, $150 billion on IaaS, and $136 billion on PaaS
- 54% of global tech leaders want a cloud service provider who identifies technology strategies that are meant to increase revenue and reduce cost
- Post-COVID, 41.4% of cloud leaders say they are increasing their uses of cloud-based services, 33.4% are planning to migrate to cloud-based tools and 32.8% are migrating on-premises workloads to the cloud
Cloud computing can bring a lot to businesses and proves popular for the ones that are ready to embrace growth, performance, and stability. Some of the immediate benefits businesses can experience from making the switch are:

Cost Savings

The initial switch to cloud services can be off-putting but its ROI makes it worth it. Hosting the cloud lets you offload costs on purchasing, installing, configuring, and managing on-premises infrastructures. Also, most cloud-computing services offer pay-as-you-go options ensuring you only pay for what you need, and the overall easy access saves time and money.

Flexibility

Due to the nature of cloud computing, businesses can access cloud services from anywhere, from any device, at any time. Not only that, but the cloud can also be easily scaled up or down to match what a business needs at that time.

Security

Businesses can see up to 94% improvement in security when switching to the cloud because one of the main features of cloud-based services is full-time security monitoring. Security monitoring could be extremely limited if it was strictly in-house, but once switched to an off-site, encrypted, and automated security monitoring, your information will never be safer.

Disaster Recovery

One incredible benefit of the cloud is disaster recovery. Data and information stored in the cloud are safe from any physical emergencies such as natural disasters or power outages. Cloud-based services also provide quick data recovery allowing for less downtime which leads to less productivity and revenue loss due to disaster scenarios.

Better Insight & Quality Control

Poor quality and inconsistent reporting can hurt a business but with cloud-based systems, all documents are stored in one place in one format allowing everyone to access and edit the same information in real-time allowing businesses to maintain consistency and have a clear record of revisions or updates. In addition, many cloud-based services also offer customized reports for a bird’s eye view of your most critical data.

Sustainability

Cloud computing has a direct effect on the environment by cutting down on paper and waste. With data stored in the cloud and not as physical copies your information not only takes up less space physically but addresses wastefulness at every level of business and results in less of a carbon footprint.

Cloud computing is great for maintaining a competitive edge as a growing business and is relatively user-friendly, but there are a few basics you need to know before implementing the best infrastructure for your business. To ensure you get the best cloud experience possible, you need to decide between:

The Four Basic Infrastructure Types

Public Cloud Infrastructures are maintained off-site. They are available to the public while data is created off-premises. This cloud infrastructure has less security but requires no need to buy or manage software and maintain efficiency.

Private Cloud Infrastructures are managed in-house and can only be accessed by a single organization. This method can address and handle security and privacy concerns more effectively.

Community Cloud Infrastructures can support multiple businesses by sharing resources as a part of a community. This method closely resembles the private model and can support a large number of users who share in the costs.

Hybrid Cloud Infrastructures are a mix of public, private, and hybrid. Combining the efficiency of public, the support of community, and the security of private, hybrids offer the best of all three methods.

The Three Delivery Methods

Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) is a software distribution model where the provider delivers applications through a web-based portal and is a pay-as-you-go model. Utilizing this model eliminates the need to buy hardware and software licenses while having your provider manage and store data.

Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) delivers the full cloud infrastructure along with a software platform that allows clients to develop and manage business applications without the frustrations of building and maintaining the infrastructure.

Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) has the capability to deliver networking, data storage, servers, and virtualization capabilities while allowing the client to access more data storage and computing power.

Once you pick the right infrastructure and delivery method, your business can begin to really reap the benefits of cloud computing and help bring your business to a new level. If you are ready to learn more about cloud computing or ready to have it in your business, contact us today at MMIT so that we can get you on the right path to ensure your business gets the full benefits of cloud computing.
Production Printing: Alive and Thriving
May 4, 2023 4:22 pm Leave a Comment
A common misconception is that print is done and while we might be flooded with technology and digital marketing, print still has its place in everyday business and has a significant impact both financially and influentially. Need proof? Check out these stats gathered by printful.com
1. In 2021, the Global Commercial Printing Market had a value of $433.79 billion. By the end of 2027, it is estimated to value $484.22 billion
2. 1 out of 5 customers is willing to pay up to 20% extra for personalized products and services
3. A study shows that print advertising offers a 112% return on investment, making it a cost-effective way to reach consumers.
Printer options can seem endless, but there is a perfect fit for every business. If printing plays a large part in your business, and you find yourself needing high-volume projects done quickly and reliably then a production printer might be the right choice.

I know what you are thinking, production printers are found mainly in print shops or copy centers that must deal with high-volume requests without sacrificing quality. This is another common misconception and while they regularly are seen in print shops or centers, they have quickly been growing in popularity for marketing departments and are an optimal option for graphic designers to create and distribute flyers, banners, catalogs, mail campaigns, produce marketing materials, employee training manuals, business cards, envelopes and so much more.

Now, every business has different printing needs and to figure out what is the best option for you, ask questions such as:
- What are your printing requirements?
- What do you need your printer to do?
- Does your printer need to be secure?
- How much time do you have to produce?
- What exactly do you need to print?
- How much are you printing/producing?
- How large of a role does printing have in your business?
- What device management, remote intelligence, and support are available to you?
Production printers are heavy-duty commercial printers that are ideal for high-volume print projects. These printers can include wide-format and cut-sheet printers, digital presses, commercial printers, and industrial printing. They are reliable and continuously provide higher-quality print resolutions, faster output, and increased capacity. Beyond being versatile and having the ability to handle large-scale products, production printers offer plenty of other benefits including:

Simplicity

Production Printers are not difficult to set up and extremely user-friendly. They give users more control without over-complicating things. Though they look heavy-duty, they are far from intimidating, and even less tech-savvy people can learn and utilize the advanced features in no time.

Productivity

Production printers work faster to help meet the demands of your business. They are designed to be quicker and can handle larger quantity projects more effectively than normal printers which helps eliminate downtime, they have on-demand access to professional projects, and are perfect for printer-intensive businesses with them commonly being able to print thousands of pages in minutes.

Sustainability

Production printers offer high-quality prints where businesses have total control over the content meaning they are printed right the first time. Using older printers can mean settling for low-quality results and can be a cause of reprints and paper waste. Switching to a printer that delivers high quality is a good way to save precious time, money, and paper.

Security

Production printers offer better regulatory compliance, enhanced security over the content within your prints, and achieve better quality control. In-house printers also ensure that any confidential employee or customer information stays in-house.

Flexibility

Since they are reliable and user-friendly, production printers are incredibly flexible, putting you in charge of the entire printing operation. Have control over meeting your deadlines and never panic if something does not look exactly right because changes and a reprint can be easily done within the same day in-house.

Cost Effective

Outsourcing printing, especially high-volume jobs that require quality can be expensive. Production printers are a long-term investment that keeps your service in-house and allows you full control over your product. Giving you this control ensures no reprints, returns, or added time from an outsourced printing agency and that your product is what you expect.

Is It Right For Your Business?

Not every business will benefit from a production printer, but if you find yourself needing a large number of marketing materials or just find yourself printing large quantities often – a production printer could be the best fit for you. If you have any questions or are ready to bring production print in-house, contact us today!
Mitigate the Risk: The Importance of Risk Assessments
April 4, 2023 2:32 pm Leave a Comment
There are plenty of factors that go into maintaining and protecting a business to ensure future stability and success. While it is important to focus on the positives and how to achieve this overall growth it is equally important to focus on the possibility of unknown, hidden, or undetected risks. This can be done with risk assessments. With properly done risk assessments, businesses can experience benefits including:
- Getting a clearer picture of where assets lie
- Identifying potential threats and understanding the likelihood and impact of them
- Implementing proactive processes
- Recognizing and controlling workplace hazards
- Creating awareness among employees
- Reducing workplace incidents
- Saving costs by being proactive
The Basics

Simply put, a risk assessment is the identification of hazards that could end up negatively impacting profit, stability, and how an organization conducts business. No matter what industry or size an organization is a risk assessment should always involve at least these five steps:
1. Identifying the Risks or Hazards
  1. Risks
    1. Financial – this should include looking into compliance, credit, liquidity, and debt risks. This can include making sure your business is up to date on federal returns, that your business is run ethically, that your business has sufficient cash flow, that your business can meet short and long-term goals, and that all your loan agreement payments, if applicable, are paid on time and in full.
    2. Operational – this can be broken down into areas like IT and personnel risks. IT can address general risks and security risks by ensuring customer information is protected and that your organization has a strong security plan. For personnel risks, your organization should address factors such as salaries, benefits, contracts, HR policies, and basic employee needs.
    3. General – this can fall into a lot of categories, but examples include answering questions like is your organization prepared for growth, are finances managed properly and is it profitable.
  2. Workplace Hazards
    1. Safety – spills, heights, electrical, or any unsafe conditions that can lead to illness, injury, or death.
    2. Physical – extreme temperature, prolonged exposure to sunlight, loud noises, or any other physical hazards that are factors within the environment that could cause harm to the body.
    3. Ergonomic – frequent lifting, awkward movements, repeating the same motions, or any type of hazard when the type of work, body positions, or conditions put a strain on the body.
    4. Organizational – workload demands, respect, and any psychosocial hazards that cause stress, anxiety, or strain to employees.
    5. Chemical – vapors, fumes, gasses, or when a worker is exposed to any chemical preparation in the workplace in any form.
    6. Biological – bodily fluids, fungi, or bacteria or when working with animals, people, or infectious plant materials.
2. Evaluating the Risks – answer the questions like who is at risk, what services/products/departments are at risk, how often are they exposed to these risks, how likely are these risks, how severe are these risks or how will these risks affect you long term?
3. Deciding on Control Measures – come up with effective strategies and procedures that help protect both employees and the overall business. Implement these control measures and make sure they are communicated throughout the organization.
4. Recording Findings – keeping a formal record of past risk assessments can help an organization keep track of hazards, risks and how to address them. These findings should include descriptions of the risks, how to assess them, outlines of evaluations, and detailed explanations of how conclusions were made and how they are to be addressed.
5. Revisiting – take the time to review and update your risk assessments when necessary. New risks can be added if an organization has a significant change in staff or procedures, plans on some type of growth, or if it has been a significant amount of time since risk assessments were reviewed.
The Best Fit For Your Business

Now that is just the base of standard risk assessment but they still come in many forms. Finding the best risk assessment for your organization is critical in performing an accurate one which means the organization is identifying and addressing the proper risks in order to protect itself. Here are five common types of risk assessments:

Qualitative Risk Assessment

Typically used in high-risk industries, these assessments measure the severity of a risk and usually measure multiple risks at once. Qualitative data is gathered through personal experience, observations, and knowledge often by an expert or member of management. The benefits of this type of assessment are that they are simple in method, easy prioritization, and have clear presentation options but they have limitations such as subjective evaluation, limited scope, and lack of differentiation.

Quantitative Risk Assessment

This type of assessment puts a numerical value on a risk, allowing organizations to gauge the impact of risk and its cost to the organization. This could look like using 3, 2, 1 instead of high, medium, and low and utilizing the 3×3 or 5×5 risk matrix. This assessment is also essential to support the understanding of the exposure of risks to employees, company assets, and reputation. An organization can get a clear understanding of:
- Potential accident scenarios
- Predicted economic losses
- Risk to specific main safety functions
- Input to operation restrictions
- Identification and assessment of prevention and mitigation measures
The QRA can be calculated using the following equation:

Risk = Severity x Likelihood

Generic Risk Assessment

This type of assessment typically will cover common types of hazards for tasks or activities in the workplace. These are typically not adapted for anything specific and can be used across different locations and industries. While it can be easy to find generic risk assessment templates online, if you use this route be sure to review, adjust and update them accordingly to be effective at mitigating risks.

Site-Specific Risk Assessment

These assessments need to be carried out for either a specific activity or location and are necessary to be effective at eliminating and controlling risks. This is one of the most thorough methods of risk assessments that are meant to protect your workforce, the public, and your business safe from any possible legal liability and reputational damage due to any health or safety breaches.

Dynamic Risk Assessment

These risk assessments are based on essential decision-making because they are used to address unforeseen circumstances that are carried out on the spot due to any significant or sudden changes within the workplace. These assessments are crucial for circumstances such as:
- Introduction of new equipment
- Change of supervision approach
- Threats to safety or security
- Reallocation of work
Key Takeaways

Regardless of size or industry – understanding your business, the risks it is susceptible to, and which assessments to utilize are key to being proactive instead of reactive when it comes to addressing risks to an organization. All risk assessments should follow the five basic steps and once implemented, do not forget to revisit them for reassessment especially if there is a significant change within the organization.
The Significance of Cyber Security in SMBs
March 1, 2023 4:00 pm Leave a Comment
Without a doubt, utilizing the internet and social media platforms allows businesses of any size and location to reach a larger market and provide more opportunities for growth and profit. While this reach is undeniably beneficial to any growing business, it also means that cyber security needs to be made a core aspect of a business strategy.

To put into perspective the importance of cyber security, techjury.net recently gathered the following statistics:
- There is an increase of 10% in the cost of cybercrime than the past year
- 95% of cybersecurity breaches are caused by human error
- There are 30,000 websites hacked daily
- In 2023, the global annual cost of cybercrime is predicted to top $8 trillion
- 47% of adults have had their personal information exposed by cybercriminals
- The average total cost of data breaches in 2022 was $4.35 million
- 43% of all cyber-attacks are aimed at small businesses
- 91% of attacks launch with a phishing email
- A business falls victim to a ransomware attack every 14 seconds
The Truth About SMBs and Cyber Attacks

As a small business, it is easy to fall into a false facade that since you are small and growing, you do not have anything worth hacking, but regardless of size, cyber attacks do not discriminate and small businesses appeal to hackers for their:

Data – no matter how established you are, all businesses have data that hackers can profit off including medical records, credit card information, SS numbers, bank credentials, or other personal details.

Third-Party Vulnerabilities – SMBs are often connected to larger businesses or third-party suppliers and at the bare minimum, they are digitally connected so that they can complete transactions, manage supply chains and share necessary information. Since more prominent businesses are harder to penetrate, hackers will target small businesses to get into a larger business system.

Lack of Resources – this can range from not having the skills or staff to dedicate to proper IT security or having inadequate employee training or monitoring which can lead to cyber-attacks by human error.

Cyber attacks can vary but there are a few common types that typically hit small businesses. Recognizing these threats, having a plan on how to resolve them, and having proper employee training can help save the future of your business. The most common types of cyber security to be aware of are:
1. Phishing Attacks – typically masquerading as a trusted email or text message, phishing attacks aim to steal personal information like credit card information, bank credentials, passwords, and social security numbers by having the reader simply click an email attachment or URL that contains a virus.
2. Malware (malicious software) – refers to any software that is developed with the intention to steal information or resources for monetary gain or for blatant sabotage. These can include viruses, worms, trojan viruses, and ransomware.
3. Viruses – there are a variety of viruses that are all programmed to harm your software and hardware. These viruses have the ability to damage programs, delete files, and even slow down performance. They can be sent through file sharing, opening infected emails, visiting a malicious site, or downloading harmful applications.
4. Ransomware – locking a business’ computers and encrypting data to hold them hostage, ransomware is a common cyber-attack that holds a business’s important information for ransom to be paid to a hacker in return for a decryption key. Typically with ransomware, you have 24-48 hours before files are lost or made public and it is most often spread through email spam or network attacks.
5. Passwords – password theft is an ongoing problem and small businesses face threats when employees use weak or easily guessed passwords. Weak passwords include commonly used passwords or passwords that contain any personal information.
Implementing Cyber Security

As a small business, it might not be possible to dedicate the time and staff needed for cyber security but that does not mean you have to remain vulnerable. There are several practices that businesses can implement in their overall cyber security plan that help reduce the number of attacks or be able to quickly identify and recover from them. It is also important to remember when creating a cyber security plan to:
- Be proactive to prevent damage before cyber attacks get out of hand
- Increase awareness of the significance of cybersecurity
- Create a cybersecurity plan against a variety of attacks/human errors, be thorough, and have a game plan from discovery to solution
- Protect your payment gateways
Start With Employees

Since a large part of cyber security issues come from human error, establishing basic security practices and policies for employees is vital in a strong cyber security strategy. These practices can include:
- Training employees to spot suspicious emails, email addresses, URLs, and attachments
- Establishing internet use guidelines
- Having a clear procedure for handling, protecting, and communicating sensitive data and information
- Maintain physical security by locking server rooms and having strong, unique passwords for individual hardware
- Have better password practices and require passwords to be changed frequently, using more complex passwords and, if possible, consider implementing multi-factor authentication
Do Not Skip Your Updates

A key role in cyber security is keeping your hardware and software up to date by having the latest security software, web browser, and operating system. Anytime you have a system update, be sure to do it when it’s available because having these up-to-date offers you better defense against a range of cyber attacks. In addition, businesses can use antivirus software as added protection from any malware attack.

Firewall Security

A firewall is a network security device that helps prevent outsiders from accessing data on private networks. While antivirus helps protect your files against viruses, firewalls block intruders from accessing your computer, to begin with. If you have any employees who work remotely, ensure their home systems are protected just like your office systems are. Firewalls also have the capability to block any unapproved websites, limit bandwidth for certain programs and they can provide VPN services.

Cloud Back Ups

Essentially all businesses use the cloud and beyond it being amazing for storage and cohesive workplaces, cloud backups can make sure a copy of your critical data stays safe in case of any cyber attack incidents. Data and files with confidential information are prime targets in cyber attacks and businesses without backups can face detrimental consequences.

Secure Wi-Fi Networks

Wireless networks tend to be less secure compared to wired networks so making sure your workplace’s network is secure, encrypted, and hidden is key for helping prevent cyber attacks. Risks to non-secure wireless networks can include piggybacking, wardriving, wireless sniffing, and unauthorized computer access. Be sure to not broadcast your network name and password-protect your router.
Managed Print Services: Supporting HIPPA Compliance
December 27, 2022 9:02 pm Leave a Comment
Managed print services is an effective solution for security, efficiency, and organization–but did you know it can help with compliance, too? Here’s how managed print helps healthcare organizations comply with HIPPA regulations effectively and efficiently.

How Managed Print Services Supports Healthcare

Managed print services isn’t just for “desk jobs.” It also supports industries spread across multiple locations or with complicated regulations–and that’s especially true when it comes to healthcare.

Hospitals, doctors’ offices, and other organizations have unique needs, especially when it comes to regulations like HIPPA. Managed print services helps balance those regulatory requirements with plenty of efficiency–that way, employees never have to choose between doing the right thing and doing the fast thing.

Here are a few ways managed print services supports healthcare through HIPPA compliance:

Encryption

Encryption helps protect sensitive data as it’s being transferred to and from the printer, as well as while it’s stored on the printer’s hard drive. Managed print services helps make encryption quick and easy, so healthcare organizations can connect their favorite devices without worrying about security vulnerabilities.

Visibility

HIPPA regulations require a lot of visibility. With managed print services, it’s easier than ever to track what’s being printed, who is accessing machines, where data is being sent, and more. This improves security and compliance without adding extra hoops for employees to jump through when caring for patients.

Follow-Me Printing

Follow-me printing, also called pull printing, is a solution that protects sensitive documents from being stolen off the print tray. A user prints their file as usual, but the paper isn’t released until that same user walks to the printer and enters a unique code or PIN. This triggers the machine to print the appropriate document.

Conclusion

Healthcare has high stakes, which means it comes with plenty of unique challenges–like HIPPA compliance. Luckily, managed print is up to the challenge, helping organizations with solutions such as encryption, visibility, and follow-me printing.

Managed print services has plenty to offer. Contact us today to see what else it can do for your healthcare organization (or any organization!).
3 Big Promises Made By Managed Print Services
April 29, 2022 12:30 am Leave a Comment
Managed print services promises all kinds of benefits for companies like yours. However, three of those benefits really stand out–so today, we’re taking a closer look at what managed print services can do for you.

Managed print services promises all kinds of benefits for companies like yours. However, three of those benefits really stand out–so today, we’re taking a closer look at what managed print services can do for you.

The Managed Print Services Promise

It’s not every day you find a solution that makes promises and shows you exactly how it’s going to fulfill those promises. Managed print services, however, is special.

First, let’s take a look at three of the biggest things managed print promises to do:
- Reduced waste: Wasted time, money, and energy can really impact your budget. Managed print services promises to help reduce this waste by identifying bad habits and suggesting more efficient alternatives.
- Improved visibility: When you don’t know what’s going on in your print environment, it’s difficult to make any forward progress. That’s why managed print promises to help you push back the curtain and find out how your printers are being used, what your habits are, where your money goes, and how you can make effective changes.
- Boosted productivity: Another big promise made by managed print services is boosted productivity. By cutting out extra steps, streamlining your workflows, and simplifying your print environment, this solution helps your employees do their best work.
Now that you know what these promises look like let’s find out how managed print actually delivers.

The secret is the partnership you create with your managed print provider. This partner will guide you through every choice, change, and solution, helping you reach your goals and making sure these three promises are kept. Plus, because your provider performs a print audit at the beginning of your relationship, you’ll always have a benchmark you can use to measure progress and see the promises in action.

Conclusion

Managed print services makes plenty of promises, but unlike other solutions, it keeps them–and, perhaps more importantly, it shows you exactly how it makes progress on those promises. That’s why a strong relationship with your managed print provider is so important: Your provider is responsible for making sure you actually see these benefits.

Contact us today to see what managed print services can do for you!
How Managed Print Services Saves More Than Money
March 22, 2022 8:39 pm Leave a Comment
Many business solutions are all about saving money. That’s hugely important, of course–but if that’s all they do, they’ll quickly run out of steam. Instead, you need a solution that builds a solid foundation for your company, helping you save more than money–and that’s where managed print services comes in.

Many business solutions are all about saving money. That’s hugely important, of course–but if that’s all they do, they’ll quickly run out of steam. Instead, you need a solution that builds a solid foundation for your company, helping you save more than money–and that’s where managed print services comes in.

Saving More With Managed Print Services

Let’s make one thing clear: Managed print services absolutely saves money. The difference between this and other solutions, though, is that managed print services doesn’t stop there. Instead, it creates solutions that help save other valuable resources for your company.

Sound too good to be true? See for yourself:

Saving money

Managed print services saves money in all kinds of ways–but perhaps most importantly, it makes your print costs transparent. When you can see what’s going on in your budget, it’s much easier to be in control.

Saving time

Another thing managed print services saves is time. By simplifying your workflows and cutting out extra steps–not to mention cutting down on technical difficulties, troubleshooting, and downtime–this solution helps keep you efficient and productive.

Saving space

Need a little more breathing room? No problem–managed print services can also help rearrange and structure your fleet to give your workspace that “flow” you’ve been searching for.

Saving energy

You shouldn’t have to waste your energy worrying about print problems. With managed print services on your side, you can shift your focus to the big stuff while your trusted provider handles the rest.

Saving the planet

Managed print services makes it both easy and efficient to choose environmentally friendly solutions like recycled supplies or less wasteful machines.

Conclusion

Sure, it’s important to save money–but managed print services can do that and so much more. If you want to save time, space, energy, and the planet along with your budget, you’ve come to the right place.

Want to see managed print services in action? Contact us today for all the help you need!
Managed Print Services Saves Money, and Here’s Proof
February 25, 2022 2:29 am Leave a Comment
Ever wanted proof that managed print services does all the great things it says it can do? You’ve come to the right place! Today, we’ll let you watch with your very own eyes as managed print protects your budget. Let’s get started!

Ever wanted proof that managed print services does all the great things it says it can do? You’ve come to the right place! Today, we’ll let you watch with your very own eyes as managed print protects your budget. Let’s get started!

Managed Print Services in Action

Managed print services works in all kinds of ways. Some of its solutions are big and obvious–like, for example, cutting extra steps out of your workflows. Others, however, are subtle–like rearranging your fleet to optimize usage and print habits.

But if you’re trying to decide whether managed print is right for you, the chances are that you want to see proof right now. The good news is that the solution delivers, and it all comes down to simple tips.

That’s right: By using these managed print services tips in your print environment, you can see actual budget savings. Let’s take a look!
- Don’t stop printing in color.
This one seems a little counterintuitive, but it’s an important practice. That’s because, while not always necessary, color printing is sometimes an important part of the job–and giving up on it entirely (for example, by choosing a black-and-white printer) might mean you’ll end up at the print shop.
- Use digital signature tools.
When you can sign things digitally, you often don’t need to print them. When you don’t need to print, you don’t need to spend as much on ink, paper, and energy–and your budget will feel the difference.
- Find a maintenance partner.
Managed print services providers generally handle repairs and maintenance as well as fleet optimization, workflow improvements, and more. With a partner on your side, you’ll utilize proactive maintenance measures instead of reactive ones, allowing you to catch little issues before they get big enough to waste money.

Conclusion

If you thought these tips were stress-free, simple, and totally within reach, just wait–there’s plenty more where that came from. Managed print services has all kinds of tips, tricks, and printing secrets–all you have to do is take that first step.

Ready to get started? Contact us today to learn more about managed print!
Signs You Need Managed Print Services
January 27, 2022 1:41 am Leave a Comment
If you’ve been waiting for a sign to tell you it’s time to jump into managed print services, you’ve come to the right place: we’ve got four of them. Here’s how to know if managed print should be in your future!

If you’ve been waiting for a sign to tell you it’s time to jump into managed print services, you’ve come to the right place: we’ve got four of them. Here’s how to know if managed print should be in your future!

When Managed Print Services is Necessary

Not all business solutions are necessary–some are more like luxuries. That’s not the case with managed print services. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by paper or constantly worrying about your print budget, then you probably know what we’re talking about.

However, if you can’t tell whether managed print services is really necessary, look for these four red flags:

#1: You have no idea what’s going on with your budget.

Print budgets can quickly get out of hand. From ink and paper to repairs and maintenance, the cost of these machines can really add up–not to mention the original purchase price.

If you look at your budget and wonder where all that money is going, it’s time to consider managed print services. With managed print, you’ll enjoy full transparency into your budget–and you’ll get personalized tips and solutions to keep more of that money in the bank.

#2: Your recycling bin is full of unwanted prints.

Hey, at least you’re recycling, right?

The truth is that if you have to get rid of all those documents, you probably didn’t need them in the first place. Managed print services can help you identify when to hit “print” and when a digital data-sharing tool might be the better choice (and eliminate other wasteful habits along the way).

#3: You never know when you need supplies.

If you’re always running out of consumables or ordering too many, you know it’s time for managed print.

That’s because managed print services can help you better understand your print needs–including how much ink, paper, and toner you use. It also allows you to automate supply ordering to make your life that much easier.

#4: You’d like to hit every office printer with your car.

Sick of battling your printers? That’s a red flag all on its own.

Managed print services brings harmony to otherwise-frustrated print environments. It helps you make peace with your printers, giving you the tools and solutions necessary to address issues proactively, minimize downtime, and troubleshoot without wanting to tear your hair out.

Conclusion

It’s easy to tell when managed print services is necessary–just take a look at your day-to-day operations and decide if you’ve got print rage. If any of the points above hit a little too close to home, you’ve got your answer.

Contact us today to learn more about managed print services and start making peace with your printers!
4 Tips for Choosing a Managed Print Services Provider
December 22, 2021 4:47 am Leave a Comment
Wondering how to choose the perfect managed print services provider? You’ve come to the right place! Here are four tips to help you find the right company for your needs–both now and in the future.

Wondering how to choose the perfect managed print services provider? You’ve come to the right place! Here are four tips to help you find the right company for your needs–both now and in the future.

Managed Print Services Experts

All providers claim to be managed print services experts–but only a few of them actually live up to that name.

Unfortunately, honest experts are sometimes difficult to identify. That’s because the fakers have good cover stories and know just how to trick businesses into thinking they’re cutting-edge. Sure, most managed print services providers have decent intentions–but that doesn’t mean they’re capable of protecting, supporting, and empowering your print environment.

So how do you weed out the impostors?

Simple: Use these four tips.

#1: Start with security.

Print security is a pretty big deal. If a provider doesn’t offer a lot of service or solutions in this regard, don’t waste any more time–they’re not a good fit.

#2: Do some digging.

Does the provider have a good online presence? Is their website clear and easy to use? Can you find reviews about their service? Once you answer these questions, keep that information in your back pocket when approaching providers. It should help you make sure they are who they say they are.

#3: Talk about communication.

A provider can be perfect in every way–but if they don’t match up with your preferred communication style, they still won’t be the right fit. Take some time to find out how each provider stays in touch with their clients.

#4: Find out if they’re interested.

Managed print services is a partnership. If a provider isn’t interested in you–your print environment, needs, challenges, goals, budget, and more–then they probably won’t be capable of providing the personalized service you deserve.

Conclusion

To find true managed print services experts, you need to become somewhat of a detective. Look for references, explore their website, and don’t be afraid to ask all of your questions. Remember–this is supposed to be a partnership, not just a business deal.

If you need help finding that perfect provider, worry no more. Contact us today for all your managed print services needs!
What’s the Point of Managed Print Services?
November 25, 2021 3:49 pm Leave a Comment
When it comes to business solutions, there are a lot of questions you can ask. However, perhaps the most important is also the simplest: “What’s the point?”. Today, we’ll ask that very question about one big business solution–managed print services–and find out why the answer is so important.

When it comes to business solutions, there are a lot of questions you can ask. However, perhaps the most important is also the simplest: “What’s the point?”. Today, we’ll ask that very question about one big business solution–managed print services–and find out why the answer is so important.

The Point of Managed Print Services

When you hear the term “managed print services”, you may think it refers to some sort of outsourcing situation where a faceless third-party company rules your print environment.

That couldn’t be further from the truth.

In fact, the real “point” of managed print services is to make your print environment better, stronger, and more efficient in whatever way works best for you. While some tasks and concerns may be outsourced–namely, the ones you don’t want to deal with–the rest stays firmly within your control.

Here are a few examples of managed print’s main point in action:
- Company A uses managed print sparingly. They want to maintain control over every little detail in their print environment, so their provider only gives advice and recommendations when necessary. Otherwise, they help Company A by implementing the chosen tools and solutions.
- Company B is comfortably in the middle. Their provider manages the little day-to-day stuff like automating supply orders, and they deal with the bigger issues, like which machines to buy. It’s their perfect combination of responsibility and freedom.
- Company C relies on its provider for just about everything. While they like having a say in things that impact their unique workflows and company culture, they’re happy to trust their managed print services provider with solutions, recommendations, implementation, security, and more.
In these examples, one thing is clear: The point of managed print services is not to take over your print environment but to support it in whatever way you feel is best.

Conclusion

Although managed print solutions comes with a long list of benefits, the real point is to help you use your print environment to your advantage. The solutions and approaches involved are totally up to you–and that’s what makes managed print so powerful.

Want to learn more about managed print services? Contact us today for all the help you need!
Is Managed Print Services a Smart Decision?
October 28, 2021 12:28 am Leave a Comment
When it comes to your business, you’re extra careful to make sure that every decision is the right one. However, that kind of vigilance takes a lot of work–and, after all, no one is perfect. If you’re hesitating on managed print services because you’re not sure it’s right for your business, sit back and relax–we’ve got everything you need to know to make sure this is a smart decision.

When it comes to your business, you’re extra careful to make sure that every decision is the right one. However, that kind of vigilance takes a lot of work–and, after all, no one is perfect. If you’re hesitating on managed print services because you’re not sure it’s right for your business, sit back and relax–we’ve got everything you need to know to make sure this is a smart decision.

Managed Print Services Basics

The key to making any decision, both in business and in life, is to be sure you fully understand it. That’s why it’s important to take a step back and review managed print services before jumping in.

Managed print is an outsourcing solution–but only at first glance. The more you look, the more you see: Managed print services is also a way to better organize your workflows, improve print security, cut out unnecessary steps, and even strengthen customer service. It’s a partnership between you and a managed print provider who will act as your guide through the new solutions, strategies, and tools you’ll be utilizing.

The best part of managed print is that you never have to give up control. You get the final say on any changes that happen in your business–so it may be helpful to think of managed print as a web of decisions that can be made or unmade at your discretion.

Why Managed Print?

So, is managed print services a smart choice? Here are a few things to keep in mind:
- It’s efficient.
Saving time has never been this easy. Managed print helps you cut out unnecessary steps that you might not have noticed otherwise–plus; it introduces new tools and strategies to turn your most dreaded tasks into the easiest part of your day.
- It’s flexible.
Not loving a new solution? With managed print services, it’s easy to change your mind. Your provider will help you choose a replacement for anything you’re not crazy about, which means your print environment can be as flexible as you want.
- It’s good for your budget.
Managed print helps save money by cutting wasteful habits, optimizing your fleet, revealing print costs you may not have noticed, and more. It’s great news for your budget–and for your peace of mind.

In conclusion, managed print services is a smart decision because it comes with so many business benefits. It’s flexible, efficient, and budget-friendly, and it doesn’t lock you into any one choice–which means you get to take a break from worrying about making the perfect decision.

Ready to let managed print services simplify your work life? Contact us today to get started!
Your Managed Print Services Questions, Answered
October 1, 2021 12:38 am Leave a Comment
Ever had a managed print services question you were too afraid to ask? Searched every online review and discussion board but still can’t find the answer? Not to worry–today, we’re here to answer managed print questions of all shapes and sizes!

Ever had a managed print services question you were too afraid to ask? Searched every online review and discussion board but still can’t find the answer? Not to worry–today, we’re here to answer managed print questions of all shapes and sizes!

Managed Print FAQs

Whether your company is brand-new to managed print services or you’re just looking for a refresher, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s everything you ever wanted to know about managed print services!

What is it?

Managed print services is an outsourcing solution. Basically, you get to pick up your print problems and hand them off to someone else–all while keeping control over the most important stuff.

Who makes it happen?

When you implement managed print, you choose a provider to work with. This company acts as your print partner, helping you choose solutions, simplify workflows, automate certain parts of your print jobs, and more.

How does it benefit my business?

Managed print comes with a long list of benefits, including:
- improved security,
- boosted efficiency,
- reduced downtime,
- simplified processes,
- 24/7 troubleshooting,
- healthier budgets,
- and more.
Is it affordable?

Perhaps the best part of managed print services is the price. Rather than paying for every element of your print environment, you’re only charged for what you actually need–which means you have one flat fee and nothing else to worry about.

Conclusion

Although managed print services is a simple solution, it has a lot of moving parts. Understanding the basics–like what to expect from a print provider or what benefits you should see in the first few weeks–can help your managed print experience be truly amazing. Plus, with scalable costs that adapt to your needs, you can rest assured that this is one solution your budget will thank you for.

Have more questions about managed print services? Want to see that long list of benefits for yourself? Contact us today!
How Managed Print Solves Education Problems
May 27, 2021 7:29 pm Leave a Comment
The world of education is an important one, but it comes with all kinds of challenges and uncertainties. Luckily, there’s one solution that doesn’t just keep up but actually helps educational organizations get ahead: managed print services.

The world of education is an important one, but it comes with all kinds of challenges and uncertainties. Luckily, there’s one solution that doesn’t just keep up but actually helps educational organizations get ahead: managed print services.

Starting at the Printer

Since most education challenges are based on funding, organization, or communication, it might seem strange to start at the printer–but managed print services prove that this is one step that no educational organization will ever regret. Managed print helps address some of the biggest struggles in the world of education–all with simple tools, solutions, and procedures that don’t interrupt student experience or drain the budget.

Let’s take a look at some common problems in education and how managed print can address them!

Problems
- Funding:
Schools usually have tight budgets, meaning that they don’t have a lot of room to experiment with tools and solutions.
- Organization:
With so much information to handle on a daily basis, it’s easy for educational organizations to get overwhelmed. This is especially true with larger student bodies or a larger staff.
- Communication:
Education requires communication–not just internally, but also between teachers and students, teachers and parents, and even multiple schools in a district. This can be difficult when there are no rules in place for how information is expected to be created and shared.

Solutions
- Funding:
Managed print helps address budget concerns not just by being an affordable solution itself, but also by finding places where educational organizations can cut costs without cutting corners. For example, by introducing print rules that help staff understand when to print and when not to print, it’s possible to save money on consumables.
- Organization:
With managed print, schools can get and stay organized by utilizing a variety of flexible tools and solutions. Managed print helps control documents through every stage of the life-cycle, meaning there will always be answers in place to help students and educators know what they’re looking for, where it is, and how to get it.
- Communication:
Managed print services adapts to a school’s unique needs and goals, allowing communication to happen naturally and smoothly–all without forcing teachers, students, parents, or school faculty to worry about the how or where. Instead, a managed print provider takes care of the little details, leaving members of the education community to focus on making the grade.

Managed print services is an excellent fit for the world of education–and lots of other industries, too. Contact us today to see for yourself!
What is Managed Print Services, Anyway?
April 28, 2021 6:00 am Leave a Comment
If you’ve been hearing all about managed print services but still aren’t sure what the fuss is, you’re in the right place. Here are all your managed print questions, answered!

FAQs

No matter what type of business solution you’re implementing, you’re going to have a lot of questions–and managed print services is no exception. Let’s take a look at all the answers you’ll ever need!

“What is managed print?”

Managed print is a way to outsource your print problems for good. No more worrying about printers, paper jams, network connections, or upgrades; managed print can help you tackle all this and more!

“What is a managed print provider?”

A managed print provider is the company responsible for providing your managed print services. They act like a “print partner,” helping you analyze your company’s print environment to identify strengths and weaknesses–and, armed with this information, they work side-by-side with you to choose targeted tools and solutions.

“What is a print audit?”

A print audit is your provider’s way of learning more about your print environment, your habits, your supply usage, your needs, and more. Your provider will collect data from all over your company to learn how printers fit into your workflows–and, of course, you’ll be able to repeat the process as often as necessary to check your company’s progress or look for new issues.

“What should I expect from managed print services?”

In general, you can expect reliable service, troubleshooting, network support, supply and device delivery, and more. However, the list of benefits goes on and on, including:
- stronger communication,
- better organization,
- more reliable security procedures,
- less wasted time and money,
- streamlined workflows,
- and more.
Interested in managed print services? Still have more questions? Contact us today for all the help you need!
How Does Managed Print Save Money?
April 2, 2021 11:40 pm Leave a Comment
Managed print is known as a money-saving solution, but how does it work? What makes managed print your budget’s best friend? Here’s everything you need to know!

Managed print is known as a money-saving solution, but how does it work? What makes managed print your budget’s best friend? Here’s everything you need to know!

The Truth About Managed Print

It’s no secret that saving money is a huge priority in the business world–but often, that’s easier said than done. Luckily, with solutions like managed print, your business can find creative ways to save money without cutting corners. In fact, managed print makes it possible to save money while also improving communication, efficiency, and security.

Sound too good to be true?

Here are a few ways managed print helps save money (and do a few other great things along the way!):
- #1: Managed print makes your habits transparent.
  
  Whether it’s over-ordering supplies, printing too much, or leaving documents on the printer tray, every business has a few bad habits. Managed print helps you gather data from your devices and processes that will show you where these habits exist, how they’re hurting your budget, and–even better–how to fix them.
- #2: Managed print makes the future a little more certain.
  
  You might not know exactly what’s coming tomorrow, but you can be a bit more prepared for it. Managed print makes it easy to track your company’s trends–for example, how much ink and paper you use in a month–so that you know how to plan for the future. It’s also flexible, scalable, and affordable, which means it’s a highly pandemic-friendly solution.
- #3: Managed print makes costs simple.
  
  By helping you uncover the “hidden costs” of printing, like maintenance or energy use, managed print makes it easy to see where your money is going. It also helps you choose targeted solutions that will address your concerns without impacting efficiency.
Want to learn more about managed print and see how it can save money for your business? Contact us today!
Managed Print Reveals the Real Cost of Printing
February 26, 2021 7:00 am Leave a Comment
Do you know what the real cost of printing is? Do you know how to reveal it? Let managed print hold up a magnifying glass and help you see where your money is really going!

Do you know what the real cost of printing is? Do you know how to reveal it? Let managed print hold up a magnifying glass and help you see where your money is really going!

All Will Be Revealed

Uncontrolled printing has a reputation for being pricey. Even when you think you’re controlling costs, the chances are that some things are getting by you–and, unfortunately, those things have the power to wreck your budget. Before you can stop them, though, you need to be able to recognize them–and that’s where managed print comes in.

The Print Audit

Any good managed print process begins with a print audit, which is where you and your provider work together to analyze your print environment from top to bottom. You’ll get data on all kinds of things, from usage habits to supply costs. The point of a print audit is to take an honest look at your company and see where you can improve, but you’ll see the good stuff too–like positive habits, savvy security solutions, and more.

Here are a few “hidden costs” that will be revealed by a print audit:
- Staff costs
  
  Time is money, and the time your staff spends fighting with, fixing, and stressing out over the printers can really hurt your budget.
- Supply costs
  
  Supplies can be pricey, especially if you’re not aware of best buying practices. Falling victim to things like over-ordering can result in waste, while under-ordering causes workflow backups and inefficiency.
- Maintenance and repair costs
  
  Printers can’t be perfect forever. If you’re not taking steps to proactively manage maintenance and repair, even little “quick fixes” can start adding up.
The good news is that the print audit is only step one. Once all of the hidden costs have been revealed, managed print can help you address each issue one by one, implementing solutions and recommending tools that will get costs under control. In the end, you’ll end up saving all that money and more!

Worried about the hidden costs of printing? Want to learn more about managed print? Contact us today!
How Managed Print Protects Your Budget
January 28, 2021 7:00 am Leave a Comment
Some business solutions can say they won’t hurt your budget, but others–the truly excellent ones–actually bolster it. Luckily, managed print falls distinctly within the latter category–and here’s how.

Some business solutions can say they won’t hurt your budget, but others–the truly excellent ones–actually bolster it. Luckily, managed print falls distinctly within the latter category–and here’s how.

The Power of Printing

Printing is often overlooked as a money-saving endeavor because, well, it seems like more of a money-wasting endeavor. Think of all the paper, ink, and energy you’re paying for, not to mention the price of the machines themselves! How could focusing on the printers really be best for your budget?

Believe it or not, managed print is so powerful specifically because it focuses on this often-overlooked element of your business. Managed print makes printing a good thing for your budget instead of a pain, all while introducing tools, solutions, and changes that will benefit your entire company–not just the printers.

Sound too good to be true? Here are a few ways managed print protects your budget!

#1: Customer service

Managed print doesn’t just offer 24/7 customer support; it also helps you and your business serve your own customers with more speed, accuracy, and flexibility. When you’re being treated well, it’s much easier to help others–which, in turn, keeps your budget happy thanks to a loyal, satisfied client base.

#2: Security

With managed print, it’s easy to identify your company’s security weaknesses and address them. In this way, managed print doesn’t just protect your data from potential disasters; it also protects your budget from having to pay for those disasters.

#3: Efficiency

At its core, managed print is about making your work life easier. By streamlining your workflows, optimizing your fleets, and introducing new communication and efficiency tools, managed print eliminates wasted time and money–which results in a healthy, happy budget.

Ready to see what managed print can do for your budget? Contact us today to get started!
Healthcare Tools: Managed Print Services Helps Save Lives
April 8, 2020 6:00 am Leave a Comment
It’s not every day you find a business solution that can help save lives, but that’s exactly what managed print services does in the healthcare industry. Sound too good to be true? Here’s a closer look!

Healthy Printers, Healthy Patients

Managed print services are all about organization, efficiency, and reliability–which makes it a perfect match for the healthcare industry. By providing tools that help to store, search, save, and share files in different formats and across different systems, managed print can unify data in any healthcare organization and make life easier for patients and employees alike.

Here’s how managed print helps save lives, one document at a time:

#1: It emphasizes organization.

Organization is key in the healthcare industry, especially when multiple doctors or organizations are involved. Managed print helps create consistent organization techniques across all file types to keep data in line. Documents will always be right where they belong–which means no wasted time or money.

#2: It improves print security.

Printers are often the #1 target of digital criminals, simply because many organizations fail to protect them. This is an especially pressing issue in the healthcare industry, where sensitive patient information is handled every day. Managed print helps identify weaknesses in security procedures and works with healthcare professionals to create targeted, concrete solutions that won’t interrupt day-to-day functions.

#3: It cuts costs.

Managed print helps make printing easier, stronger, and more effective–which, in turn, cuts down on waste and makes everything less expensive. This means less wasted money for organizations and patients.

#4: It boosts efficiency.

Better print environments lead to better workflows, which, in turn, leads to better healthcare. An efficient environment creates a better experience for everyone, allowing doctors to focus on their patients and patients to focus on their health.

That’s just a peek at what managed print does in the healthcare industry. What can it do for your business? Contact us today to find out!
How Managed Print Saves You Money
October 24, 2019 5:13 pm Leave a Comment
Managed print services is an excellent solution for all kinds of things, from improved security to streamlined communication. But did you know that managed print is also a fan-favorite when it comes to saving money? Here’s what you can expect from this specialized solution!

Complex Problems, Simple Solutions

The task of saving money in your business can sometimes seem a little overwhelming. After all, there are a lot of moving parts to take into account–and if you remove just one tiny thing, it feels like the whole system could collapse.

That’s why so many companies are turning to managed print services for help controlling and protecting their budgets. Since printing is still at the heart of almost everything you do, even in this modern tech-driven world, it makes sense that a solution focused on printing would be capable of doing all kinds of great things. The best part is that you don’t have to spend your entire workflow on seeing results. All you need to do is implement a few simple print solutions, and just like that, your budget will be healthier and happier than ever.

Here are just a few ways managed print services can save you money:
- Better tools
Managed print gives you access to all kinds of communication and efficiency solutions. When armed with the right tools, it’s a lot easier to cut costs without cutting corners.
- Lower prices
Another way managed print can protect your budget is by helping you find the best prices on everything from upgrades to paper and ink. You’ll be a savvy shopper, and your budget will thank you for it!
- Improved cost per page
The biggest goal of any managed print system is to improve your cost per page–essentially, making it cheaper for you to do your everyday printing. By gathering data about your habits, reviewing how your print environment works as a whole, and implementing targeted solutions — managed print helps bring this cost down without interrupting existing balances and workflows.

This is just the beginning! To see what else managed print can do for your company, contact us today!
Managed Print: Reactive vs. Proactive Solutions
September 25, 2019 6:58 pm Leave a Comment
Printing is often a tricky subject when it comes to finances. After all, without the appropriate processes and data measurement tools in place, just hitting “print” can be an expensive choice. So today, we’re here to arm you with some proactive solutions.

What’s the Difference?

To help you get a better idea of how to effectively approach print costs (and what managed print is all about) – here are some examples of proactive solutions versus reactive solutions.

Proactive Solutions
- Maintenance. Taking good care of your Lexmark and Canon printers helps you catch small issues before they become big ones–and it also lengthens the life of your machines.
- Supply schedules. When you understand what your habits are, you can create supply schedules to help you order ink, toner, and paper before you run out.
- Timed upgrades. Upgrades can be pricey, but they’re no big deal if you plan them ahead of time and create the appropriate budgets.
Reactive Solutions
- Repairs. Choosing to do repairs on anything that breaks rather than schedule and perform regular maintenance is a reactive solution–especially since repairs are a lot more expensive!
- Random supply orders. It’s easy enough to order supplies whenever you run out, but that means you might have to put off some critical jobs while you wait for ink or paper to arrive.
- Late upgrades. Waiting to upgrade your machines until the very last minute can hurt your budget, efficiency, and workflows. Which is why it’s an excellent example of a reactive solution.
The difference is clear: proactive solutions allow you to address inefficiencies and frustrations before they become huge, expensive issues. While reactive solutions leave you scrambling to do damage control. With a little help from managed print, you can make sure that you stay firmly in the former category. Making great choices, implementing savvy changes, and overall taking control of your print environment from the bottom up.

Want to see what else managed print services can do for you? Contact us today to get started!
Managed Print: Where is Your Money Going?
August 28, 2019 3:04 pm Leave a Comment
Managed print helps you cut down on paper usage, improve security, streamline workflows, boost efficiency, but maybe the most important thing is budget control. Essentially, managed print allows you to answer one big question: where is your money going?

How it Works

Managed print services rely on a print audit to get a complete, detailed look at your business–your habits, your needs, your challenges, your Lexmark printers, your workflows, and more. With this information, you and your provider can make informed decisions about which direction to take, which solutions to implement, and how to go about making the best changes for your company. However, there’s one type of data that many companies find the most appealing: financial facts.

Here’s what a print audit will tell you about where your money is going:
- Equipment
How many printers do you have, and how much do they cost to operate? What about other hardware? Do you pay for specialized software? Managed print provides valuable transparency when it comes to equipment costs.
- Supplies
Paper, ink, toner, you name it–ordering and storing supplies can get pricey. A print audit will help you see exactly what you’re spending (and why).
- Repairs and maintenance
Part of your print budget will always go toward repairing and maintaining your hardworking machines. Exactly how much of your budget? Well, that’s what managed print will help you find out.
- Invisible costs
There are other, less obvious costs of operating a printer fleet–which means that it can feel challenging to find out where your money is going. Luckily, managed print can help you keep track of these things–like the cost of unnecessary printing, the unapproved use of print shops, accidental supply orders, and more.

Managed print uses this information to help you take control of your budget and save money, time, and stress. To see for yourself, contact us today!
The Biggest Benefits of Managed Print
July 29, 2019 9:45 pm Leave a Comment
The truth about managed print services is that it has a long list of benefits–so many, in fact, that it might take you days to fully appreciate them all. Luckily, it’s easy to see the biggest benefits of this great solution–and today, we’ll show you exactly what they are.

What is Managed Print?

Before we see what this solution can do, we should take a minute to see how it works. Managed print helps you take control of your entire print environment–from consumables to machine placement to specific settings–and recommends solutions designed specifically for you. It allows you to better understand your own habits, anticipate future needs, and streamline just about everything you do, all while saving time and money. There’s no limit to what you can achieve with a little help from managed print.

Big Benefits

So, what does managed print actually do? Let’s find out!

#1: Improved security

Did you know that hackers often start an attack by targeting the printer? Managed print helps you identify security problems in your print workflows and find fast, effective solutions–all without draining your budget. Your data, machines, and networks will be safer than ever.

#2: Boosted efficiency

One of the best things about managed print is that it introduces new solutions that you might not have considered before. For example, you could implement mobile printing to save time and improve flexibility; you could also use online tools to manage your devices remotely, allowing you to keep things running smoothly no matter what.

#3: Strengthened communication

Good communication relies on good printing. With managed print, you can minimize downtime and make sure everyone is using the printers from Lexmark Des Moines’ trusts as efficiently as possible–which, in turn, allows you to simplify and strengthen communication in every corner of your business.

Want to see what else managed print can do? Contact us today for more information!
Managed Print Services: Don’t Print Without It
May 24, 2018 6:33 pm Leave a Comment
Is your printer fleet costing your company too much money to maintain? Do you know the numbers? An unmanaged printer fleet can be a source of high costs as well as security vulnerabilities. Outsourcing to a managed print service can resolve both issues.

A Proactive Approach

How does your organization handle printing issues? Does someone (perhaps anyone who’s available at the moment) order toner when the supply closet is empty? Do you wait to address performance issues on your printing and imaging equipment until the situation reaches critical mass? Do you wait until an aging device no longer functions, and you’re forced to replace it immediately?

A proactive approach to print management removes the hassles, expense, and productivity bottlenecks associated with the traditional reactive method. Here are some of the advantages that convince business leaders to switch to managed print’s proactive approach.
1. Be better prepared to conduct business — Your printer fleet is central to your daily processes, whether they’re paper-based or part of a digital document management system. Managed print providers keep your fleet ready through proactive maintenance and automatic supply replenishment. With fewer downtimes and unpleasant surprises caused by an out-of-stock supply closet, your employees can keep business moving forward.
2. Reduce printing costs — A managed print assessment can give you solid numbers showing how much your employees print, how much it costs your organization, and how well your printer fleet serves your current processes. Solutions that follow the assessment period can reduce print spends as much as 30%.
3. Secure your documents —Your multifunction printer hosts valuable information, and it’s also a potential portal into your network. Managed print providers can make sure hackers can’t use it to steal your confidential information.
Are you ready for a proactive approach to printer management? Contact us at MMIT for a Managed Print Services assessment today.
2 Simple Steps to Reduced Costs with Managed Print
April 27, 2018 4:12 am Leave a Comment
If you were to write down your top priorities for company revenues this year, it’s unlikely that document printing would even make the list. The truth is, printing costs rival utilities as a business expense, but without proper management, these costs remain mostly hidden. Here are two steps your company can take to uncover and redirect those missing funds.

1. Assess the situation

Unmanaged print environments are notoriously inefficient, with multiple departments and individuals making decisions on the fly to address print-related requirements. A managed print assessment zeros in on these and other inefficiencies, providing your organization with valuable data related to your print spend and print-centric workflows. You’ll finally know:
- How much you pay to print documents.
- The size and condition of your existing printer fleet.
- How print-related inefficiencies are impacting your workflows and your bottom line.
2. Deploy the solutions

If your print environment is leaking cash, managed print experts can help you stop the madness. Some of the most common sources of print spending include:
- Color printing — Who does it, who needs it, and how to limit access to bring nonessential color printing to a halt.
- Desktop units — Consumer-grade inkjet printers have a habit of working their way into business printer fleets. Eliminating these high TCO devices and replacing them with cost-efficient laser alternatives is a better return on your print investment.
- Volume control — With no rules or established policies, employees are free to print without restriction. Managed print solutions on your devices can help to establish limits and route documents digitally instead of printing.
- Secure your information — Managed print providers help you access security features on your devices to keep bad actors away from your confidential information.
Ready to find out how much you can save with Managed Print from MMIT? Contact us today!
Cash In on New Efficiencies with Managed Print Services
February 28, 2018 4:45 pm Leave a Comment
Looking for ways to reduce operating costs in 2018? Before you cancel the company picnic or go to a four-day workweek, can we suggest a look at Managed Print Services?

Slashing costs is often an unpleasant duty, but some cost-cutting measures also deliver some pretty amazing benefits. Managed Print Services is one of them. Here’s how your company can cash in on those advantages.

Get More with Managed Print

Managed Print is well known as a way to reduce operating costs, and it’s not unusual to see a reduced print spend by as much as 30%. Here’s how Managed Print Services providers get costs down, and how those solutions help in other ways.

Find out where you stand.

Most business leaders aren’t sure how much their organization spends on printing, and with so many other duties, the job doesn’t seem that important. Unfortunately, it’s this uncertainty that allows costs to escalate.

A Managed Print Services assessment can provide the insight you need to begin reducing waste and costly inefficiencies. You’ll finally know what your team is printing and how much it costs you.

Get more from your devices.

An unmanaged print fleet isn’t doing you any favors, and it may be a significant hindrance to productivity. Managed Print Services monitors your printing equipment, keeping tabs on useful life expectancies, toner usage, maintenance issues, and redundancies. You’ll benefit from fewer equipment downtimes, improved workflows, and automatic supply shipments.

Secure your documents.

An unmanaged print environment can cause print security issues that could damage your reputation or create compliance issues. Managed Print Services experts can pinpoint print-related security concerns and deploy robust solutions to address each one.

Ready to find out how a Managed Print Services solution can deliver new efficiencies and lower costs to your organization? Get in touch with us at MMIT to learn how today!
Managed Print Helps Healthcare Facilities Reduce Costs and Improve Processes
December 28, 2017 6:39 pm Leave a Comment
Hospitals and others in the healthcare industry are under constant pressure to reduce operating costs without compromising patient care. It’s a monumental task, and one no reputable healthcare facility takes lightly.

One often-overlooked method for reducing costs is through a thorough improvement of the print environment. Here’s how managed print services can give healthcare leaders the tools they need to reduce unnecessary expenses and even bring improvements to patient care.

1. Assessing the situation.

Cumbersome, outdated, and inefficient print infrastructures are common in large enterprises, and the healthcare industry is no exception. With most of their time and energy devoted to patient care, healthcare administrators have few resources left over to worry about printer fleets and staff printing habits. Unfortunately, this inattention costs hospitals millions each year.

A managed print assessment can shed light on the current state of your facility’s print environment. The best-managed print services providers can help your organization streamline bloated printer fleets and get more from the remaining devices. For some print environments, no new equipment is needed—redesigned print-related workflows using existing equipment is all that’s required to begin anew. Some organizations see a reduction in printing costs as high as 30% annually.

2. Establishing rules.

Healthcare employees can’t stay within your preferred printing parameters if none have been established. Rules-based printing provides proven solutions for reducing expenses through duplex printing, print monitoring, quotas, user authentications, user education, and more.

3. Improving security.

Robust managed print solutions help healthcare organizations comply with security mandates. Strategies like pull printing, digital signatures, password protection, data overwrite, and encryption reduces print security concerns across the organization.

Managed print services and rules-based printing are only two ways MMIT can help your healthcare facility reduce costs and improve patient care. Get in touch with a member of our knowledgeable staff to learn about other office process solutions and equipment today!
Managed Print and Your Law Firm—A Winning Combination
October 25, 2017 8:48 pm Leave a Comment
Documents may drive the legal industry, but there’s no reason to let them drive up costs as well. Legal firms absorb print spends as high as 13% of annual revenues—a figure that’s 7% more than the average for other industries.

The Managed Print Services Strategy

With so much at stake, the legal industry knows how important it is to keep costs down without sacrificing quality. Here’s how managed print services can help your firm reach both goals.

1. Reduce costs.

Managed print services combine controls like print tracking, automatic duplexing, chargeback solutions, supply replenishment, and fleet management to reduce costs at rates as high as 30% or more.

2. Improve document security.

Did you know that many multifunction systems include state-of-the-art security features? With the right solutions in place, your printers and copiers will help deliver improved security to your sensitive documents instead of causing new vulnerabilities.

3. Reduce equipment downtimes.

Even with ongoing efforts to switch to digital document solutions, printed documents still play a vital role in the legal industry. When your devices fail to perform, the results can be catastrophic for your clients and your reputation. Don’t get stuck without a workable solution for keeping your imaging equipment in top condition. By outsourcing fleet management to managed print experts, your devices will receive regularly scheduled maintenance and updates, and you’ll have the assurance of a fast response whenever an issue does arise.

4. Meet environmental sustainability goals.

Waste is out of style, and today’s clients appreciate it when they can partner with other environmentally conscious organizations. Managed print strategies not only reduce paper and toner usage, but can deliver a significant reduction in power usage as well.

If you would like to learn more about cost reduction and improved equipment management through managed print services, contact us at MMIT business Solutions Group today!
How Managed Print Saves the Day for IT Teams
September 27, 2017 5:24 pm Leave a Comment
If you’re responsible for your company’s IT department, you know how quickly print-related issues can eat into staff productivity. You’ve already got a full plate with security updates, backups, troubleshooting, and installing new equipment, and printer issues are just one more thing.

You’re Not Alone

If you’re ready to start freeing up your time for mission-critical tasks, it’s time to pitch Managed Print to the company decision-makers. Here’s why.
1. An unmanaged printer fleet is costing them money. Hidden costs can drive up expenses, and many organizations are shocked to discover figures as high as 3% of annual company revenues. A managed print assessment can reveal where costs are highest and provide solutions to bring them back in line.
2. They’ve got too much toner. Or too little. Whether the problem is a bulging supply closet or an empty one, mismanaged toner inventories are a sure sign that your company’s print environment is out of control. Managed print monitors toner supplies and makes on-time deliveries to eliminate both waste and emergency shortages.
3. They’ve got maintenance issues. Your job description may include printer maintenance, but there are more critical items on your to-do list. Managed print technicians are industry-trained to work on imaging equipment, and it’s part of the package when you partner with an MPS provider.
4. Their print volumes are probably too high. Most organizations have no clear idea of print volumes. Managed print can track volumes and put solutions in place to keep them within established limits.
5. They may not need new devices. When staff members are faced with printer issues, they often resort to replacements, driving costs even higher. Preventative maintenance can reduce the need for emergency device replacements.
If more time for IT-related tasks sounds like just what you’ve been seeking, contact MMIT to begin a managed print conversation today!
Reign in Print Volumes with Managed Print
August 22, 2017 5:37 pm Leave a Comment
Unchecked printing habits can wreak havoc on budgets, but many business leaders have no idea of their true impact. Managed Print Services is an effective solution to reign in printing waste and reduce overall costs by as much as 30%. Here’s how a managed print strategy can put an end to your wasteful print environment.

1. Find Out Where You Stand

An assessment of your current situation is critical to managed print success. Find out hidden metrics like:
- How many documents does your staff print in a month’s time? Which departments have the highest volumes?
- How much do you spend to maintain your devices?
- How much are you spending on consumables? Who is in charge of ordering them? Who manages your inventories?
- Are hidden costs impacting your bottom line?
- How many devices do you own? Where are they located? How long is their serviceable life?
- How often does downtime impact your workflows?
2. Implement Workable Solutions

After the initial assessment period, your managed print provider will begin providing solutions to optimize your print environment and reduce costs.

If your print volumes are higher than they should be, Rules-Based Printing can help reign them in.
- Duplex printing: Many multifunction systems include a default option that allows users to choose automatic duplexing or two-sided printing. This simple step can reduce by 50% the paper requirements for any document longer than one page.
- Increased visibility: Find out what’s going on in your print environment by tracking print volumes.
- Assign quotas: Once you know who’s printing what and why you can assign print budgets and quotas.
- Ramp up security: An unmanaged print environment is rarely secure. Print-related security protocols can help plug any potential leaks coming from your devices and user printing habits.
To learn more about a managed print solution from MMIT Business Solutions, get in touch with us today!
Strategies for Second-Generation Managed Print Success
July 26, 2017 9:07 pm Leave a Comment
Your Managed Print engagement has delivered a successful reorganization of your print infrastructure. Your print volumes are down, device downtimes are down, and happily, print-related costs are down as well. If you’re entering a second or third-generation Managed Print partnership, you may be wondering what other services your provider can offer. We’re glad you asked!

Are You Ready for More?

It’s common for Managed Print engagements to begin on a small scale and evolve as new possibilities for improvement arise. As your organization gets comfortable with a newly structured print environment, consider moving beyond basic MPS to outsourcing other processes. Professional services like Mobile Printing and Cloud Services can give your business what it needs to stay competitive in a rapidly changing market.

On-Going Assessment

Your initial Managed Print Assessment provided the data needed to begin bringing costs and print-related workflows under control. Once print volumes and overall fleet evaluations and corrections are well in hand, second-generation managed print assessments can go beyond these initial improvements.

1. Document Security

Are your print-centric processes causing security vulnerabilities? Rules-Based Printing solutions can go beyond reducing print volumes to adding new security protocols to mitigate risks to your data. Find out if procedures like pull printing could help strengthen areas of weaknesses revealed by your Managed Print Assessment.

2. Environmental Sustainability

A Managed Print Assessment can perform an environmental checkup of your print infrastructure. Is your aging business equipment using more energy than is necessary? Upgrading some of these devices with energy-efficient replacements can have a positive impact on the environment as well as your bottom line. And the latest imaging technologies often include features that reduce print volumes and toner usage.

At MMIT, we’re committed to helping businesses succeed. Contact us to learn more today!

MMIT: Technology Simplified Since 1937
Is MPS the Productivity Driver You Need?
June 27, 2017 9:49 pm Leave a Comment
Efficiency is always a top priority in the workplace, especially as technology and a fast-paced world have increased the demands on modern businesses. Managers and C-level executives are always throwing around the idea of efficiency: how can we improve performance while maintaining quality? For most businesses, it can be difficult to find the bridge between a conceptual discussion and a practical solution.

Managed print services can be that bridge for a growing number of companies. Managed print drives efficiency in ways that many other solutions can’t, mainly because it targets an area that many businesses struggle to keep productive and waste-free: printing. Here’s why managed print services are a key ingredient in an efficient workplace.

Managed Print for the Modern Business

There are plenty of ways to push productivity higher in a company—hold fewer meetings, keep workflows clear and concise, use the appropriate tools, and increase collaborative opportunities in the office. But the print environment factors into almost every part of a business’s daily operations: accounts payable, invoicing, meetings, payroll, marketing, and more. Because of this, the print environment is an ideal target for increasing efficiency and reducing waste.

For many companies, this is easier said than done. Most businesses don’t have accurate information about how much they print each month—some have no information at all—and thus don’t have a starting point to reduce their waste. Managed print starts with an assessment and overview of what your company’s current print practices are and how they can be improved.

Here’s what a typical managed print services rollout looks like.
- Assessment: During the evaluation phase, your services provider will install print accounting software and take inventory of all workflows, devices, and procedures your office uses.
- Planning: With this information in hand, your services provider will present a proposal to improve and overhaul your print environment.
- Implementation: With the help of your IT team, your managed services provider will implement the new plan.
- Optimization: Finally, your continued relationship with your MSP will grow as they help you optimize your print environment for the best results.
For more information about managed print services, contact us.
What’s Your Print Environment Costing You?
May 23, 2017 9:18 pm Leave a Comment
Many companies overlook their printing expenses, assuming that they’re just a necessary evil that can’t be changed or done away with. But if they knew the true cost of printing in their organization, they’d probably be more motivated to gain visibility and start reining in printing costs. There’s more involved in printing expenses than meets the eye—and that’s why many companies are unaware and unable to change their print environment reality.

The True Cost of Printing

Let’s demystify the total cost of your print environment. There’s more than just the cost of your printers, paper, and ink involved when it comes to your print budget, and you’re spending it whether you realize it or not. Here’s what is coming out of your print budget.
1. Supplies: The first thing you think of when you’re listing printer fleet expenses is probably ink, toner, and paper. Many companies don’t realize they’re overspending in this area because of outdated machines or overbuying supplies.
2. Maintenance: Whether your printers are always breaking down or only need routine maintenance, you’re still paying for some service on your machines. This can add up quickly, particularly if you’re working with older devices that require more frequent service.
3. New devices: Many printer fleets are pieced together randomly as new printers, copiers, fax machines, and scanners are added to the mix by various employees. This isn’t necessarily the blueprint for a successful print environment, particularly considering the high upfront cost of new equipment.
4. Employee time: Finally, you’re paying for the time your employees spend using and maintaining your print environment. Sometimes this time factor is far higher than it should be because your printer fleet isn’t in peak condition.
We can help you optimize your printer fleet with managed print services. Contact us to learn more.
Cloud Security: What to Ask Your Service Provider
April 3, 2017 7:18 pm Leave a Comment
There are a whole host of questions you should ask before you sign a managed services contract, especially if you’re concerned about security. When it comes to cloud security, you have every reason to be nosy: it’s vital that you protect your business data and ensure that your information will be adequately handled. When it comes to cloud compliance, it’s crucial that firms in financial services, healthcare, retail, and government choose a service that provides the utmost attention to security.

In today’s business world, security threats are a constant concern. With data breaches in the news every week, it would be foolish to assume that your business is immune no matter its size. Take precautions on every level, especially your cloud services.

What to Ask Before Signing a Contract

If you’re considering a managed services contract for cloud hosting, make sure that you know what questions to ask. Work with your IT staff to come up with a list of questions that will help you decide whether a potential service provider meets your unique business needs.
1. What information do you store?
2. Where is your onsite physical storage?
3. Who has access to your storage?
4. How do you prevent unauthorized access?
5. What levels of access are there?
6. Have you helped customers through compliance audits? How many?
7. What kind of compliance support do you offer in your service level agreement?
These questions will get the conversation going for you to determine what level of security a provider is offering. Of course, every company and every industry has different security and compliance needs, so it’s important that you decide ahead of time on your non-negotiable requirements. To learn more about keeping your business secure, contact us today.
Don’t Let Paper Cuts Ruin Your Office Budget
7:06 pm Leave a Comment
Bear with us; we’re going to get “punny” here.

You know when you get a paper cut? It’s the tiniest thing—sometimes you can’t even see it. You often get a paper cut in the blink of an eye, and all of the sudden, your skin is on fire. Even just imagining a paper cut makes you uncomfortable, right? It’s tiny, and it seems insignificant, but it can make a significant impact on your day.

Now imagine your hands were full of little paper cuts. That’s how your printing budget can be when excess printing occurs. A page here, a document there—it never seems like much at the moment. But put together, these instances of excess printing will add up to cut into your budget in a way that makes printing a burden.

Changing Your Printing Habits

How can you change these excess printing habits that employees have developed over time? How can you track and see how much excess printing your business does? How can you lower your printing costs?

The best way to start is with print tracking. Did you know that you can see exactly what your employees print in a simple report with the right software? Most companies don’t track printing, and this oversight is where most of the money is lost. Here are the tips that will cut the excess printing out of your business:
1. Set up simple printing policies: Your employees should know what you want them to print and what’s not appropriate for the workplace. They should also know about wasteful printing that they may not think about, such as printing from websites or in full color when unnecessary.
2. Print double-sided: Set all of your print drivers to automatically print double-sided to reduce paper usage significantly right off the bat.
3. Use draft mode: Most internal documents don’t need to be of any high quality to get the job done. Set your print drivers to automatically use “draft mode,” a feature that uses less ink but is perfectly readable.
For more information about how to lower your printing budget with managed print services, contact us today.
How Managed Print Services Lowers Costs
January 27, 2017 5:48 pm Leave a Comment
There’s a significant expense lurking in your balance sheet that you probably don’t even know about. Your company likely spends a lot of time and money on financial reporting, measuring income and expenditures with clinical precision. But if recent surveys are correct, you’re probably among the majority that are missing costs that account for about 2-4% of your yearly expenses.

Those costs? They’re related to printing. Printing is often the third-highest expense a company incurs yearly—right behind rent and payroll. But many businesses have these overall costs spread over many department budgets and in different categories—supplies, technology, energy, and more. Because of this, few business executives get to see the full picture of their printing costs, and if they did, they’d likely want to find a way to rein these costs in.

Managed Print Services Reduce Overall Costs

The good news is there’s a solution that can not only give you the simple accounting tools to see your overall printing costs but also help you drastically lower them. Businesses are increasingly turning to managed print services as a way to handle, control, and lower their printing costs. Here’s how it works.
1. Supply Management: Chances are, you have an overstocked supply closet somewhere in your office. Overbuying supplies is expensive, and finding the balance to keep your printers fully stocked while saving money is a full-time job. Let your managed services provider handle the supplies.
2. Fleet Management: Your company has probably already wasted countless dollars on machines that weren’t the right fit, and now you’re left with underutilized technology. Managed services ensure you have exactly the devices you need.
3. Printing control: Who’s printing what? Do you know? Print management includes accounting that will give you exactly the information you need to curb unnecessary printing.
For more information about how your company can benefit from managed print services, contact us.
3 Benefits of Managed Print Services
December 29, 2016 7:20 pm Leave a Comment
If you’ve heard the buzz surrounding managed print services, you may be asking, “What can this solution do for me?” Managed print services aren’t just trendy, as evidenced by the many businesses flocking to it yearly. Here are a few of the many reasons why managed print services have become a staple in the modern office.

1. MPS Improves Your Current Print Environment

When you choose managed print services, your managed services provider begins the process of enhancing your print environment. By examining your current equipment, devices, and workflows, your managed services provider will root out inefficiencies and look for new ways to make your technology work for you. Sometimes, this is as simple as reallocating your current printer fleet to maximize usage. Other times, a significant overhaul of your entire print environment is in order. Whatever your print structure needs, your managed services provider will get it done.

2. MPS Boosts Efficiency and Productivity

When your machines are ready, well-managed, and placed strategically, you’ll be able to improve your company’s overall productivity. Outdated processes are generally due to old technology and equipment, and updating your print management can bring everything into the 21st century.

3. MPS Maintains Supply Levels

One of the best parts of using managed print services is the hands-off supply management you’re able to enjoy. Your managed services provider will handle everything from device maintenance to supply replenishment, giving you and your employees more time to focus on your business’s core competencies.

If you’re interested in learning more about how managed print services can benefit your company, contact us today. We’d be happy to help you find the right mix of technology and solutions to make your company thrive.
Non-Profits Need Managed Print Services: Here’s Why
November 23, 2016 7:41 pm Leave a Comment
Non-profit work is inspiring, meaningful, and worthwhile. It also comes with a unique set of challenges that other organizations don’t face as acutely. Nothing shows this more clearly than the pressure non-profit organizations feel to run on a tight budget, sometimes squeezing every last penny out of donations to make big dreams and great things happen. If your non-profit is looking for another area to cut back costs, consider taking a closer look at how you manage your print environment.

Managed Print Services for Non-Profits

Maybe when you read the phrase “managed your print environment,” you thought, Well, we don’t manage our printer environment. This is typical in many organizations, and particularly in non-profits. Who has time to devote staff hours to planning, strategizing, and maintaining your print environment?

But without this kind of monitoring, your printers and supplies are probably cost you way too much. Printing is a necessary part of the office world, particularly when you need to communicate with clients and donors on a regular basis through newsletters, flyers, brochures, and posters. Without a steady hand at the helm, your print environment could become a drain on your organization’s finances with the potential to squeeze your budget even tighter.

Managed print services can help with this. Here’s how: – Predict and lower costs through consolidating all print supply ordering and maintenance – Strategize and right-size your fleet for optimal usability, making sure you’re getting every ounce of productivity out of your machines – Implement common-sense policies to control printing, eliminating wasteful or mindless printing practices – Achieve cost reductions of around 30% or more

With managed print services, you can turn your print environment into a money-maker, not a money-taker. Contact us to learn more.
Print Rules can Create Huge Savings
October 27, 2016 8:36 pm Leave a Comment
Your business’ printing might only account for a penny, or even fractions of a penny, per print so you might be skeptical to see any large sums of money coming from reducing your printing. Though, when you realize that industry research indicates that nearly half of all printed documents end up in the trash that skepticism might fade a little. You can streamline and build some efficiencies into your business by implementing print rules as a component of your Managed Print Services. Here are three ways managed print rules can save you real money:

1. Reduce duplicate printing

The fact is most documents are printed in numbers that are unnecessary and cost your business money. A system of print rules can reduce duplication of documents by reporting to the user that the document has already been printed to avoid unnecessary duplication. This is especially useful when a project affects more than one team member.

2. Print reports tell you where your money is going

Using print rules will allow you to access reports on your company’s printing habits. Here you can see which users are printing the most and take steps to assess the necessity of the prints. Being able to look at your print data will enable you to take action on a piece of your business cost that, before now, was largely a black box that you couldn’t access.

3. Print to the appropriate printer

In some cases, print rules can also be used as a print routing service as well. This technology will allow you to program your printer fleet to work together at detecting the best printer for the job when a print is initiated. This can be as simple as defaulting to black and white to routing to printers with different capabilities depending on the job requirements.

Printing doesn’t have to be a black box of costs any longer. With print rules and managed print solutions, you can take control of your printing costs and return some of that money to your bottom line. Give us a call today for an assessment of your printer needs and how we can help.
Using a Managed Services Provider to Get you to the Cloud
October 20, 2016 6:54 pm Leave a Comment
No matter how out of touch with technology you are you’ve undoubtedly heard a term referencing the cloud, you might have even wondered what the cloud is. Simply put, the cloud is a way to outsource data storage and the actual processes of your computing to a server offsite that you access through the internet. It can provide many different benefits, efficiencies and cost savings, but only if implemented correctly. This is where your IT support provider comes in.

Expertise you Need at a Price you can Afford

A Managed Services provider will give you the benefits of a fully-staffed corporate IT department without any capital expenditure. Instead of investing thousands of dollars into hiring staff with various competencies and making sure they complement each other and satisfy your needs you can hire one company for a fixed monthly fee that has all of the experience and expertise you need. These companies will often have several cloud computing experts on hand to help you deploy your business and start realizing the savings.

Guard Against Disasters

One of the biggest improvements over your current IT workflow, when you switch to the cloud, will be the ability to protect yourself against disasters and data loss. Cloud computing exists on servers that operate offsite, and a component of all cloud-based systems is a backup process that will ensure your data is secure regardless of the disaster.

Email Hosting and Remote Monitoring

Deploying your on-site email server to the cloud can yield faster pull times and more features than your current server offers. Additionally, the ability to keep a continuous backup will always keep this important communication method up for your business. Remote monitoring will allow your managed service provider to maintain an eye on your network and put safeguards in place to protect your business from digital disasters.

Cloud computing and cloud services can be a huge benefit to your business even if you may not be sure how to use them. Take a look into IT managed services and get ahold of a reputable provider to help you realize these savings.

IT Support Des Moines
Why do You Need Managed Print?
September 29, 2016 6:25 pm Leave a Comment
As a business owner or manager, you always have to weigh your options. You may hear about an investment or service that could benefit your business in a big way, but what about the ROI? How does the investment measure up to the return? These are all questions we’ll answer in this blog to make your decision about managed print services a little bit easier.

The First Steps

When you onboard with a managed print services provider, the first thing that will happen is an assessment. Think about it; your print budget is one of the most ambitious areas of spending. You might know about how much you spent last year, but on what? Are you putting all of your print-related expenses in the right categories, or are they bleeding into other budgets without you knowing it? That’s why an assessment is so key to your success. You can’t take control of a budget you know nothing about.

The Best of What You Have

Managed print services are all about optimization. Your printer’s network infrastructure could be running inefficiently; you might have bad settings on individual printers, or some older machines might be guzzling all of the electricity they possibly could. Optimizing your network of printers will help save you money and improve your processes.

Printing Managed Means Printing Less?

If you are managing all aspects of your printing with managed print services, it will include what is being printed by whom and in what quantity. Maybe your employees have grown lax when it comes to the line between necessary printing and convenience printing. Some might even be printing documents for personal use. It all builds up to an excessive amount of printing, but not with managed print.

If you’re ready to take steps towards managed print services, just contact us and we’ll talk about the details!
Managed Print & The Healthcare System
August 25, 2016 9:28 pm Leave a Comment
Working in the healthcare system provides employees of all kinds with high-risk, high-pressure decisions to make with very short amounts of time. No one day is the same, everyone is on their feet, going, going, going, and when it comes to printing something, the last thing your employees are thinking about it how much their printing or whether or not this print is needed. Unmonitored, print costs get out of hand and create a huge question mark in your budget. One major way that healthcare facilities have found to combat high print costs is through managed print services.

Here to Help You Help Others

In a healthcare facility, your job is to help people. If your worries can be put to a minimum, you can do that even better. Managed print services monitors and analyzes printing habits and costs to help you improve and connect your network of printers. By getting processes set up through managed print services, your doctors, nurses and other staff can do their jobs. Most healthcare providers have multiple facilities, some entire campuses spanning several blocks of a city. Without monitoring, print costs can not be planned for, you can not know how efficient your machines are, and you can not reduce your spending.

Free to Work

When something goes wrong with a printer in a healthcare facility, (and as we have established, most facilities have hundreds of printers) who takes care of the issue? It is either going to be a frustrated employee who needs to attend to a patient, or they called for backup and it is the IT department. But even IT has more important things to do than troubleshoot a malfunctioning printer. Luckily, with managed print services, these problems are taken care of along with the replacement or procuring of toner, ink, and paper for printers.

Would your healthcare facility save by utilizing managed print services? The answer is likely to be yes! Contact us today to learn more.