Printers are a key piece of your office productivity. But not all office administrators and c-suite personnel realize that printer, copier, scanner and fax machine technology has evolved over the years. In fact, today’s office equipment is highly configurable, networkable and generates use data. This data can be analyzed and often reveals opportunities to better optimize your devices.
Is your current print vendor ready to meet the changing needs of your office? While print vendors come in all different shapes and sizes, they each have their chosen primary equipment manufacturing partners, service standards and many offer additional office equipment product lines and services.
Evaluating your current Managed Print Services (MPS) provider (or a potential provider) for best fit is often a smart move. Here’s what you’ll need to think about:
When you find an MPS provider that is in tune with your organizational needs, you’ll be positioned for office technology success!
Businesses decide to switch to a new print vendor for a variety of reasons. Some of the common ones that we’ve heard when speaking with potential customers are related to frequent device breakdowns or service concerns with their previous provider.
In addition to known concerns, consider probing the unknown. Does your MPS provider meet with you regularly to discuss your needs? They should. The multifunctional printers of today generate use data that can be analyzed to make sure that you have the correct equipment and that it is set to the correct parameters that fit your organization.
How about printer security? Ask your MPS provider about your options for keeping your printers up to date with software security patches and make sure that Service Technicians present their corporate identification when they arrive at your location.
Expert MPS providers also are in the know when new technology is on the horizon. They can assist you with updates to stay ahead of the competition and keep your office productivity humming along without any disruptions.
You need an MPS provider that is knowledgeable and will conduct a thorough needs assessment to understand the unique office technology needs of your business. You’ll be asked detailed questions about the printing needs of your staff. Both in-house printing and any that you are currently outsourcing. Your answers, coupled with print user data will guide your MPS provider to construct a plan designed to update and refresh your equipment with productivity enhancements built in.
Be sure to ask about which equipment manufacturers they primarily work with and why they feel they are the best options for businesses such as yours. Service is also an important part of working with an MPS provider. You should be able to measure your wait for a Service Technician in hours – not days. Ask about service standards set by the MPS provider.
Leasing office equipment has become an important part of many business plans. If you decide to lease, ask who will service your leasing agreement? Some expert MPS providers offer their own, in-house leasing services with options such as flexible terms, step payments or deferred payments. And always read the fine print to make sure that there are no hidden fees or surprises for end-of-term buyouts. In-house leasing often offers more options to customize your office technology lease than working with a third-party vendor.
In addition, ask about leasing options for business equipment beyond just printers. Your MPS provider may be able to help!
And finally, probe into the full offerings of your MPS provider. They often provide more than just printers and service. Many offer just-in-time toner delivery, Managed IT services and Managed Voice (also known as Unified Communications), as well.
At Gordon Flesch Company (GFC) we offer seamless, uninterrupted and reliable service from the start of the on-boarding process and throughout every day that GFC is responsible for your printer fleet.
First, your local Account Executive will meet with you to discuss your organization’s needs and walk through your space, taking notes about your floorplan, current print device configurations and locations.
Next, you will be presented with product and service recommendations tailored for your organization. Should you choose to lease your equipment, we at GFC, offer flexible financing and leasing solutions through our in-house leasing division. We are happy to help you finance a variety of business equipment options – not just printers!
After your contract is signed, we will work with you to schedule an installation time and date that is convenient for your workforce. Our staff will even provide training tailored to the needs of your end users. If your equipment is leased, we will even buy out the lease and return the equipment for you.
Afterwards, your Account Executive will follow up to see how the new equipment is working in tandem with your daily office activities. If adjustments need to be made, we’ll be there! Otherwise, your Account Executive will meet with you to regularly review your data and discuss any planned changes for your organization.
GFC is your office productivity partner today, tomorrow and beyond!
Don’t let the wrong technology (or printing vendor) hold your organization back. Wondering how to gain a competitive advantage by improving your workflows and efficiencies? A professional review of your business technology could help you identify gaps and opportunities for improvement.
Gordon Flesch Company offers more than just print-related devices and service. We also offer Managed Voice and Managed IT services, too. Contact us today to schedule your free business technology needs assessment and find out why Midwestern organizations both large and small partner with Gordon Flesch Company.
