Using print management services is a popular way to take control of your printing costs and to enhance your data security measures. However, there are companies that offer services that are not really considered print management. Here's how to tell the difference between the real services that will benefit your company and the impostors that won't give you those same benefits.
Seeing the Physical Business
If you see print management services being offered by a company for rates that seem too good to be true, ask about touring their facilities. They should be able to direct you to a warehouse where all of the supplies are stocked. They should have many, many different types of supplies to be ready to deliver them to print management clients. If they don't have one or don't want you to see it, they may be an imposter that is not offering the actual services you're looking for.
Find Out About the Personnel
Who will actually be doing the print management? Is there at least one team of people who manage print clients and keep them well stocked and running? If you are given one single name, there is no way that the company can be providing full print management services with only one worker in control of it all. One person can't handle all of the software, answer questions, check on printer stats, order supplies and inspect and label all of the printers involved. With one person, many, many important services will have to be cut.
Seeing the Numbers
To find out whether a vendor is supplying these services, ask to see their actual client numbers. Can they tell you how many printers they are overseeing and how many clients they have? An effective provider of print management services has to be able to handle a large number of local clients and an even larger number of printers being monitored. This will show you that they are able to scale their business and that they can handle your company if and when you grow larger. It will also show that they have many client companies that are happy with their services and are spreading the word about them.
Get a List of Services
Before you make your decision, find out just which services the company actually provides to its print management clients. Do they come to your place of business to assess each of your printers in person? If so they should provide a full assessment of each machine and whether it could be improved or whether it should be retired. They should streamline your fleet of printers and be able to monitor all of them for problems. You should also expect them to make your printers more secure so that the data streams can't be hacked by data thieves. Then, you and your employees should be taught how to use the new system and how it will help to make printing less expensive and more efficient. If these services, and many more, are not being offered, the company you've talked to is an imposter that doesn't really offer full print management services.
If you are ready for a full-service company to provide comprehensive print management services, contact us today to get started. You'll find out what we can do to help your business and how you can lower your print costs while staying ready to print at any time.
