Print Service Providers reduce cost and help deliver environmental commitments
High-tech and Communications companies can take action today that will reduce cost, improve operational efficiencies, and leverage environmentally friendly technology, processes and Services. Environmental IT policy and strategy should go beyond the data center, as described by IBM to encompass environmentally sustainable business practices around printing, MFP’s, and Copiers. IDC concurs with this in the study: “Buyer Requirements for Green Printing, 2007”. Areas of Green process improvement include:
- Print infrastructure optimization
- Strategies for electronic replacement of paper
- Enablement of digital collaboration
- Leverage of operational alternatives to technology usage i.e. Outsourcing, SaaS, hosting
- Use Service Providers that are knowledge experts in the “green” Print Managed Services space
Print infrastructure optimization reduces the number of devices, improves equipment utilization, and deploys energy efficient technology (MFD’s). A 150,000 employee company through Print infrastructure optimization can reduce carbon footprint and save 28.2m kWh of electricity or $2.7-$3.9m annually. There is a significant opportunity in consumables management. 100K prints create 150 lbs of laser waste, 100K prints create only 10 lbs of solid ink waste. Solid ink technology and reusable cartridges can reduce waste. Let’s not forget paper consumption. Reducing paper will save our forests and conserve energy used in the manufacturing and distribution processes. Using high yield mechanical paper and recycled paper is a good start. However, deploying strategies to reduce paper usage, encourage digitization of paper, and provide tools for collaboration will further the Green initiatives.
Finally, Print Services Providers should be employed to achieve these objectives. Some are “experts” in achieving a “Green print infrastructure”. They deploy energy efficient technology and consumables, automate services delivery, and provide proactive monitoring and management. Service Providers provide innovation to eliminate manual paper processes, increase digital collaboration, and provide document management services without increasing technology footprint i.e. hosting, SaaS, shared print services platforms. Print Service Providers manage demand, provide change management strategies, and provide management reporting and governance around GREEN. Think about using a productivity improvement partner to reduce energy consumption through print services.
Good post. Recently I heard about a website www.pressmart.net delivers the similar services (digitization services) for all print publications. Digitization is the emerging trend and every publisher should avail this feature.
Sounds good. There are several strategies for acquiring digitization services and also varied applications and implications to business processes. I am interested in your thoughts on the key industries and business processes that are paper intensive and require digitization and automation beyond financial services and healthcare.
Susy:
I very much enjoy your blog; some very thought provoking articles.
I was curious whether your group was involved with outsourcing services within the document management sector for healthcare services companies. If so to what extent.
Bill:
Thanks so much for the blog comment.
Xerox provides the healthcare sector outsourcing services. These services include managed print services that improve workplace productivity by optimizing office technology across the enterprise, reducing costs, reducing carbon footprint and improving workflow through the digitization of documents.
Xerox also provides imaging and document management services that help hospitals improve processes which include hardcopy or electronic documents, such as admissions, registration, compliance tracking and reporting, forms management, EOB processing, contract management, x-ray printing, emergency alerts, sharing patient information between departments, providers, and facilities securely, and records management, etc. Our benchmark digital imaging and archiving offerings support the move to electronic medical records.
Xerox provides outsourcing services that help enable healthcare providers to improve patient or member multichannel communications. From the creation of bills to collaterals Xerox works with our clients from design through print, finish and fulfillment of customer communications. More information can be found on the Xerox Healthcare website.