Most businesses are rapidly undertaking digital transformation, which includes changing their operations to take advantage of technologies such as cloud and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), as well as ensuring the security of these services. Some businesses are slower to realise the benefits of extending this approach to printing and document workflow or have overlooked it altogether.
In 2017, there is a great opportunity for small businesses to reap the benefits of the latest advances in the industry to dramatically improve productivity and reduce costs associated with print and document workflow.
Here are five printing and document trends organisations should consider implementing in 2017:
- Managed Print Services (MPS) for digital transformation
Recent research has revealed that 80 per cent of respondents were looking to grow strategically through efficiency in digital transformation.* As a result, customers are expecting more from their MPS providers and adopting smart multifunction printers (MFPs) and interconnected software to support digitisation initiatives. These often use direct integration with enterprise content management (ECM) and include document workflows to support the transition to paperless operations and an increasingly mobile staff. In 2017, organisations should demand that MPS providers help deliver their digital transformation.
- Document security
Every day, organisations are at risk of a potential document security risk that they may not have even thought of – the MFP. Equipment for printing, scanning and copying an organisation’s most sensitive information, the MFP may be the place where all previous security efforts are rendered useless because confidential data is going undetected. In 2017, the same attention to security that is afforded to other IT and tools will be needed for printing and document handling to ensure a more comprehensive risk mitigation strategy.
- Cloud-based enterprise services on the rise
IT departments are rapidly integrating with cloud-based services to reduce costs and meet the needs of remote and mobile workers. Consequently, enterprises are using hybrid or full public cloud services to integrate with their existing on-premise systems, such as enterprise resource planning (ERP), print services and document repositories. In 2017, organisations should expect all enterprise software solution providers to have a cloud-based option.
- Subscription-based models for print management
SaaS is not a new concept but many mature industries, such as the print and document imaging industry, have been slower than others to adopt it. In 2017 savvy customers who are looking for ways to efficiently manage infrastructure and operating costs will request SaaS for their printing needs.
- Increase in 3D print solutions
The rise of 3D printing, especially in education facilities, will continue. With the right strategy, 3D printers can do more than just introduce modern technology into the education process. They are particularly valuable when it comes to strengthening students’ motivation to learn. While 3D printer adoption will continue, 2017 will see a demand for tools that help educators manage access and costs, create workflows across multiple 3D printers on the network, and provide the ability to recover costs through student pay-to-print accounts.
* https://www.ysoft.com/en/mps-competitive-study-by-quocirca-2016
Adam O’Neill, Managing Director – Australia, Y Soft
