U.S. companies spend an estimated $50 billion a year in their centralized print operations. In-house print shop or reprographics departments are producing everything from manuals, directories and technical documentation to company stationery, forms and compliance documents. Though centralized printing is typically more cost-effective than desktop printing, this advantage erodes quickly if equipment is underutilized or current contracts are misaligned with actual usage.

Data centers face their own set of issues. As postage costs rise, they seek to reduce the printing and handling costs associated with distribution of reports and vital transactional documents, such as invoices and statements. Though there’s a growing trend toward combining the print shop and data center printing, the transition requires the coordination of formerly disparate specialized skills.

This chart highlights the more pressing issues faced by centralized print operations and offers a summary of practices that can lead to an optimal state.

In-House Print & Copy Center Optimization  With an in-depth analysis of your equipment, vendors, costs and service levels, we optimize delivery of the myriad of printed materials produced. Does current equipment fully address end user needs? Do current vendor agreements serve your needs and best interests? Should data center printing be integrated with other in-house operations? In analyzing user requirements and costs against industry benchmarks, we can guide you in making fact-based decisions.

Data Center Optimization  Electronic presentation of transactional and reporting documents can ease access and handling of documents while providing new opportunities for cost savings and improved customer service. By studying actual document usage and end user requirements, printed pages are dramatically reduced. Moreover, e-presentment helps improve customer service for your Web-savvy customers while helping reduce accounts receivable days. PathForward can provide the consulting and implementation services to optimize data center output.

Reprographics & Data Center Integration Services  With an analysis of both data center and in-house print/copy center environments – their assets, resources, costs and requirements – we can help you integrate the printing environments, better utilize assets, and negotiate more appropriate service and supplies agreements.

Contracted Print Services  PathForward can develop a flexible, scaleable solution for managing your print-related programs and processes on-site or near-site. Aimed at freeing up your internal resources, improving customer service and reducing both your costs and your risks, our Contracted Print Services go beyond traditional facilities management models. With these services, you can leverage leading technologies the subject matter expertise of our PrintConcierges® and a nationwide network of certified printing facilities.

Learn more about the people who can help you improve your existing operation or move to an “asset-lite” approach that reduces spending while improving service levels. Or, contact us now to discuss the document management challenges you face.

Also see Enterprise Services.