Four myths busted in the printing business

Today’s business environment is a testament to innovation being an instrument of change, nevertheless for business and innovation to in fact align for the greater benefit of both, many organizations must acknowledge and move on from legacy thinking and habits that are based on the way business used to be done. Innovation advancements can lead to lingering myths, and busting those myths is a step toward realizing harmony between business and technology.

From touch screens and mobile solutions to document management services, the possibilities and opportunities for the print industry and all industries it affects have grown. But myths in the colour printing industry linger and, ultimately, for all that affect critical business decisions.

The idea that cost effectiveness with colour printing can only be achieved by printing large quantities may have been true in the past. Nevertheless today, new print research enables print on demand, short runs and the flexibility to customize individual pieces or personalize mass quantities. So it is important to point out that once a new piece of innovation is purchased, a best practice is to fully understand the device’s additional features and functions. Additionally, an investment of this kind up front can result in significant cost savings at the end of the year.

There is a lingering perception that only professional designers can in fact get the right colour on print jobs. Accuracy and consistency is essential, however technology nevertheless eliminates the need to worry about colour management. With digital innovation, users can produce accurate, consistent and repeatable output with affordable research.

Another common misconception in the colour printing world is that managing new colour print jobs requires a dedicated person. Digital printing research is far less labour intensive than it used to be, and dealers can nevertheless rely on key automation features just as higher capacity paper trays and benefits like greater online finishing options just as multi-position hole punching, stapling, and folding.

Finally, integrating a new multi-function device within an existing IT environment no longer creates the usual challenges and workflow complications of yesterday’s equipment. New digital devices integrate seamlessly and securely with existing innovation with little-to-no IT support. Solutions include software features like network management tools and controlling devices to monitor usage. Embedded controllers allow for easy integration with enterprise workflow, during software platforms allow for the development of personalized document management solutions. Document management features are accessible and leverage existing infrastructure and databases, just as accounting, security, and/or archiving systems.

Beyond colour printing myths, there is another misconception that lingers - that the printing industry is all about pushing paper. After a fashion, the “paperless office” as we had imagined it several years ago was a myth in and of itself. The goal wasn’t to print less – it had to do with scanning more. Scanning innovation is just one of the ways that paper reduction can be achieved during simultaneously improving document management practices within your organization or business.

In addition to hardware, technological innovations in the printing industry have led us to a new reality that involves cutting edge software to help organizations reduce waste, cut costs, and achieve greener business practices. Similarly, there are skilled people providing valuable expertise through advanced document management services that can have a direct impact on the bottom line.

A 2002 Queen’s University study showed that poor document management costs were tied to nearly $50 billion in lost productivity among professional employees, managers and executives in Canada. Today, businesses have digitized business processes for more efficient archiving, optimized printing, and overall improvements to the flow of documents within organizations, and between organizations.

Improvements in document management can be measured in real business benefits. More and more business leaders are realizing that organized document management, just as product lifecycle communication services, can cut costs by 30 per cent; streamline processes to improve cost calculation and control, and lead to short and long term savings that lead to a greener environment for businesses and organizations.

Recognizing and addressing lingering misconceptions by indentifying the untruths and updating outdated views, is key to ensuring the business potential of new technologies are fully realized.