7 Criteria for Selecting a Print Management Vendor

Print Management Criteria CheckList

Enterprise print management and output management have emerged as a proven approach to reducing IT costs, and improving employee efficiency, workflow, and the reliability of an enterprise’s printing infrastructure.

Most organizations turn to a third-party printing solution for cost reduction and service reliability. But they can also provide other benefits such as document workflow, mobility, and end-user productivity.

All print management and output management vendors try to focus on simplifying IT management, improving productivity, reducing costs, and increasing security around enterprise printing operations, but that does not mean they are all equal.

As 3^rd party printing vendors evolve and organizations increase their use of them, it is important that they can demonstrate their credibility.

Printing Solution Vendor Criteria

The following are seven key criteria to consider when choosing print management and output management vendor.

1-Scope of Services to Match Your Needs

Your organization may be using multi-hybrid environments that require various printing solutions to support it.  Look for a vendor with a broad portfolio of solutions that both offer print management and output management products. Some features can include:

• High Availability to 100% uptime
• Smart Routing to support legacy applications
• Mobile and BYOD support for increasing mobility of end users
• Cloud-ready solution

They should also be print vendor-independent and combability with server-centric and serverless printing environments.

2-Strong multi-vendor support and partnerships

Most print environments are heterogenous, with a mix of hardware and software from a variety of vendors, so a third-party printing solution should have experience working in multi-vendor environments.

More importantly, they should have relationships with leading vendors to help evolve digital transformation and future technologies.

Interested in finding out more about selecting the correct print management vendor? Check out this free checklist on 25 questions you should ask when comparing pull printing vendors!

3-Strong customer support

A print software vendor’s solution is only as good as its customer support is. Without a flexible, reliable, and responsive support team, any issue can cause a ripple effect within an organization’s environment.

A leading vendor should provide 24/7 support that is quick and responsive to your needs.

4-Strong focus on improving user performance

A leading print solution vendor should understand their customer’s business and can advise them on a unique solution that can be deployed to improve business efficiency, and workflow and reduce costs.

5-Flexibility

Companies will always have a unique situation that may not match the set environment a print software vendor can provide for. Some may want to standardize on a single vendor’s equipment and software, while others will want multi-vendor support.

Some companies may also want to mix new technology with existing legacy systems or take full control of their print infrastructure.

A leading print solution vendor offers flexible services that can adapt and accommodate unique requirements. Flexible pricing models and financial options are also key to allowing for changing needs.

6-Innovation

Leading printing software vendors constantly strive to innovate in their industry. This includes implementing new technologies and continually working to improve service delivery, scalability, and reduced costs.

Choose a vendor with a track record of constant innovation. Consider how they can contribute to your own company’s innovation and digital transformation strategy.

7-Service Commitments

Print solution providers should not only be of properly inform and educate you on their products, but they must also be able to deliver on their promises. What guarantees have they made and do they have a track record of meeting those guarantees or eliminating those issues?

Ultimately, it is up to you to test and find the right print solution vendor that is right for your organization. By at least ensuring a third-party print solution provider has the above key characteristics, you can make better-informed choices to maximize you’re your chance of success.

Conclusion

In conclusion, when selecting a print management vendor, it is important to consider the company’s size and needs, as well as its budget. In addition to providing a variety of services, the vendor should be able to customize its services according to the needs of the company. Also, ask about the vendor’s customer service and support if anything goes wrong.