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Print.IT Reseller 33
technology trends
Matt Wrighton,
European & UK Marketing Manager,
Canon Europe
Advice and support
The majority of respondents indicated
they need advice and support from IT
departments to be able to fully optimise
productivity when working in or away from
the office.
There is clear appetite for end-user
training on the features and functionality
of their printers and MFPs. Most end-users
don’t know how the functionality of their
devices can help them to be more effective,
because they typically receive little in the
way of education. Only a quarter feel they
understand the full capabilities of their
office equipment meaning that the benefits
are not effectively communicated.
The research also reveals that instead
of being involved, employees feel excluded
when it comes to choosing the technology
purchased on behalf of the company.
Decision-makers feel they do go to the
trouble of including end-users in the
selection process, but end-users don’t
always feel their views are listened to or
believe that decision-makers are simply
paying lip-service.
“Technology is constantly evolving to
meet users’ needs,” says Matt Wrighton,
European & UK Marketing Manager,
Canon Europe. “In today’s offices, this
is happening faster than ever with new
working practices fuelling the change.
“For organisations to maintain a
productive workforce, it’s important
they feel their needs are catered for.
Making decision-makers aware of user
requirements is key to identifying the right
IT equipment; the next step is to educate
end-users to ensure it is used to its fullest
capabilities.”
Maintaining security
Maintaining security when handling
documents is another issue that highlights
the divide between what end-users expect
and what IT departments provide.
Very few decision-makers cite security
as a key factor in their choice of office
technology, but both decision-makers and
end-users said that security is paramount.
Security concerns prevent serious
Based on its analysis of end-users’ needs and wants and how
these can sometimes contrast with those of decision-makers,
Canon makes the following recommendations for decision-
makers, when considering new or upgraded document handling
solutions.
Electronic documents may be booming,
but don’t forget about print
Printers and MFDs are frequently a frontline sales and marketing
tool. Many organisations said that devices that produce high
quality, effective communications can justify the extra investment
and reduce reliance on third party print providers.
Review your document security protocols
The survey shows that many organisations are much less
secure than they think. The advent of remote document access
and emergence of Bring Your Own Device will bring security to
the fore.
Match your solution to your future needs
Document workflows are changing rapidly. The rise in scanning
and processing of e-documents means that document
management software will become at least as important as
hardware, since end-users will spend increasing amounts of time
producing and processing both paper and electronic documents.
In simple terms, office technology is there to help end-users
work more effectively. Organisations that listen to their end-
users’ needs and wants and work to improve their productivity
through the use of new technology will benefit not just from cost
savings through improved efficiency, but also from end-users
feeling more valued, empowered and happy in their work.
Although efforts
are being made
to reduce paper
use, paper
documents
still have an
important role
to play: very few
organisations
actually see
value in a
‘paperless’
office.
consideration of remote working and the
use of personal devices in the workplace.
While not top of mind, security is a key
issue and many organisations admit to
security gaps and lapses, such as printing
sensitive documents on shared devices.
Most end-users assume that their
workflows are secure, but few review them
regularly from a security point of view.
“It’s clear to see how the division within
organisations between the two key parties
– decision-makers and employees – will, if
it has not already done so, prove harmful
to productivity in the workplace,” says
Wrighton. “To close this gap and to ensure
the value from IT investments is realised,
end-users need to have greater influence
on the buying process. Engaging with
customers to better understand their wants
and needs early on in the process means
buyers can tap into previously unused
potential and remain one step ahead.
“With this process working effectively,
the productivity of an organisation has the
potential to be greatly improved, leading to
better return on investment in IT solutions
and better profits for the business overall,”
he says.
www.canon-europe.com/
officeinsights
Results in brief
Very few decision-makers cite security
as a key factor in their choice of office
technology...