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Reliability trumps brand value in the
offce
Unhappiness caused by printer problems (see right) highlights the
value offce workers place on reliability. Indeed, a YouGov survey
by Casio Projectors indicates that buyers of offce technology
place more importance on this quality than amorphous concepts
such as brand value. Even though two thirds (64%) of the1,200
offce workers questioned said that brand affects their perception
of how a product performs, just 1% said it was important when
choosing offce technology. Reliability came out on top cited
by 55%, followed by performance (31%) and product and
maintenance costs (8%). Only four out of 10 people (38%)
surveyed could name more than two brands in their offce.
Print volumes down by 40%
The number of pages printed by UK offce workers has
dropped by a massive 40% in the last 12 months, from
an average of 10,000 sheets per year to just 6,000
according to the latest annual environmental survey by
Kyocera Mita. This is the frst time print volumes have
fallen since the survey started in 2007.
Tracey Rawling Church, Director of Brand and Reputation at
Kyocera Mita, said: “We’ve been hearing about the ‘paperless
offce’ for decades, but this is the frst concrete evidence
we’ve seen that shows offce-based workers’ love affair with
the printed page is beginning to wane. There is far greater
confdence in mobile technology and electronic information,
meaning that there is less demand for the comfort of a piece of
paper.”
Another factor might be a growing trend for automated
systems such as mandatory duplex (up 5% from 2010) and card-
controlled access (up 8% from 2010), though user education is
still thought to be the best way to promote good printing habits
(cited by 68%).
Rawling Church added: “As more organisations begin to
deploy managed document services, we are seeing an increase
in the use of print policy software and card-based access
systems, which mandate improvements in print effciency.
What’s interesting to see is that IT Managers still place strong
emphasis on the softer aspects of user education around cost
and environmental benefts of good print practice.”
www.kyoceramita.co.uk/survey2011
A good argument for
secure print?
As part of the launch programme for
Avery’s new range of Multi-function
labels, Onepoll surveyed 2,000 people
to fnd out what they had trouble
remembering. Collecting print-outs
from printers/MFPs appears at
Number 9 on the list. Avery’s new
multi-function labels can be used
in inkjet printers, laser printers and
copiers for any labelling task. They
come in packs of 10, 40 or 100 sheets
with a JamFree guarantee and access
to free Avery software and templates
for label personalisation.
A sign of the times
Offce workers and consumers who choose electronic processes in preference
to paper-based ones have long been frustrated by the need to print
documents that require a signature. But no longer.
A new app from DocuSign allows PC, tablet and smartphone users to drag and drop
a legally binding electronic signature and initials into on-screen documents, add text and
check boxes to complete forms and then return the document by email.
Alternatively, they can use Wacom’s new signature capture solution for SMEs,
sign&save, to capture signatures on a tablet and merge them with a PDF document. An
integrated PDF printer allows users to convert documents created in any application into
Acrobat PDFs. Wacom sign&save is available in different versions for stationary and mobile
use, costing £229.90 (inc. Vat) and £139.90 respectively. http://uk.shop.wacom.eu/
06 Print.IT Reseller
bulletin
In the news
Almost three out of four UK workers (73%) are
printing fewer emails than one year ago and over
half (53%) are outputting less general business and
marketing material, according to the Lexmark UK 2011
survey. Four out of 10 respondents expected to reduce
expenditure on print by between 5% and 20% in 2011.
TOP TWENTY THINGS WE FORGET
1. To return phone calls
2. To reply to emails
3. People’s names
4. To send birthday cards
5. Charge phone
6. Passwords
7. Take meat out the freezer
8. To water plants
9. Pick up things from the printer
10. Take the rubbish out
11. Take the washing out of the
machine
12. To post things
13. Pick up packed lunch
14. Record TV show
15. House keys
16. Turn alarm off at weekends
17. Glasses
18. Wallet
19. Anniversaries
20. Washing up