Getting the most from a copier

Guidelines for maximizing your MFP

The following guidelines will not only help you get the most out of your MFP, but can also help you find the best MFP for your business.

Make the connection...

There's no question about it, when it comes down to getting the most out of your MFP, if it's not connected to your network, you're shortchanging your business and missing out on the device's additional capabilities. A connected MFP allows you to use it as more than just a walk-up copier. When it's connected, users can print from their desktops, scan documents onto the network, and if the device also has a fax function, transmit faxes

Make sure your MIS/IT personnel understand the benefits of the MFP
It's a good bet if you’re MIS or IT personnel weren’t involved in discussions about how the MFP can improve efficiency and productivity, it's probably not going to get connected and your office will be losing out on many of the benefits of the MFP. The challenge here is getting these individuals to understand and acknowledge the cost savings and productivity benefits of researching and integrating solutions into your current workflow processes.

Wean employees off personal printers...
The challenge you'll find when trying to get employees to use your MFP as their primary printer is weaning them off their personal printers or the local workgroup printer that they've grown accustomed to using over the years. Chances are they'll kick and scream and cry like babies. Now, that's not to say personal and workgroup printers shouldn't be used for small print jobs. The trick is, however, making sure employees route large print jobs to the MFP. Contact your DTS rep if you would like suggestions for your company or if you would like to consider rules based printing implementation.

Fax?...
And for a business that has heavy fax volumes along with heavy copy and print volumes, a copier/ printer-based MFP may create contention issues when multiple users try to access the machine at the same time. That said, if your business has modest fax volumes or needs a backup fax machine, you may want to consider a software or appliance solution. DTS is well equipped to assist you.

Distribute, and then print...

Encourage employees that need to distribute documents to other employees or to clients to distribute them over the network or via e-mail rather than distributing hard copies. This way, recipients can print their own copy, or if they prefer, just read the document on their computer screen and not print it out at all. This method of document distribution reduces paper consumption and reduces the need to make multiple prints on the MFP. DTS employs experts in the field of document distribution, document lifecycles and document management. Let us be your first go to when considering document management, scanning, archival and retrieval.

Summing up software...

Be sure to consider software benefits. All our Sharp MFPs functioning as printers come bundled with software that allows users to enable print jobs, select various finishing options or consolidate time consuming task into a simple mouse click. We carry software that helpful from Document Management to controlling your print environment, and the easier it is to use; the more likely users will be to spend their valuable time doing what it is they do best. Contact DTS to review your workflow.