How does managed print services help the education industry

Managed print services (MPS) have slowly begun to become less of a trend, and more of an essential service that allows companies within a wide scope of industries benefit from the outsourced management of their print requirements. While every company will be able to enjoy a range of benefits ranging from improved systems to huge savings, the education industry is one arena that stands to see massive benefits when outsourcing managed print services.

Some of the primary ways that MPS helps to benefit educational institutions include the following:

• Admin and office

From junior schools to high schools and tertiary institutes, the huge volume of admin and paperwork produced is substantial. A wide range of documents are printed in educational offices every day, from application forms to reports, school notices, annual newsletters, admission letters, timetables and a myriad other documents that are sent out to students and parents. MPS helps to manage and monitor all admin related printing, to help admin departments manage these documents more effectively and reduce waste.

• Printers

In any given educational organisation, and in particular large tertiary institutes, access to printers is given to a large number of students. Libraries are able to control the level of printing done through access cards linked to each student's student card, but do not have the capabilities or software to ensure reporting and control – something that managed print services is able to do. A recent study on a university in Australia showed that the institute was able to reduce the number of printers within campus from 494 to 199 devices. This particular university also relocated printers from various student labs to one large print centre, thereby reducing waste and cost to an even greater extent.

• Green printing

Another highly important role of MPS in the education industry lies in training students to be more environmentally conscious when it comes to printing. Managed print services providers are able to provide resources and training for various organisations on more effective printing practices, and in this way the need for more effective and eco-friendly strategies can be met across the various universities around the world. Staff are also able to learn how to print more effectively, and with the advent of web-based study options, universities can greatly reduce the level of printing that is currently seen across the world.

• Faculties and departments

When it comes to any large scale organisation, MPS is able to make a notable difference, to help each separate department or faculty manage their own print demands. Services such as print, phone and fax audits help to identify the exact level of printing done in each department, which can help department heads better manage the printing done across the board. Reporting is another way for heads to oversee the print demands for each department, proving real-time data on every user across any given month. In this way, managed print services offers an effective way for each department to ensure the best printing practices, reducing waste and saving on costs.

About the Author

Bob Jones offers advice for businesses seeking the reliable <a href="http://www.paperserve.co.za/">managed print services</a>, telephone and printer audits or <a href="http://www.paperserve.co.za/">green printing</a> options.