When digital copiers first arrived on the scene, we were ecstatic that copiers were now capable of network printing, network scanning, and faxing.
In the early days of digital copiers, the largest benefit to end users was if the copier jammed (and they all did) during a copy or print job, you could clear the jam, then reset the system and the copier remembered what page was not copied or printed and you would be able to continue with the job. When this scenario happened with analog copier systems, you pretty much had to trash the entire copy job and start all over. What a drag that was, especially if it happened with a demonstration!!!!
For those of us in the industry during the emergence of digital copiers, we saw the benefit of having one system that would replace three systems—the existing analog copier, the printer, and the fax machine. The cost per page of those standalone fax machines and printers will always have a higher cost per page than our copiers.
Figuring cost per page
I remember in the late nineties compiling my own cost-per analysis for each device in the office. That, my friends, was no easy task. You had to access specs from brochures, get cartridge prices and yields from industry published copier, printer and fax spec check books. After you had all of that data, you then needed to crunch the numbers for yield, cost and image coverage.
Once we crunched the numbers and presented the cost per page analysis of the three existing systems compared to one new system, most DMs stated this was a no brainer.
I’m thinking copier dealers started the managed print/copy trend by offering an all-inclusive, cost-per-page contracts with the digital systems and we didn’t even know it. Someone just got creative, brought it to printers and gave it a name.
We did have our issues!
We were copier service and sales companies that really had no clue about printing on the network. Most of the early networked copiers never printed as fast as they were advertised; print drivers were awkward, and it seemed we always had some issue installing print drivers and addressing print problems.
Most dealers were forced to stay ahead of the curve and to offer support and solutions for print/fax and scan environments. The learning process was somewhat slow, more than painful with many clients, however, we persevered, adapted, and changed to meet the needs of our clients and the market. What comes around goes around and it seems many of us are in the cycle again with Managed IT Services aka MSP (Managed Service Provider).
Sometime in the late nineties and early 2,000s we started to see third-party hardware and software solutions from companies like eCopy, and Equitrac. I’m sure there were more, but I can’t remember any of the other players.
Companies like eCopy and Equitrac allowed copier dealers to move into selling software, supporting software and also presented opportunities for professional services. Within a few years there were many other companies that emerged with additional solutions. All of these third-party providers added value to the digital copier. Thus salespeople had more opportunities to sell solutions in many different vertical markets and larger companies as well. The once ridiculed copier that took the butt of all the office jokes emerged as the central hub in the office for processing information on paper.
The digital copier industry of today is changing again and companies like Xerox, Ricoh, Konica Minolta, and Canon are making the transition to service-led companies. These companies will be the sole provider for documents whether they are created electronically or printed. They want to help customers with print stream management, forms, e-mail, archiving of documents (electronic and paper) and provide consulting to help businesses increase efficiencies and create easier work flows and reduce costs.
