Knowing where to spend funding is an essential in keeping schools operational, so it’s no surprise that investing in technology represents a large area of risk versus reward.
From higher education down to primary school classrooms, investment into better technology has been a must for improving education, but as digitisation becomes more complex, knowing where best to spend money and having the confidence to take those first steps are crucial.
From handouts to homework and beyond, keeping on top of print supplies is an essential step in supporting a digitalised workflow that can still account for the print needs of both your students and administration in general.
Let us do the homework for you
For those managing education budgets, keeping track of funding against an ever-shifting balance sheet can quickly feel like an advanced mathematics lesson in itself.
Currently the main reasons for a lack of progress come from prohibitive potential costs, with research from Commercial stating 34%* of institutions found the cost of replacement parts too much of a potential issue and a further 27%* felt devices required too much IT support or that they aren’t secure enough. The beauty of making use of a managed print service (MPS) is that its cost represents an inclusive and comprehensively designed package that keeps things as simple as possible for multiple departments to understand, in some instances providing a 40% reduction in cost according to research from specialist print provider, Brother UK. Managed print services reduce cost by beginning with a comprehensive audit of your education facility’s existing print
hardware and all the usage of materials you may need.
This ensures that you’ll be supplied with hardware that is suited to each application, such as higher volume printers with scan capabilities for libraries and study zones, or label printers for your IT department, supporting school network management.
Once a needs-based audit is completed, you’ll be provided with a definitive breakdown of suggested hardware and material requirements that your educational setting requires, which can all be provided under a monthly or yearly budget, eliminating significant overhead costs associated with acquiring a full fleet of new hardware.
Where the school day might end early, there’s always more to be done. MPS makes a point of automating ink and toner deliveries, while clearly signposting where costs are coming from, meaning you’ll never run out of supplies, all while retaining full visibility and control over your finances.
Simplifying the print equation
A further benefit of MPS is the comprehensive approach to hardware installation. Every device can be optimally set up and able to communicate with existing from day one.
What this means for your internal IT department is a significantly easier way to manage software updates, security measures and any required maintenance thanks to MPS software being able to provide a full overview of your print fleet remotely.
By highlighting actionable changes promptly and having one key point of contact for all of your needs, MPS helps tech departments resolve issues as quickly as possible.
An added benefit included in the use of an MPS is comprehensive repair and maintenance support, meaning in the event of a breakdown, we are able to provide repair experts to visit on site and take care of any issues first-hand, so you aren’t left scratching your head sifting through the owner’s manual.This comprehensive cover means that when issues do arise, you can breathe easy knowing that any and all problems will be sorted quickly and at no extra cost to you.
Accept no substitutes for cost optimisation
Once transitioned to a new MPS system, ongoing optimisation should be next on your list. Optimising hardware, infrastructure and solutions, with the use of optional third-party software can be readily implemented, with your chosen print hardware to ensure you are getting the most out of your technology. Our work with Brother ensures that our software offerings provide sophisticated solutions that not only support learning but teaching staff and administrative staff as a whole.
Cloud print solutions, like Printix, can give you the visibility of exactly who is printing what and your users the ability to print from multiple devices with ease. And with no need for on-premise servers, you can consign costly and time-consuming server admin tasks to the past.
Further options such as Kofax Power PDF allows for greater classroom collaboration, allowing students and educators to edit documents in real time across a local network, allowing entire syllabuses to be taken into a digital space, speeding up lesson admin and cutting down on paper waste for marking. Kofax can also redact confidential information automatically, ensuring sensitive information remains private, even if accessed.
Security from surprise costs
The cost of printing is far from the minds of students, but losing money through wastage is something you can’t ignore, no matter how much fun paper airplanes provide.
When printing mistakes happen, costs can quickly pile up, which is why our MPS offering includes easy integration with ID-card protected printing, ensuring the use of expensive resources such as colour printing is only accessible to those who need it, safeguarding against wasted money in lost materials.Similarly, student information is some of the most sensitive personal data out there, which is why our MPS packages provide security software such as end-to-end encryption ensuring that across your network, no printer can act as an open drawbridge for errant hackers.
Managed print services with top mark support
At DMS, our managed print services are underpinned with support by our service provider, Brother UK, their years of expert experience allows us to provide comprehensive assessment, transition, and optimisation of MPS fleets for your institution whatever its size.
Whether in the classroom or on the cloud, digitised methods of teaching have become a mainstay of UK education and our partnership brings cost-effective solutions that not only save money but provide students with more accessible teaching experiences both in school and at home.
Looking to give your school the support it needs for cost-effective digitisation? To learn more about how our wealth of service offerings in the education sector can support your goals, click here.