November 4, 2004 -- In a business world where up to 20% of IT spend is related to printing, and office paper production increases by 21% annually, it’s high time the office printing environment got serious about cost, and with the launch of the Océ Professional Office Programme, global digital document specialist Océ has introduced a made-to-measure solution. The Océ Professional Office Programme offers a unique growth path to improve the productivity of office document management by graduating office printing towards a more streamlined and efficient use of document resources, no matter how large or advanced an office’s printing network is now. Most office printing environments have evolved quite independently from what are now considered optimum practices for effective document management, and consequently 90% of companies have no idea what their internal print costs are (source: Gartner Group). Océ Professional Office Programme defines the steps that businesses need to make to regain control of their office document environment, to work smarter, and, helped by the functionality of Océ PRISMA software, realise savings of up to 40% in their document costs. Mark Wilson, marketing manager, Digital Document Systems, Océ UK, said: “There’s a wealth of research showing that most offices could save a huge amount of revenue by working smarter with their documents, but few have taken advantage of the technology and expertise that exists to do this. What was missing was a comprehensive approach to document workflow, which allows an office to gradually improve its workflow step-by-step, with every step providing guaranteed protection of investment. “Océ’s approach places a premium on the relationship we have with our customers. We are not just selling them printers, we are partnering them on a growth path to realising their optimum document workflow.” The Océ Professional Office Programme envisages four logical steps that will help most offices improve their print efficiency. These are: Level 1: Smart Office – centralised and right-sized fleet management, with high performance, easy to use and reliable multifunctional printing devices Level 2: Convenience Office – easy desktop access to convenience centres and workgroup printers; users have their own print and scan mailbox and can monitor and switch between devices from their own desks; can also have basic access to a central printroom Level 3: Service Office – a universal driver through which jobs can be sent to any device, advanced server technology to route jobs to the most cost-effective printer, extended accounting and reporting, and enhanced printroom access Level 4: Enterprise Office – document communication workflow across an entire multi-site enterprise, integrating the process components of the document lifecycle with office, EDP (???) and central printroom environments By providing expert guidance through these steps and understanding the problems that a print strategy should solve, Océ is able to help its customers towards realising the ideal print solution for their company, while showing tangible and measurable results along with the way. Océ’s service begins with a comprehensive assessment of current printing behaviour, document-related business needs, a user-needs survey and the installation of Océ’s client audit tool to monitor usage over a period of time. From this qualitative and quantitative information, Océ will then develop a business case, including a cost-benefit analysis and will propose a best-fit office document management strategy. “Offices of all sizes can benefit from this kind of approach,” Wilson/Curley continued, “and with the Océ Professional Office Programme they have the guarantee of a supplier that understands and supports their needs – not just now, but as their business needs change.”