Are You Missing the Digital On-Ramp?

The advent of the digital age created a complete change for the office equipment industry.  Up until the digital era it was not uncommon to find an office work area that included multiple analog devices that worked independent of the network.  As the roll out of digital products became available companies began to acquire separate copiers, facsimiles, scanners, and printers. This transition of new digital products began to open up the opportunity for the network to become the hub for all devices.

Products could now be connected to the network and all devices became integrated and were no longer just single function.  At the same time this transition was taking place, manufacturers began to produce devices that were termed all-in-one or Multi-Functional Devices (MFD).  These MFDs allow the office user to have one machine that would copy, print, scan, and fax.  This increased efficiency, reduced costs, and most importantly took less space.

Since the network was considered the hub, it was easy to see how with these devices now connected, other efficiencies became possible.  These MFDs now became more than just an output device but also became the on ramp for the network.  The end user in addition to copying and printing could now began to scan hardcopy files and transmit them through the network. This ability also increased the need for digital information management and a system to file, sort, and locate these digital documents.

With the total integration of products, the ability to move documents around the network, and software to manage the digital documents, we have seen business processes and workflow become very efficient.  Today’s office is experiencing less of a need to rely on hard copy output but more on digital output.  There has also been a shift to move documents to the Cloud which provides increased security and the ability to collaborate on projects.  All of this would not be possible if it were not for digital. Evaluate the use of the MFDs in your office. Are these MFDs being used as ramps to productivity and efficiency in the digital age or still only output devices.

Hunter McCarty – COO

http://www.rjyoung.com/leadership