In today’s rapidly evolving technology landscape a number of trends in printing and document management are becoming ever more important.

In particular, digitisation, sustainability, mobility and security are driving companies to be increasingly strategic about their IT investments.

As today’s workforce becomes increasingly mobile, and broadband wireless networks make it possible for people to be connected wherever business takes them, maintaining productivity and ensuring flexibility and security are significant considerations.

Although organisations may never move away from paper totally, they will be challenged with the task of managing and processing information in both paper and electronic format. Their success will lie in their ability to do so proficiently.

Digital everything (well, almost)

Digitising your document-intensive processes and moving from manual, paper-based document tasks to an end-to end, automated workflow can significantly transform the efficiency of your business processes.

With automated digital workflows, users can quickly sort, search and retrieve documents, allowing for faster action and better decision-making.

What once was a physical journey to a file room to retrieve information can now simply be the click of a mouse, and active or living documents can be updated, tracked or changed, and users can effortlessly access documents via the internet 24/7.

With solutions that automate document intensive processes rapidly, efficiently and more securely, businesses stand to use less paper and ink. Or, in terms that the CFO will appreciate, that means saving money.

Caring for the environment

In today’s corporate environment it is increasing important to provide printing solutions that help reduce impact on the environment, while optimising business performance and saving money. This requires diversification and smarter thinking.

Consolidation and integration are key parts of sustainable practice in IT. While the current corporate environment calls for energy efficient processes to be adopted in all aspects of a business, the standards and levels of productivity expected are no less.

Active print management, for example, can cut office printing costs by up to 30 per cent. Factor in the environmental gains and the business case for efficiency becomes even more compelling.

On the move

When it comes to mobility, even the most technically enabled business travellers find themselves hunting down print services while on the road, losing precious time and productivity, simply to print a document.

Mobile printing solutions for enterprise extends the potential of smartphones, overcoming VPN hassles and ultimately freeing print from the drivers, cables and operating systems that have held it hostage for so long.

They also provide for integration with the user’s existing IT environment, and give employees a simple and intuitive way to print in the office and to thousands of other mobile print locations.

Managed print

With the movement towards managed print solutions building, organisations can realise many benefits, including streamlining workflows, improving productivity, considering the environment and complying with security and regulatory standards – all of which will significantly benefit a company’s bottom line.

In order to maximise business productivity and help organisations to grow, technologies must stay a step ahead to enable mobile workers to continue working effectively when away from the office – and that should extend to printing.

In recent years, we have seen major developments in computers, mobile devices, network capabilities and web connectivity, but it is in all aspects of business services that technology must continue adapting to this changing environment.

Technologies must exist to enhance business practices as well as the lives of people using those products.