The digitization of traditional office print
by Bill Robertson
So, how will the role of traditional office printing change as the workplace continues to embrace digital transition? For starters, millennials (those born between 1980 and the mid-1990s) were raised at a much different time than baby boomers (those born between 1946 and 1964), prompting them to have different values and ideals. They were the first generation to grow up immersed by smartphones and social media, in an always on and always connected world.
They never knew a life without digital technology and, as a result, they are very critical of technology that does not meet their standards. In addition, they are much more sustainability-conscious than their elder counterparts. According to a Sustainable Brands trends and insights study, roughly 80% of millennials are likely to pay more for responsibly made products and, in addition, expect to work for companies that care about their environmental impacts.3 Lastly, this generation expects flexible work environments and the ability to stay connected and always on while traveling or working remotely.
As a result of these identified business priorities, key investment areas for print service providers are also changing. Key investment areas between now and 2025, include IT security, outsourcing print services and cloud computing. Value added print services are geared to help companies grow and reduce the focus on non-core services. Additionally, with security breaches on the rise, businesses feel the pressure to keep their customers — and their employees — information safe. A move to the cloud helps keep information secured by staying on top of advanced software upgrades and security protocols. Additionally, managed print services enable print service providers to provide customized print solutions based on their customer's unique needs. This also allows print service providers to maintain a close relationship with their customers and adapt as their printing needs fluctuate.
Since millennials rely so heavily on facts and analysis to inform key decisions, the role of analytics in print is becoming an essential component. The only real way to know that their printing goals are in alignment with their key priorities — improve business efficiency, improve revenue and improve employee productivity — is to rely on analytics to prove it. Analytics help them measure such things as reducing unnecessary paper usage, improving business processes and workflow automation, reducing their environmental impact and also, reducing the burden on their IT staff. With cloud printing, your IT staff will no longer need to design, deploy or manage your print environment.
