Deploying managed print services (MPS) is a strategic priority for companies looking to uncover new ways to save money, according to a survey undertaken in the U.S. and Europe by research and analysis company Quocirca and co-sponsored by Xerox Corporation (NYSE: XRX).

Nearly 70 percent of survey respondents say better management of their print infrastructure is a strategic imperative, with cost savings driving the MPS investment. Even during the economic recession, more than 90 percent say they will continue with plans to deploy MPS to reduce the cost of printing, sharing and updating documents.

“The survey findings support the fact that the economic downturn is actually raising the profile for the cost savings potential that comes with MPS,” said Stephen Cronin, president, Xerox Global Services. “Now more than ever, companies are calling on Xerox as the MPS market leader to proactively manage print output and spur growth by giving back valuable employee time.”

Specific survey findings support the cost-savings opportunity provided by MPS:

“MPS users stand to gain additional cost savings by extending MPS beyond the office print environment to include their in-house print center,” said Louella Fernandes, principal analyst, Quocirca. “Seventy-five percent of our respondents manage the print center internally or use a separate print vendor; this means they would still benefit from a comprehensive MPS plan to keep printing cost effective across the entire enterprise, not just in the office.”

Xerox recently became the first vendor to connect the office environment with the in-house or in plant production print center. Xerox Enterprise Print Services extends the MPS cost-savings opportunity by making print more efficient in the print center and in the home or virtual office.

The survey also indicates that companies want MPS to work for the print infrastructure and equipment they have invested in already. Eighty percent of respondents rated the capacity for a partner to manage devices from multiple vendors as either important or very important. Xerox currently monitors approximately 1.5 million devices from multiple vendors worldwide.

Xerox was positioned by Gartner, Inc., in the Leaders Quadrant in the “Magic Quadrant for Managed Print Services Worldwide”1 for 2008 and 2009 and named MPS market leader in Quocirca’s 2009 European MPS report.

About the survey

The survey was given to IT directors, CIOs, IT management and decision makers/influencers in 200 organizations across the U.S., Germany, France and the U.K., with even representation from each region. Fifty percent of the participating organizations have between 1,000 and 5,000 employees, with the remaining having more than 5,000 employees. Industries the companies are in ranged from financial services, pharmaceutical and public sector to retail and telecommunications/IT.

Participants were interviewed in June 2009. Printer and copy devices refer to all personal and networked printers or copiers (lasers, inkjets, group printers, copiers and multifunction devices.)

For the purposes of this research, Quocirca regards MPS as being the use of an external organization to assess how an organization’s printer, copier and multi-function assets can be most optimally provided, followed by the external organization providing ongoing monitoring, maintenance and management of the assets via an agreed service contract. The definition does not include just purchasing or leasing of print and copier assets from an external on a cost-per-page or other basis – it had to include a degree of up-front assessment and fleet optimization.

Sharks team felt they learnt something new about the effects of alcohol

Players including Charlie Hodgson and Ben Cohen from Sale Sharks have welcomed an innovative new programme from Premier Rugby and Diageo, to provide alcohol information to players.

Last month, 61 members of the squad took part in the first ever league-wide initiative designed to inform players about alcohol and its effects on the body and behaviour, making them more aware of the choices they make when drinking.

The results of the programme were extremely positive and now Sale Sharks fans are being reminded to drink responsibly too. This weekend (5th and 6th December) premium drinks company Diageo will run ‘Bite to eat’ activities at all home Premiership clubs to remind supporters to eat between drinks.

Based on the DRINKiQ programme created by premium drinks company Diageo, the programme was tailored by Premier Rugby specifically to connect with rugby players around scenarios and issues that are directly relevant to their health, career and life as a professional athlete. They were encouraged to discuss their personal experiences of alcohol in a safe environment and given rugby specific scenarios in breakout groups, identifying how behaviour can deteriorate with irresponsible drinking but also looking at strategies to ensure that they approach their nights out in a responsible manner.

All 12 Guinness Premiership clubs – 716 players and management in total – have now attended sessions, run during the last two months, and the response from Sale Sharks has been overwhelmingly positive:

• 91% of players/managers said they learnt something from the session.
• 98% of players and management would recommend the training to other players.
• 86% of players believed that the programme had been very good or excellent.

Charlie Hodgson, Vice Captain for Sale Sharks, said: “Before doing the programme, I wasn’t aware of all of the potential effects alcohol can have on the body including making someone more prone to injury.”

The Japan Industrial Design Promotion Organisation (JIDPO) has given Good Design Awards to the Konica Minolta multifunctional colour devices bizhub C220, C280 and C360 and the bizhub C452, C552 and C652. The Good Design Awards were made in recognition of Konica Minolta’s Universal Design Concept, combining a sleek and modern appearance with advanced communication technologies and innovative features for intuitive and environmentally friendly operation.

For more than 50 years, the Good Design Award has been given for outstanding designs developed in five spheres of human activity: human body, living, work, society and network. In October 2009, JIDPO presented the award to the Konica Minolta bizhub C220, C280, C360 and bizhub C452, C552, C652 in the “Network – Business and Public Sector Computers, Peripherals” category. The devices were checked by about 70 design experts. They judged not only the product quality but also the eminent powers of distinctive designs to build prosperous lives and encourage sound industrial development.

“The Good Design Awards for our colour bizhub series recognise our sophisticated design approach that unites form and function in every office system,” says Lars Moderow, Product Manager, Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe. “Beneath the attractive and user-friendly exterior – in the so-called InfoLine design – are the features and technologies that enable streamlined, cost-effective and eco-friendly office workflows. In the end, a great design derives from many small details, both at the exterior of the device and the interior.

The multifunctional colour bizhub C220, C280, C360 and bizhub C452, C552, C652 integrate seamlessly into any IT infrastructure – as well as in any office environment, thanks to the modern and elegant InfoLine design. The devices’ black body makes for a unique and distinctive appearance, while the bright InfoLine enables intuitive operation, thereby considerably improving ease of use. One of the points evaluated for the Good Design Awards was Konica Minolta’s resolve to make the most of the design by means, for instance, of the large LCD display with a full-colour touch screen that can be tilted and turned to guarantee excellent visibility from any angle.

The Konica Minolta bizhub C220, C280 and C360 stand for reliable and low-cost monochrome print jobs – with exceptional colour functionality whenever needed. The MFPs are targeted at corporate office environments and workgroups such as finance and accounting departments. With their choice of three output devices – a modular floor-type finisher, a highly compact integrated staple finisher and a job separator – the office systems can be suitably equipped for individual needs. Offering quiet and eco-friendly operation, they are a perfect substitute for all the different standalone printers, copiers, scanners and fax units still around in many of today’s offices.

Beneath its innovative outer design, there is much more to the Konica Minolta bizhub C452, C552 and C652 than meets the eye: All three multifunctional colour devices offer impressive versatility with modular finishing options as well as reliable and high-quality processing of large print volumes. The office communication systems best serve high-end office environments such as large workgroups and central reprographic departments (CRDs). In August 2009, the bizhub C552 and the bizhub C652 received a 2009 BERTL’s Best Award in the category “Best Productive Color Printer Range”. Both colour office systems convinced the testers with state-of-the-art software features such as the multiple “scan-to” functions, as well as with extensive security features and unique environmental-friendliness.

South Korea’s second largest electronics maker, said Friday that it will resume selling printers starting later this month to better meet demand from PC buyers. LG said that the printers, to be introduced in the domestic market as early as the end of December, are set to be manufactured by the U.S. printer maker LEXMARK and sold under LG’s brand name.

“Our personal computer buyers have requested that they would also like to purchase a package of related equipment,” a company official said. “This is a move to respond to such requests.”

* Another LG official said the imminent introduction of LG printers is expected to boost its share in the local personal computer market.

Sale Sharks’ director of rugby Kingsley Jones was frustrated at Edgeley Park

Premier Rugby wants to further investigate Wasps’ refusal to play their Guinness Premiership match at Sale on Friday due to safety concerns.

The visitors claimed surface water down one channel of the pitch had made it dangerous, although both Sharks and the referee said the pitch was playable.

Sale director of rugby Kingsley Jones said: “I’m not happy about it and I’m really disappointed for the players.”

However, Wasps’ Tony Hanks countered: “I’m not going to risk player safety.”

Premier Rugby, the umbrella organisation for top flight clubs, issued a statement in the wake of the postponement, saying: “Following the cancellation of the Sale Sharks v London Wasps game this evening, we will be urgently requesting a full report from the referee.”

Referee David Rose was happy for the game to go ahead, but Wasps officials and players were back on their coach and had left the ground by 1930 GMT.

“The situation is that Wasps didn’t want to play the game because they felt the pitch was unsafe,” said Rose.

“At that point my opinion doesn’t count for anything – I cannot make any team take the field to play.”

It was the third season running that Wasps have been involved in a late postponement.

Hanks insisted: “We don’t believe, especially when it comes to scrummaging, that the surface was safe.

“Nobody informed us that the pitch was in such a bad state.”

The outcome was a disappointment for the thousands of fans who had gathered at Edgeley Park, and there was frustration from Sale officials.

“I’m sure the Wasps players aren’t as disappointed as they got on their bus,” Jones explained.

“All our preparation has been wasted. The referee basically said that Wasps weren’t happy to play the ground on safety grounds.

“He was happy to take the field of play but he cannot force either team to take the field of play.”

Saturday’s FA Cup second round tie between Stockport and Torquay, scheduled to take place at Edgeley Park, was called off on Saturday morning because of a waterlogged pitch.