First Technology establishes imaging solutions company

Independent IT solutions company First Technology has acquired experienced specialised skills and resources to create what is believed to be one of SA`s first specialist imaging solutions companies.

Hilton Cock, managing director at First Technology Imaging Solutions, says the new company deals with the entire imaging system lifecycle - from evaluating a business` imaging and printing requirements, to designing, implementing, managing and maintaining solutions.

"Businesses are starting to drown in printed paper while the cumulative cost of producing all this paper is eating into bottom line profits. It`s taken a decade or more, but SA appears to have accepted that the paperless office will remain a myth. The advent of imaging technology has not reduced physical output to paper. If anything, it has increased it.

"The result, for most organisations, is that acquisition of the equipment used to produce this output has almost taken on a life of its own. Inkjet printers are so affordable that it has become easier to buy additional units without taking account of the cost of running these machines. The photocopier is as much a part of the daily office routine as the telephone, but far more expensive," he points out.

First Technology Imaging Solutions is geared to provide South African businesses with the most cost-effective and appropriate solutions for their hardcopy output requirements. These solutions range from ink or toner cartridges and actual printers, fax machines and digital cameras, to high-end multi-function devices (MFDs) and photocopiers

Fully trained and certified engineers provide onsite and offsite servicing and maintenance for individual machines - or complete, end-to-end solutions.

"Our sales teams have the knowledge and experience to recommend the correct solution for any business requirement - whether it`s a dot-matrix multi-part printer or a high-end network colour laser machine," Cock says.

First Technology Imaging Solutions also provides a comprehensive audit service that applies to any company that has questions about its printing capacity and output or usage statistics, as well as the cost of printing. This can help companies identify under-utilised equipment, recover hard copy imaging costs, and accurately forecast device and supplies usage.

"What this means is that companies will now be able to accurately charge back true operating costs to their respective departments. This is an essential first step to maximising their return on investment (ROI) and lowering total cost of ownership," Cock concludes.