How many times have you printed a document, only to find that when you get to the printer, the toner has run out or there is a paper jam? Such situations are not only frustrating but are also costly in time. As the number of companies, which install sophisticated IT applications increases, so does the time and money spent on educating users on how to use and repair them. Many companies are finding it increasingly important to implement easy to use and cost effective technology. Siemens Automotive has ensured this by implementing Lexmark printers into its internal network structure.
Siemens Business Services (SBS), a subsidiary to Siemens AG, has partnered with Lexmark to provide Siemens Automotive with a complete printing solution. SBS was established in 1995, with the aim of providing innovative solutions and services to all the Siemens divisions and external customers. The company is now a leading global provider of a full range of competencies - consulting, professional services, systems integration and outsourcing. By offering these services, SBS frees up time spent on such tasks and allows its customers to focus on their core business.
Today, SBS has branches throughout the world. SBS France manages part of the Siemens Automotive IT systems in France and also has a number of external clients. As Siemens Automotive takes pride in offering state of the art technology to vehicle manufactures, it is vital that its internal IT applications are also cutting edge.
The Printing Challenge
Siemens Automotive France specialises in automotive systems and combined mechanical and electronic components for the vehicle trade. Situated in Toulouse, the company employs over 2,000 employees, working in several different locations including research and development, manufacturing, management and support services. With so many activities taking place on a daily basis, a wide range of IT applications are used from SAP to most of the Microsoft range of programmes.
In any large company, it is vital that the IT equipment works efficiently. For three years, Siemens Automotive relied on a variety of personal and networked printers. Printer maintenance was often the responsibility of the user. Each member of staff would waste valuable time fixing their printer, looking for the correct toner or trying to remove paper jams.
After experiencing numerous problems with the old printing system, Siemens Automotive approached SBS in 1998 to transform its printer network. Siemens Automotive defined several objectives the new printing solution had to meet. The principal goal was that all printers throughout the company were to be made by the same manufacturer for consistency. Siemens Automotive also required a responsive and efficient technical support team, which had access to a system where it could monitor all the printers in each office. Print quality and cost efficiency were other important factors that needed to be improved in both colour and black and white.
SBS knew it had a challenge on its hands to find the printing solution to meet its customers expectations and so approached several different printing companies before making a final decision.
The Lexmark-Based Solution
Taking pride in its `Customers for Life` philosophy, Lexmark offers customised printing solutions to specialist sectors, such as the automotive industry, and provides an unparalleled level of customer service. Furthermore by providing MarkVision, Lexmark`s printer management software, the company also has a huge advantage over its competitors, explains Thierry Angot, SBS business manager.
"When looking for a printing solution, MarkVision was a very important deciding factor. No other company offers the same capabilities as MarkVision. SBS has to be able to provide an efficient service at all times. A printer should never be out of order. MarkVision is able to keep track of every single printer installed within an organisation."
For this reason, and due to the innovative high-quality product range, Lexmark was chosen as the clear winner over the other printer companies.
The first step in the printer overhaul was replacing the old hardware with Lexmark printers. SBS installed a total of 140 printers from the Optra range, which are all linked to the network and each printer has between five and thirty users.
MarkVision was installed alongside the printers, and is the basis of the service solution, offering a number of capabilities making it the complete solution for printer management. For example, it alerts you when the toner is about to run out and lets you know when a printer has a problem by providing a detailed graphic of the printer showing the cause for the alert, for example, an empty paper tray. It can also monitor a single printer, several printers or every printer on the network from a single workstation. The software even enables you to monitor other manufacturers` printers.
The Benefits
For SBS, MarkVision has been a valuable tool for printer management, saving both SBS and Siemens Automotive huge amounts of time and money.
"Used properly, MarkVision is a prevention tool", said Thierry Angot. "SBS IT support staff are alerted of a problem before it occurs. If a problem reoccurs we can quickly arrange to have it fixed. With MarkVision, SBS is now able to keep track of every single printer installed at Siemens Automotive."
The benefits for end-users have been enormous. SBS looks after all the printing needs of Siemens Automotive, meaning that staff no longer need to spend time trouble shooting. Instead they can print as and when they want. MarkVision is also capable of measuring printer demand. So for example, if a printer is being overused, SBS will install a second or larger capacity one.
All Lexmark printers use the same sort of cartridge, which means the days of hunting around for the right toners are over for the end users. SBS improved its own productivity by using and managing the stocks of a single cartridge. Furthermore, the Optra range of printers offers a simple, easy-to-use interface, which is consistent throughout the entire range of Lexmark printers. Users have therefore found it easy to adapt to the new system.
Optra S printers also allow you to print on both sides of the paper and can fit several pages on one piece of paper.
"These are handy facilities, which help cut down on paper costs and can make documents easier to read," commented Philippe Marie, Siemens Automotive network and voice infrastructure manager.
Technical support at Lexmark is always available should there be a problem. SBS sends its IT staff to Lexmark`s headquarters in Lexington, USA, for full training and exchange of business experience.
"I recently sent a member of the SBS technical team to the Lexmark headquarters in Lexington," said Thierry Angot. " He returned to France with valuable knowledge and experience of the Lexmark printers and now knows MarkVision inside out. He also shared his experiences of MarkVision and MarkTrack with the Lexmark project leader. Lexmark has exceeded my expectations, not only do they give us support, but they also listen and react to the market."
"End-users are very happy with the new printing system", added Philippe Marie. "No training was required as the new printers are very simple to use. Through SBS and Lexmark we have a total printing solution, which has helped us to dramatically reduce our printing costs and increase staff efficiency. It is much less expensive to employ their help than trying to maintain our printing system internally."
Share
Venture Computer
Venture Computer is the sole distributor in South Africa for Lexmark; and Tally; products including consumables, with offices in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth. They were chosen by CRNSA readers as "Distributor of the Year" in 1996, 1997 and in 1998.