The technology lifecycle changes gear - Lexmark bridges the gap

Venture Computer, the sole Southern African distributor for Lexmark International today announced that it is offering a buy-back on any "complete" printer, regardless of make and regardless of whether it is in working order or not, when one of the new Lexmark Optra T laser printers is purchased.

Over the next five years, 70% of IT departments in large and medium enterprises will systematically seek to reduce technology complexity as a key means to improving it effectiveness (Gartner Group 1997).

"Many companies continue to struggle with the bewildering pace of change and convergence in technologies; the wide range of products and services to review and acquire; and the need to reduce cost of ownership for their IT equipment," commented Richard Fearon, Business Development Director at Venture Computer. "The industry is exploring the business, technical and financial practices needed to optimise acquisition, manage total costs and retire obsolete equipment."

"We believe we can offer the end user the ability to transcend to current technology more cost effectively than other solutions available, and in this process we have the ability to deliver to the customer a platform with high levels of manageability and cost savings (TCOP), continued Fearon.

Venture`s Corporate Team has found during the process of conducting Print Architecture Studies that a great need exists within South African Corporate environments to optimise their document output and workflow strategies, in order to keep in- line with current technology convergence. When existing installed hardware bases were examined, it becomes obvious that the depreciation cycles were not in line with the rate at which technology evolves, and did not address the individual businesses needs. For example, there were big capital write- offs, huge residual values, and the laser office printing needs required network printers, rather than the equipment that was installed.

This initiative by Lexmark is an extension of the significant price repositioning moves it recently undertook, that exploited the unique benefits it has with owning its own "engine", as well as the all other aspects of the production cycle, including consumables.

"Our proposition is one which offers substantial added value in the form of consolidation, lower running costs and immediate cost per page savings, resulting in benefits from day one," Fearon added.

This offer and its benefits apply to every enterprise and not only to the large corporates, and allows/facilitates business transformation and growth.

Companies which have fallen into the trap of using inkjet technology for high volume predominantly monochrome applications, are now in a position to transcend to laser-based technology, which is shown to be the most cost-effective in the marketplace today.

The trade-in prices offered range between R600 and R1 400, and the incentive is valid until the end of November 2000.