Seven simple hacks for smarter document workflow

More than a third of business processes are document-driven. The trouble is, businesses spend way too much time and money managing their documents. And as many as 40-60% of all IT help-desk calls are print-related.

The good news is that if you take a quick assessment of your print environment, you’ll notice all sorts of smart ways to make the most of your print resources.

If you’re the person who’s managing printers, here’s a collection of quick hacks to improve your document workflow. 

1. Automate the simple stuff.

Most print jobs and document processes involve repetitive tasks like filing invoices, processing claims and saving files to the right folders. Today your users carry out most of these steps manually. If you document and understand the workflows they need, you could automate them as pre-set digital workflows using your multi-function printers (MFPs).

2. Move to the cloud (and stay there).

It makes sense to move large, graphic heavy files like marketing collateral to cloud repositories. Most people share large documents using e-mail so they might have to download a copy before printing or scanning them to cloud repositories like Dropbox.

Set up your MFP to directly scan and print documents to and from apps like Dropbox. That way you reduce the number of steps in the process and free up valuable e-mail server space at the same time.

3. Troubleshoot remotely.

When your people have a problem with document workflow, it’s only natural that they’d turn to you for help. At the same time, you shouldn’t be shuffling across the office every time someone has a printer issue.

The good news is that today’s MFPs are smart enough to let you fix issues remotely. Use a remote admin interface to access and interact with your MFP and settings to troubleshoot remotely.

4. Order supplies proactively.

Set up automatic reordering with your Xerox partner. That way you’re only ordering when you need something.

5. Put color in the right hands.

Colour printing is more expensive than printing in black and white. At the same time, it’s also really important that certain documents are printed in colour. So don’t allow everyone to print everything in colour all the time. Instead, use permissions and controls to restrict colour printing to certain people, departments, document types or even times of day. Find out how here.

6. Switch to two-sided printing.

Printing on two sides is an easy way to make a big impact. Choose printers that print on both sides of paper by default. You’ll cut costs and paper use in half. It’s easy and sensible.

7. Print on demand.

90% of businesses have suffered security breaches because of unsecured printing. Way too often that’s because someone left sensitive documents in a printer tray.

Not only is that a breach waiting to happen, it’s also a waste of paper and money. In fact, around 50% of printed pages get thrown away and 20% never even get picked up.

Print on demand makes sure the multi-function printer only releases the document when the person who sent the print job is there for validation with a PIN or card swipe. You’ll solve a cost and security problem with one simple move. Find out how.

When you improve the way documents flow through your business, you’re improving the way information flows through the business. Because getting it right means making your life easier, saving the company money and making sure your people work better.

These quick hacks will definitely get you there.