Today’s business world looks much different than it did 10 years ago. In fact, some would say that so much has changed in those ten years that it’s not even comparable. This can be said for many service type businesses, even when it comes to office equipment. When an office printer broke down in the past, a technician had to come out and “take a look”. Those days are no longer, thanks to advances around remote monitoring and predictive analytics.
Remote monitoring is a software capability that lets service providers remotely and proactively monitor networks and devices on a network—including printers and MFPs. This is a great tool for both the servicer and the customer alike. It easily allows administrators the ability to track the printer status in real-time. Should an issue arise, they can detect and address it promptly.
A quick resolution of problems can be achieved in a number of ways. For instance, the provider can conduct remote diagnostics (e.g., a firmware update) and virtually correct an issue. Another option, since the technician knows the issue, is providing step-by-step instructions to the customer—whether it is over the phone, instant message, or email. Therefore, limiting the time that a machine is offline, limiting the business impact.
And even if an on-site technician is needed, remote detection of the problem can minimize the amount of time associated with dispatch. The provider immediately becomes aware of the issue, removing the need for the client to contact the provider.
Besides proper device operation, common uses of remote monitoring including tracking print volumes as well as toner/ink levels. Tracking print volumes allows for accurate billing while monitoring consumables levels helps ensure the client never runs out of toner or ink.
Closely tied to remote monitoring is predictive analytics. Predictive analytics is the practice of extracting information from existing data sets to determine patterns and predict future outcomes.
Not only can predictive analytics help predict upcoming problems, but in some cases, it can help prevent these problems. Through advanced reporting and analytics capabilities, service providers can gain deep insight into the kinds of issues that are arising, their frequency, and their cause.
They can then use this knowledge to make smart decisions that keep the problems from happening again. As an example, maintenance history records and operational status data may indicate that a particular part should be replaced at a specific interval of time for proper functioning.
This proactive approach to servicing can help maximize device uptime, boosting organizational productivity. The Docutrend support team is willing to answer all your questions. Contact us today.
Summary
Companies with printers and MFPs are encouraged to educate themselves about the remote monitoring and predictive analytics capabilities of their technology service provider. Implementation of these services can help reduce device downtime through faster detection and resolution of problems. And increased device uptime means better productivity as well as employee and customer satisfaction.