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COST MANAGEMENT ALONGSIDE EXTRA FUNCTIONALITY
CONSULTATION
EVOLVING PARTNERSHIP
Sometimes,major cost savings via IT are achievable immediately. In this instance,Ernst & Young's IT director Stephen Arnold managed to significantly enhance the overall cost effectiveness of the professional services firm's business imaging needs in Australia - by adopting a Canon Total Cost Management solution.
"The key lies in directly addressing the total cost of ownership issues in business imaging over the entire corporate network,"said Stephen Arnold,Ernst & Young's National Director,Information Systems and Communications. "With a turnkey hardware/software leasing solution,Canon wasable to prove that major cost efficiencies were available if we analysed the whole of life costs of both black/white and colour printing and copying.
"From the initial review,it was clear that Canons'total running costs per page impression were less than our previous supplier,but the critical factor was that we could also both measure and manage the total cost. This was an offer unmatched by other vendors. "
The implementation began in 2001,when Ernst & Young was re-assessing its printing needs,involving linked networks in nine offices. The firm part of the global Ernst & Young network,put its national printer business out to tender when its three-year lease cycle with a traditional printer vendor was approaching completion. Canon Australia won the business with a solution that packaged key consumables,servicing and training as integral parts of the managed cost per page leasing arrangement. Thereby providing Ernst & Young with a total cost management solution for much of its overall Australian network imaging requirements.
Significant incremental return on investment was delivered by the multi-function capability of the Canon equipment. For example,the black and white business printers deployed on the network provided additional digital copying and scanner functions,enabling a reduction in the number of dedicated scanning and copying units. Powerful finishing options enable better quality bound documents and presentations to be readily produced at more locations right across the national network.
COST MANAGEMENT ALONGSIDE EXTRA FUNCTIONALITY
"We now have faster printers which cost less to run. And while it's the precise cost control which appeals to us from an IT management perspective,we haven't compromised either quality or internal staff satisfaction,"said Stephen Arnold.
"Overall quality has been enhanced. There's a lot of user benefit in addressing the same unit for printing & photocopying,& having it available from the desktop over the network. "
"One result of this deal is that we have become the first Ernst & Young office worldwide to achieve direct IP printing,which is a global strategy for the firm. A significant part of the value here is that we have reduced network traffic,as print jobs now go direct from the user's desktop to the printer,rather than queuing at the central server room,"added Arnold.
CONSULTATION
As part of site audits offered by Canon during the tender process,the vendor was able to demonstrate how cost reductions and printer rationalisation could help optimise internal efficiency and deliver client satisfaction. The two-day audit resulted in a report detailing both a solution and cost that convinced Ernst & Young that it could indeed enhance cost management while meeting ever-growing internal printing needs. For example,the deployment of multi-function network hardware means that the IT department now centrally and easily manages all network printer/copier/scanning devices.
As Ernst & Young's Stephen Arnold says:"This implementation is a recognition that network printing,photocopying and other technologies have merged in powerful,stable solutions. Taking advantage of these cost efficiencies is a good strategy for Ernst & Young.
"In our view of prospective vendor partners,we believe Canon stands at the forefront of the ongoing evolution. "
EVOLVING PARTNERSHIP
Initially,Canon won Ernst & Young's national photocopier business in January 2001. In July of the same year,the company successfully tendered for black and white printer solutions,subsequently installing 150 Canon multi-function devices in nine Ernst & Young offices across Australia. Finally,in December 2001 Canon won Ernst & Young's network colour printer business,becoming the major vendor for all network business imaging for the firm in Australia.
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