Managed Print Service set to make printing easier, cheaper and more sustainable!

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Managed Print is here! This long-awaited overhaul of the university’s printing services will begin implementation in early July, and will bring a number of exciting improvements.

We currently have 940 devices, comprised of 333 different models from 19 different brands, resulting in an inconsistent and often unreliable user experience. This project will bring our printing into a more uniform and user-friendly service, with the majority of devices throughout the University provided by a single brand, Kyocera.

Why change?

MPS 3
  • Environmental and Financial Benefits

To help keep City sustainable, Managed Print aims to make significant reductions in printing wastage through more efficient processes and effective monitoring. The same approach has been successful at other institutions such as Nottingham University, where there was a cost saving of 25%, totalling £2.5m. They were also able to note a significant environmental benefit, with duplex printing in 76% of jobs, up from only 20% before the service was implemented. This combined with a 30% total reduction in printing enabled Nottingham to cut back on their environmental impact considerably.

Managed Print allows us to implement simple changes to default settings, so that all printing will come through as black and white and in duplex unless specified otherwise. An estimated 2000 trees worth of paper a year is currently used for printing at City, and we can make a significant reduction by simply printing on both sides of a sheet of paper.

  • More Support

Switching to a single brand system means we can improve the level of support offered through proactive maintenance and consumable replenishment. There will be an on-site engineer, based in Abacus House, who will be available to service MFDs, replace cartridges and offer any other necessary support.

New Features

  • Use any printer

MPS 2Rather than connecting to each printer individually we will simply connect to the printing service as a whole, and then collect our documents from any MFD on campus.  In order to collect our prints, we will simply swipe our ID card and the document will print.  This is particularly helpful if, for any reason, your usual MFD isn’t functioning or has a queue, as you can simply walk to the next MFD and collect your printing from there. MFDs will be placed so that no user should have to walk more than 30m from their usual working location to collect a print job, to ensure full coverage of the university and a convenient service.

  • Keep your documents secure

Because nothing will print until you have swiped your ID card, you can be assured that sensitive documents only get printed when you are at the printer, therefore keeping your information secure.  This feature has the added benefit of stopping unwanted or forgotten about documents from piling up on the printer and wasting paper.

  • Collect your prints within 24 hours

Your documents will be available to collect from any MFD for 24 hours, after which time, they will be removed from the print queue.

Training, support and more information

To assist in the smooth transition to the new system, there will be support and training available. Engineers will be on-site to set up the new printers and offer advice. Environmental Champions throughout the University will be introduced to the new printers and will be on hand to help their colleagues get used to the new service.

Implementation begins 3rd of July and is planned to finish by the end of the year, at which time all networked devices will fall under the service. For more information about printing services, please visit http://www.city.ac.uk/is/projects/managed-print or make an enquiry to the Service Desk on 8181.