What CIOs Don’t Know About Print Management Could Undermine Digital Transformation
Mitchell Filby
Strategy, Innovation, Digital Transformation, Author, Board Director, XaaS, Business Model Disruptor, Publisher, Journalist and Serial Entrepreneur, Business Mentor, Coach, Advisory, Global MPS expert
Transform your print strategy today and build a smarter, more secure future for your organisation.
Digital transformation is on every CIO’s agenda, but a surprising hurdle may be hidden in plain sight: unmanaged printing. With fragmented print environments, escalating toner costs, and risks to security and governance, many CIOs are unaware of the blind spots lurking in their organisations. These unseen challenges can derail efficiency and stall transformation initiatives.
General Overview:
This article explores what CIOs may not realise about their print environments, the potential risks they face, and how Managed Print Services (MPS) can provide critical support. We’ll examine three key areas: the hidden costs of unmanaged printing, security vulnerabilities, and the role of MPS in enabling digital transformation.
3 Key Points to Consider”
Many CIOs underestimate the financial impact of unmanaged printing. Print-related costs can consume up to 3% of an organisation’s annual revenue, much of which stems from uncontrolled toner purchases, over-provisioned fleets, and unnecessary print volumes.
For example, in one mid-sized enterprise, a lack of print governance led to duplicate device purchases across departments, resulting in spiralling maintenance costs and toner wastage. Through MPS, the company achieved a 25% cost reduction by consolidating fleets, standardising supplies, and implementing print policies. MPS provides CIOs with visibility into these hidden expenses, enabling data-driven cost management.
Unsecured printing poses significant risks, particularly for industries handling sensitive data. Many CIOs overlook the vulnerabilities created by unmonitored devices or unsecured print jobs left in output trays. These lapses can lead to compliance breaches and reputational damage.
An organisation in the healthcare sector, for instance, faced a data breach due to an employee printing patient records without proper security protocols. MPS addresses such risks by incorporating features like user authentication, secure release printing, and automated compliance tracking. By integrating these solutions, CIOs can ensure that their print environments align with organisational security frameworks.
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CIOs often view digital transformation as a shift from physical to digital workflows, but hybrid environments remain the reality for most organisations. MPS bridges the gap by integrating print capabilities with cloud platforms, enabling seamless document digitisation, storage, and sharing.
Take the example of a financial services company struggling to transition to paperless operations. By deploying MPS with advanced scan-to-cloud capabilities, the company reduced paper usage by 40% while increasing productivity through automated workflows. MPS acts as a strategic partner in digital transformation, ensuring print operations are aligned with broader enterprise goals.
3 Thought-Provoking Questions:
Recommendations or Call-to-Action:
To uncover what you don’t know about your print environment, start with an MPS assessment. Engage with a trusted provider to identify inefficiencies, secure your print ecosystem, and align your printing strategy with your digital transformation goals. The insights gained can unlock hidden value and provide a strong foundation for future innovation.
Conclusion
CIOs face many challenges in the journey toward digital transformation, and unmanaged printing is often an overlooked obstacle. From controlling costs to securing data and enabling hybrid workflows, MPS provides the guardrails needed to navigate these challenges. Don’t let what you don’t know undermine your progress—embrace MPS as a strategic enabler for the modern enterprise.
Authored and published by Mitchell Filby, Managing Director at First Rock Consulting.