Meeting the growing demand for value-added document management software
So says Mohammed Vachiat, product manager at Bidvest company, Konica Minolta South Africa, who believes that factors such as increasing cost containment, compliance pressures and growing marketplace competition are forcing businesses to reassess their document management and production processes, in order to save time and money, while also increasing productivity.
"With the commoditisation of hardware, software has become a major focal point for this market," he explains. "This is where the real office automation value is being delivered and companies are clamouring for more, citing simplicity, flexibility, improved pricing models and lower risk as necessities in today's print management world."
New developments in print management software solutions can help improve efficiencies within businesses of any size, including curbing wastage, through fewer unnecessary print jobs and better control of colour prints versus black & white.
In addition, through centralisation, this type of solution can enhance the management of a company's entire print infrastructure and help ensure system reliability.
"Companies today spend large sums of money on securing their sensitive data, but often underestimate the risk of information leaks in paper form," Vachiat explains. "Each printed document within a company is a potential security risk, should it land in the wrong hands. This means that security and confidentiality have become a foremost priority when it comes to print management.
"Fortunately, today's software can mitigate the risk by providing authentication measures at MFPs and encrypting communications, ensuring a highly secure print workflow."
Konica Minolta South Africa's strategy has evolved over a number of years, meaning that the company is well-positioned to provide solutions that can minimise wastage, improve productivity, as well as enhance centralisation and security.
"The Konica Minolta Professional Services division has combined in-depth knowledge and expertise with leading edge products and services, producing best of breed and comprehensive business solutions for our customers."
In fact, the organisation's bEST (bizhub Extended Solution Technology) offering enables the seamless integration of bizhub multifunctional devices with a range of third party business solutions and processes, such as enterprise content management (ECM) and enterprise resource planning (ERP) technologies (including SAP, Microsoft SharePoint and Documentum and so on).
"Our status as a Microsoft Silver Partner with an Application Development Silver competency is a great achievement for Konica Minolta South Africa, as it means that Microsoft has given the bEST solution its stamp of approval," Vachiat adds.
"We have developed a number of customised workflow and process driven applications for large enterprises and organisations locally, ranging in scale, system and complexity. On all fronts however, our clients have derived significant value - in terms of cost savings, productivity boosts and enhanced efficiency."
