Navigating the Language: Decoding Common Terms in Print Management

Welcome to the world of print management, where certain terms can sometimes make it hard to understand each other. This article will help you understand what some of the most common terms in the managed print services business mean. Let’s break down the language of print control so that everyone can understand it.

• Managed Print Services (MPS): This is the professional service that companies like ManagedPrint offer to take care of all of your business’s printing devices, such as printers, scanners, fax machines, and copiers.
• Print Fleet: In print management, a “fleet” is a group of all of an organization’s printing machines. This can be anything from a small printer on your desk to a big multifunction gadget.
• Cost per page (CPP): Cost per page is a price model for print services in which you pay based on how many pages you print, not how much ink or toner you use.
• Multifunction Printer (MFP): An MFP is a device that can do more than one thing, like print, scan, copy, and fax, all in one unit. Businesses often use them because they take up less room.
• Remote Monitoring: Remote monitoring is the process of keeping track of the state of your printing devices by using software. It is a very important part of managed print services’ preventative maintenance.
• Total Cost of Ownership (TCO): TCO covers all costs related to a printer or a fleet of printers, such as hardware, supplies, maintenance, and running costs. Understanding the TCO helps businesses make choices about their print environment that are good for their budgets.
• Duty Cycle: The duty cycle is the highest number of pages a printer can print in a month without getting damaged or shortening its life.
• Automatic Duplexing: Automatic duplexing is a feature of printers that lets them print automatically on both sides of a sheet of paper. This helps businesses save money on paper and be more environmentally friendly.
• Print Security: Print security means taking steps to keep your print network and printed papers from being hacked or accessed by people who shouldn’t be able to.
• Print Audit: A print audit is a full study of all the print devices in a company, including their number, location, and how they are used. Finding ways to save money is often the first step in setting up controlled print services.
• Yield: In printing, yield is the number of pages that a single cartridge can be expected to print. This estimate is usually given by the manufacturer, and it is a key part of figuring out how cost-effective a printer or cartridge is.
• Wide Format Printer: These printers are made to handle big outputs like banners, posters, and architectural blueprints. They are used often in fields like advertising, building, and design.
• Output Management Software: Output management software is made to control and guide how a printer or group of printers print. It is often used in managed print services to give centralized control.
• Color Calibration: This is the process of changing your printer’s colors so that the printed version of the design looks as much like the original as possible.

If you know these terms, it will be easier and more useful to talk about print management, whether you are a business owner, an IT manager, or just interested in the field. By understanding how to “decode the jargon,” you can make better choices and make sure that your print environment meets the needs of your business.

Don’t forget that ManagedPrint is here to help you with all your printing needs. Let’s get rid of the jargon and make sure that your print fleet is running as well as it can. Call or email us today to find out more.