Digital innovation is transforming the business world. So if print is dead, what does the future office look like?
Print is dead. It’s a bold statement, but it’s true. So what’s on the horizon for Managed Print Services (MPS)? What new technologies could help to transform the way that your business handles the flow of information around the organisation and beyond? We’ve taken a look at some of the new technologies entering the market, and examined their potential impact.
The Internet of Things
It’s not enough that the internet lets us communicate with each other. The Internet of Things is now allowing all sorts of devices to communicate with each other. From connected printers and scanners that streamline workflows to the unbelievable smart fridge, the Internet of Things is set to add a new level of connectivity to working life.
This connectivity is akin to the way that MPS providers to track device usage and monitor systems, but it could also help to personalise the way your office workforce uses everything from printers and laptops to coffee machines and the office fridge.
3D Printing
The days of print being limited to black and white documents are long gone. 3D printers are already being adopted in the manufacturing industries, and they’re primed to make the leap into offices all over the world. By speeding up production without taking up too much space, 3D printers are being adopted in offices where designers need to create inexpensive prototypes of their work.
3D printers might not just be used in the office. They could also be used to build your new office – which might give you leverage the next time you need to negotiate your office lease.
Mobile Printing and Scanning
If there’s one major benefit to decades of technological innovation, it’s that we’re not tied to the office. Laptops and smartphones let us work on the go – and mobile printing and scanning are the next step towards leaving the office behind.
Mobility doesn’t mean trading power for flexibility either. At a recent Gartner Symposium, Xerox’s mobile print service printed more than ten thousand sides of paper. That’s more than enough print capability for a whole battalion of office workers on the move.
Smart Glasses
Imagine having all of the information you need to deliver a presentation right in front of your eyes. Or being able to pull up the instruction manual or troubleshooting guide for that troublesome device without having to look away from what you’re doing.
Smart glasses and wearable tech are providing us all with unheard of amounts of information, all without disrupting conversations, meetings or tasks. And by letting wearers 'annotate' their surroundings, smart glasses could also spell the end of the humble Post-It note.
Virtual Reality
Imagine feeling like you’re in a boardroom meeting while you’re sitting on a beach. It might seem counter-intuitive, but that’s exactly what VR innovations can offer. By creating a virtual boardroom atmosphere, you’ll be able to attend meetings from anywhere in the world.
VR doesn’t stop at virtual meetings. By making data more accessible, virtual and augmented reality apps – potentially delivered through the smart glasses we mentioned – could help you work smarter and increase workplace efficiency.
Drones
Finally, a new innovation that’s been adopted by surveyors and photographers could be making it into the office too. Although as one ad agency found, a fleet of drones might not actually be the best fit for most workplaces – not surprising when you consider that trying to balance a cup of coffee on a battery-powered flying robot poses huge health and safety risks. You may want to think twice before assigning a drone to collect documents from your printer, even if the Internet of Things can automate the process for you.
Not all of these new digital innovations will find a place within every workplace. But as we move further away from a traditional print-based office environment, the chances are that you’ll see more and more of these new technologies finding a place within the managed print services you use, and your other business workflows.
Takeaways:
- Digital innovations such as the Internet of Things are having a huge effect on managed print services.
- Greater connectivity is allowing for more detailed monitoring of devices and processes throughout today’s businesses.
- By bringing VR into the mix, employees can work in an office environment even if they aren’t physically in the office.