IBM, Ricoh team on print manager that tracks costs AND carbon

I never really managed to do a predictions piece for 2010, but one thing that I can virtually guarantee is that more printer and office equipment supply companies will come out with services and solutions that tie their managed print services. You know, the idea that all your hard copy needs should be paid for by the page or some other measure, rather than by the consumable.

As part of a big Smarter Planet launch this week, IBM is getting into the act through a relationship with Ricoh. The two have developed what they are calling an advanced printing management system that will help keep tabs on both the print-related costs of office devices but also visibility into the related carbon footprint. They will do this by bundling IBM Tivoli with certain multi-function products. Tivoli will keep track of energy usage and carbon footprint at the device level, which is a factor that office managers can use in their cost planning and their sustainability reporting.

The bundles are being sold into enterprise accounts.