What MFP Features Are Customers Actually Using?

According to the good folks at Computer World, a new International Data Coporation (IDC) study concluded that many of the more advanced features on MFP devices are not being widely utilized:

Despite the advantages often touted with managed print services (MPS) and close relationships with account managers, most companies fail to utilize the advanced functionality of the hardware they lease.

An IDC-conducted survey of 42 MPS customers found that while 91 percent had activated their scan to mail functionality and 86 percent had included duplex as a standard function for all printing, less than 40 percent of users had activated N-up printing for further paper reduction. The N-up functionality on printers allows users to print up to four pages on the one A4 sheet.

A similar proportion of companies failed to utilize PIN-based printing as well, often used to stop confidential documents from printing while the user is away from the device. Swipe cards offer an alternative solution though one customer told Computerworld Australia that they had opted with multi-tray bins over PIN-based printing to save headaches in potential internal cultural change.

The IDC survey also found that less than ten per cent of companies proactively reduced paper wastage by using software to eliminate trailing pages during printing.

So the lesson learned, thinks Doc, is that we can't always depend on people to take advantage of advanced functionality, even when it is in their best interest.  Another human-element consideration for MPS professionals to put in their quiver.