The Datamax Thinking Blog

Educating, collaborating, and sparking ideas for maximizing the technology that matters.


Onward & Upward: 5 New uniFLOW Online Features We're Sky-High On

New features from cloud-based print/scan solution uniFLOW Online demonstrate 5 key advantages for organizations looking to improve productivity and enhance security in their print environment. 

There’s an old joke among pilots that the most dangerous part of flying is driving to the airport.

Once into the clouds, they reason, travel is both better streamlined and more secure.

As organizations look to the cloud for operational flexibility, scalability and enhanced security, those navigating the Software as a Service (SaaS) airways continue to report clear skies ahead.

Topics: Scanning Printing Printer Management Solutions Document Security Cloud Canon USA

19 Reasons Why It’s Hard to Say How Much a Copier Costs

While it’s annoying to hear “it depends” when you ask us how much a copier is, it’s also the truth. Here’s why.

One of the most common questions (if not THE most common question) every copier dealership is asked is some variation of “How much is a copy machine going to cost me?”

Our sales team is asked that all the time.

The answer is (really!): it depends.

I’ll explain why.

Topics: Printer Management Solutions Canon Color Copier Multifunction Copier Digital Copiers Healthcare Solutions Office Equipment Legal Solutions Leasing

Why Datamax Will Never Be the Wholesale Club of Copier Sales

Discounts are great – in the right circumstances. Discount copiers can mean discount services – and that could hurt your business.

Wholesale clubs are awesome — you always spend more than you planned when you walked in the door with your list, but you get such great deals! Who doesn’t want toilet paper in bulk, or a giant bag of coffee for the price of the regular sized one you buy at your grocery store?

Not to mention the euphoria you feel from paying less for something you would otherwise buy full price. It feels good.

Topics: Insider Solutions Digital Copiers Office Equipment Datamax Culture

How Much Would You Tip Your Copier Service Provider?

Don't settle for average or worse service from your copier dealer.

Do you spend a lot of time on airlines that ignore your requests and pass you over on the upgrade list? How about a restaurant where you can never get a refill because the server is off texting?

You can encounter bad service everywhere you go, and you probably cross those businesses off the list after they ruined your experience. Sometimes these situations are unavoidable, but in most cases, the people involved simply chose to deliver subpar service.

The same thing can happen with your copier service. You might settle because you're locked into a contract and you didn't realize just how bad the support was until you needed help. Why would you walk away from those airlines and restaurants in your personal life but continue to suffer as an SMB? It doesn't have to be this way.

Topics: Insider Solutions Partnering Creating Raving Fans

Want Higher Productivity? Start Ditching Paper

You'll have a tough time delivering a quality customer experience if they have to wait around while you're on a grand adventure for hard copies.

Hard copy documents are talented at hiding away when you need them the most. You have to go on an office safari every time to track them, which cuts into the time you could spend on your work duties. Even a few minutes per day adds up. It's time to throw paper in the trash and get digital with your documents.

Topics: Scanning Printing Printer Management Solutions Multifunction Copier Digital Copiers Productivity Tips and Tools Office Equipment

Ask These 14 Questions to Control Your Print Spend

If you want to successfully manage your company's information technology, the key is to plan thoroughly and completely.

You shouldn't have to be able to print money to afford your business's printers and office equipment. Yet, all too often, it seems like that is what many businesses have to do to afford their office equipment.

The easy excuse is to blame the rapid pace of technology and the unavoidable expenses of keeping up with the latest and the best. After all, it seems like technology is only good for about six months before it becomes obsolete and you have to replace it.

In the end all that is an excuse. If you want to successfully manage your company's information technology, the key is to plan thoroughly and completely. There are reasons why there are numerous clichés about the benefits of planning first to avoid the high costs of mistakes later. When it comes to IT, it is best to pay attention to those annoying, but true, words to live by.

Topics: Printing Business Problems Solutions Digital Copiers Productivity Tips and Tools

When Change Management Turns Into a Disaster Scenario

Without change management, you won't get the most out of your new technology.

People don't even want to change their coffee order at the café in the morning, let alone the technology they've used every day for years. You want to improve productivity through new technology, such as a new customer relationship management system or digital copiers, but don't let yourself get distracted by the shiny data sheet in front of you.

You need to consider the people who are going to use these solutions on a daily basis. They don't care about the technical specifications of what you're bringing in, and they're going to dig their heels in if you don't have a plan ahead of time.

Topics: Business Problems Technology Solutions Training Legal Solutions

Most Popular Datamax Arkansas Posts in 2016

In case you missed these (or want to refresh your memory), here are the six most popular blog posts from 2016. Thanks for reading and I'll see you next year!

I hope you're enjoying your holidays – and thanks for stopping by our blog.

In case you missed these (or want to refresh your memory), here are the six most popular blog posts from 2016. Thanks for reading and I'll see you next year!

Click the titles to read the post.

Topics: Insider Solutions Did you know?

The Hidden Cost of a Cheap Photocopier

If you focus on the number on the price tag more than what the photocopier can actually do for you, you'll end up paying more in the long run.

You have to operate with a budget professionally and personally. The same questions come up no matter what you're buying. How much should it cost, where can you find the best deals, and is there a more affordable way to get it?

Many people jump right to the cheapest copier they can find. They think it might match their needs, but their decision is purely price driven. Sometimes they luck out and get the right model with good build quality. Years from now, they're calling the copier "old reliable" and patting themselves on the back for their money-saving move.

However, this is not the case for most people.

Topics: Printing Solutions Multifunction Copier Did you know? Productivity Tips and Tools Office Equipment

Finding Your Audience of One: Personalization With Variable Data Printing

Also known as one-to-one marketing, VDP allows you to use rules and pieces of content in a database to create marketing individualized to a group of customers down to a single customer.

“Hey. You there, here's a product you might be interested in. Maybe.”

That's not really a line that's going to inspire anyone to buy from you, much less customer loyalty. Yet that's what a lot marketing looks like – dull, uninspired, careless, and often so broad that no one knows it's for them.

Who wants to be on the receiving end of that? As a business, is that the kind of marketing you want to be sending to your customers and prospects?

Topics: Printing Technology Solutions Production Print