The Datamax Thinking Blog

Reputable technology partners don’t just talk a big game. They measure their performance constantly. And then they prove it on the course by sharing a variety of valuable, game-changing metrics with you, the client.

Tiger Woods’ emotional victory at the Master’s Sunday was a seminal moment in American sports history.

The emotional moments following his final putt – from the family embraces to the chants of “Tiger!” from the crowd - swept the sports world with a comeback story for the ages. Perhaps lost in this dramatic vignette over the weekend were the tireless hours that went into fine-tuning his mechanics day by day, shot by shot. And using technology to his advantage.

With the right preparation, the right equipment, and the right technology partner, your Return on Impression can be as exhilarating as an 85-foot plunge.

Cliff diving in an undoubtedly extreme – yet exhilarating - sport for the athletes mentally and physically strong enough to take the free-fall plunge. 

During the 3-second fall from 85 feet, competition divers experience forces of 2 to 3 Gs when they hit the water. That's nine times stronger than the forces Olympic high divers feel diving from 33-foot (10-meter) high platforms.

The freedom and adrenaline rush that these divers feel is prefaced by immense preparation, years of practice, and taking into account necessary precautions at all times.

Recently-announced features from uniFLOW Online demonstrate 5 key advantages for organizations looking to improve productivity and enhance security in their print environment. 

Athletes will go to extensive (even preposterous) lengths to capture and preserve that competitive edge.

Former Giants Pitcher Steve Kline once wore the same ball cap all season without washing it. His reasoning? The dirt kept him grounded “and reminded me where I came from.” Famous big-wave surfer Laird Hamilton, whose day starts at 5 a.m., consumes three strategically-planned breakfasts every morning to optimize both energy and recovery.

Beyond the infrastructure in place, what about employee education? What is your company doing to educate its team for recognizing and avoiding these sly, malicious tactics?

Human error. It’s an inevitable part of life and conducting business every day.

We’re only human, after all.

But such human error can be especially damaging in today’s cybersecurity climate. According to Verizon’s 2018 Data Breach Investigations Report, phishing or other forms of social engineering cause 93% of all data breaches. This means that employee negligence is generating a majority of cyber attacks. It's possibly only a matter of time before one of your employees is hoodwinked by human-manipulating tactics.

As your SMB heads into Spring Training, and you analyze your current technology roster - from document workflow to network infrastructure - what are some fundamental moves you can make to better your 2019 season forecast? 

The first glimpse of spring has arrived.

As my beloved Texas Rangers report to Surprise, Ariz. for Spring Training this week, it’s a time when baseball enthusiasts’ minds drift from the bone-chilling winter months and begin romanticized forecasts for their favorite team and the sunny April days ahead.

Ask yourself a simple health-related question about your fleet: “Do you have the freedom to focus valuable budgets on delivering real health care – not just administering it?”

Healthcare organizations conduct health exams continuously every day. But how often do they assess the health of their print fleet?

How well, under the microscope, do they examine the specific print workflows that move administrative tasks forward and manage costs along the way? How well do they track multi-function printer activities while mitigating unauthorized access to sensitive patient heath information?

What is a picture of good print fleet health?

Those who embrace change in the way they conduct business every day, across an evolving digital landscape - from automating tasks to taking a firm stance on data and network security – will produce measurable business value and soar ahead of the flock. 

Former General Electric CEO Jack Welch once said, “change before you have to.”

Innovative leaders understand well the idea of change as the rule rather than the exception. In mid-flight, they do not hesitate to travel beyond the flock of the industry companions around them, even if it means flying solo.

Technology plays an intimate role in the potential innovation of businesses, particularly in seeking a competitive edge and a notable advantage in productivity. Those who embrace change in the way they conduct business every day, across an evolving digital landscape - from automating tasks to taking a firm stance on data and network security – will produce measurable business value and soar ahead of the flock. Assuming, of course, they do so strategically and with a partner that understands and thoughtfully considers their core business objectives.

The dedicated team of scribes here feel that through collaboration, we can strategically identify technology challenges and properly disseminate our carefully crafted ideas on overcoming them. 

Perhaps without coincidence, our top read blog for 2018 was on the topic of “effective collaboration.”

Collaboration:  It’s a key word in defining how the Datamax Thinking Blog operates. We remain committed in our pursuit of  “educating, collaborating, and sparking ideas for maximizing the technology that matters” - be it office equipment, document workflow, network security and many business technology initiatives in between.

The dedicated team of scribes here feel that through collaboration, we can strategically identify technology challenges and properly disseminate our carefully crafted ideas on overcoming them. 

One can only tip-toe over network and infrastructure insecurities for so long before the surface beneath you cracks.

For ice fishing enthusiasts embracing their favorite winter pastime, the warning from officials is abundantly clear: don’t tread on thin ice! In fact, Minnesota’s Department of Natural Resources recommends ice at least 4 inches thick for foot travel.

A measurement any less than 4 inches could result in disaster.

The technology footpath that you tread across every day bears inherent risk. The cybersecurity climate is volatile, forcing organizations to be consistently mindful of the environment surrounding them. The solid technology foundation you create determines how confidently your organization can navigate with necessary tools to conduct business efficiently day to day.

“Changing out vendor solutions means dealing with challenges and attitudes I’d rather avoid... There's got to be a better way.” — Kenneth V., CIO

Renowned business leaders often exhibit oddball behavior with specific strategic intent. As an example, Michael O’Leary, CEO of Ryanair Airlines, dressed as the pope when Ryanair opened up a new route to Rome for the simple reason of eliciting more publicity.

There’s a method to their madness.