The Datamax Thinking Blog

Any device that can access your network is a potential security loophole. Close it.

Look around your office. How many printers, scanners, copiers, computers, laptops, webcams, tablets, and smartphones do you see? Every one of them is a ripe target for hackers. 

Learning more about how selecting the right mix of office equipment will make your life easier and save your office money is a good first step.

You can save up to 30% of your printing costs by partnering with a managed print services (MPS) provider. This is a commonly accepted and used statistic based on research from industry analyst Gartner.

A rules-based printing strategy can get you on the route to a bulging bottom line.

Though we are interacting with information more and more online (PC, tablets, and phones), the need to print paper documents is still there. So, the question now becomes not whether or not you need to print, but how do you print in order to:

Documents are stored in a central location – allowing anyone to find, read, and update (all with proper permissions and authorization) documents when needed. 

If you have been in the following position, consider document management.

A potential client has moved their timeline up a week and you need to find a contract proposal – immediately. But, Todd's been working on it and he hasn't shared it yet – assuming he’s even created a draft – and you don't have a copy.

Undertaking and trying to accomplish multiple tasks all at once is actually making all of us less effective.

“Focus, Daniel-San!” and “Look eye. Always look eye.” Remember Mr. Miyagi telling Daniel that in the Karate Kid? Bet nobody knew Mr. Miyagi was also offering great advice for business productivity!

You’re busy. And being as busy as you are, it’s important to focus. 

Multitasking, for some, is associated with a badge of honor. We like to say and feel like, “I can do it all.” And it’s a commendable skill – the ability to juggle multiple tasks and get them done.

Color means many things to different people. It can be a symbol of a culture and a play on our emotions. It also captures our attention when we need it to. 

Color has meaning. While traditional China sees white as the color of mourning, in Western culture white represents “cleanliness” and “purity” (or when taken to extremes, “sterility” or “coldness”). In Japan and most of England, black cats are a symbol of good luck; but are seen as a bad omen or bad luck in the West. Color has meaning (and, yes, the color scheme in McDonald’s is designed to get you to eat more!).

Imagine saving your thoughts to your cloud-based storage, retrieving it via the app, and printing when you were ready.

In an office, everyone and everything needs to be as productive as possible. Your copier already has many productivity benefits, but did you know you can now extend those benefits with an app?

There’s an “app for that” on most newer copiers, though most companies don’t realize it. Take a look at your multifunction printer (MFP) and navigate to the apps screen to find them.

The Technology Tipping Point ... Avoid getting caught in the undertow of managing your documents, processes and technology.

The technology tipping point. We refer to it as that particular moment when you come to the realization that you’re expending more time and energy managing your documents, processes and technology, rather than your business. It’s an opportunity for transformation. A wake-up call to avoid the looming undertow ahead. A chance to step back and pinpoint even the minutest day-to-day operations that are preventing your core business from thriving—so you can regain balance and begin to tip the momentum back to focusing on your forte.

We must be vigilant regarding the Internet Con Artist because eventually we will be confronted with his scams.

“A Crying Shame” is written in large headline type across the cover page of a recent issue of Consumer Reports magazine. The byline states, “Seniors and their families lose $3 billion a year to con artists. What can we do to stop them?” The magazine contains an article focused on senior citizens who, as a group, are frequently targeted by con artists and their scams - often with devastating financial consequences. Several seniors are profiled and they share their stories of being duped in the hope that they can help others and prevent future pain and loss.

Introducing multiple manufacturers into a technology infrastructure increases support complexity, which means extra costs.

One of the best things about working with companies in the SMB space (small and medium-sized businesses) is that there is never a dull moment. Technical people tend to be problem solvers and the interesting business models, creative growth strategies, aggressive goals, and unique challenges presented by these firms are part of what makes working with them so rewarding.