The challenge:
At the end of 2007, SWARH went through the tender process to select a supplier for all their printing and multifunction device (MFD) needs.
Among SWARH’s key criteria was lowered costs and reduced environmental impact. There was also the added challenge of delivering services to their remote network. “The tyranny of distance was a big factor! We have a lot of smaller, more remote places that we want to provide the same service to. Suppliers can say they will support these areas and then not deliver,” said Customer Services Manager Gerard Cashill.
The shortlist was narrowed down to just three suppliers. In the end, however, Kyocera’s experience and reputation helped to close the deal. “Kyocera’s experience with the Victorian Department of Education gave us the confidence they knew how to deliver across Victoria,” said Cashill.
Kyocera’s monitoring services also gave Cashill the added confidence that SWARH would have the resources needed to fully support their remote facilities. “Other firms competing for our business had an online monitoring service but Kyocera’s was the best we’d seen,” said Cashill. “The additional benefits Kyocera offered just couldn’t be ignored; it was an easy choice for us.”
The solution:
Kyocera were signed on for a four-year contract that involved replacing 250 of SWARH’s devices in a staggered roll-out across Victoria. Right from the get go, Kyocera succeeded in exceeding expectations.
“It wasn’t part of the contract, but, straight off the mark, Kyocera conducted an audit of all our major sites. This was really above and beyond what they had to do, and enormously helpful, because it told us not only what equipment was there, but what would be a more preferable configuration for us,” said Cashill.
“It was a good exercise in making people aware that they can make significant savings by adopting the right strategy for their equipment. Even if you are just looking at 10 to 20 machines, over four years, this can quickly add up to real cost savings.”
Kyocera recommended printers with the company’s unique ECOSYS technology, which dramatically reduces the total cost of ownership of its printer by up to 60 per cent.
“A big advantage of the Kyocera machines is the drums, which have a greater lifespan than other vendors, and that’s what leads to the cost savings. All your costs and potential savings are in the consumables. People may think they are getting a bargain on a $100 printer until they have to buy the consumables,” says Cashill.
By using less materials and thereby diverting waste from landfill, SWARH can also dramatically reduce their environmental impact, fulfilling another of their key criteria.
