Major Irish bank AIB has struck a deal with Hewlett-Packard (HP) to deploy print infrastructure management. The move is expected to save the bank 30pc in print costs and ensure a 50pc reduction in carbon footprint.
AIB Group offers a full range of personal banking services and products, with each department generating large amounts of documentation and printed material.
AIB’s printer, copier and fax fleet evolved to a ratio of one device for every four employees at its Dublin’s head office locations, with many different vendors supplying and supporting the hardware.
After examining its costs, AIB realised that it needed to manage the costs of its on-demand, office print environment more closely.
The installation of this consolidated print infrastructure has allowed AIB to centralise and more easily manage its core print activity, ensuring secure document printing and photocopying and reduced operational risk for the organisation. In doing so, the installation means AIB can reduce costs through tools such as a centralised system for ordering paper and printer toner.
The HP Managed Print Services (MPS) solution involves standardising and consolidating the existing fleet, moving from one device per four employees to a ratio of one device per 12 employees. It is estimated that, over time, further improvements will lead to a ratio of 1 device per 15 employees approximately.
Harry Troute, head of Managed Services, AIB commented: “Since optimising our print environment with the HP MPS solution, we have improved service quality and dramatically increased response times for print issues.
“In addition, we have also seen an overall reduction in use of paper as a result of print jobs being deleted overnight, and by using the new HP devices for scanning, which has resulted in tangible time and cost savings. Now, we can use key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure and control total cost of ownership (TCO) and drive continuous improvements. This was impossible in the past.”
HP LaserJet Multifunction Printing (MFP) devices conduct printing, copying, scanning and faxing duties, while a selection of HP LaserJet 4250dtn and HP Color LaserJet 4700 dtn printers provide additional print capabilities. HP SafeCom software helps AIB optimise its print infrastructure for improved management of AIB’s print environment and enables enhanced security to reduce operational risk.
Print jobs are enabled by the use of the staff ID card and badge readers on each device. Scheduled but unprinted print jobs are deleted automatically overnight. HP Web Jetadmin management software automatically monitors the condition, status and availability of AIB’s print devices.
The new MPS solution also incorporates several environmental components. ‘Instant On’ technology contributes to lower energy use, using MFPs and automatic duplex printing reduces paper wastage and overall print volumes, while used toner cartridges are automatically recycled though the HP Planet Partners recycling programme. These factors all contribute to a lower carbon footprint.
“Working together with AIB, the HP MPS has delivered a more efficient print, copy and fax solution for the group. AIB has experienced real cost saving as a result of this new system – and an impressive potential carbon-footprint reduction of the printing facilities at AIB Bankcentre,” said Gary Tierney, HP Ireland Imaging and Printing Group country manager.
Supported by HP Financial Services, this MPS contract also provides management and support for AIB’s end-to-end print infrastructure and an on-site print manager to deal with print issues. In addition, HP will provide all supplies and a ‘break-fix’ service over five years.
“Our customers continuously tell us about the multiple benefits that HP MPS generates in their printing environment – reduced costs, improved controls, enhanced productivity and better environmental sustainability,” explained Martin Murphy, managing director of HP Ireland.
“HP is poised to continue to deliver industry-leading managed print services well into the future, and we look forward to working with AIB to help implement similar solutions across the branch network.”
HP’s enterprise print solution makes mission-critical high-quality printing a reality for AIB, which will now be able to get a better return on its IT infrastructure. Not only do these solutions reduce IT costs and complexity, they save time, space and costs as compared to traditionally architected infrastructure, and they are supported by a powerfully simple suite of print management software, making it easy for users to achieve highest level of productivity.
AIB has developed, in-house, a management information system (MIS), which uses the information in the database held in the HP/Safecom system. This contains data to individual user level, by date, time and device, and includes print, copy, scan and fax activity.
This data is linked to AIB’s ERP and HR system, which facilitates the accurate and timely allocation of costs to business units. This data is available via the AIB intranet with appropriate hierarchical access levels. This MIS allows AIB to track and trend the full cost of office and business application printing for all divisions, units and individuals over a rolling 15-month period.
“The managed services and associated MIS allows us to better manage the total print environment across all divisions, thus reducing risk, controlling costs and improving service quality, supporting our operational excellence agenda,” explained David Mullins, general manager of Enterprise Services for AIB.
By John Kennedy
