Since When Does 'Augmented Reality' Matter More Than Expense Savings?

It never ceases to amaze me as to how much effort is given over to chasing the next big technology thing in multifamily, when 45 minutes can generate thousands of dollars in annual operating expense savings.

Oh, sure, we are all amped up about ‘big data’, iPads, smartphone APPS, tablets, and social media. OK, to a large degree, I get it.

What I don’t ‘get’, is the lack of attention and respect given to the thousands of expense dollars consumed by the paper we use and the printers that print our documents, messages and forms, etc. See…you are about to stop reading…good gosh, is this is about ‘my office printers’? I thought this was about ‘augmented reality’…you know, mind bending smartphone 3-D displays of my property used by prospects in a high speed drive-by…

See, I told you so…

Yet, time and time again, I see that it is the smart operators that take a hard and close look at the use of such basic operating assets. Why? Well it is more than fair to say they know the following:

·         Your company will spend no less than 25x (many are at 50X) the cost of the paper you buy in processing and handling costs that uses and consumes all that paper.

·         45% of what you print is thrown away the day you print it.

·         80% of what gets printed and filed is never touched again.

Ok, office printers are not in your glamour technology category but is that a license to be spending what actual experience shows are savings of up to 30% more than you should?

There is always lots of talk about ‘going paperless’, the environment, going green, sustainability…when there you have it…monies sits right there…waste and expense being spewed out by those office printers.

Gartner Research reports that more than 50% of IT help desk calls are for printer related support. On average, 10% of IT staff time is related to printer support. So, with average IT salary at $80K that’s $8k per year spent on IT support alone.

Oh you say…”we only have a few printers at each property location.” Well that’s another point, why not consider the benefits of managing ALL your printers as a single asset fleet. Doing so, will bring you consolidated savings on support, service and supplies. If you use more than 25 printers in your portfolio you are missing an easy grab on savings. That is a fact.

Oh you say…”We are a fee manager and properties come and go.” Please know that a well-managed office printer fleet managed print services program can easily handle the ins and outs.

To drive the point even further there is a national industry printer procurement program for multifamily owners and operators that allows you to make printing equipment purchases of any size just as if you were a major volume buyer. Why wouldn’t you use it?

Why would you not spend 45 minutes with an expert and determine if a FREE printer fleet analysis has merit and get a documented proposal on how to save money, NOW? Maybe I really don’t understand CAP RATES after all…oh I get it, because there is an ‘augmented reality’ technology webinar you have to attend? In the end it is all about how you will spend 45 minutes -- in expense savings reality, or in ‘augmented reality’.

As I always offer – if you would like to be introduced to an expert for a 45 minute money saving meeting – send me an e-mail. I would enjoy introducing you to just such an expert.