Canon UK, a-leader in imaging technology solutions, has announced that its partner AG Group has secured a contract with Sheffield-based Longley Park Sixth Form College to replace its costly print and copying facilities with a more productive and cost effective print solution.  The training and support AG Group has received from Canon was a key contributing factor in securing the contract win.

Longley Park opted for an integrated print solution combining Canon production black and white and workgroup colour Multifunctional Printers (MFPs) with uniFLOW Output Manager print accounting software. AG Group configured and tested the machines off site and then commissioned and installed on the College network, whilst Canon’s professional services team installed the uniFLOW Output Manager software and trained staff and key users in preparation for the new term.

It was essential for the college to have a good customer service plan in place, which means that should a problem arise an engineer will be there within the agreed 4-hour timescale to ensure a quick fix and minimal downtime.

“Right away I knew I had made the right decision – I only wish we’d made the change three years ago,” says Derek Taylor, Network Manager, Longley Park Sixth Form College. “If someone comes to me with a problem I know I can make a call and AG Group will get it sorted out for us, or if we need advice on uniFLOW we can go direct to Canon via their helpdesk. Knowing our supplier is genuinely well supported by a company as big as Canon is very reassuring.”

Not only was it important that the new solution was affordable and able to achieve long-term financial savings but it also had to fulfil a number of other criteria. Firstly, the new devices needed to share a common user interface. Secondly, support and training had to be made easily accessible. It was also essential that the system could be operated with the magnetic swipe ID cards the staff and students were already using.

Finally, it was vital that the management reporting was simple to produce, accurate and capable of including other existing networked printers. With uniFLOW, managers are able to see details and analysis of printing and copying activity for their department, for the first time in three years. In the future these reports will help the College in its financial planning and budgeting and with cost-per-copy and leasing costs lower than their previous solution, it all adds up to a huge saving for the College.

Peter Howarth, Commercial Manager at AG Group, said: “Cost is invariably an issue for the education sector – both purchase costs and ongoing print and copy charges. Canon’s solutions can help reduce these costs and it now saves the College a considerable amount on a monthly basis.”

“As a Canon Partner the support is continuous so it’s ideal for Longley Park where the reliability of the machines is crucial to the smooth running of the College,” continued Howarth.

About Canon (UK) Limited

Canon is a world-leading innovator and provider of imaging and information technology solutions for the home and office environments. Canon has a global philosophy of Kyosei - living and working together for the common good, which clearly demonstrates commitment to customers, staff and the environment shared by all.  Canon (UK) Ltd is the UK marketing and sales operation for the global company based in Tokyo, Japan.  In the UK Canon employs around 1,800 people in various locations including Ireland.

The main business focus for Canon (UK) Ltd is in two clearly defined market segments: Business Solutions covering both the office and professional printing environments (including: multifunctional printers, IT consultation, photocopiers, printers, large format printers, fax machines, document management hardware & software) and Consumer Imaging (input solutions: film and digital SLR cameras, digital still compact cameras, camcorders, binoculars, calculators and scanners; and output solutions: Inkjet and laser printers, faxes, desktop all-in-ones and multimedia projectors).  Broadcast Division is an extension of our product portfolio covering the supply and servicing of professional lenses and their accessories to the Television Broadcasting environment.