As Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) becomes a hotter issue by the week, and more contentious, CharisCo Printer Labs announces the release of this new report, with associated TCO software, offering a resource for corporate, medium sized business and institutional users to better understand the dynamics of cost of printing, as it relates to their organisation in a world where digital hard copy product lines are converging.

Good business management must include the management of all assets, not merely core assets. While hard copy output is a core asset for certain types of company, it clearly is not for the majority. It is those companies that cannot consider hard copy output to be a core asset, but nevertheless produce large volumes of hard copy, that are in the greatest danger of wasting money by not considering a Total Cost of Ownership model in relation to their hard copy output devices. Assisting volume users in their understanding of the dynamics surrounding the cost of printing and copying in an environment where hard copy products are converging, the report examines historical trends, current position and future expectations for digital convergence and the place of TCO within the changing scene.

A forerunner to its full-featured TCOAnalyser software package and testing program, CharisCo Printer Labs offers TCOIllustrator included with this new report, providing a personalised illustration of TCO for a range of printers, multifunction copiers and multifunction fax machines. Based on the belief that TCO is not an end in itself, but rather a tool in the hands of users to better understand and plan for the cost of hard copy output within their organisation, TCOIllustrator offers a highly personalised approach to the model. Users are able to configure the application according to their own usage pattern and to include actual quoted prices for all hardware, consumables and maintenance items.

Data upgrades to include manufacturers data for current models of hard copy output device will be available on a subscription basis. As CharisCo's testing program proceeds, individual data sets for models tested will also be available on a 'per model' basis. This data will encompass all aspects of performance, reliability and TCO.

Researched and written by CharisCo printer Labs, the report has been prepared in association with industry analyst firm, CAP Ventures. The two companies each believe that TCO is a key element to good business practice but is poorly understood because of the confusion that has surrounded it as a concept. The report, with TCOIllustrator, is available from CharisCo Printer Labs for £399 (discounts available for multiple copies). Order forms are available by phone (+44 (0)1442 231321) or as a download from the web site (www.charisco.com).