UK - December 2001
Shipping FREE OF CHARGE with a recently published report from CharisCo Printer Labs is a new software tool, TCOIllustrator, that demonstrates the vast difference in cost of printing that exist not only between different models of digital printer, copier or fax machine but between the different product sectors themselves.

TCOIllustrator is an interactive model that takes into account the user's hard copy and work profiles. This means that the user can enter detailed custom information about the work environment and see which types of hard copy device would best suit that particular environment and would be most efficient to operate. It answers questions like 'Should I buy printers or multifunction copiers?', 'How much of my money is going on consumables or maintenance?', 'How much am I actually going to spend on this machine?', 'Should I be prepared to spend a little more on purchasing the machines, will they cost me less in the long run?' and 'What would happen to my cost of printing if my usage patterns change?'

Currently drawing on a database with an illustrative group of the five leading products from each sector, the database is to be expanded to include monthly updates for all models of office hard copy device under a subscription service. In addition, CharisCo Printer Labs is due to begin real life testing of hard copy devices in the near future to provide the most realistic and objective cost analysis possible.

The report itself, 'The importance on Total Cost of Ownership in a world of Digital Convergence', offers the reader a greater understanding of the dynamics involved in the cost of printing, as well as insight into the changing face of the industry as digital convergence takes place. Working on the premise that all assets should be managed, rather than just core assets, it also considers the importance of taking into account the entire print, distribution and filing process in any drive to save costs as well as the need to include many background criteria other than the simple, visible costs in a cost calculation.