Proactive Service Versus Reactive Service

In the service business, the greatest goal is to provide proactive service versus reactive service. In the simplest terms, this means that you call the customer before they call you or prevent a problem before it occures. Obviously this is one of the most difficult goals to achieve...unless you have an impressive group, clairvoyant dispatchers and technicians.

The obvious and easiest steps to take are to perform preventative maintenance as the manufacturer specifies and, as a technician, make sure you do an inspection of all key components at every service call. This may seem obvious but some dealers choose to ignore these basics in an effort to reduce their costs. Although they may see savings, your company pays the price with increased service calls and frustration with the equipment. For our company the old adage, "short term pain, long term gain", dictates the service process.

Although our service expenditures may be slightly higher, we use OEM parts (Original Equipment Manufacturer), install the full maintenance kits as recommended by the manufacturer and put forth best efforts to prevent problems. Recently we've taken another step toward that proactive goal...it's called Print Audit.

Once installed at your location, Print Audit will send alerts to us when your machine (printers, copiers & faxes) calls for service or is exhibiting the signs of a potential problem such as frequent paper jams. In addition, it will send an alert to our supplies desk when your machine is low on toner. Although there is a cost associated with this service, we feel the long term benefit to our customers is invaluble and worth the expense.

When considering an equipment vendor, it is important to look at what you get for your service dollar. If lower cost results in poor performance, saving a few dollars a month is not worth the potential headache. Although we can't prevent every service call, we are constantly looking for ways to improve. The ultimate goal is always keeping you a satisfied repeat customer.

Written by Tod Guthrie, Service Manager Allied Business Solutions of Boise, Idaho USA in conjunction with Brent Johns of Indian Creek Web Design.

Toshiba Raises the Bar in Business Color, Winning BLI's Spring 2009 "Pick" with e-STUDIO6350cT for 70- to 90-ppm.

Allied Business Solutions is proud to release the lastest Buyer Laboratory Inc Spring 2009 Award for the Toshiba e-STUDIO6350cT with an Outstanding rating in Business Color in the 70- to 90-ppm speed range!

Press Release News Article

Toshiba Earns BLI “Pick” Awards For Mid- to High-Speed MFPs
June 5, 2009 – Hackensack (NJ) – Buyers Laboratory Inc. (BLI), the world’s leading independent evaluator of document imaging products and solutions, today announced its Spring 2009 “Pick” awards honoring outstanding copier MFPs from Toshiba in the 70- to 90-ppm speed range. BLI’s semi-annual “Pick” awards are given to the hardware and software offerings that measure up as the best in BLI’s comprehensive evaluations, which assess a wide range of the most important features and performance factors for buyers.

The Spring 2009 MFP “Pick” winners in the 70- to 90-ppm speed range is:

Toshiba Corporation - Toshiba e-STUDIO6530cT - Outstanding 70- to 90-ppm Color MFP has earned a Spring 2009 BLI “Pick” because of their top-notch overall performance in BLI’s demanding two-month evaluation.

Toshiba Raises The Bar In Business Color

Garnering superior marks in several areas of evaluation, including excellent overall reliability, print drivers, color copy productivity and security, the aggressively priced Toshiba e-STUDIO6530cT has earned BLI’s Spring 2009 “Pick” for the 70- to 90-ppm range.

“Durability is a hallmark of just about every Toshiba device that we’ve ever tested—and this unit is no different,” said BLI Associate Editor Carl Schell. “It required no service of any kind over the course of 275,000 impressions. And because of the self-refresh developer system, which helps provide more consistent image quality throughout the life of the toner cartridges, and easy replaceable units, organizations should experience very little to almost no downtime whatsoever.”

BLI technicians were also impressed with the improved ease of use and scan functions, both of which were rated Very Good, compared with previous Toshiba-manufactured MFPs.

“The control panel has a bright, full-color SVGA touch-screen LCD,” said BLI Technical Manager of Field Testing Ken Nardone. “Hard keys on the panel, as well as buttons on the display, which can be customized for each user via the My Menu feature, are all clearly labeled and very responsive. Meanwhile, the unit offers a plethora of scan-to options and faster than average scan speeds in color simplex and black modes, and the new scan preview on the LCD is crucial as scanning continues to increase in importance in today’s business world.”

The e-STUDIO6530cT employs the company’s third-generation e-BRIDGE controller, allowing for seamless integration with third-party solutions, and is packaged with standard copy, network print and scan, and Internet fax functionality, as well as optional network, PC and walkup fax capabilities. Designed primarily for general office use, the unit can be outfitted with an optional EFI Fiery controller for graphic arts environments.

“We are very proud to have won this award from such a respected organization as Buyer’s Lab,” said Joseph Contreras, director, Product and Solutions, Toshiba America Business Solutions Inc.

“Receiving these superior marks on our e-STUDIO6530cT product demonstrates that we are delivering on our promise: to continue to lead innovation in our market by developing efficient and distinctive multifunction products and solutions that help our customers’ businesses thrive.”

Are you ready for Real Color?

If so, contact Allied Business Solutions at (208) 344-3833 to schedule your demo today!

Blog Written by Brent Johns, Printer Division/Supply Manager for Allied Business Solutions as well as Web Master for Indian Creek Web Design