HP moves into print management for Ford Motor Company worldwide

The company claims its solution saves companies up to 30 percent on their total imaging and printing investments.

According to a company release, Ford asked HP to help define a consistent global printing and imaging strategy to manage devices, create an efficient print environment for workers and preserve capital dollars for the company. The agreement affects a total of 150,000 users and optimises more than 15,000 devices in the United States and Europe.

"Ford is one of the first enterprise-level companies to recognize the significant impact imaging and printing has on its business," said Vyomesh Joshi, executive vice president, Imaging and Printing Group, HP. "As a result, the company is making smart decisions that will help them operate more efficiently today and remain focused and adaptive into the future."

The idea is to implement a comprehensive management and cost reduction plan for Ford’s global imaging and printing network. Rather than taking a piecemeal approach to upgrading its printers and copiers, Ford will incorporate its devices, including copiers, faxes and printers.

"Ford is a leading force in the automotive industry. It's not unusual that a company like Ford would be one of the first to recognize the powerful savings of a hardware and management system that will allow them to best leverage their imaging and printing environment while preparing for future changes and growth," said Joshi.

"More and more companies like Ford are evaluating their entire imaging and output infrastructure to simultaneously drive down costs while increasing efficiencies and worker productivity in their businesses," said Angèle Boyd, group vice president, IDC. "This is one of the largest deals of its kind."

HP works with enterprise customers to provide an integrated family of software, hardware and imaging and printing services and supplies. This helps reduce customers' time, cost, complexity and risk, providing an easy way to standardize and manage costs above and beyond hardware.

In addition to a positive return on investment, customers have the advantage of management tools, reliable infrastructure, unparalleled connectivity, and intelligent printers and multifunction products.

This is an area where Xerox and IBM have been active for some time.