NWG...A Xerox Company

Top 10 Tips To Running Your Copier This Leap Day

2012-02-29T16:57:00.000-08:00

Today is leap day and because of this I thought it was appropriate to include some tips and tricks to running your copier effectively.

1.) Don't place the copier near a vent or window, fluctuation in temperature and light will adversely affect the copier output, particularly with color copiers.

2.) When in doubt reboot. Make sure you know where the main on/off switch is on the machine. This will be helpful with about 60% of all problems.

3.) Paper really does matter. If you get 100% recycled paper or the cheapest paper you can find to run through the copier, realize that you will dramatically increase the paper dust in the machine and thus the likelihood of paper jams.

4.) When frustration sets in... Pause, hit the clear all or reset button and start over. Refrain from hitting, kicking or smacking the copier, resist temptation.

5.) Name someone the Copier Guru. This person will actually know the copier, change the toner and ensure that it is working and when it isn't will know who to call. It is unlikely that you can expect everyone to take their part in learning the copier.

6.) Put your pages (portrait or hamburger) in the document feeder the same way the paper is in the tray, this will lesson the confusion when trying to double-side and do any other finishing options.

7.) Look for images or stickers on the trays, they usually will help you figure out which direction paper goes in drawer (face-up/face-down/top/bottom).

8.) Place a cheat sheet or user guide near by and let people know where it is. Everyone learns differently and some people love to read the user guide... go figure!

9.) Copiers are usually defaulted to Auto Paper Select, if copying small sizes or to avoid any output malfunctions, you can always override this and select a specific drawer.

And the 10th tip to using a copier effectively is... (drum roll)

10.) Most problems are user error, don't fight the copier, it is on your side!

Happy Leap Day Everyone!

www.ctx-xerox.com | www.qbsi-xerox.com | www.pinnnell-xerox.com

Uncovering Your Needs

2012-01-24T07:31:00.000-08:00

Asoffice environments and technology evolve, there are many areas to consider forcompanies. This is also where the differences in how this job is done,wins and loses opportunities and separates me from my competitors. Asimple example that I see every day is the wants and needs with in acompany. These are usually so different fromone department to another- odd, yet exactly how these folks symbiotically existtogether. I recently experienced this with an owner and staff of asmall/medium sized company. They didn't even realize the uniqueness oftheir needs until I brought it up duringthe meeting:

Thegroup included the president, IT manager, head book keeper, marketing managerand office manager. The six of us sat down and I asked "if I couldtake notes to ensure that I could learn as much as possible as I don't spendnine hours a day, five days a week in their office." As suspected,they said "pleasedo."

Afterand hour and numerous topics that I brought up for the group to discuss- Ifinally said "here's what I heard- and please correct me where I'm wrong:"

"YouMr. Owner have three real priorities that I believe fall in the followingorder: financial commitment to the new solution as #1. Acquiring areliable system that keeps the troops happy and is a better unit than thecurrent one."

"Mr.Information Technology Manager: you want anything that comes on your network tobe up to today's standards, will accommodate the next planned update and nevercauses you any network issues."

"Mrs.Marketing Manager: you need the VERY best quality, all affordable options forpunching, folding, etc. and not only need it fast for your deadlines, but needit reliably so you don't have any other challenges to meet your needs."

"Mrs.Office Manager: you are the main user and want speed, functionality, topnotch training and although it will hiccup, you need a service organizationthat is timely and tremendously efficient so the technician not only has theparts, but doesn't come back for the same issue 2-3 times."

"Andfinally Mrs. Accountant: you've been very clear that none of these thingsreally matter to you. You need simple, concise and clear monthly bills soyou can track, invoice projects for cost recovery and ensure that all $ areaccounted for to the penny."

Therewas a long silence... finally the President said "I bet none of us reallyconsidered how diverse the other's requirements are and we surely didn'tcommunicate this the last go around when we looked at office equipment. Please coordinate to have the system you recommend to be brought into ouroffice with IT and the office manager and send me the numbers and somereferences I can check."

Heand the IT manager left the room, the others stayed and we continued to talkfor another 15 minutes about how I could positively impact their work. Atthe end I agreed to send the accounting manager a sample billing and how we cantrack jobs. The marketing manager wanted to see some proof filesin advance and the office manager wanted to know how fast and how many featuresI could put on the demonstration unit for their office.

Most of my job, once I find an opportunity, can be done by asking a tonof questions, listening for a long time- then circling back around to ensurethat all the bases are covered- even the ones "they" didn't knowneeded covering.

Scott Plemmons - CTX Market Director
ctx-xerox.com

$63,730 for Healthcare Adoption of Electronic Medical Records

2012-01-12T13:46:00.000-08:00

Electronic Medical Records (EMS) and Electronic HealthcareRecords (EHS) are the terms used to describe a paper-light medical officeenvironment that will get medical practices a payout from the government.

Medical providers that did not take advantage of Oregon andWashington’s EHR Incentive program in 2011 can still begin participation in2012. Qualified practices that did notinitiate EHR will still get the full $63,750.00 payout over 6 years ofconsecutive and nonconsecutive compliance until 2016.

Practitioners must bill Medicaid to qualify for the payout.Some restrictions can apply and in certain cases fluctuate. Dental andChiropractic also qualify.

The first step is to apply for a National Provider Identifier or NPI.This is a unique 10-digitidentification number issued to health care providers in the United States bythe Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). More information can be found at https://nppes.cms.hhs.gov

You then register with your state (i.e.medicaidehrincentives.oregon.gov/OHA/mhit/apply.shtml) and adopt, implement, orupgrade to a certified EHR system, based on the criteria set forth by the state.You must then prepare to attest with your state of jurisdiction. Once you havemet the guidelines for EHS you will receive payment, and as long as you meetthe requirements you will continue receiving pay outs for the term above.

Ways The Northwest Group (CTX, QBSI, Pinnell) can assist with your implementation:

The DocuWare Medical Records Division ProductGroup
Finding “Meaningful Use” providers to suit yourneeds
Workflow optimization assistance and training
Selection of EMR software that meets yourpractice culture
Back file conversion and digitization of clientrecords
Integrating your current assets into your EHSsystem

The Northwest Group (CTX, QBSI, Pinnell) embraces this process as part of our 360°™ strategy tooffer all areas of your business or practice our expertise in workflowoptimization. The outcome will be higherquality, more efficient healthcare for all of us!

-Chris, CTX Solutions Specialist

The BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) World

2012-01-03T08:42:00.000-08:00

Recently, it was reported that over 90 million iPads will bepurchasedin 2012 – just a few more than the40 million purchased in 2011. Additionally,Amazon reported that a week before Christmas, they were selling over 1million Kindles a week – thanks in no small part to the Kindle Fire, a$199.00 tablet that does 80-90% of what an iPad can do, for less than a fourthof the price.

It’s not at all going out on a limb to say that new tablettechnology has revolutionized how we think about accessing information. As aconsumer product, tablets are amazing: grabbing email, streaming videos,playing games, reading books, browsing the web – there really hasn’t beenanything like it since the World Wide Web.

But what about as an ENTERPRISE device? The Gartner Group estimatesover 80% of business will support a workforce that uses tablets by 2013.

You may say, or your corporate IT may say, that “we don’tsupport these devices”. That’s all well and good, but as you may already know,your knowledge workers don’treally care about your IT rules.

In fact, if John Smith in Accounting already has your corporatewireless internet password and an Outlook Web Access address, that KindleFire that Santa delivered to him on Christmas Day is a fully functioning“enterprise device” on your network on January 3^rd – with or withoutyour permission or approval.

These devices are coming. If you were debating whetheror not to buy iPads for your employees last year and never got around to makinga decision, you are now left with a stark reality: in the coming months, yournetwork will be exposed to and connected to multiple tablet devices frommultiple manufactures, all with different interfaces and apps.

There’s really not much you can do about it.

The days of a static, one-size-fits-all policy applied tocompany-owned assets are over. You are living in a BringYour Own Device (BYOD) world.

It’s a scary proposition, made even more frightening if youdon’t have the right technology partner to assist you in traversing this new digitalminefield.

Here at the Northwest Group (QBSI,CTX, Pinnell), we’re developing multiple mobile andcloud based technologies that will support the onslaught of BYOD.

For example, the XeroxMobile Print application allows tablet users (any make or model) to printto any Xerox device on their network. Your best customer walks in with a copyof the latest contract on their iPad and they want to review it? No problem.Have them email it to cloud@yourcompanyname.comand let them pick it up at the Xerox device by the reception desk. No fuss, nomuss.

Additionally, by utilizing DocuShare,Xerox’s content management system, customers can take old, paper-based formsand easily convert them to fillable e-forms capable of being brought up on atablet or a smartphone. Imagine filling out your vacation request form, time-cardor adding a new baby to your healthcare plan by simply accessing an App on your Android,iPad, iPhone, Kindle or other mobile device.

Cloud-printing? Mobile App development? Tablet computing?This doesn’t sound like a “copier company”, does it?

The fact is, by all accounts, we are in the middle of a seaof devices – devices that our IT departments don’t purchase, don’t controland don’t support. But there they are, connected to our networks, accessing ouremail, our files shares, our documents – and it’s only going to get worse.

At the same time, business are moving more and moreapplications off enterprise servers and off to the cloud. And what better way to access cloud servicesthan through a Mobile Device?

So whether it’s something as simple as printing from an iPador as complex as teaming with Cisco to help develop, deliver and support a “borderlessnetwork” cloud service to clients, Xerox is leading the pack withinnovative new ideas and new product offerings.

So, we’re not just your neighborhood copier vendor anymore.

The commercials say Xerox is “readyfor real business”.

At the Northwest Group (QBSI,CTX, Pinnell) we’re eager to be your real business partners.

- Derek, QBSI: Solutions Specialist

The Cloud?

2011-12-27T08:14:00.000-08:00

Technology is really amazing these days. I’ve soldoffice equipment for many years and I’m convinced that 2012 will be the year wesee technology such as Smartphone’s, Kindle’s, and iPad’s affecting the way Iapproach my customers. Why…. Because of the Cloud.

Two years ago my neighbor, who works at a large software company in Washington, told mehe was working on the “Cloud” project. He explained that the “Cloud” wasvirtual servers that would replace traditional servers that business’stypically own and maintain on site. That seemed cool to me but not tooimpactful to my approach to business. I was mistaken.

What is most exciting to me about this major shift inbusiness document needs is that Xerox is in the best position to help customerssolve the Cloud Document Puzzle. The Northwest Group (CTX, QBSI, and Pinnell) has the bestprofessional services team to help navigate through the security, network,software and hardware business objectives for organizations in theNorthwest.

Bring on 2012 …with technology and the Northwest Group with workflowoptimization. I can’t wait!

-Meredith : Major Account Manager

The Northwest Group Customer Care Center

2011-12-16T12:27:00.000-08:00

In 2009, we recognized the needfor faster remote support so the Northwest Group implemented the Customer CareCenter. This resource is comprised ofcertified IT specialists who are trained on a variety of technology solutionsincluding hardware, software and network infrastructure. With our CCC, we are able to provide ourcustomer base instant response to daily issues involving print, scan, andfax.

As our customer base continuesto grow, so does our call volume. A top priority for the NWG remains to be findingmore efficient methods to get our customers up and running again. When youplace a service call at CTX, QBSI or Pinnell, you will speak with our CCCsupport who will immediately try to remedy the situation remotely. Using state-of-the-art technology, we areable to remotely connect to your computer to see exactly what you areexperiencing. If after this remotesession, we feel an onsite technician is required, then one will be dispatchedto your office. With this process inplace, we have seen a 33% reduction in our onsite technician requests, simplybecause most issues are being resolved remotely. This has been a tremendous relief for ourcustomers who simply don’t have to be down very long and can continue withtheir day-to-day business.

When you call us, we are yourneighbors, we understand your needs and we know that you also need to stayproductive and your device is a large part of that. So give us a call and experience the terrificsupport from our Customer Care Center!

- Kristopher: Customer Care Center Manager

The Good Old Days

2011-12-07T10:44:00.001-08:00

Many people my age are nostalgic for "The Good OldDays". For office equipment, however, the good old days are now.

As a service technician, I have seen tremendous change both in processes and in the equipment over the last 25 years.

When I started in 1984, a typical service call took twiceas long as it does today, while generating much more waste per click.

It was common for large production machines to havemaintenance intervals of 20-30k. This would be like having your car serviced (for4-6 hours at a time) every week or every 1000 miles.

Back in the day, manycopiers used liquid toner. This is as bad as it sounds. The liquids were flammable and VERY toxic. Manyunscrupulous individuals simply poured this hydrocarbon cocktail into the sewer todispose of it. In today's society that would never be allowed.

Office equipment today is cleaner, easier to repair, and runs morereliably. For the end user, the future is even brighter. The machines themselves have more productivity increasing featuresthan ever before.

They have incorporated the technology thatpreviously was only available in commercial printing equipment into every day document production, allowing end users to often times fix an issue without waiting for technical assistance.

Xerox has also made a real commitment to the future. From the reduction of hazardous materials inmanufacturing (RoHS) to the implementation of the ColorQube family and it's Solid Ink Technology, Xerox hasshown an impressive and innovative environmental focus.

And to the futurethat my 5 year old granddaughter will one day inherit, with companies like the Northwest Group (CTX, QBSI and Pinnell)and Xerox working hand-in-hand, it can only get better.

- Mark: Senior Service Technician

Do You Know How Much You Spend?

2011-12-05T07:41:00.001-08:00

Managed print is one of the last unaudited expenses in the office place according to CFO Magazine. According to the article, “most companies have no idea how much they spend”, (CFO Magazine, May 2008). You may say to yourself, “Yes, but that article was printed over three years ago. It is no longer relevant.”

OK. Then how much do you spend on printing? If you can’t answer that relatively quickly then it is still relevant today.

What is managed print? It can mean different things to different people. To the Northwest Group (CTX, QBSI, and Pinnell), it includes all related expenses and opportunity costs related to putting an image on a piece of paper. Clearly that includes the cost of toner, the cost of the device, and the cost of maintenance. How about the cost of shipping toner or the cost of paying a person to manage the flow of supplies? Money is spent on these peripheral costs as well and should be included in the assessment.

The Northwest Group likes to work from this Managed Print Services (MPS) value statement: “NWG Managed Print Services reduces the amount of time, money, and resources spent on your printer fleet. By allowing us to manage your fleet more efficiently, you can spend your resources on more revenue generating investments.”

Companies have their own culture and way of doing things. NWG honors that by keeping the terms and conditions of our MPS agreement open. We tailor your experience within the program to meet your needs and to fit within your culture. Do you already donate empty toner cartridges to a local non-profit which then allows under-privileged people to keep a job? Great, we will support that. If not, maybe we can direct you towards one or at least introduce you to our recycling program to help keep Oregon and Washington green.

I invite you to look into your print environment and see what is there. You may be surprised.

- Daniel: Managed Print Services Director

Service & Our Continuous Improvements

2011-11-23T11:18:00.001-08:00

At the Northwest Group (Copytronix, QBSI and Pinnell) we arenot just a copier company, we strive toprovide the very best solutions and service in the marketplace. This is not a stagnant operation, in fact, wecontinuously look for new ways to improve our processes both internal andexternal so that our service is seen as superior and our customers are satisfied.

One significant change we have made in 2011 is our use of BEIServices. Business Equipment Information Services is a tiered approach tomanaging service results.

This is how it works:

BEI provides us with a worldwide database of equipmentperformance. We can quickly compare our equipment performance to nationalstandards and take the guess work out of whether or not the equipment isperforming as expected, and if not, some insight as to why.

It shows us the most and least effective volume bands foreach individual model. We can also instantly compare our results in somecritical areas such as parts and labor cost, copies between visits, timebetween failures and most importantly our ability to fix it the first time,without having to order parts or be called back for any reason before a certaincriteria of copies and time make it a quality service call.

Technician territories are set based on data from BEI whichbuilds effective territories based on training, travel, and technicalefficiency. It is workload distribution that gives us the best chance of havingthe correct technician responding to the call with the correct parts to get itfixed the first time.

Along with benchmarking and building effective territories,we can then offer an incentive program to our technicians that rewards doing atotal service call, having the correct parts to fix it the first time andmaking the equipment run as long as possible between service calls.

By benchmarking results, running efficient territories andusing parts wisely, we are becoming a better service organization for ourcustomers. That is the ultimate goal.

- Ed: Service Manager

Increase Print Volume to Your Print Shop

2011-11-18T14:25:00.001-08:00

In this economy print shops are trying tomaximize the investment of their imaging systems. Printers of all sizes from a local quickprinter to a large commercial printer all share the same goal, keep theequipment running jobs so it will pay for itself and put money in theirpockets. With the age of the light production equipment and the improvedquality of digital, more and more of these printers are utilizing thistechnology. Ways of keeping thisequipment running rely on finding alternative ways of reaching the market andtheir customers. In this fast pace world, people don’t want to run down anddrop off their information, submitting jobs in an easy and efficient method isbecoming the most important need.

How can you do it?

Everyone has email…let’s have customers email us documents.

That can work sometimes but how good are our customers atgiving us accurate directions in an email about creating a finished document? How large can the files be with our currentmail system and will our mail provider allow us to receive those big files inour inboxes?

What about FTP? Willthat solve our problems?

Who will manage that FTP server? We still have the issue ofour customers filling out a form correctly, ensuring the job ticket is correctand requiring the operators to contact the customer to ensure properimposition.

What if the customer wants a 16-page brochure printed andsaddle-stitch bound with a different cover and body media? I work in the printing business so I couldprobably describe how I want this done; however most customers don’t speak theprinting language. What if I want thecover to be printed on 100lb gloss cover and the body to be 80lb gloss text? Maybe you only have 80lb gloss cover in stock? Do you make a special purchase for my job orcall and ask if I will take the 80lb cover you have on hand?

Enter Web Submission…

Web submission allows users to visit your website to ordertheir particular job and given the exact choices available, they can make theirselections on media, finishing and quantities through a simple “shopping cart”method that most people use every day. They simply upload their documentthrough this new portal on your website and the job ticket options they justselected attaches to that document to be printed. This makes getting things printed at your shopeasy, efficient and your site will be perceived as being more professional withthese capabilities.

Just like any software solution the market is full ofchoices. Take some time and look intothis option so that you can stay in the game and keep those printers producingfor you.

-Troy: Production Specialist

Welcome to NWG

2011-11-07T16:49:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the Northwest Group's Technology Blog. First a little history...
The Northwest Group is comprised of three sister companies, Copytronix (CTX), QBSI, and Pinnell. Each company covers a different geographical area within Oregon and Washington. The Northwest Group is part of Global Imaging Systems. Each company has their own history and story on how they became a part of the Northwest Group which can be found in depth on their individual website.

In 2007, Global Imaging Systems and all of it's operating units became a wholly owned subsidiary of Xerox Corportation. This created an incredible benefit to our customer base by not only giving Global more national power but also allowing us to sell and support the Xerox product line. We are able to take a consultative approach to providing solutions by building relationships. It is by truly understanding our customers and their business that we are able to provide the appropriate solution and increase their productivity.

This blog is to share information with you, because as the experts in the business, we feel it necessary to communicate and share that knowledge so that your business can continue to grow. We will share case studies, new products, new software solutions, recommendations, statistics, whatever we feel will benefit you. So please read, respond, interactive and enjoy. Thanks!