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Lexmark teaches customers how to save money by printing less
Technology Category
- Analytics & Modeling - Real Time Analytics
- Functional Applications - Inventory Management Systems
Applicable Industries
- Education
- Healthcare & Hospitals
Applicable Functions
- Procurement
- Sales & Marketing
Use Cases
- Inventory Management
- Predictive Maintenance
Services
- System Integration
- Training
The Challenge
Lexmark, a leading printer and multifunction machine manufacturer, decided to exit the consumer inkjet business in 2012 to focus on the enterprise market. The company aimed to shift its focus towards software and services that could help customers save time and money. Lexmark's new strategy was more consultative, emphasizing complete solutions that reduce costs by maximizing the efficiency of networked workgroup-style printers and multifunction machines. However, this service-oriented strategy required real-time visibility into its global operation to offer service-level agreements that guarantee minimum downtime.
About The Customer
Lexmark is a global leader in the design and manufacture of printing and imaging products. The company sells its products in 170 countries, focusing on software, solutions, and services that help customers save time and money. Lexmark has expanded its market share in various industries, including banking, education, government, healthcare, and manufacturing, by adopting a more consultative approach and emphasizing complete solutions. The company is also designing new products that will support deep connectivity between hardware and software, allowing broad integration into the Internet of Things (IoT).
The Solution
To improve its service-oriented strategy, Lexmark relied on its long-term relationship with PTC. Lexmark uses PTC Planning software for process planning, inventory parts management, provisioning, forecasting, and other core business tasks. The software is integrated with Lexmark's other enterprise planning software, providing a single-instance view of the company's entire service operation and parts inventory. This improved access to information enables employees to proactively address issues and maintain customer satisfaction. Lexmark also uses a combination of industry experience and analytics to evaluate a customer's operation and determine how many multifunction printers (MFPs) it requires. The company promotes further savings by showing each company how to change user behavior and use its print-release feature to reduce unnecessary printing.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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