With more companies choosing to outsource support services such as IT, Minolco is the first company of its kind in South Africa to offer output management solutions to large corporate organisations via its newly created outsourcing division, Océ Outsourcing.

The introduction of the Océ Outsourcing division means Minolco now offers an 'output management' service in addition to the marketing and selling of copiers and printers. Océ Outsourcing specialises in providing clients with Minolta and Océ products on a contractual basis and integrates this equipment with existing systems in the client's environment.

Océ's Business Unit Manager, Pierre la Grange, says increasing numbers of companies overseas are outsourcing support services such as printing and copying. "Instead of buying equipment as fixed assets, organisations are now entering into contracts with equipment suppliers such as Minolco and gaining from the suppliers' expertise and know-how with regard to operating and maintaining the equipment.

"Outsourcing helps create savings by managing all these processes. The organisation can then see the cost of ownership and this allows them to do future projections and budget accordingly," he says.

Le Grange adds that outsourcing also addresses the 'technology assimilation gap'. "Technology is constantly changing and so are the needs of the various organisations. What outsourcing does is to provide equipment that is still cutting edge, but that also follows the direction in which the organisation is going," he says.

Ninety percent of outsourcing is on-site but, according to le Grange, work can also be completed off-site too. "Most clients want the relevant equipment on-site so that their print-on-demand needs can be met," he says. Océ Outsourcing recently clinched a major outsourcing contract with Nissan, worth an estimated R30 million.

Minolco

(021) 461 7707