The ultimate review of PaperCut MF
If you’re looking for a simple solution that gives you the ability to control and manage your printers, photocopiers, and multi-function devices in a workplace environment then PaperCut MF could well be the answer. Launched over 20 years ago, PaperCut has become the go-to software application for businesses of all sizes that are looking to reduce costs and eliminate waste.
With the UK using a whopping 12.5 million tons of paper every year, businesses account for a significant percentage of this. The concern is that 75% of the paper used in the office environment simply finds its way into a bin. While there are, of course, cost implications here more and more businesses are also becoming conscious of their impact on the environment. Every piece of paper used, and every print job run has an impact on your carbon footprint.
Click here if you would like to learn how to automatically offset this deforestation.
If you want to know more about PaperCut MF, and the benefits that it can bring to your business, then keep reading.
In this article, we’re going to take a closer look at just what document control is. We’re going to consider the businesses that may benefit from this, how it goes hand in hand with compliance as well as considering the other key features that document control has to offer.
PaperCut MF – main features and benefits
We’ll be diving into the detail of just what PaperCut has to offer shortly. Firstly, we thought we’d provide you with the headline benefits and features so that you have a better understanding of just what PaperCut MF has to offer.
- You are given the ability to control costs by having a bill or account for each device that is used
- Businesses can control users and devices via a compact web interface
- Detailed reports allow you to see information relating to usage. This includes costs per page, per user, per device and per function
- Devices are kept secure using account codes or ID access cards
- Users can set rules covering limits of use and can be notified automatically when these limits are close to being reached
- The confidentiality of documents is guaranteed thanks to the Find-Me function
A closer look at PaperCut smart features
PaperCut comes with a host of smart features. These features all go towards improving the standards of your printing as well as helping you to eradicate waste. Let’s look at what these are:
- Large quantities of printing are automatically directed to high-volume, high-speed, printers
- PaperCut MF has pop-up warnings to discourage users from printing emails
- Jobs can be rerouted to grey-scale and two-sided printing
- Colour printing can either be disallowed completely or restricted
- Actions are specific to the job type, time of day, user group and type of device
PaperCut MF can provide detailed feedback
By using PaperCut MF, you have access to more than 80 reports. Just by clicking a button, you can see detailed summaries of use by user, department, device and even by environmental impact. As well as regular reporting, administrators can also create impromptu reports which are emailed to specific staff/users on a regular basis.
The Find-Me feature offered by PaperCut lets users print via the means of a virtual queue. This leads to jobs being halted and they’re only printed when released by the user on any compatible device. Just some of the advantages that this brings include:
- Increased document security
- Reduction in work for IT staff in terms of managing workstations and multiple print drivers
- The Find-Me feature reduces waste by around 20%
Print archiving and watermarking
These features bring complete accountability to users and their printing. By using PaperCut MF and its archive feature, admins can browse and review the printing that’s taken place in their department.
By using watermarking, a username, or other identifying marks, can be added to documents. This shows who the original owner of a document is.
Assistance with managing allowances
Depending upon the account rules that have been created, users can operate in credit or debit. Network groups can define how additional credit is allocated to users. It could be that certain users build up credit by not using their full allowance for one month and they could be given the ability to carry this across to the following month as a credit. Other users may have a ‘use it or lose it’ approach where allowances can’t be carried over.
Top-up cards
PaperCut has a voucher-based system that makes it extremely easy for users/departments to buy extra print credit. Admins can print single-use cards that have a set value. These cards are then utilised by users entering the unique code on the required web page.
All users of PaperCut MF are given access to a range of web tools. These tools allow them to track their activity in real-time as well as give them the ability to check their account balance and view transactions. Users can access this information without the need to seek permission from admins.
Mobile printing
Smartphone use is now commonplace and with this, there has come the desire to print from these devices. PaperCut MF offers a solution to print from a range of devices, including mobiles.
Top 10 reasons to use PaperCut MF
As we’ve now seen, PaperCut MF comes with a whole host of features that you can use. There are numerous reasons to bring PaperCut into your workplace but here’s a look at the main ones:
- It allows you to cut waste and take steps to save the planet
- You’re able to customise print policies
- PaperCut MF offers driverless web printing
- The Find-Me feature offers top levels of security
- There is the ability to monitor and report usage
- Deployment is simple
- Central administration
- The appearance can be customised
- The ability to scale
- Uptime is maximised
Final thoughts
PaperCut MF is a highly effective tool that allows organisations to promote responsible printing. This leads to key benefits such as reducing waste, reducing costs, and reducing carbon emissions. While the software is incredibly powerful, it is equally simple to install, use and benefit from. Using PaperCut MF just makes sense.
