There are two common ways to look after office printers and copiers. You can own or lease the machines and handle toner and repairs yourself, or you can put the equipment, service, and supplies into one managed print program. Here is what each one means for a Metro Vancouver office, and how to tell which one fits.
What owning the boxes means
The machines are yours, bought outright or on a lease, and your office looks after the rest. Most Vancouver offices lease, because it keeps cash free for the business and makes it easier to move to a newer machine later. Buying outright makes sense when the need is stable and long term and it fits your capital plan. Our business copiers page covers both.
Some offices lease the equipment only. In that setup, someone on your team keeps track of toner orders and repair calls, and without a service agreement, repairs get paid for as they come up.
What managed print changes
Managed print brings your printers and copiers, the service on them, and the toner they use into one program, usually billed per page. Instead of your team tracking toner orders and repair calls, we monitor the fleet and look after it for you.
Where the device supports it, we read meters automatically and ship OEM toner before you run low, from our stock in Vancouver and Burnaby. A portal and meter reads show usage by device and department, and we can move volume off expensive colour engines onto fit-for-purpose devices. You get per-page predictability instead of surprise break/fix invoices.
It does not have to be one or the other
The line is softer than it sounds. Many of our clients pair their equipment with a service agreement and supplies, including per-page managed print programs, so monthly costs stay predictable. Ask us to show lease-only and fully bundled options side by side. Whether you lease or purchase, we quote install, training, and a service path up front, so you are not surprised by add-ons after delivery.
When managed print tends to pay off
It depends on your office. Managed print tends to pay off when you have several machines, a mix of brands, or you keep running out of toner and paying for repairs as they come up. If you have one printer that rarely needs anything, owning it with a simple service agreement may suit you better.
What stays the same either way
Every Automation One service contract covers preventative maintenance, parts, labour, and loaner equipment if it is ever needed. Covered calls across Metro Vancouver carry our 90-minute average and 4-hour maximum on-site response. We strongly recommend genuine OEM toner and drums on machines under contract or warranty, because non-OEM supplies can void coverage and cause reliability problems. You can order supplies any time through our toner page.
How to decide
Start with what you already have. Our managed print work begins with a free fleet assessment. We look at the machines you have, how much each one prints, and where they sit, then suggest the right number and mix of devices. The assessment includes a total cost analysis, so you can see which way makes sense before you commit.
Talk to Automation One
Send us a list of your machines and a few months of meter reads, or a realistic page estimate. We will lay out owning, leasing, and managed print side by side for your office and quote the full cost up front. We typically reply within one business day.
Contact Automation One, call 604-255-6622, or call toll-free 1-888-630-5880.