How government institutions can generate print sharing revenue

Institutions have faced significant challenges in the past when trying to offer print and scan services in a way that doesn’t create a burden on staff and financial resources.

Members of the public often need to pay in cash, which for many is an inconvenience. It’s not ideal for staff either, because they need to keep cash on site and manage the print service. Finally, there’s a security risk involved in asking unvetted users to send email attachments or connect USB sticks within an organisation’s IT infrastructure.

At the same time, areas such as holiday rentals and car hire have been revolutionised by technological advances. Society is now very familiar with the sharing economy, where physical assets can be easily rented out through intuitive apps. So why not bring this model to printing and scanning?

With the new Canon Print Share Solution, available exclusively on Canon devices, institutions can easily offer business-quality print, scan, and copy services to the public, with no need for IT resource or infrastructure. All of the registration, submission and payment is handled within the app, letting users print from laptops, tablets, phones or email.

Importantly, cash can be integrated into the system if needed, supporting older or more vulnerable people and bridging the gap between the generations.

From a security perspective, the Canon Print in City devices are kept completely isolated from the wider corporate network. Most submissions are via the app, and the device will delete any unprinted jobs after 36 hours.

Pricing is set by the institution, who get 100% of the revenue minus any transaction fees from the e-wallet providers. Here’s an example monthly basket of ad-hoc print and scan provision for just one Print in City device:

It’s up to the institution what that extra revenue is used for. It could be used to offset the cost of other essential services, while bringing more customers to the premises. Maybe those customers will loan some books, sign up for a course, or grab a coffee and a cake from the café while printing.

It could be used to help finance a new co-working space. Or it could simply help to service debts and improve the long-term financial position of the organisation. The choice is theirs – all that remains is to seize the opportunity.