Companies in the UAE can save up to Dh540 million ($147 million) per year in printing costs if the latest technologies are employed, says a study.

Recent developments in technology and improved printing management solutions have created the opportunity for businesses and public sectors to make a substantial contribution to productivity and competitiveness by using in-house printing, said Cebr, an independent research consultancy, in its report.

“With the right management and infrastructure, companies can enjoy fast in-house printing at a lower cost, saving manpower and materials,” said John Ross, general manger, Middle East, India and North Africa for Oki Printing Solutions.

Emirati businesses spend around Dh5.1 billion each year on printed material; including Dh1.136 billion on outsource printing.

With the latest printing technology, the need for outsourcing is becoming less necessary for firms to use expensive specialist printing services.

In-house printers allow business to share documents electronically from the internet, emails and print them immediately, he said.

Secondly, print on demand and achieve professional quality prints that are cost effective and more environmentally friendly are now possible, said Ross.

Printing stationary, business cards, signage, labels and other marketing material can now be brought in-house, he said.

Greater saving can be made in terms of staff time; printer and consumable costs thanks to managed print services that helps identify and manage opportunities for efficiency in document printing operations, the report said.

The most intensive printing takes place in the educational, postal and courier services sectors, followed by the advertising and architectural activities that make up the largest share of turnover.

“Overall, we estimate that the cost of in house printing at firms account for 0.5 per cent of Emirati gross value added, this is nearly twice as much as the value of outsourced printing,” Ross added.

Also, the use of in-house printing could benefit the environment and lead to a reduction of carbon dioxide emissions of up to 9,000 tonnes and of carbon fuel use by up to 4,000 tones per year and a reduction, the equivalent of taking nearly 2,500 cars off UAE’s roads, the report said.

'These changes have created a real opportunity for better printing solutions to make a significant contribution to improved productivity and competitive edge,” said Ross.

“In responding to this, Oki Printing Solutions has both the technology and knowledge to help organizations manage their printing in-house more cost-effectively,” he added. – TradeArabia News Service