How to Justify the Investment

Large Format Scanners in OntarioLarge Format Scanners in Ontario

• Large format scanners in Ontario were used a couple decades ago primarily in the CAD market. Originally, these specialized devices scanned drawings and other large engineering and architecture documents. However, new applications evolved over time and these scanners today serve a much broader market.

• Perpetuating the growth of large format scanners in Ontario was the introduction of color capability. As technology advanced to a point of capture colors, the number of uses increased. Also fueling growth is the greater affordability combined with improved performance. Costs have come way down since the early days and performance has skyrocketed.

• Large format scanners in Ontario have become a business tool just like regular printers. Depending on the nature of your business, you may find a large format scanner makes good sense to have in-house. As with all other investments, however, you need to carefully weigh the costs and benefits.

Uses for Large Format Scanners in Ontario

The following applications are common in today’s market:

Scan to File. If a business has invested significant amounts of money in drawings, it wants to ensure it can maintain those drawings in good condition. Also, if the drawings need to be changed in any way, they would have to be completely re-drawn.

However, scan to file applications let users take these large format drawings, scan them, and load them into other computer applications such as CAD software. Once in a digital format, the document can be preserved and changed if needed. Scan to Print. Used in conjunction with a large format printer, these scanners can reproduce items like posters. Many businesses find this capability useful. Copy businesses, photo labs, architects and more can add lucrative services to their portfolio by using large format scanners to capture documents and then output them on a large format color printer.

When It Makes Sense to Invest in Large Format Scanners in Ontario

Service providers are the prime targets for using large format scanners in Ontario. However, other types of businesses benefit as well. Any company that produces and manages large format documents can justify the investment for in-house technology. In addition, companies that want to protect the contents of their documents may choose to invest in large format scanning in Ontario as an in-house solution. If the documents contain sensitive information or intellectual property that must be protected, in-house scanners make sense.

To make a sound investment, a large format scanner purchase must positively contribute to the bottom line. For service providers this is an easy exercise. They can compare how much money they’ll make from providing a new service to the actual cost of buying the equipment. Then, they can determine if the time it takes to payback the investment is reasonable.

But what about other businesses? Will the scanner produce anything that can be sold to customers? Will they save money by allowing easy digital management? Will large format scanners in Ontario improve efficiency and create a more productive environment?

Using large format scanners in Ontario can also differentiate a company from its competition. Can the business gain customers by offering new capabilities that competitors don’t? Architects, engineers and other businesses can come up with innovative ways to use these scanners that could cause customers and prospects to view it more positively.

Although it’s nice to have all the bells and whistles that come with many large format scanners in Ontario, companies still need to approach the purchase as a good business decision. It really boils down to whether the scanner will cut costs and/or increase revenues. And, in many cases, it will.

• Kevin D'Arcy is VP of Sales and Marketing for MES Hybrid Document Systems, Ontario's leading document scanning and document management supplier. For more information about large format scanners in Ontario, visit our website.