Waikato DHB and Ricoh join forces in efficiency drive

Waikato District Health Board (DHB) has just sealed a new deal with Ricoh New Zealand which means big savings, freeing up funds to channel into health services and Waikato DHB's ambitious building programme.

The leader in digital office solutions, Ricoh has enjoyed a successful partnership with Waikato DHB for several years. This has now stepped up another level, with Ricoh providing a total managed print device solution. And as an approved supplier for the ‘All of Government’ printers and multifunctional devices contract, Ricoh have been able to extend extremely favourable terms to the DHB.

Waikato DHB Communications Director Mary Anne Gill, who will manage the contract with Ricoh, said the savings were impressive.

“We need every spare cent we can save to complete our $500 million building programme at Waikato Hospital. We know the savings are there and it’s important we make them on behalf of the taxpayers.”

Ricoh Hamilton Branch Manager Russell Foster said “The partnership has been great so far, but this new agreement is a springboard to deliver increased value and workplace efficiency to Waikato DHB.”

With the new agreement, in addition to Ricoh providing cost effective printing, copying and scanning devices, they will be providing a fully managed service. For example, this means traditionally manual tasks, such as taking device meter readings and requesting service calls will be automatically carried out by Ricoh’s systems, so Waikato DHB staff are not diverted from their core roles.

Furthermore, the DHB will have @Remote Ricoh’s clever computer based tool to help them target inefficiencies and reduce costs, by easily tracking how much paper and electricity each printer is using.

Other cost savings will come from Follow-You™ printing, which avoids wastage caused by uncollected print jobs. And automated printing rules, meaning for example, if someone wishes to print out an email, it will be printed out in black and white (cheaper than colour printing).

Waikato DHB plans, funds and provides hospital and health services to the more than 365,730 people who live within Waikato DHB boundaries, which covers almost eight per cent of New Zealand, from northern Coromandel to close to Mt Ruapehu in the south.

Ricoh has recently opened a new Hamilton premises on the corner of Anglesea and London Sts and nationally has a diverse client base of more than 7000, spanning district health boards, government departments, universities and local councils, as well as businesses of all sizes.

ENDS