Patent ID: 7957019

Claim:
A process of management of printing devices at distributed sites, comprising providing a database portal accessible continuously, the portal giving a visual display of performance of the printing devices compared with predetermined targets for key performance indicators, further comprising: maintaining a database of information relating to each of the printing devices including its type, configuration and operational status as well as financial information relating to the cost of using the printing devices, and providing access to that database through the database portal; regularly updating the information database to take account of the way in which the printing devices are being used; and monitoring the performance of the printing devices against the key performance indicators and providing output information periodically; and using the output information to optimise the printing devices by making appropriate changes; wherein the process is carried out by a contractor for a client, in which the contractor provides total management of an entire fleet of the client's printing devices including phasing in and out printing devices of different manufacturing origin.