Meet Victorian printing reseller Digital Document Solutions

We speak with Bob Cotter, group general manager, Digital Document Solutions.

What printing brands and attached services do you specialise in?

Sharp is our main hardware supplier for A3 multifunction devices. We also partner strongly with Oki mainly for their A4 printers and multifunction devices. We have a strong sense of loyalty to our vendors and receive it in return.

When did your company first get involved in this area?

DDS was founded in 1998, initially as part of the Office National group. As Office National became increasingly focused on stationery and less on machine dealers in the group, we decided to set up Digital Document Solutions Group in 2009 and have branches throughout regional Victoria.

What are your credentials in this area?

Both Sharp and Oki provide in-house and field training for our entire sales and service teams. In addition we have extensive in-house training program for our technicians and sales teams to ensure they are at the forefront of technological and evolutionary changes within our industry.

Heard about any cool developments recently?

The print space has been pretty stagnant for many years. This has meant that hardware margins have been reduced to almost zero and service margins are barely above cost. At DDS we are focused on delivering outstanding value, benefits and exceptional service to our clients rather than simply selling at the lowest price.

Can you tell us about a recent deployment you have done?

We have recently rolled out a major installation of Sharp and Oki print devices, 30 in total, to a major medical centre. This was completed over a weekend, greatly reducing disruption to doctors and patients. Our managed solution provides the centre with automated toner supply and one point of call for service.

What’s driving customers' print projects?

Business management and workflow software is increasingly providing businesses with more and more data for analysis and productivity. It seems the generational change is yet to take place and most staff still like the touch and feel of physical documents. While traditional print jobs such as mailers are on the decline, we have found that the number of copies we bill for has increased by approximately 10 percent year-on-year.

Printing is...?

Printing is still a major part of business, the paperless office is yet to eventuate. Although 
a number of organisations are becoming increasingly more digital in their approach, 
the majority of companies are printing more than ever.