The Datamax Thinking Blog

Educating, collaborating, and sparking ideas for maximizing the technology that matters.


4 'Cs' of Technology that Carry Over into the Classroom

Does the IT staff at your school have the time to devote to forward-thinking technologies? Do you have a collaborative, meaningful partnership with your provider? 

Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, “We cannot build the future for our youth—but we can build our youth for the future.”

The 4 “Cs” in education have become a fundamental representation for the National Education Association’s vision for 21st Century Education. Critical thinking, Creativity, Collaboration and Communication are all key components from the NEA to helping students of today – and tomorrow – prepare for college, for work, and for life.

Intertwined within these timeless  4 "Cs” assets today, of course, is the development of and proficiency with technology as students forge ahead in today’s digital era. For example, students must be encouraged to use technology to communicate innovatively and effectively. Additionally, technology plays a key role in effective student collaboration inside the classroom and, in some instances, across the globe.

Topics: Technology Office Equipment Production Print Network Management Partnering IT Consulting Creating Raving Fans Education Tips and Tools

GDPR Compliance: How Does Your Data Security Technology 'Stack' Up?

Even if your organization is based in the U.S., it could have a significant impact on you and your business. Every organization that processes or controls any data pertaining to EU citizens must be in compliance with the new regulation.

We share private information online today, almost subconsciously.

Downloading Apps. Online transactions. Signing up for that “free whitepaper,” filing out a survey or even hitting the “like” button on Facebook.  Consumer data today is premium fuel for businesses all over the world.

Topics: Technology Security Privacy Network Management Technology Support Business Continuity

Dozens of Business Productivity Tips – Our 11 Best and Most Popular Blogs of 2017

You have a lot of options on the market when you make a technology purchase. The best solution for your business isn't determined solely by the price, the feature set, or how fast the vendor gets it to your doorstep.

Every year, I learn more about copiers, document management, workflow, and, increasingly, managed IT topics.

I do my best to pass on what I learn to you.

Here are the 11 most popular posts in 2017. They cover a range of topics:

Read on for insights into those topics – and more – to get yourself ready for 2018! 

Topics: Scanning Information Technology Technology Multifunction Copier Did you know? Managed Network Services Security Digital Copiers Digital Security Productivity Tips and Tools Healthcare Solutions Office Equipment Legal Solutions Network Management Document Workflow Document Security IT Consulting Business Continuity Disaster Recovery

Assess Twice, Purchase Once: Building Your Best Tech Solution

But the only way acquiring technology can improve your bottom line is if it addresses a specific need or improves on your current processes.

Everyone knows to measure twice and cut once. But too many people acquire technology without knowing what their company really needs.

When you view our website, you see assessments everywhere. This is not a marketing ploy to encourage website engagement. It's part of the process to convert you into a Raving Fan and ensure you get what you need. So let's discuss how the assessment part of the Raving Fan process works.

Topics: Technology Print Management Print Assessment

When Change Management Turns Into a Disaster Scenario

Without change management, you won't get the most out of your new technology.

People don't even want to change their coffee order at the café in the morning, let alone the technology they've used every day for years. You want to improve productivity through new technology, such as a new customer relationship management system or digital copiers, but don't let yourself get distracted by the shiny data sheet in front of you.

You need to consider the people who are going to use these solutions on a daily basis. They don't care about the technical specifications of what you're bringing in, and they're going to dig their heels in if you don't have a plan ahead of time.

Topics: Business Problems Technology Solutions Training Legal Solutions

Finding Your Audience of One: Personalization With Variable Data Printing

Also known as one-to-one marketing, VDP allows you to use rules and pieces of content in a database to create marketing individualized to a group of customers down to a single customer.

“Hey. You there, here's a product you might be interested in. Maybe.”

That's not really a line that's going to inspire anyone to buy from you, much less customer loyalty. Yet that's what a lot marketing looks like – dull, uninspired, careless, and often so broad that no one knows it's for them.

Who wants to be on the receiving end of that? As a business, is that the kind of marketing you want to be sending to your customers and prospects?

Topics: Printing Technology Solutions Production Print

The Secret Sauce of the Right Technology

When it comes to technology, we often have too much unbridled faith in the power of technology to fix the problem (whatever the problem is, we often think there’s a technology solution – a secret sauce to fix our businesses).

I’m going to give away the ending of this post now: there is no secret sauce for any IT project (unless you count doing the hard work required, but that’s hardly a secret). 

IT projects rarely fail because of the information technology. They often fail because many companies think they’ve found a “secret sauce” of technology that will somehow magically fix or improve broken or ineffective business processes and that employees will immediately adapt to and use new tools. In fact, research from the Project Management Institute shows that 58% of people view changing mindsets and attitudes as the greatest barrier to new project success. 

Topics: Technology Productivity Tips and Tools