Emerging Technologies in Follow Me Printing

This post originally appeared on EO Johnson's blog.

Whether you call it follow me printing, find me printing, push printing, or pull printing, it’s one of the best advancements in office printing technology. Follow Me printing is a smart, user-centric approach to managing print jobs and is an essential component of a managed print strategy. As organizations continue to look for ways to enhance security, reduce costs, and improve efficiency through new business technology, Follow Me printing should be top of the list. We’ll take a closer look at Follow Me printing, how it enhances security, its benefits for businesses, and the role of new technology solutions.

What is Follow Me printing?

Follow Me printing is a secure and flexible printing solution that allows users to send print jobs to a centralized queue and release them from any connected printer within the network. Unlike traditional printing systems that send a job to a specific device, Follow Me printing gives users the freedom to retrieve their documents from the most suitable printer, enhancing convenience and efficiency.

The key to Follow Me printing lies in user authentication. Employees or authorized personnel must authenticate themselves, usually through methods like PIN codes, fobs, swipe cards, or mobile apps, to release their documents.

Enhancing security with Follow Me printing

Security is a cornerstone of the Follow Me printing concept. Traditional printing methods often leave documents vulnerable to breaches, as print jobs can remain unclaimed on devices accessible to anyone. Follow Me printing addresses these concerns through robust authentication protocols.

Key security enhancements include:

• Document confidentiality - By requiring users to authenticate before releasing print jobs, Follow Me printing ensures that sensitive information is only accessed by intended recipients.
• Compliance and audit trails - Follow Me print monitoring solutions maintain detailed logs of who printed what, when, and where. This accountability deters misuse and helps organizations comply with data protection regulations like GDPR or HIPAA.
• Minimize insider threats - With centralized control and user authentication, businesses can limit unauthorized printing and prevent data leaks stemming from internal actors.

Additional benefits of Follow Me printing?

Beyond enhancing security, Follow Me printing offers many additional advantages for businesses and organizations. These benefits make it a highly attractive solution for modern workplaces. Here are some key advantages:

1. Cost savings Follow Me printing minimizes waste by allowing users to cancel unwanted print jobs before they are released. This reduces paper and toner usage, directly impacting the bottom line.
2. Increased productivity Employees spend less time walking back and forth between printers or troubleshooting device-specific issues. Instead, they can use any available printer, reducing delays and improving workflow efficiency.
3. Environmental sustainability By encouraging more mindful printing practices and reducing waste, Follow Me printing supports an organization’s sustainability goals.
4. Scalability Follow Me printing solutions are highly adaptable, making them ideal for businesses and organizations experiencing growth or fluctuating needs. The ability to add or remove devices from the network as needed ensures a cost-effective, future-proof solution.
5. Hybrid work enablement As workplaces embrace a hybrid model, Follow Me printing offers flexibility. Remote employees can send print jobs to the office queue and retrieve them when on-site, bridging the gap between remote and in-office workflows.

Emerging technologies in Follow Me printing

As technology evolves, Follow Me printing solutions are incorporating new advancements to enhance their functionality:

• Cloud printing: Cloud-based Follow Me printing allows businesses to manage print jobs across multiple locations without requiring on-premises servers. This is particularly beneficial for workforces distributed across multiple locations.
• AI and machine learning: Emerging AI capabilities analyze print usage patterns, suggesting optimizations to save costs or flagging suspicious activity.
• Biometric authentication: While PIN codes and fobs are standard, leveraging biometrics like fingerprints or facial recognition can also be utilized for enhanced security.
• Integration with workflow automation: Follow Me printing is being integrated with document management systems, enabling automated workflows for document handling, filing, and archiving.

PaperCut and Follow Me printing

One of the leading providers of Follow Me printing technology is PaperCut, a widely recognized name in print management software. PaperCut’s Follow Me printing solution is called “Find Me,” which is designed to be versatile, user-friendly, and highly secure, making them suitable for organizations of all sizes.

Features of PaperCut’s Find Me printing technology

• Cross-platform compatibility: Works seamlessly with various printer brands and models, allowing businesses to integrate the solution into their existing infrastructure.
• Secure release mechanisms: Supports multiple authentication methods, such as proximity cards, PIN codes, and even biometric identification.
• Mobile and cloud integration: Users can release print jobs from their mobile devices or through cloud services, making it ideal for remote or hybrid work environments.
• Cost control: PaperCut offers advanced analytics that help organizations track printing costs, set quotas, and reduce unnecessary printing.

Is Follow Me printing right for your business?

Emerging technologies in Follow Me printing are transforming the way businesses handle printing. From advanced security features to cloud integration and sustainability benefits, the potential of this technology is vast. With industry leaders like PaperCut paving the way, there’s never been a better time to explore the possibilities of Follow Me printing for your organization.

EO Johnson partners with PaperCut to provide our clients the latest in managed print technology. Contact your account executive today to learn more.