Publish date: 07.07.23

Canterbury Christ Church University in Kent needed to replace its ageing fleet of printers. It selected HP and its trusted partner Landscape to deliver a powerful combination of world-class technology and great service. Expert project management ensured a seamless deployment and strong performance from the start, with costs, CO2 emissions and requests for support all reduced.

Seeking a Fresh Start

The university provides a centralised, managed printing service in 35 buildings across three dispersed campuses in Canterbury, Medway and Tunbridge Wells, enabling all students and staff to print, scan and copy paper documents.

Historically, the university had contracted directly with a manufacturer of multifunction printers, through a nationally recognised framework agreement. However, contract managers had become increasingly dissatisfied with the performance and maintenance of the devices, which were approaching end of life and lacking functionality. Replacement consumables were slow to arrive and were often delivered to the incorrect location.

Securing support and resolving issues was becoming increasingly difficult, service standards were unsatisfactory, and the university’s small service desk was inundated with requests for assistance.

The university wished to modernise its printer fleet to create a secure platform, take advantage of the latest environmentally-friendly technology, benefit from improved service and maintenance arrangements.

It wanted to achieve this within a tight timetable so that busy students and staff could continue their work uninterrupted.

Powerful Combination of Technology and Service

The university triggered a competitive procurement exercise using the National Education Printer Framework Agreement (NEPA) for printing services to universities, higher and further education institutions.
Contract managers established a detailed set of selection criteria around service levels, price, functionality, commercial viability and sustainability credentials.

Landscape Partnership

Emerging from this rigorous process was a strong and ultimately successful joint bid from the Hampshire-based Landscape Group and HP.

Landscape, part of one of Europe’s largest, independent IT service specialists, holds HP’s highest level of business partner accreditation – HP Partner First Platinum – with a business relationship stretching back more than 20 years. University Head of IT Service Delivery, Iain McCracken, recalls: “When we assessed our options against our selection criteria, we were very impressed by the combination of a committed, locally-based service provider, backed by the proven expertise and technology of a global manufacturer.

“Overall, they offered the best package of service, technology and value for money. We felt that Landscape and HP would work hard for us and we had real confidence that they would deliver what we needed.
“In addition, Landscape and HP went above and beyond in helping us to transfer our existing Pcounter print management software into the new fleet.”