Just What an Auto Auction and Salvage Yard Needs
Them
This auto auction and salvage company has 250 U.S. yard locations. For years, the yard employees had been using legacy dot matrix printers to print on expensive pre-printed check stock when issuing checks to tow truck drivers and others who wanted on-the-spot payment. Across the U.S., the company issues about 750,000 checks a month.
But it was no easy task. The printers continually broke down and parts and consumables for these older devices were hard — if not impossible — to find. Furthermore, these devices ran so roughly they had to be bolted down to keep them from falling off desks during check printing. Plus, the printers were noisy.
To accommodate immediate on-site payment at yards across the U.S., the company also had to maintain an inventory of pre-numbered, pre-printed check stock. If they ran out, they would have to run to the bank for payment when a vehicle arrived — taking employees away from other tasks and keeping the tow truck driver waiting. In addition, expensive pre-printed check stock paper was difficult to secure and could easily be stolen, posing a significant security risk.
Us
Ricoh has been a partner to the company for two decades, providing technology for printing, copying, scanning and faxing. After seeing the problems the company was experiencing with its dot matrix check printing fleet, we suggested modernizing and upgrading the company's check printing technology to our MICR (Magnetic Ink Character Recognition) workgroup printers — but their existing host system could only accommodate line printing.
Looking for ways to deliver what the company needed, we proposed a middleware solution from Rosetta Technologies, CheckStreamTM, to convert the output from line to page printing so they could switch to our MICR printers. After testing some Ricoh MICR printers successfully, the company engaged in changing their ERP system. They decided to write their own internal software program that stalled the purchase of new printers for a number of years. For the time being, the company decided to keep their antiquated, risky check printing process due to costs.
Fit
Eight years later, when the company was migrating to a new accounting and check writing system that didn't support line printing, we once again raised the possibility of Ricoh MICR printers for check printing. We worked with our exclusive partner for MICR solutions, Rosetta Technologies, to recommend MICR printers for the check printing process. Rosetta Technologies re-engineers a number of Ricoh printers and MFPs, from 34 ppm up to 136 ppm, to reliably print MICR documents like checks and IRDs.
In the end, we showed the company we could listen and solve their check writing challenges the way they wanted. Additional units will be ordered for their yards in other countries as well. We proved we cared about the company's challenges and persisted in looking for the right solutions— taking the partnership to an even higher level. In fact, our solutions for streamlined MICR printing opened the door for new solutions beyond check printing. We are now talking to the company about AutoStore® network scanning and secure print, RICOH THETA cameras to capture 360-degree images inside of each car to post online, and production print technology for invoices.
Proof
The company now has more than 400 modern Ricoh MICR printers installed throughout all its yard locations — with plans to deploy printers outside the U.S. During the implementation, they provided us with shared access to their implementation document that was updated in real time, allowing us to drop ship the printers directly to the yards and save time and money for the customer. The old dot matrix printers are gone, and the company no longer has to battle with printer breakdowns or maintain expensive, pre-numbered check stock — making the process of issuing on-the-spot checks seamless and more secure. And, since everything is now electronic, when they acquire a new yard that has a different bank, they simply modify the electronic check form and they're ready to print checks. They no longer have to wait to have pre-printed check stock delivered.
The company's networked Ricoh printers also provide new visibility into the usage of their consumables. We are able to see if the company has ordered too much — or too little — MICR toner to ensure they have the right supplies on hand to keep their printers up and running.
