Document management experts, industry leaders, independent analysts, and end users will gather for the prestigious IDC Document & Print Management Solutions Conference Series 2009, which will launch in Sofia, Bulgaria, on June 3, 2009 and then visit another 6 key cities in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), and Istanbul. The conference series provides a platform for the exchange of ideas, sharing of experiences and best practices, and discussion about the latest trends and developments in document management.

In today's uncertain economy, IT departments should carefully manage their costs. This trend, of course, includes costs associated with printing and copying. IDC research suggests that only a fraction of companies operating in CEE understand or actively track costs related to document output or document lifecycle.

According to recent IDC research, the average costs for creating, capturing, storing, retrieving, sharing, and printing documents within a company account for around 5–10% of total sales revenues – while costs for hardware and consumables are only a fraction of this amount. A considerable part of printing costs are driven by indirect factors, such as IT support - time spent on solving printing problems and related issues. IDC estimates that the use of document solutions and managed print services can lower total costs by up to 30–40% and clearly improve productivity and efficiency through optimized management and workflows.

"It is not surprising that nowadays the troubled economic situation calls for cost saving initiatives. Adoption of document & print management solutions brings significant and immediate business operations-related savings and often leads to more efficient workflow within organizations," says Mitri Roufka, Research Manager, IDC CEMA. "Moreover, such imminent money saving can help companies refrain from cutting their investment in vital, core business areas or areas representing a future growth opportunity. Companies need simply to set their priorities and consider the benefits of today’s document & print management solutions that offer immediate and high ROI."

IDC's Document & Print Management Solutions Conference Series will cover a range of topics such as:
·    Output Management
·    Print Management Services
·    Process Optimization Within the Document Lifecycle
·    Potential Efficiency Improvements and Cost Reductions
·    Security
·    Optimized Lifecycle Management
·    Managed Print Services (MPS) for SMBs
·    Individual Monitoring and Pricing Models
·    Management of Heterogenous Infrastructure Environments
·    Change Management
·    Document Outsourcing Services
·    Best Practices in Document & Print Management

The series is scheduled to visit the following cities in Central and Eastern Europe:
Sofia         June 3
Budapest   June 9
Warsaw      June 18
Bucharest   September 10
Prague       September 17
Athens       September 24
Bratislava   September 24
Istanbul     October 1

For more information about participation, partnership opportunities, or any other aspect of the event, please contact Jana Pitrikova, Conference Manager for IDC CEMA, at jpitrikova@idc.com or at (+420) 221 423 140.