Case Study | Print Cost Reduction Healthcare
Regional FQHC Reduces Print Costs by $50,000 by Eliminating Unused Stapler Features
This print cost reduction healthcare case study shows how a regional FQHC identified hidden waste in its print environment, validated real user behavior, and reduced costs by removing stapler features no one was using.
At a Glance
- Industry: Healthcare
- Category: Print Cost Reduction
- Environment: Regional FQHC with a refreshed multi-function print fleet
- Operational Issue: Paying for stapler functionality that was not being used
- Validation Method: Walkthroughs, staff interviews, cartridge inspection, and consumables portal review
- Savings: $50,000
- Outcome: Feature removed with virtually no operational pushback
- Additional Gain: Only one user requested the stapler feature back
The Challenge
A regional Federally Qualified Health Center had completed a straightforward print refresh, but the environment still carried forward legacy device configurations with minimal consolidation or deeper review.
On the surface, the fleet looked fine. Nothing appeared broken, and the organization had largely continued operating the way it always had. But as with many healthcare print environments, inherited features and long-standing habits had created costs that no one was actively questioning.
The opportunity was not obvious until the environment was observed closely. The goal was to determine whether the organization was paying for functionality that no longer matched real user behavior.
What We Found
Once we reviewed user behavior, device configuration, and consumables data, the source of unnecessary cost became clear.
Staff Were Not Using Built-In Stapling
During walkthroughs, we noticed staplers sitting on desks throughout the organization. When staff were asked whether they knew the machines could staple, the response was mostly blank stares.
Staple Cartridges Were Essentially Untouched
We opened the staple cartridges within the multi-function devices and found they were nearly brand new, showing little to no evidence of actual use.
Consumables Data Confirmed Zero Demand
A final review of the consumables portal showed that across the entire fleet, not a single staple cartridge had been ordered during the full five-year term.
Our Approach
DE Bottom Line did not make an assumption based on one observation. We triple-verified the opportunity before making any recommendation.
- Performed walkthroughs across the environment to observe actual workflow behavior
- Spoke directly with staff to confirm whether stapling functionality was known or used
- Inspected staple cartridges inside the machines for real-world utilization
- Reviewed consumables portal data across the full fleet and full contract term
- Validated that the feature could be removed without disrupting operations
- Recommended eliminating stapler functionality from the fleet
This was a good example of why cost reduction often requires more than surface-level review. Sometimes the waste is sitting in plain sight, but the organization has simply grown used to doing things the old way.
The Results
- Removed stapler functionality across the print fleet
- Generated $50,000 in cost reduction
- Maintained operational continuity across the organization
- Validated the decision with three layers of confirmation
- Eliminated a feature that had no measurable demand
- Only one user across the organization requested the feature back
$50,000 Saved By Removing One Unused Feature
The organization reduced print costs without disrupting operations, proving that meaningful savings can come from questioning long-standing assumptions and validating what people actually use.
Beyond The Savings
This engagement reinforces a common issue in healthcare and other complex environments. Costs are not always driven by something broken. Often, they come from features, services, or configurations that have simply never been re-evaluated.
In this case, the staplers were visible. The behavior was visible. The lack of cartridge orders was visible. But the organization had grown accustomed to the old setup, and no one had challenged whether the feature still needed to exist.
That is often where the best opportunities live. Sometimes you see something right in front of your face that is costing money, but it remains untouched because it has always been there.
Related Services
Supporting services that align naturally with this case study and strengthen internal linking.
What Are You Still Paying For Because “That’s Just How It’s Always Been”?
Some of the best savings opportunities are not hidden. They are simply accepted. We help organizations validate what is actually being used, challenge outdated assumptions, and remove costs that no longer belong.
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