Proof of concept (POC) is an important part of PretonSaver presale process. During the years, Preton and its partners have accumulated extensive experience in performing successful POCs. To ensure a smooth and error free process please follow the recommended POC steps:.

 

STAGE1

•  Agree with the prospect a limit POC time scope - usually 2-4 weeks

•  Agree with the prospect POC content - how many computers etc.

•  Define POC success criteria - e.g. average savings, features successfully implemented etc.

•  Select a control group for the POC:

• Group should use standard printers - select users that print to the most common printer types and models.

• Group should use standard applications - select users that most of their printing is from  common/standard application (e.g. word, explorer etc.). Avoid users that print from negligible application (in terms of print volume)

• Users should be with standard printing behavior

• Don’t get into special/unique aspects of the printing environment is can waste the time of the stage - the POC is designed to validate PretonSaver functionality in a standard printing environments. In many cases the customer losses sight of the bigger picture and focuses application or environments that represents only a small part of its print volume.

• Don’t get into infrastructure testing at that stage (e.g. LDAP sync), KIS – Keep it Simple

•   Allow users to register automatically (don’t sync with LDAP)

•   Install manually (don’t deploy using a deployment tool)

•   Install Preton for the above control group only!

•   Use the default OOTB (out of the box) settings for this first stage of the POC
(in case you already have specific knowledge regarding customer's environment use different settings)

•   Allow Printers and Applications used by the control group to be registered automatically

•  Leave applications that are not part of the PretonSaver standard application in monitor mode.

•   Let the system run and collect the information for a few weeks (up to three weeks).

 

STAGE 2

•   Analyze the feedback from IT and end users

• Is all working OK?

• Any complain from end users regarding output quality?

• Any complain from end users regarding Performance?

•  Based on the prospect's feedback, use PretonControl to configure the rules and saving levels in order to get to the most effective saving/quality ratio.

•   If issues are reported by the prospect, report them to Preton support.

Now the POC is in a stage where all basic PretonSaver functionality is deployed

STAGE 3

•   Add high volume custom or non standard applications, one by one and test printing from each application. If applications' printout comes out fine, switch the application to a save mode. If the printout have issues switch the application back to monitor or to protect.

•   Test advanced print rules e.g. quota, printing hours, override rules…

•   Test infrastructure e.g. LDAP sync, mass deployment, upgrade…

•   Test unique printing environment e.g. special applications, special output servers…

•   Test more aggressive saving levels

•   Any other testing the customer would like to perform (under the POC time limit)

•   Customer should sign the success criteria form

 

Concluding successfully stages 1-3 will result a successful POC and enables moving to a business discussion with the prospect.