Overview of Data Collection
The quality and type of data that Pharos Cloud is able to access will determine how well you are able to visualize print information in the dashboard and reports. In addition to the data collected by the Pharos Cloud scouts, the system uses information that you provide about your organization's structure in order to present print data with valuable layers of detail and context, such as locations and business units. For example, by adding device location information in Fleet Analytics, you are able to view devices within the context of this organizational structure, as shown below:
Having this information associated with your print assets allows you to better understand your print environment and take appropriate actions. Likewise, Print Analytics allows you to explore how print is created throughout your organization, from a high level down to specific individual details. Print Analytics requires access to information about users, locations, and organizational structure. The images below are examples of the Print Analytics Explorer and how you can view print data in the context of print users.
Print Created Within a Specific Region
Print Created by Organizational Departments
Print Created by an Individual User
Pharos Cloud allows for up to five hierarchy levels that you can use to appropriately structure your organization. Here are two simple examples of location structure:
Assigning Organizational Structure in Pharos Cloud
There are several ways to collect information about your locations and business units, as well as the devices and people associated with those locations and business units.
Fleet Analytics
Fleet Analytics provides a view of print from the perspective of your network devices. You can assign physical location and business departments to each device. There are two ways you can do this:
- Use the manufacturer's device configuration utility to manually set the relevant location fields. The Scout will collect this information from each device and upload it to the Pharos Cloud server.
- Enter location and department information using the Edit Device(s) dialog box, which is accessible from any of the Fleet Analytics views.
Print Analytics
Print Analytics provides a view of print from the perspective of the documents printed by your organization's employees. It associates the location and department to the person who printed each job. In the Print Analytics Explorer, the navigation path is defined by the location and department information assigned to print users. You can set this up a few different ways:
- By default, Pharos Cloud will try to obtain this information from your directory service when a job is printed.
- You can Import a CSV file containing your print user information.
- You can configure a Print Scout to automatically import print user information on a defined schedule.
Print Scout Collection Settings
To provide a complete experience, the Print Scout collects the information it needs from your directory service. However, you can configure it to stop collecting data or hide certain fields in order to meet specific organizational requirements. Use the Data Privacy tab under Profile to configure what print user information to collect.
Refer to the following documents for more information: