Fisher's Document Systems was recently selected as Idaho's 18th largest technology company in the Statesman's annual Tech Idaho publication. Fisher's designation as a technology company makes all the sense in the world now... but this would not have been true of Fisher's in our recent history; nor is it true of the typical office equipment company.

To me, innovation and engineering seem to be paramount to being a technology company.  Traditionally, copier/printer/fax companies sell and service products that are the result of the innovation and engineering of their manufacturing partners (in our case Canon, HP, Lanier, eCopy, DocuWare, etc.), but office equipment companies do little innovating or engineering themselves.  Sales skill is the most important competency in that type of company, not innovation.

So what is Fisher's doing that is worthy of the coveted "technology company" distinction?   Well, we truly are innovating on our products and services.  Our manufacturers only provide us with the raw tools to do our work.  The real magic is when we apply those tools to solve our customers' and clients' unique business challenges.  Like an engineer, we must first understand the challenge at hand, perform problem-solving to uncover the root causes of the challenges, and then design and implement a solution that best solves the problems and adds significant efficiency and production.

Naturally, Fisher's must still have sales as a key competency... but sales takes on a completely different meaning.  The true competency of the company is now a process:  listening, designing, implementing, and measuring.  The process is an engineering process and the resulting solutions are innovative.  That is "technology" and Fisher's is honored to be a part of this elite category.