MPS-in-a-Box: Here’s a Ready-to-Use Business Model to Get You in the Game
This guest blog was contributed by Tim Brien.
You’ve heard more and more about managed print services (MPS) throughout the past year. You understand the opportunities inherent in offering MPS as a service to your customers – both current and potential. You recognize the revenue potential and benefits of engaging in MPS. You know that the window of opportunity is closing as more of your competitors get in the game.
So now what? How do you get started in MPS? Do you have the time or the resources necessary to do so? Is there such a thing as “MPS-in-a-box,” and if so, where and how do you get it?
MPS-in-a-box
The idea of an MPS-in-a-box solution is an intriguing one. As the movement toward outsourcing the management of an organization’s print fleet and IT services continues to gain momentum, and as these services continue to converge toward one another through the implementation of managed print services, the need to find a ready-to-use MPS solution that fits your emerging business model becomes increasingly valuable.
Print fleets are one of the most overlooked and undermanaged assets, costing enterprises 1 to 3 percent of revenue per year and representing a wealth of hidden savings potential. So as the demand for managed print services increases, the need for a ready-to-use MPS solution increases as well.
Dealers who offer managed print solutions are at a competitive advantage. By offering MPS, dealers gain the ability to provide programs, services and solutions to deliver document management and workflow optimization tools, business process automation and efficiency improvement programs, outsourcing options for IT activities and print fleets, and integration of vertical-specific solutions.But simply offering MPS as part of a business portfolio isn’t enough nowadays. Dealers must understand the features and benefits of the entire MPS solution, have complete knowledge of the implementation of such services and have a trained and properly equipped staff that can sell and support these added services.
MPS-in-a-box is a solution that relies on the vendor to supply all aspects of your MPS program. As you grow your business, your vendor should be able to integrate with your growth and the internalizing of processes. A true vendor partner will assist you in growing your MPS business.
When considering the right vendor for MPS, it is crucial to consider that company’s reputation, experience, support, suite of services and tool set. The right program will get any dealer up and running quickly and provide a range of easy-to-use tools that add value to any business considering MPS. With 90 percent of all companies unaware of what they are currently spending on internal desktop and network printing, it is important to look for an MPS partner and solution that has a wide variety of useful tools.
MPS toolkit components
MPS-in-a-box should be a flexible, modular platform that meets the needs of seasoned dealers as well as those initiating MPS for the first time. In terms of tools, it should provide the following components:
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Automation of processes that were previously done manually
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Unbiased recommendations for print optimization across all brands and technologies
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Simple, step-by-step processes with online support to maximize your engagement
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Ability to leverage vendor capabilities in all areas (assessment, implementation, service and support)
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Ability to select services that augment existing offerings
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Support for a wide variety of data-capture formats from major vendors
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A solution that is built on industry best practices
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Education and support tools for all users, from owner/managers to administrators.
Getting started
From a timing standpoint, there is a limited window of opportunity if you want to implement an MPS program. As managed service providers and BTA dealers converge into the MPS market, those who are able to quickly procure the necessary business architecture will get into the market faster with these solutions and gain a competitive advantage; they will be the ones to stake their claim to this territory and solidify long-term customer retention.
Dealers offering MPS have the distinct advantage of expanding existing customer relationships, seizing new business opportunities and establishing recurring revenue streams on supplies, services and solutions. These opportunities may have otherwise been overlooked under traditional, transaction-based selling models. Given today’s market challenges, those dealers who proactively position themselves for success and quickly recognize the importance of changing their industry business model will emerge as market leaders and realize long-term financial gain.
What are you waiting for? Pick up your MPS-in-a-box today and get started right away!
Contact Tim Brien at tim.brien@okidata.com.
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