Managed Print Services - Dressed Up and Ready to Compete - What Do You Think?

What do you think? How will you respond? 

In this series, “Dressed Up and Ready to Compete -   What Do You Think?” we will look at some MPS indicators and market directions so that we can address the questions... or at least be aware of what's taking place. 

OEM's are Creating Buzz 

"IKON Expands Comprehensive Managed Document Services Offering to Leverage Its Suite of Leading Technology and Services"

http://www.ikon.com/about/newsroom/PressRelease.asp?PressRelease=2010_002.asp

"There is a very, very big shoe about to drop in the MPS universe - the "Alan Parson's Project", also known as the Preparation "H", RiKON's - Managed Document Services".

We all see what's taking place in the market:  Xerox, HP, Dell and the rest are all taking a direct channel approach to the market, aggressively, and they don't have your best interests at heart. You are not necessarily in their long range plans, so let’s not fool ourselves. How many different approaches are they taking? Here's two....

IT Acquisitions

Xerox acquires ACS, HP buys EDS, and Dell acquires Perot Systems. 

Direct Channels
How about all the direct to end user channel initiatives on the street (Xerox, HP , Dell, Ricoh, Lexmark, Cannon, and the list goes on). The model is changing and we all need to be ready and positioned.

YouTube Movie Series Promotes an Independent Managed Print Services Solution

Just a quick post to let everyone know that Miracom Network will be posting our Business Solutions Series movies on YouTube in the coming weeks. These 10 short movies pinpoint business problems related to dealing with print and promotes a managed print services solution as the answer.

The first movie, Identifying Acceptable Yields, is already up. As the title suggests, it discusses how to measure toner yields and determine what is an acceptable yield on each individual printer in the customer's environment.

How does the Business Solution Series promote an independent managed print service initiative?  First, it highlights the fact that as an independent, you aren't tied to a specific toner source.  You can provide the best option for your customer.  It also positions you as the expert when it comes to their print needs.

What "Value" Should Your Managed Print Services Program Provide?

While there are many ways of demonstrating value in your MPS solution, it all starts with understanding the everyday business problems of your customers relative to the proper management of their print environment. So what business problems should your MPS solution help solve? Here's five (5) for consideration:

Mira Who?

http://feeds.feedburner.com/miracomnetwork

Managed Print Services (MPS) is the big buzz word in the print service and repair industry today. Every trade magazine has at least one article discussing some aspect of MPS. Trade shows are adding seminars, symposiums, full day summits and focus groups. Most service companies (the ones that want to stay in business, anyway) have either implemented an MPS program or are actively exploring their options, resources, and go to market strategies.

MPS involves using some type of technology. There are a handful of solutions that are very well known, thanks to strategic partnerships with toner manufacturers, parts suppliers and/or OEM's. All the options out there perform many of the same basic functions; remotely monitor print devices, capture page counts, toner levels and service alerts. There's no great mystery to the process. So what are the key factors in determining which solution to use? What else is out there besides the big three?