Industry Trends
Robert Palmer has seen how the shift to services has altered the imaging channel. In this article, he looks specifically at how the transition to services has turned products into delivery vehicles, tying value to the solutions and applications running on the devices rather than to the devices themselves.
- By Robert Palmer
- Mar 01, 2013
Managed Print
With increased competition from both inside and outside the industry, commitment to improving the overall relationship is more and more necessary to thrive in today’s complex world.
Providers inside and outside printing and the MPS ecosystem are rapidly evolving as mobile screen technology explodes, and more and more people in this industry are contemplating the question, "Should I stay or should I go?"
- By Jennifer Shutwell
- Feb 01, 2013
Industry Trends
In 2012, there was no shortage of doom and gloom, but amid the challenges, something very encouraging happened: More vendors actually came to accept the changes that are taking place and started to strategically change with them. Here's a look at the industry's major trends and events of last year.
- By Jake Fishman
- Feb 01, 2013
The Photizo Report
Scott Hornbuckle has seen what a profound effect MPS has had on the imaging industry. In "The Impact of MPS on Page Volumes," he explains how companies are taking action to reduce this impact during these challenging economic times.
- By Scott Hornbuckle
- Dec 01, 2012
The Photizo Report
Ann Priede of Photizo Group has heard SMBs say they cannot compete with large businesses and OEMs for MPS contracts, but she says it's quite the contrary. In this Recharger article, Priede highlights some of the benefits of being an SMB MPS provider.
- By Ann Priede
- Nov 01, 2012
Managed Print
Think back to 2005: The economy was stable; Christian Bale debuted as Batman in "Batman Begins" OEMs announced healthy financials; Gwen Stefani reported (through song, of course) that she was, in fact, no "Hollaback Girl" and MPS was hardly a blip on the radar. There's no doubt that the landscape -- imaging or otherwise -- was quite different seven years ago. But despite the differences, at least one thing was just as true then as it is now: Companies spend big bucks on print. Three engineering and business professionals in Israel realized this back in 2005 and went on to build a company, Preton, that would provide a solution to address these excessive print costs.
- By Katherine Fernelius
- Oct 01, 2012
Managed Print
Have you been thinking about starting an MPS program but don’t have confidence in providing service? Have no fear. This article assures dealers that there are programs and options available today that can help them get on their way to MPS success.
- By Sarah Henderson
- Jul 01, 2012
The transformation to MPS has been a pain point for many manufacturers, resellers and even end users. Making it even harder is the fact that most printers and MFPs have been designed for transactional sales, not for services. This article highlights some of the elements that should be incorporated in an MPS-ready device.
- By Mike Huster
- Jun 01, 2012
Rob Sethre, senior consultant at Photizo Group, knows that the imaging industry may not come to mind first when we think of green, but MPS has a significant impact on the “greening” of offices. As he walks through the steps of Photizo’s Customer Adoption Model, Sethre provides a framework for analyzing and maximizing environmental efficiencies in every stage.
- By Rob Sethre
- Apr 01, 2012
MPS has blossomed, so have training programs for it, and many companies have invested in creating curricula that MPS providers from a variety of departments and at any stage in the game can benefit from. Here’s a look at what’s going on in the realm of MPS training right now.
- By Raegen Pietrucha
- Apr 01, 2012
Exactly what can be done with hardware in an MPS program that might lead to higher profit margins and greater optimization, and what types of hardware can truly serve better than others in an MPS environment? Considering the buzz about MPS-ready hardware — or, to use what is perhaps a more accurate term, MPS-friendly hardware — this article examines what the excitement might be about.
- By Raegen Pietrucha
- Jan 01, 2012
Only 20 percent of the top 100 managed service providers currently offer MPS. That fact reveals two things: There is limited awareness among MSPs about MPS, and there is still plenty of room, and tremendous opportunity, in the managed print market.
Tim Brien isn’t offering cooking tips when he asks, “Looking for a Way to Complete Your ‘Technology Pie’? Add Managed Print Services!” Like many within this space, you may still believe that outsourcing these functions may be too costly or time-consuming or may not provide sufficient profitability for your business. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Find out how in this article.
Like the evolution from primitive bonfire to state-of-the-art microwave oven, software has allowed MPS providers to save time and increase efficiency. Although there are still limitations and challenges, MPS software can be leveraged to ensure your success in the future.
- By Raegen Pietrucha
- Nov 01, 2011
Mike Garofola of OKI Data Americas looks at new technologies that are making color printing more affordable for organizations, and when implemented in the educational environment, color dramatically increases students’ performance as well.
- By Mike Garofola
- Oct 01, 2011
In the final part of this MPS series, Raegen Pietrucha gives tips on how to take on your competitors - and defeat them.
- By Raegen Pietrucha
- Sep 01, 2011
Tim Brien looks at “Sales Tools and the Keys to Ensuring an Effective Managed Print Services Environment.” Print fleets are one of the most overlooked and undermanaged assets, and they can represent a gold mine of hidden savings potential … if you’ve got the right tools.
In the first part of this three-part series, you learned some strategies on how to successfully start an MPS offering. Now that you and your players are prepped and ready for action, here are tips on how to assess your customers and their needs to win them over.
- By Raegen Pietrucha
- Aug 01, 2011
The days of transaction selling and bid-based fleet upgrades are waning. The mindset can no longer be that a new printer will sell itself based on its features, functions and benefits alone, or that replacing legacy equipment is a “given.”
This first article in a three-part series on the challenges of MPS (and how to overcome them) addresses the initial steps of entering this arena, from understanding the basic definition of MPS to knowing your company well enough to be able to build the team you truly need to succeed.
- By Raegen Pietrucha
- Jul 01, 2011