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.
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
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.
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
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
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.”
Transactional printer supply companies face considerable challenges when it comes to moving into the managed print services space. Could there be another strategy to get into the MPS business that makes sense to the transactional vendor? Let’s explore this idea.
- By John Pulley
- Jun 01, 2011
Assessments are a problem, an expense, a time-consumer, a way to feed your competitor valuable information about your top accounts, an interruption to your client’s business process, a way to gain business, and a way to lose your shirt if you do them poorly.
- By Barney Kister
- Dec 01, 2010
Despite all of the wisdom and experience available, many resellers are still struggling to find success in MPS. "Aha!" moments made by your peers can help you understand program details you can’t afford to ignore. Some of those moments include "back-end software is essential," "remote monitoring software support and infrastructure are key," and "sometimes a dedicated specialist is better than training existing sales staff."
- By Sarah Henderson
- Dec 01, 2010
Steven Power is founder and president of Sales & Marketing Solutions International. We asked him for some tips on managed print sales strategies.
- By Sarah Henderson
- Dec 01, 2010
Lyra recently joined Recharger Magazine to conduct a survey among business printer users to determine whether they are considering or are already using MPS programs, as well as which MPS features are most important to users who are considering managed print services.
- By Cortney Kasuba
- Dec 01, 2010
When a full-blown investment into MPS may be too much to digest, there is a softer approach to moving into managed print. It is based on starting to build more service revenue into your contracts and building more switching costs into the relationship you have with your customers. The softer approach is to start to bundle services in with your cartridges.
- By Tom Callinan
- Dec 01, 2010
As small and medium-sized businesses attempt to survive and thrive in today’s economy by scrutinizing their operations to increase efficiency, cut costs and improve bottom-line performance, managed print services can play a critical role.
Even through periods of change or during times of disruption, an effective plan will enable employees to maintain strong, consistent performance because each will know their respective roles and how to execute accordingly.
- By Gordon Snider
- Dec 01, 2010
View this journey into MPS as a climb, one that will require planning and commitment to these ten principles. The reward will be new revenue and higher gross profits.
GreatAmerica's Sarah Henderson shares some of these MPS laws of success with you.
- By Sarah Henderson
- Jun 01, 2010
If you are not in MPS today you have clearly made a decision not to enter the space. If you are in the MPS space there is a good chance that you are struggling. Tom Callinan of Strategy Development shows you ways to improve your MPS initiative.
- By Tom Callinan
- Jun 01, 2010