On the Prowl for MPS and Cute Cats
Doc is always on the prowl for good articles on the benefits of managed print services. That and cute cat videos. I recently found one of each, but I’m keeping the cute cat video to myself. So here’s a link to a great article with lots of specific examples all about managed print services (MPS). It’s from Anthony Caruana down under in Australia, but the lessons learned are applicable everywhere.
Here is just a small taste:
One percenters - in sport they're often considered the difference between winners and also-rans. Recent research from analysts Gartner suggests that companies are spending at least 1 percent of their total revenue just on generating documents.
It's clear the dream of the paperless office is not going to be fulfilled any time soon. With the environmental cost of printing rising and the management of printers adding significant expense to the bottom line of businesses, the era of electronic document management and managed print services (MPS) is truly upon us.
‘The new economy will present several opportunities in 2010 and 2011 in managed services and the MPS in particular, as organizations move to optimize infrastructure and minimize costs. Apart from the large enterprises, SMBs will also be looking for document-related solutions including MPS, if offered at the right price point,’ says Suchitra Narayan, research manager, Asia/Pacific document solutions and services for IDC Asia/Pacific.
That's backed up by research from Springboard which indicates the global MPS market will grow to almost $1 billion by the end of next year. IDC's research points to some quite stunning savings when an effective MPS is implemented.
The cost of operating a printer fleet drops by about 23 percent with most of the savings coming from lower spending on consumables and a significant fall in unscheduled maintenance. Even the internal help desk sees a benefit, with 40 percent fewer printer-related support calls.
In addition to lots of good general information about managed print services, you’ll read a case study of how the 170-store chain Bras N Things manages its fleet of printers. Doc is too dignified to make a cheap and easy joke here, so I’ll relent and link to the cute cat video.