Managed Print Services North American Conference: May 3-5, 2010 San Antonio, TX

The second North American MPS Conference is scheduled for May, 2010.

A good time should be had by all.

Some of the themes so far:

Managing RFPs
MPS - Financial models for MPS providers
Moving customers to stage 3, how to know when you are ready. How to identify the right customers for stage 3 engagements.


Additionally, just like in Europe, there will be a pre-conference seminar aimed at participants with less background and knowledge in the world of managed print.

Pre-conference sessions will be offered for both end users and channel partners. These sessions will concentrate on providing a solid foundation of the subject and offering practical strategies when selecting an appropriate MPS partner or provider for first-time MPS engagements.

Last year was good, the European conference better, this May should be stellar.

See you there!

Bowling Green Initiating Managed Print Services Program: Print Responsibly

Press Release:


"Print Responsibilty' campaign goes into effect

Monday, 02 Nov 2009, 11:11 AM EST

By Sentinel Staff

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio -

Bowling Green State University this week will begin to implement its Print Responsibly campaign that President Carol Cartwright announced during her State of the University address last month.

The program is described as a more cost-effective and environmentally friendly way to handle everyday printing and other tasks like copying, scanning and faxing.

The university will contract with a company with expertise in managed print services.

When fully implemented next year, BGSU will no longer purchase any non-specialized printers, copiers, fax machines or scanners.

The campaign is projected to save about $1.5 million a year and reduce annual consumption of paper by up to 40 percent.

University departments will not be responsible for purchasing toner or other materials, or maintenance costs, but instead will simply pay a per-page price for printed or copied documents. This will also give BGSU access to the latest technology.

Beginning Tuesday, the Print Responsibly team will be visiting offices and departments. The purpose of these initial visits is to confirm the inventory of printers, copiers, and fax machines and scanners.

The inventory is expected to take about four weeks to complete. Other visits will follow to discuss printing needs with the departments.

In November, ITS will begin a pilot program with several departments that have volunteered to be part of the launch. University-wide implementation of the Print Responsibly program will likely begin next semester.

A Web site to provide additional information about the program can be found at here.

Cartwright said there will likely be changes to the university's approaches to printing but expects the payoff for the program will be quite significant. She said savings will stay in the respective departments.

She noted the university prints about 70 million pages per year. With Print Responsibly, Cartwright expects to see a reduction in the amount of paper used of up to 40 percent or 28 million pages.
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DOTC - 70 million pages/year billed at let's say 0.0120 results in a revenue of $840,000; at the "standard" MPS GP of 35%, 294k in GP.

Your Managed Print Services Association Announces In Europe...It's a Long Way from San Antonio -

Managed Print Services Association Launches New Member Services and Community Website Hub at MPS 2009 European Conference

Free trial membership lets users try new MPSA services Amsterdam, The Netherlands – October 22, 2009 –

The Managed Print Services Association (MPSA) announces a new suite of member services at the MPS 2009 European Conference in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Starting in December 2009, a free limited MPSA membership lets users try these services for several months at no cost.

Recognizing the importance of serving a global membership, the MPSA also announces it is accepting nominations for two new board member positions offered exclusively to international MPS providers. Detailed information about member services, board nominations and other topics is available at the new MPSA web site, http://www.yourMPSA.org.

“The Managed Print Services Association (MPSA) gets down to business at European MPS Conference, although some would say we’ve been doing that all along,” said MPSA Board President, Jim Fitzpatrick of Oki Data Americas, Inc. “Membership has grown quickly, leaping to 1,000 LinkedIn MPS group members in a very short time. Now just a few months after officially forming the association, MPSA is launching a series of tools and services for members. And these resources are only the start of what the MPSA can provide for our industry.”

“It’s only fitting that we launch these services at the fall MPS Europe conference. We started this association at the first Conference in Austin, based upon the demands of our industry. It’s been a breakneck pace, but the new board has really banded together to delivery what the MPS community is requesting,” said MPSA Secretary, Greg Walters of Death of the Copier.

New Tools and Services for MPSA Membership:

The MPSA is launching a special web portal for the MPS industry as a centralized source for not only information, but also a hub where providers can collaborate and communicate to increase their own knowledge and expertise. MPSA members can also volunteer on many of the projects underway by the MPSA to help shape the future of the industry.

Tools:

· MPS Discussion Forum: Designed to help communications and collaboration for anyone doing business within the MPS Industry.

· MPS Industry Awards: Members of the MPS community can submit significant accomplishments they have made within the MPS environment. These will be profiled monthly on the site, and an annual award will be given to the most significant entries across five different categories.

· MPS Industry Events Calendar: Accessible for all areas of the MPS community to add to and document industry events.

Services:

· First MPS Business Listing: This is a first -- anyone within the MPS Industry can list products, services and offerings.

· Industry Best Practices & Standards: A primary focus for the MPSA team, this will help establish the standards and best practices that ensure success.

Vendors, dealers and enterprises can find more information about the MPSA at http://www.yourMPSA.org.

Your Managed Print Services Association - Three Months Free

Your MPSA is opening up and inviting you to "test the waters" with a comp'd 3 month membership.

From the MPSA site, here.

Special Offer - Special Limited Time Offer

Become a Member of the MPSA

In order to kick-start the MPSA we will be allowing potential members to sign-up for free membership to the MPSA, which runs from 12/01/2009 to 02/28/2009. This will give you the opportunity to test the MPSA benefits, and assist in our numerous projects.
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This is great opportunity to check out the MPSA and see if membership would enhance your customer relationships.

Heck, it's free...give it a whirl.

Your Managed Print Services Association and the European MPS Conference

Your Managed Print Services Association and the MPS conference in Amsterdam - the coming out party; the Vanguard. Think of it as a precursor to the North American conference in May.

Not only will your MPSA be attending the MPS Conference in Amsterdam, Jim Fitzpatrick the President of your MPSA will lead a presentation on the "State of Standards".

Since the election of your MPSA Team, much has been accomplished in preparation for the European MPS Conference. Indeed, in less than six months, the MPSA has built an infrastructure, website(parts under construction), and put together membership offerings.

Oh but wait, there is so much more.

A three month membership is free to those who sign up now for a limited time

Check it out here.

So, you might say,

"Greg, why in the world would I ever want to be part of the MPSA? I sell copiers, toner, printers, service, servers, telephony, storage, EDM, etc."

Good question.

Here's my answer: you will be part of something that will add value to your client relationships.

This is an organization of like minded people, at the very beginning of organizing. We are sharing insight on a non-competitive basis, elevating the discourse and breaking free form the shackles of the past...

...yeah, that was dramatic.

We are not a bunch of statisticians collecting data points from across the output device spectrum(not that there's anything wrong with that).

And we're not a group of beard scratching consultants who have been in the industry for the last 105 years espousing re-hashed copier sales training(not that there's anything wrong with that).

From my experience with just the executive members, the board members, and even our detractors, this is a good thing.

For instance, your elected officials are of such a diverse background and employed in completely different sectors - yet we all get along and we are all looking to improve MPS awareness. To use a word I have come to despise- Synergy.

We hope to establish some basic standards ultimately sharing tools that will help you transform the transactional into relational. Adding depth to your selling engagements.

But we shouldn't do it alone - we need you.

My "special" mission is to keep the direct avenue's of input open to the "trenches" - the people on the street, in the mix, winning and losing deals everyday, owners, managers, executives, clients and selling professionals.

No frackin Ivory Towers here, no elitism, no snobbish intelligentsia- this is a goal.

And it is just that, a goal. I know the solitary fighting man is a tragic story; it never ends well for the "Leonidas" of the day or a young Anakin and remember what happened to John the Baptist.

But it's fun.

- Yikes.

LOL!

Hewlett Packard Signs as Platinum Sponser for MPS Conference

John Johasky, HP Vice-President to be Keynote Speaker at the Photizo MPS Conference in Amsterdam.

Photizo lands a big fish.

In San Antonio it was Xerox - for Amsterdam, HP.

Congrats go to Ed and the gang.

I will not be in Amsterdam, which is probably a good thing, for I have heard of many, different, odysseys one can experience in the dens of that strange land.

The Mad Dog in San Antonio was fun, one can only imagine the trouble I could get my colleagues into in Amsterdam.

The MPSA will have a strong presence and maybe a presentation or two.

Vote For Me: If You Feel So Inclined - MPSA Secretary

The Managed Print Services Association is real. It must be, because it now has a charter.

Having been there at the very beginning I am honored and privileged to have been nominated for the post of Secretary.

For those who nominated me, thank you, the nomination alone is very satisfying.

To vote for me, go here.

"But Why Greg? Why would you ever want to be a Secretary in the MPSA?"

The answer is simple - I want to contribute as much as I can in creating a group unique and different within our niche. Something bold, a group that everyone would want to be a part.

Sellers, buyers, manufacturers, MSP's, MPS's, VAR's, clients, BTA, pundits, and experts.

I was asked a question on LinkedIn by Jim Fitzpatrick:

"...Greg, you are well-known throughout the industry for you “Death of the Copier Blog”, in which you identify everything within MPS Industry that doesn’t make sense.

In your possible ... new role as Secretary within the MPSA, outside of your Blog, will you help the MPSA make sense, out of everything that doesn’t make sense?

Sorry, it doesn’t hurt to ask …"

My response:

"...Yes, I will help make sense out of everything that doesn't make sense.

I will bring all I can to help and guide the MPSA through these most interesting times.

I do know MPS; I know MPS holistically and I see MPS from the clients' and the reseller perspective.

What is so very exciting about MPS right now, at this singular point in time, is it's uniqueness and ever changing form.

And I guess for me, this is a direction I was always heading; my past exploits unknowingly preparing me.

I intend to be part of building an association where it is easy to belong. A group with a simple, easy to understand purpose and common ideals.

So again, yes, I will help the MPSA in every way I can.

Not just by pointing out what does not make sense, but forwarding positive ideas and approaches..."
There you have it.

Now, anyone got a baby that needs kissin?

Would you like to know a little more? Article from March, 2009.

Managed Print Services Association: See Your Future, Be Your Future