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Monday, August 10, 2009

HP Responds to DeathOfTheCopier Questions - Enlightening


2009

DeathOfTheCopier was able to ask some questions of to Tom Codd, Director, Enterprise Marketing, Imaging and Printing Group, HP, regarding clarification of the "guarantee" and the current/future position of HP's MPS offering to the channel. Here are the questions, with responses. 1. DOTC: The HP MPS Guarantee. It looks like the refund is strictly a credit. Is this true? How is the credit issued? T. Codd - "Yes, with the Printing Payback Guarantee, HP does guarantee a credit on its services. If customers do not save what is projected, HP will make up the difference and work with the customer to get the cost-savings to the agreed upon level. And, the guaranteed credit is applied towards the customer’s future invoices." DOTC: Also, I see one of the specifications is a fee based assessment in the beginning and another assessment to evaluate final savings. Is the second assessment fee based as well? In general, what is the process? T. Codd - "For new, qualified MPS customers, HP completes a detailed, fee-based assessment of a company’s imaging and printing environment. This includes HP working in tandem with the customer to refine the architecture and establish a set of print policies for the enterprise utilizing HP technology, services and solutions. HP will then calculate an overall printing cost savings based on this specific enterprise-wide solution deployment that will be implemented by HP. After one year of full implementation, HP will conduct a second assessment (at no additional cost to the customer) and if the customer has not achieved the projected savings, HP will take remedial action. Furthermore, if the goal is not met, HP will apply credit towards future invoices." 2. DOTC: The New HP MPS "organization". I understand these initial announcements are for enterprise accounts - are there any plans to implement additional MPS programs in the dealer channel? T. Codd - "HP recognizes the tremendous opportunities around MPS for customers and is currently assessing all of HP’s MPS offerings to scale solutions specifically for our channel partners; however, HP can not comment on the specifics of future program or product offerings." 3. DOTC: Speaking of the dealer channel - What is the current offering from HP for their dealers regarding MPS? Can you give me any insight on future MPS directions, strategies for the channel? T. Codd - "HP has several options for partners who want to offer MPS to their customers, including: - HP Office Printing Channel Program (OPCP) – This is a PartnerONE Elite offering designed to enable channel partners to develop and implement their own MPS offering to customers. - For smaller solution providers interested in offering MPS, HP supports several turnkey MPS programs offered by distributor partners including SYNNEX, Supplies Network and NER. Again, HP can not comment on the specifics of future program strategies or offerings." ------ My take...something may finally come down the pike for the channel; remember HP's year end is October. I think distribution will do most of the heavy lifting translating HP's MPS guidance down through the channel for now.

Friday, August 7, 2009

Tron:"...it's just a game...Not anymore..."

Geeks Unite against the Master Control Program.

From 1982 to 2010. Still Jeff Bridges, but in IMAX and 3D - Yikes!

Cool motorcycles and a glowing Frisbee of Death, who could ask for anything more?












Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Who Has One Billion Pages a Month Under Managed Print Services Engagements?


Toshiba, that's who.

HUH?

A well kept secret would be an understatement. Especially with the latest rash of MPS announcements grabbing headlines all over.

It's true, Toshiba knows Managed Print Services. Effectively starting real, honest to goodness Managed Print Services some six years ago. Last week and this week, Toshiba is announcing to it's dealer channel the latest iteration, Encompass 3.0.

But wait, there's more.

During the 2009 Regional summit, Mark Mathews, President and Chief Operating Officer of Toshiba America Business Solutions, Inc. (TABS), announced that Toshiba and HP have entered into a "Strategic Agreement". According to Mathews,

“...This will include: Special Programs, Dedicated support, Aggressive pricing, and a Full IPG product catalog of hardware and consumables...”

I am told that this Strategic Agreement will allow Toshiba to "fill the A4 holes".

Who needs Canon?

Encompass 3.0 -

I spoke with Jon Hafey, Director Program Management and Service Delivery for Toshiba Managed Print Services last week detailing out Toshiba's Encompass 3.0 program.

It's a simple story really.

Toshiba has been providing MPS programs to it's larger, enterprise, global clients. Over the years, a great deal of infrastructure has been created to support these clients.

All the processes, policies, procedures, logistics, software, support, billing, etc. have been created and improved over the years into a finely tuned machine.

Today, this machine is available to Toshiba dealers as a "Touchless" system. Which simply means, a closed, MPS ecosystem where a Toshiba dealers can "plug" into an existing MPS practice; analysis, design, pricing, implementation, monitoring, to billing.

Encompass 3.0 and the Assessment- Uber-Green

In addition to the standard, volume and click gathering, Encompass has a feature that allows the fleets carbon footprint to be monitored. And get this, it will take in to consideration the geographic location of the printer/MFP to correctly calculate Kw/hr charges.

IBM/Toshiba - The Global Service Portal

This is a dealer/customer portal allowing complete control and management of costs and fleet monitoring, 24/7/365.

Page Smart Express

This is a Fully automated
either OEM or non-OEM toner replenishment program which is scalable for any size dealer or MPS engagement.

By the way - a few months ago I toured a VERY large, third-party toner manufacturing plant out here in Van Nuys. I was impressed, this was not a couple of toner filling machines in some schmoes garage.

This was a 14,000 square foot, humming, manufacturing plant. Dozens of lines and nearly as many quality control stations along those lines. Ultrasonic Lasers, their own R&D, specialized packaging, and patented, customized equipment pumping out 1,000's of cartridges a week.

MSE has the ability to custom package any of their product.
------

The Toshiba managed print services program looks to be as good as any in the "infrastructure" area - and like most of the recent announcements, this program can be utilized at different levels, depending on the dealer's level of MPS commitment.

The tools are there, the philosophy is sound - it is all up to the dealers, now.

There is also Monozukuri.




Tuesday, August 4, 2009

GreatAmerica Leasing Improving on a Good Thing - Managed Print Services


2009

GreatAmerica Leasing, enhanced its position as a provider of customized Managed Print Services leasing options by announcing a strategic partnership with Steven Power, (Sales & Marketing Solutions International) a proven sales training organization. - that's right a LEASING COMPANY - is going to help its clients, dealers, and VARs, sell MPS. One of the many "MPS" friends of Death of The Copier, Greg Vandewalker, Sr. Vice President of Strategic Relationships at GreatAmerica Leasing, said, Mr. Power

“can help fill a void we see in the marketplace with our dealers. Seminars and software are not enough to create and implement an effective MPS program. Dealers need an ongoing and thorough strategy to be successful and that is what we will deliver.”

GreatAmerica will license training content and implementation tools developed by S&MSI President, Steven Power and will also train GreatAmerica representatives to assist their customers in implementing a Managed Print Services initiative. I have attended two of Power's seminars. One back "in the day", 2003-ish in NYC. 

This session was built around Solution Selling and copiers(Document Management). And more recently, last year, here in Huntington Beach - the day-long seminar revolving around selling Managed Print Services. Indeed, as I look to my right, The New Strategic Selling is flanked by Power Selling and The $50 Dollar Ice Cream Cone. 

So I must agree with Power's ideas. 

 But a leasing company providing an avenue to Managed Print Services training? A leasing company training its employees on MPS? 

 Inconceivable! Or genius? 

 I think it's stellar. Full release.

Canon Establishes Comprehensive Document Management and Consultancy Business - In INDIA

“Canon has formed a new business group of MPS-Managed print services, where key account managers are being developed as consultants capable of undertaking large scale projects involving print health check ups, designing optimal fleet, deploying & helping clients monitor & manage entire process of printing more effectively”
- Alok Bharadwaj, Senior Vice President- Canon India

Canon India has built 3 Business Solutions Lounges in Mumbai, Gurgaon & Bangalore where various simulated solutions can demonstrate applications to business users.

Oki, Toshiba, Xerox, HP, Konica/Minolta, Samsung, Ricoh, Kyocera, have all announced their Managed Print Services programs - many have been asking,

"Where is Canon?"



Have they been meranding around in stunned silence, a year long fugue state, triggered when IKON was gobbled up by Ricoh?

Apparently not.

While the MPS bus has gotten more populated here in the states, Canon has been toiling away, initiating it's MPS World Domination plan in India - not Indiana.

Press Release Follows:

New Delhi, Delhi, India, Tuesday, August 04, 2009 -- (Business Wire India)

-- Strong proposition on enterprise cost savings up to 30% and end to end single window approach

-- Aims at handling 500 million documents under Managed Print Services in 2010

-- Canon BIS Direct Sales Division renamed as Enterprise Solutions Division

Canon India Pvt. Limited, India's No 1. Complete Digital Imaging Company today announced its venture into the managed document services space.

The CIOs of Indian Enterprises have recognized the need to reduce costs and optimize resources, so that they can build higher competitiveness for their organization. They are also realizing the need for domain experts to manage processes and activities more effectively.

Thus outsourcing has gained importance in document management. The service which Gartner calls” The last great area of uncontrolled & invisible cost is Print.

The way to do is through deployment of Managed Print Services. This essentially consists of three simple stages that work in continuous cycle.

These are:-

1. Assessment
2. Optimization
3. Monitoring and Management

Canon, brings to the CIOs, a holistic approach for providing expert consultancy and solutions on all the three areas.

Canon is a dynamic company which always has aligned its strategies towards the need of its customers. The enterprise segment is one of the crucial engagement areas for Canon and we realized that in the slowdown phase, each enterprise would look at saving costs by shifting from Capex to Opex models and bringing in operational excellence.

One of the major areas to look at it is the print infrastructure. This is the area where Canon is the technology leader and continues to innovate and deliver what it promises to its customers, said Mr. Kensaku Konishi, President & CEO- Canon India.

In phase-I, Canon India would be partnering with its customers to optimize their print management. In the second phase which may be a year later Canon India would take lead in adding input site which covers digitization of hard copies, archival, indexing, retrieval and workflow to provide end to end document imaging solutions. These would ensure minimal paper usage and flow within the organization to bring higher efficiency in speed.

Speaking on the Occasion, Mr. Alok Bharadwaj, Senior Vice President- Canon India, “With our core technology strength in digital imaging, we are present across complete business product categories of printers, copiers, faxes, MFDs, high speed scanners, Cheque scanners, large format printers & digital presses. We have also introduced various software solutions which are device neutral. Our 10 years of experience in deploying 250 direct sales & service teams has prepared us to move to next higher orbit of offering comprehensive document management & consultancy”.

“Canon has formed a new business group of MPS-Managed print services, where key account managers are being developed as consultants capable of undertaking large scale projects involving print health check ups, designing optimal fleet, deploying & helping clinets monitor & manage entire process of printing more effectively”, Mr. Bharadwaj added.

Before this announcement, Canon carried out Round table meetings with 21 CIOs of large enterprises from various verticals to understand their immediate and long term pain areas. This helped in aligning the offerings & internal organization.

During last six months, Canon has signed up with 3 enterprises with multicity & multi location operations deploying hardware & software solutions. Canon also plans to leverage its global software development centre based in India apart from tie ups with leading solution providers in developing customized document solutions.

Towards this

The entire success of such a deployment is pivoted around convenience and change management for that end user who would in the end use these multifunctional devices on daily basis. Canon understands this as a critical aspect towards such a deployment and has well established processes in place to help enterprises overcome these hurdles.

In the second phase, the strategy is to help enterprises look beyond printing devices and navigate the surplus flow of information in a cost effective manner.

About Canon Inc

With total revenue of about US $ 45 billion in 2008, Canon Inc. is a global leader in photographic and digital imaging solutions. Its global network now employs some more than 165000 people. Five Technology ‘imaging’ engines of Optical, Electro photography, Bubble Jet, Semiconductor and Display drive Canon’s cutting-edge technology products. Canon is the world leader in office automation and digital imaging technologies. The company is dedicated to the advancement in technology and innovation and commits 8% of its total revenue each year to R&D. Canon is ranked 36th on the Best Global Brands for the second consecutive year in Business Week's 100 Best Global Brands 2008 and 189th on the Fortune Global 500 in year 2008. Canon has consistently remained as one of the top 3 companies to have earned the most number of patents over the last decade. Guided by its kyosei philosophy, which focuses on "living and working together for the common good”, Canon delivers high performance and user-friendly products and solutions to improve efficiency both in the office and home environment. More information is available on www.canon.com.

Canon’s product portfolio extends over a vast variety of photocopiers, multi-functional peripherals, fax-machines, printers, scanners, All-in-ones, digital cameras, camcorders and multi media projectors, cable id printers, semi conductors and card printers.

Canon in India

Canon India Pvt. Ltd. is a 100% subsidiary of Canon Singapore Pvt. Ltd., a world leader in imaging technologies. Set up in 1997, Canon India markets over 140 comprehensive range of sophisticated contemporary digital imaging. The company today has offices in 7 cities, warehouses in 11 cities across India and employs over 700 people. Canon products are available in over 300 towns in India. Overall Canon’s presence is expected to increase to 4000 outlets by December 2009.

Canon India closed 2008 with revenue of Rs. 665 crores, which marked 31% growth over 2007. Overall, Canon expects to touch revenue of more than 800 crores in 2009.






Monday, August 3, 2009

Oki Data CEO To Exit Company - After 12 Years - Sights "204 mile" Commute as a Factor


"I actually began this discussion with senior management in late September 2008 and we finalized a transition plan this past March," Krentzman said. "While I will miss the people here at Oki Data Americas, my 204-mile daily commute to the office is something I will not miss."

In a letter sent to Oki employees, Krentzman said, "We have remained true to our selling strategy, utilizing solution providers as our basis for growing our business..."
-------

DOTC - Not sure how this development will influence the Oki Managed Print Services program. Most likely this will have no effect at all.

The article here.



Contact Me

Greg Walters, Incorporated
greg@grwalters.com
262.370.4193