The Final Definition of Managed Print Services...for now.

Ok. This is not a tease.

We here at Death Of The Copier are making a stand.

Staking our claim, drawing a line in the sand.

Here is my definition of Managed Print Services, as of today, March 23, 2010,

"...the act of managing components and processes associated with moving, saving and presenting information in the form of documents..."

...and the crowd goes crazy...well, at least the crowd smiles, brightly...on a beach...somewhere in SoCali.

Here is my take on the definition.

The Managed Print Services Universe is large enough to include all of the parts in the MPS Ecosystem - hardware to software; single function devices to third party toner; from paper supplier to lease company; from remote monitoring to invoicing workflow. It is all here in MPS, and so much more.

More importantly, as we on the inside of the industry struggle to define what it is we can make money with, some of us may be forgetting the prospect, the customer.

After all, isn't MPS suppose to be all about the Client, not about us?

Some say, MPS is simply about "print". I know, I know, its right there in the moniker.

But if we hang our future on the 'P' we are doomed.

Just ask the current pool of unsatisfied copier/printer/output dealers failing with MPS.

And yes ~ it does have a tinge of oldskool and includes EDM.

This definition works; it doesn't tie you to the print, but includes the print.

When using this, your clients and prospects will respond favorably and won't hear "copier" or "printer" so you are not pigeon holed into an equipment and CPI competitive battle.

Your assessments will naturally expand beyond volumes and supplies cost.

This definition can be used by toner folks, copier guys, wide format, FM, software, printer resellers, leasing companies, paper suppliers AND IT VARs.

But the most important aspect: I have been asking PROSPECTS and CLIENTS what they think of it. Market testing, as it were.

I tell them, and then I ask them, what does it mean to them.

Most shrug and say, "... you manage all my processes and units around my information..." - perfect.

One more time - Managed Print Services is,

"...the act of managing components and processes associated with moving, saving and presenting information in the form of documents..."

Inclusive...not exclusive. Brief. Succinct, and Tweetable.

Definition settled.

There. Now we can be friends.

Let us hold hands and frolic amongst the waves, shall we?







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Oce REBRANDS Their Current Fleet Management program into Managed Print Services

This is like updating your online Profile.

Well, at least Oce is being honest about it.

In a press release, today, Oce announced Oce MPS, a rebranded version of the company's current Oce Universal Fleet Management service.

"The new offering provides enterprises with optimized utilization of document output equipment, better control of document-related expenses and improved operating efficiency. The net impact is a marked reduction in the total cost of office print/copy, which is estimated at three percent of revenue according to such industry analysts as Gartner, IDC and InfoTrends..."

Oce's stated, idea of a Successful Managed Print Service:

"...Successful Managed Print Service solutions should include a comprehensive assessment of current and future document production output that is aligned with a customized migration strategy for managed print. Staff training and equipment optimization to reduce costs and curb inefficiency are also components of a solid managed print plan. An optimized fleet configuration and effective ongoing management can reduce costs as much as 30%.

MPS Goals:

Improve multi-brand fleet performance and ultimately standardize the fleet

Separate underutilized from cost-efficient systems

Calculate true cost of ownership

With proper managed print, companies receive the resources needed to better control document process operations and expenses. By assessing existing devices relative to the print trends of the organization, it is then possible to redeploy existing assets and achieve a better ROI.

There are many cost-saving strategies inherent in MPS.

Some of those can include:

Route document production jobs to the most efficient device to reduce costs
Encourage document sharing by establishing departmental charge-backs for the cost of printing..."

See it all here.



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Lexmark on the Block? Bank of America speculates "Yes"

Once again, there are rumors of Lexmark's demise.

3/2010

Oki? Sharp? Brother?

Who shall woo the Lex?

Trading at a 52 week high, the Kentucky based printer manufacture looks to be a good LBO candidate.

Last year, the stock was settling around $15 a share. On Tuesday, it closed at $36.82, up 5.53 percent.

The fact that the stock is trading at its 52-week high makes it attractive.

"These types of deals occur at market tops," said Tom Carpenter, vice president and senior equity analyst at Hilliard Lyons in Louisville.

Carpenter also noted that Lexmark has significantly improved its printers over the past couple of years and focused on segments in which people print more.

Lexmark's market capitalization is close to $3 billion.

And with their focus away from consumer and more towards B2B, they have made some inroads and may be attractive to a more financially sound, tier II player.

Lexmark eyed as takeover candidate

Lexmark Advances on Talk It May Be an LBO Candidate

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More Copier Crime and Schools: Jefferson Parish, The Big Easy

'...The school system is getting fleeced by these copy people," board member Mark Morgan said, referring to what school officials estimate is more than $600,000 in copy machine overcharges over the past five years..."

Board President Gene Katsanis thinks that schools might have lost as much as $1 million on their copier contracts over the past 15 years.

He and others want to hear from principals who signed leases for the machines without authorization.

"Some of the principals are telling me they are in dire straits over the copy situation," Katsanis said.

"Some of them can't pay the bills, and they never will be able to pay the bills.

The situation down in Louisiana, sums up like this:

For decades, school principals had been initiating and signing copier contracts for their school.

Each school individually driving the purchasing process reportedly the principals "did not have authority" to sign the leases.

Although there is a state approved vendor/manufacture list, principals where sourcing from one of six, separate, local dealers.

This past summer, it was "discovered" that the schools were paying too much for copiers and overages.

One of the suppliers, Bell Office Machines, did a quick analysis of the current purchasing procedures - this analysis should not be confused with a MPS study.

Mr. Poole, owner of Bell, promptly reported to one of the board members, Ray. St. Pierre, his findings: "They can't get out of the leases," Poole said. "School after school is locked into tons of money."

"The agreements that principals had been signing for their own schools' copiers typically had non-cancellable clauses, lasted five years and were re-sold to third-party financing companies, St. Pierre, said.

Supported by these findings and at the recommendation of Mr. St. Pierre, the board required all schools to source future copier leases through a single dealer; coincidentally enough, Bell Office Machines.

It should be noted that Bell Office Machines has been selling copiers to the school system's central office for the past eight years - Eight Years.

While nobody questions Mr. Poole's "findings" - interest is being focused on the relationship between Mr. Poole and Mr. St. Pierre - golfing buddies for the past two years, Mr. St. Pierre reported not knowing what Mr. Poole did for a living until this past summer.

At some point, Mr. Poole struck up a conversation regarding the school district's copiers and Mr. St. Pierre liked what he heard - I imagine this occurring on the 19th green - this no doubt, led to Poole examining the districts practices.

So, not only is there a ruckus over bad copier deals, there is some question as to the shady deal allowing Bell Office Machines to become soul supplier. This deal apparently built upon on a golfing relationship.

Of course, it gets worse.

Further investigation reveals that Poole is a contributor to St. Pierre's political campaign - huh.

"We need to take it out of the hands of the principals," board member Martin Marino said.

"They're ripping us off," Katsanis said of the other vendors. "And I don't want to do business with people who are trying to take advantage of us."

Again, this stuff just can't be made up...delicious!

Sources:

Cut down cost of copiers for Jefferson Parish schools: An editorial

Overcharging, favoritism alleged in Jefferson Parish schools copier contract

Copier controversy continues in Jefferson Parish schools

DOTC stories about Copiers and Crime: Here.


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The 2010 North American MPS Conference, May 3-5 - A Good Time Shall Be Had By All

2010 MPS North American MPS Conference –

Last year was the beginning. About 150 Managed Print Services thought leaders gathered, commiserated and planned; the MPSA was born.

Today, the MPS hurricane is in full gear with dark clouds, wind, and chaos.

It's only been a year, but there are more MPS tools, vendors, compensation models, channel programs, and workflow solutions, one can shake a stick at; which one of these is the best?

What the heck is SharePoint and how is that going to help me sell more MPS?

What exactly does a MPS end user REALLY want? And how can a traditional or Hybrid dealer step up?

For that matter, how do we get appointments and what in the world do we do when we find ourselves in front of a C-Level prospect?

Where can you go for some cover, some answers? Where can you get realistic, sound, field tested MPS advice? Who can help me separate Myth from Reality?

Fear not, the answers lie at the river bend in San Antonio, Texas, this May(3-5th).

Steps from the Alamo, like minded MPS visionaries will walk the halls of Omni La Mansion Del Rio.

Venture with these Titans of MPS, ask them questions directly over hors d'oeuvres in "Battleship Row". Sit wide eyed as your peers pontificate the MPS bleeding edge.

The theme this year is MPS: The Next Stage...

It's all about the Third Stage, "Enhancing the process..."

Most of us equate enhancing business process with EDM or software.

This is true, but is there more?

Oh yes, much, much more, indeed.

Ed and the gang put on a great show last year, this year's will be stellar.

Go here. Register now.



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For IT Providers: Managed Print Services Could be the 24th Chromosome

Some who know me, know that I am a First Person Shooter(FPS) enthusiast - PC Gamer.

From Doom to Quake to Half-Life to Day of Defeat, I have been online gaming since 1999.

A few years back, a movie based on the Doom FPS was released. In spite of the predictable mayhem, and The Rock, it wasn't that bad of a flick - pretty good actually.

In the movie, the remains of an ancient civilization have been discovered on Mars. A humanoid civilization is similar to us except for one distinct difference; they have an extra pair of chromosomes, 24 vs. our 23.

The 24th pair gave this race superhuman abilities - great physical strength, speed, and the ability to heal in minutes versus weeks.

Managed Print Services and Doom? No.

But how about this: Managed Print Services is your 24th chromosome.

At one point in the movie, the hot, female, scientist isolates this chromosome and injects it into her dying brother. He awakes completely healed - faster, stronger - and rips up the bad guys.

Imagine your VAR/Dealership as the shot-up, dying, brother - with 23 chromosomes.