How To Buy Managed Print Services: All the Pretty Packages

June, 2010.

Turning from within, looking out - We on the inside of Managed Print Services:

It isn't All About Us.

One interesting subject that bubbled up during some off-line conversations at the 2010 MPS-Con was, "We need more end user, client, customer involvement and input."

Indeed, during the first face-to-face meeting of the MPSA Board, reaching out to end users was topic we explored.

So it is in this vein, that I present a narrow view of MPS - from the prospects' perspective.

A few points to consider when looking to buy Managed Print Services:

What, exactly, should MPS prospects look for in a provider/partner?

It isn't all that simple.

As difficult as it has been for us to define MPS, discover best practices, establish process and stay profitable it is more challenging for our prospects to understand where they fit into the MPS EcoSystem.

So, if you are looking for a MPS partner, how should you go about it?

IMHO -

1. Determine what you know, and what you don't know.

- Have a rough idea of how many devices you currently use
- Have a rough idea of how you currently support your "fleet". Get use to calling your printers and copiers a "fleet".
- Try and get a feeling for how things are working within your organization, today. How many people are involved in managing your printers, your supplies, your copiers.

2. Get an idea of where you want to go; reduce cost, reduce overhead, make your life easier, etc.

- For example, if ordering toner cartridges for all 135 of your printers is the pain you are looking to relieve, define it.
- Are you looking for cost reduction? Then define what a reasonable savings would be for you.
- Recognize the difference between "hard" and "soft" cost and the impact of each.

3. Consolidate the Decision Process into One Entity

- This one is a bit more difficult, but will cut down on the time it will take for a decision to be made. Either give ALL the decision power to IT or establish an evaluation team of purchasing and IT. This may seem trivial, and will not degrade your process if you do not go in this direction, but for your company to take advantage of a complete MPS Engagement, consolidating the decision entity, is paramount.

What to do and ask, during your meeting with a possible MPS Provider:

1. "What is your Process?"

- This is a good question. Have him answer verbally, without marketing slicks, to start. And then reflect; How comfortable is his presentation? Do his ideas make sense?

2. "Tell me about your assessments."

- As with the "Process" question, what you are looking for here is a clear understanding of how and to what depth this candidate performs assessments. The static data is easy to collect - be prepared to have software loaded onto your network. I would be looking to hear something about "business process" or determining "why certain documents are printed" as well as volumes, paper usage, supply closets, etc.

- If you want to trip him up a bit, ask him why he doesn't charge for his assessments. Is the resulting recommendation worth the price of the assessment?

3. "How do you handle copiers, printers and MFP's in your MPS arrangements?"

- There is no wrong answer. What you are looking for here is honesty, composure and his scope. MPS providers, good ones, understand that they cannot be all things to all people; there are limits. You want to find his.

I feel the basic idea is to look for a partnership, not a vendor. MPS is a very dynamic and wide ecosystem, there are a great many opportunities for cost reduction.

But as the dynamics of business change, most vendors will not keep up.

A partnership is a two-way relationship that is more flexible.

This is what you want in a MPS provider; a partner with vision.

MPS today will not be the same MPS 10 or even 3 years from now. If your MPS partnership can evolve with the changing business and technology environment, that is great.

If your partner is most like not going to evolve into more than simple hardware and supply management - that is fine as well - it is just best you know this, going in.

Again, MPS isn't really brain surgery, it's more like Rocket Science.


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World Cup: Shakira...grrr Baby grrr...

Managed Print Services Association LinkedIn Group Passes 3,000 Members in Less than Eighteen Months

Social networking site plays role in launch of association.

Mount Laurel, NJ – June 9, 2010 – The Managed Print Services Association (MPSA) announced that the MPSA LinkedIn social networking group has passed the 3,000 member mark, reflecting the phenomenal growth of the Managed Print Services (MPS) industry. The site rocketed to 1,000 members shortly after its launch in January 2009, and has experienced steady growth every since. This parallels the growth of the MPS model, and demonstrates the ongoing need for dynamic contact and communication within the MPS community.

Your MPSA Election: Ten Questions For the Candidates: "Consulting" Opening.

This election is heating up, some candidates actively campaigning.

The Managed Print Services Association (MPSA) election is underway for a current opening on the board that will serve a one-year term (May 2010 – May 2011). The open position is for someone in the “Consulting” area which can be defined as "any person working for a research or vendor independent professional services organization, and is not a full time employee of any Manufacturer, Dealer or Industry Logistical/Component provider."

Submitted for your review:

10 Questions from DOTC to all those running.

And by all I mean, Bob Barrette, Fred Berger, Randy Dazo, Merlijn de Vroe, Randy Elliott, Mitchell Filby, Harry Hecht, Steve Juris, Jim Kahrs, Johan Kosters, Steven Power, Gerry Skipwith and Mike Woodard.

DOTC invites all to answer in the form of a comment to this post.

Responses will be unedited.

One detail - EACH ANSWER WILL BE 144 CHARACTERS OR LESS.

The voting is open to MPSA Members.

This should be fun:


1. What is your definition of MPS?
2. Does MPS currently have more in common with Copier or IT Sales?
3. What do you see as the future of MPS?
4. What is the number one benefit your clients receive from working with you?
5. In round numbers, how many clients have you consulted to or trained in, Managed Print Services, as defined in question one?
6. What value will you bring to the members of Your MPSA?
7. When was the last time you proposed, or help propose a MPS solution?
8. Do you belong to any other industry associations? If so, which?
9. What contribution to the MPS industry, do you feel Your MPSA should provide?
10.Who is your hero?

Threw that last one in, just for kicks.


That's it.

10 simple questions, 144 characters for each answer.

Voting procedure and candidate Bio's are here.

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HP Transforms Walmart Photo Departments Nationwide with "Prints in Minutes" Service and Advanced Creative Tools for Customers - Son of Edgeline?

HP retail publishing footprint set to grow 300 percent in 2010

PALO ALTO, Calif., May 20, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- HP (HPQ 45.22, -0.02, -0.04%) today announced that Walmart is rolling out the HP "Prints in Minutes" retail publishing service in 3,600 of its stores across the United States.

By the end of the summer, U.S. customers of the world's largest retailer will be able to take advantage of a fast, high-quality photo print service as well as a broad array of personalized printed merchandise, such as calendars and greetings cards, and access to images from brands such as Nickelodeon, Warner Bros. and Live Nation.

This rollout in Walmart stores, along with incremental growth in other retailers' stores, marks a more than 300 percent growth of HP's global retail publishing presence in 2010. Over the last year, HP has expanded its customer portfolio through agreements with leading retailers such as Tesco, Rossmann, Duane Reade and Kmart Australia.

"Our agreement with Walmart is another milestone in HP's drive to help retailers transition from traditional photo services to dynamic publishing centers," said Vyomesh Joshi, executive vice president, Imaging and Printing Group, HP. "With new customer agreements with many major global retailers, including Tesco, Kmart Australia and now Walmart, we're bringing consumers new opportunities to conveniently print both personal and branded digital content that is meaningful to them."

A better, faster self-serve photo experience

Successful MPS Conference Is Further Validation for Managed Print Services Industry

Conference attendance more than doubles; attendees enthusiastic about program

LEXINGTON, KY – June 4, 2010 – To say the managed print services market is growing would be an understatement. As evidence, consider the powerful participation in the recent MPS Conference hosted by Photizo Group. Attendance more than doubled from the 2009 event, from 135 in 2009, to 290 at the 2010 gathering in San Antonio, TX.

“As one attendee noted, the conference and swelling number of attendees is yet another confirmation that MPS isn’t a sales pitch it’s not just a strategy, it’s THE business strategy for the industry,” said Ed Crowley, CEO of Photizo Group.

MPS Selling Appointment: "This is Turning Out to Be One Hell of a Morning!"

6/2010

It's 8:15 AM.

You are prompt and waiting in the lobby of Galactic RailWorks - fifteen hundred users.

Your appointment is with the CFO.

On the phone, he told you he is not interested in any of those "large, enterprise-level engagements" but wants a local provider who is flexible and will listen.

Great.

Your MPSA 2010 MPS Leadership Awards Winners

The Managed Print Services Association (MPSA) is proud to announce the winners of the 2010 MPS Leadership Awards. Of the 60 different submissions across 53 different organizations in 12 different countries, the MPSA found quite considerable leadership and innovative thinking from all of the submissions.

Based upon the balanced scorecard voting that rated submissions in Core Abilities (30%), Best Practices (30%) and Business Benefits (40%) the following are the top winners in a highly competitive process.

Managed Print Services IS Business Process Optimization

The theme of the 2010 North American MPS Conference was "Change".

Change is pretty certain and if you've been in the MPS arena for the last three years, you have sure seen a lot of it.

For me it looks like we have settled into a good understanding of the first 2 stages of MPS Adaption: Control and Optimize.

There is a huge amount of business and profit nestled into both stages, but I wonder if we are forgetting this is only the beginning.

It is really no surprise that Stage 3 is turning out to be a bit tricky for some to get their minds around.

Indeed, the easiest application of this stage, Enhance the Business process, is traditional EDM packages. If you know the difference between and performed both a document-flow and work-flow analysis, you are waist-deep into EDM/The Third Stage.

In my humble opinion, if all we do is provide supplies and equipment management services, we are not reaching the full, MPS potential.

This is one reason I reject the typical "assessment" - it is mostly, usually, simply an inventory of equipment and a recording of static data around the fleet.

The simple stuff.

What really frosts my fritters is the fact that almost every assessment is, or should be, a business process survey - but most don't see it that way.

The assessment is the cornerstone of every MPS engagement. All too often the engagement starts and STOPS with the assessment.

Don't be afraid of Business Process Optimization, you are probably already walking right by it, during every site assessment you perform.

Memorial Day - Say Thanks to A Vet...

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Citi Reiterates a 'Buy' on Hewlett-Packard (HPQ); Confidence in Near-Term & Long-Term Growth Outlook

May 28, 2010 9:37 AM EDT


Citi reiterates a 'Buy' on Hewlett-Packard Co (NYSE: HPQ), price target $65.

Citi analyst says, "We reiterate a Buy on HP’s shares following a day of meetings with the co’s Imaging and Printing (IPG) management in San Diego. During the meeting, IPG management outlined its strategy for sustained IPG growth beyond the current recovery, with core distributed inkjet and laser printer growth (80-85% of IPG revenue) driven by emerging markets and share gains and non-core growth driven by Managed Print Services (MPS), Commercial/Graphic Arts, retail kiosks and minilabs (2,400 storefronts currently going to ~7000 by year-end) and workflow solutions."

Year Two: Managed Print Services Focuses on Change

Ed posted this over at ChannelWeb, here.

I commented, and then I cut and pasted - enjoy.
--------------------
Ed Crowley
Posted by Ed Crowley on May 28, 2010 1:43:34 PM

The first North American Managed Print Services (MPS) conference was launched in April of 2009 amidst the very ugly depths of the economic crises of 08-09 at a time when other conferences were seeing their attendance fall by 50% or more.

Many skeptics debated whether this would be a huge failure, or at best, moderately successful. Well, the first conference ended with 35% more attendees than planned, tremendous excitement and enthusiasm, and the formation of the Managed Print Services Association (MPSA).