Friday, June 25, 2010
Friday Fun Video - Yeah, its old skool, and schlocky - but Summer Friday...
I know there are tons of metaphors in here, somewhere. And I know that there is a way to connect this with MPS - somehow.
Enjoy.
Managed Print Services: "I'm From the Government and I'm here to Help - give me your hard drive."
In a recent article, "Legislation proposed to protect consumer information and prevent identity theft in New Jersey" by TOM HESTER SR., NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
"State Sen. Bob Smith and Assembly woman Linda Greenstein (both D-Middlesex) Tuesday unveiled legislation designed to attempt to combat identity theft by requiring the hard drives of all digital copy machines to be wiped clean in order to protect sensitive, personal information, which is stored on each machine, in some cases in perpetuity and unbeknownst to consumers..."
In my opinion, we don't need anymore legislation. I don't see where or even if, copier manufactures are going to be held to some level of responsibility.
"State Sen. Bob Smith and Assembly woman Linda Greenstein (both D-Middlesex) Tuesday unveiled legislation designed to attempt to combat identity theft by requiring the hard drives of all digital copy machines to be wiped clean in order to protect sensitive, personal information, which is stored on each machine, in some cases in perpetuity and unbeknownst to consumers..."
In my opinion, we don't need anymore legislation. I don't see where or even if, copier manufactures are going to be held to some level of responsibility.
Monday, June 21, 2010
SIGMANET, INC. ACHIEVES HP PARTNERONE ELITE STATUS FOR FIFTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR
Office Printing Solutions Elite Partner Status with HP Provides SIGMAnet the Foundation to Deliver Clients Measureable Business Value
Los Angeles, CA – June 21, 2010 - SIGMAnet, Inc., an HP PartnerONE Elite Partner, today announced it has maintained its Elite membership status with HP for a fifth consecutive year. SIGMAnet met stringent technical and sales training requirements to maintain its status and join a select group of HP partners as an Office Printing Solutions (OPS) Elite partner in North America.
“We are proud to be recognized by HP as one of only a handful of partners throughout the country to earn the Elite status,” states Ahmed Al-Khatib, owner and founder of SIGMAnet.
OPS Elite partners are highly skilled in providing HP imaging and printing products and solutions, and managed print services (MPS), improving customers’ overall efficiencies in printing and imaging infrastructure optimization, and management and document workflow. The Elite status recognizes SIGMAnet’s consultative approach to solving business problems with industry experts who are skilled in simplifying complex printing and imaging solutions.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Managed Print Services: Its Not an Industry, Its a LifeStyle. Just Like Cars and Freedom.
Between one quarterly review and a MPS Planning meeting, I need to grab some grub.
In the middle of Norco, California I find a Japanese steak house, Sushi and all. Interesting tid-bits about Norco; its name is a combination of the words "North and "Corona" - Norco. Norco has no sidewalks, as it is a Horse town - the horses don't like sidewalks. And yes, there is a bar with an actual, hitching post out front.
While sitting in this Japanese eatery, in the midst of "western town, USA", watching the World Cup, and enjoying a spicy tuna roll, this comes on the tube.
Even though the sound was muted, I gotta huge kick of it.
An early 4th of July gift:
See the making off, here.
Click to email me.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
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.
Click to email me.
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.
Click to email me.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
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