How the New World of Work is Innovating through Representation

12/26/14

When the American colonists rejected the rule of monarchy, much of the world considered the rebellion doomed to fail. After all, the colonies were young, possessed a small army, and lived under an experimental governing structure. The disobedient rabble—the grassroots—would fall into line once the British military might come to bear. 

Well, we all know how it ended, don’t we? And it all started with those considered to be “at the bottom.”

Fast forward 250 years, and while the discussions of today’s new world of work revolve around information mobility rather than taxation without representation, this idea of grassroots movements driving change is still embedded in our culture.

Today, individuals feel comfortable reaching out directly to C-suite executives of major companies or organizing and managing global conversations and events via social media platforms. In today’s transformative digital world, people have the same access to the same information as everyone else around them – anywhere, anytime. It’s an even playing field of knowledge and accessibility that did not exist at any prior point in our history.

Merry Christmas...2014

Yes, I know, its WHAM!

This real old skool funny music stuff cracks me up.

The song came out in 1986: 24-25 years ago.

Right about the time most of the experts were just getting into MPS - right?

LOL!

Merry Christmas -

Words Of Power: The Difference Between Product and Service

When I first saw this video, I immediately recognized the difference between selling product and providing a service.  I saw it in the lady who changed his value proposition from

"I am blind. Please help." 

to

"It's a beautiful day and I can't see it."

A simple variance.  Not a lie and if anything, the purest of content; without spin and heavy in perspective.

How are you presenting your value proposition?  Are you true to you - at a deeper level - or are you simply forwarding, "We sell managed print services"?




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Xerox Sells IT Outsourcing

During a Friday announcement, French IT company Atos SE revealed it is purchasing Xerox's IT outsourcing business in a deal reportedly valued at $1.05 billion in cash.

From an October 2009 statement regarding the ACS acquisition:

"...Xerox executives say the IT outsourcing portion of the ACS buy is integral to expanding the company's BPO offerings. "The lines between document outsourcing, BPO and ITO are blurring," says Paul Hartley, Xerox's vice president of corporate business strategy. "In fact, a robust IT infrastructure is paramount if it is to serve as the backbone of a BPO operation."

“Atos is a company with whom we’ve had a long relationship in several capacities. Selling the ITO business to Atos gives our clients around the globe an expanded, world-class suite of IT capabilities that complement Xerox’s industry leading BPO and document outsourcing solutions.” said Ursula Burns, Xerox’s chairman and CEO. “This transaction is another step in our ongoing portfolio management strategy and increases our focus on those areas where we can deliver the most value and expertise to our clients”.

What does this mean?

For the trenches, not much.  In a larger sense, Xerox is now able to focus on document based BPO and Document Outsourcing.  Xerox ITO services is was part of the ACS acquisition back in 2009:

The deal looks to be good for both Xerox and Atos; opening the US IT outsourcing market to Atos and allowing Xerox to collaborate with Atos and present Document BPO services to current clients.




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The Beginning of Managed Print Services Media: 2010'ish(?)

When you hear people say things like, "We've been promoting managed print services since the very beginning..." or "Our web-services are the best because we come out of your industry..." or even "We've been there, we've sold MPS and know what you need in lead generation, keyword utilization, and PPC programs. We've been in social media from the very beginning..." remember this video.

That's Ken Stuart and me on the banks of the San Antonio, right after a thrill-packed day of MPS pioneers at Photizo II.   The attendees were a collection of "cutting edge" MPS'rs and a great time was had by all.

"I blog because I like to read what I blog..." - GW

Ken and I were there, guess who wasn't.  The crusty old guys who today consider themselves oracles of marketing.  The self-proclaimed experts of all things "managed" - from printers, users, workflow to IT services (nobody but the uninitiated refer to managed services as "managed network services") are those who mocked MPS back in 2009.

This was then. This is now.

• How is your web presence going today?  
• Do you have a solid ROI?  
• Are you transforming your business away from copiers?  
• Are you that bold?
• Then why is your presence the same as everybody else?

I've put together a constellation of luminaries primarily focused on your success.  We've sold toner, copiers, paper, printers, MPS, MS, service, EDM, and fax servers.  

Just like you, we've struggled with EAutomate, incorrect meter readings, and billing, OEM quotas, and tardy service technicians.  We understand you don't have the time to understand or worry if your web team can translate your value proposition into a solid web presence.

Behold and be regaled:

Cool links:

"FOR IT PROVIDERS: MANAGED PRINT SERVICES COULD BE THE 24TH CHROMOSOME"

"I SAW MANAGED PRINT SERVICES FUTURE AND ITS NAME IS BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN."

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Things I Love About the Copier Industry - 2014

One night at the bar, while attending the MWAi Executive Summit, I was in a rather animated discussion about women in the industry and your MPSA.

a remarkable aspect of the copier industry is how some men regard some women.

During the conversation when I mentioned out loud, "The Managed Print Services Association", one of the more elderly industry participants replied, "Managed Print Services Assholes" as he walked away.

Photizo Speaks: Voice Controlled Print? Oh, good grief...

I'm one of their biggest fans, rooting all the way

I just listened to Photizo's, "9 Predictions for 2015" webinar:

#1.  Photizo just came off their European event
#2.  Interesting
#3.  HP and Canon have been breaking up ever since HP cancelled all those orders in 2009
#4.  Agreed and not only ink.
#5.  What the WHAT?
#6.  Well, they've got clients with NDA's right?  Name, names!  I will - EPSON.
#7.  We've helped end-users design and implement self-managed MPS for a while now.  They use applications like PrinterLogic and Cirrato.  They don't want Printaudit, Printsolv or people who want to sell them more printers/copiers.
#8.  Return?
#9.  Nail has been struck on the head.  Yes.

The take-aways:

The BTA channel will take a hit, finding more consolidation or outright attrition as more and more end-users bypass the salesie, sales people and go direct to the subscription model.  The power is now in the hands of the client as they will are empowered to reduce the number of printers, copiers and toner cartridges they purchase while transitioning into a paperless world.

All without us.

Photizo is out on a limb, but when you think about it, they've always been. Is there anywhere else they should be?

Kudos.