‘Rethinking MPS: The independent approach’ showcases how independent providers will reshape the Managed Print Services market

Manchester, UK – 15 November 2011 – The emergence of independent managed print services (MPS) provides organisations with access to best-of-breed hardware, software solutions and multivendor support and service according to Quocirca in a report “Rethinking MPS: The independent approach” available for free download.
John Taylor
John Taylor

The report authored by senior analyst at Quocirca, Louella Fernandes, reveals that as the MPS market evolves beyond the exclusive domain of large enterprises, independent providers promise to widen the penetration of MPS to midmarket organisations that are looking for flexible, enterprise-class MPS capabilities.

M2, the UK’s leading independent managed print IT services company, and Supplies Team Solution commissioned the paper for an independent view of the MPS market to showcase the benefits independent vendors can provide to a business. These include independent, diverse and comprehensive expertise, reduced and predictable costs, improved service quality, reduced IT burden, enhanced productivity and security and reduced environmental impact.

Fernandes commented, “IT departments struggle with print management challenges – providing reliable print services that meet organisational expectations while containing operational costs. IT staff frequently need to integrate diverse, multivendor print environments across disparate, geographically dispersed user groups. This is compounded by the need to ensure the availability of anytime, anywhere printing to address the needs of today’s dispersed workforce of mobile or remote workers.”

Quocirca research shows that this has prompted many businesses to move to a managed print service to ensure more efficient and effective print infrastructure operation and management– from the office to the print room.

Fernandes continues, “The market landscape for MPS providers has never been more competitive –or more complex. Seeking to differentiate their services and boost customer satisfaction, emerging MPS providers are taking a ‘best-of-breed’ vendor-agnostic approach. By retaining the flexibility to add devices from multiple vendors, independent MPS providers have the freedom to innovate with the latest technology and introduce new capabilities, without being dependent on any single incumbent printer or copier supplier.”

The report shows that spiralling costs, compliance concerns and sustainability initiatives are pushing many organisations to review the management of their print infrastructure. The choice of provider will depend on the MPS maturity roadmap for each organisation. Those that wish to avoid a rip-and-replace approach and are looking to leverage existing investments in a mixed device fleet should consider an independent MPS provider.

John Taylor, CEO, M2 said, “This report showcases the need for independent MPS players in the market to support the mid-to-large corporate market. Businesses looking into MPS should review independent providers as OEMs tend to be very product-centric; advising companies to throw away existing devices even if they’ve only just been replaced. Plus flexibility in pricing isn’t always available. They will also push the brand they are working for which is not always the right product.”

Taylor concluded, “An independent, fully assessed and customised MPS solution is the most cost-effective ways for organisations to get the more out of their print environment. Cost savings, comprehensive expertise, impressive service quality, reduced IT burden enhanced productive and security are all benefits we can provide businesses.”

To download the whitepaper or learn more about M2’s independent MPS approach click here.