Research and Markets has announced the addition of the Managed Print Services: 2008 Market Report report to their offering. This report provides the definitive analysis of the Managed Print Services (MPS) market including key market trends, volumes, key competitor profiles, and MPS decision maker dynamics. The report covers North America and Western Europe.
Market Dynamics
How hard can it be to define managed print services? Interestingly, the term has evolved over the years in the printing and imaging industry, and it means different things to different people. This is due mainly to the continued convergence of technology, particularly digital and analog technologies. In past years, the copier model was a ‘labor-intensive’ support model, copiers were not on the network, and the financial arrangements were managed on a cost per page arrangement. In those days, copier services were managed by the facilities departments and management of the fleet was mainly done as an overseeing of a contract.
Digital printers were invented in the ‘70s and were eventually connected to the networks. IT departments were able to manage the fleets by remote management tools like Xerox CentreWare or HP’s Jetadmin (now called HP Web Jetadmin). From an IT perspective, “managing the fleet” had to do with tools to install and manage the drivers, configuring the printers, IP addresses, etc.
By the early ‘90s most companies had developed printing, fax, and copy (collectively called hardcopy) environments that were highly fragmented with multiple decision makers for different hardcopy devices, a widely distributed printer environment with some purchasing even taking place at the individual or department level, spiraling printing costs with the total cost of hardcopy often exceeding 3% of a company’s total revenues, and a lack of software and management tools to bring the fleets and hardcopy costs under control. At the same time, a few firms were finding ways to improve basic business processes by implementing streamlined document workflows, which leveraged new Multifunction Printer (MFP) technology. It was at this time that hardcopy vendors began selling the concept of Managed Print Services (MPS) to their largest enterprise customers.
Now we have ‘evolved’ to 2008 where there are a myriad of MPS offerings and services. The question now becomes what is meant when someone says MPS. The Photizo Group defines MPS as ‘outsourcing’ the hard and/or softcopy document management functions.
The key market dynamics have come together to help create the need for managed print services.
The key dynamics are:
Adoption of MFP technology – MFP’s have become ubiquitous in corporate America by bridging the gap between copier and printer technology. In addition, MPS-based products have become the on/off ramp enabler for new workflow applications which are the foundation of many potential business process optimization efforts.
Changing customers – Decision-making is being consolidated into a single organization, either IT or Facilities/Purchasing.
Shifting channels – IT and copier dealers are competing for the same customers and the result is declining margins. It is no longer feasible to be a ‘box pusher’ any longer, and as a result firms see offering MPS programs as a way to improve profitability and to capture market share. Customers now have a wide variety of options for implementing MPS programs, including utilizing local or national dealers or by utilizing a hardcopy vendors direct MPS program.
For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/42391a/managed_print_serv.
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