Companies considering managed print services (MPS) should look at the breadth of a vendor's offerings and the strategic direction for future services, according to research firm IDC's recent MPS MarketScape report.
The report, which positions Xerox Corporation as a leader, analyses the growing list of MPS vendors and delivers an overview of competitive fitness.
“The crowded MPS market makes it more difficult for companies to pinpoint exactly what they should be looking for in a provider,” says Michael Orasin, research manager at IDC. “Xerox's high scores in strategic vision and ability to execute indicate that companies seeking MPS want a partner with market experience and depth of approach to ensure the greatest opportunity for tangible results.”
“A well executed MPS program can slash costs up to 30%, increase productivity and improve environmental sustainability - but not all vendors have the ability to deliver on all three,” says Tanya Moodley, marketing director of the Xerox division of Bytes Document Solutions, authorised Xerox distributor to 27 sub-Saharan countries.
Decision-makers should evaluate the following when selecting a supplier:
1. Improved user experience: do they monitor all devices, and proactively solve problems to avoid unnecessary downtime and keep employees productive?
2. Customer service focus: will they help employees adapt to the new technology and work processes with change management programs?
3. Ongoing cost management and accountability: is there a formal reporting process to show business objectives (cost, environmental sustainability, security, and risk compliance) are being met?
4. Multi-vendor approach: do they support equipment from other vendors so clients don't have to replace existing devices with the supplier's brand?
5. Comprehensive offering: is the offering limited to printers within corporate offices, or can it be extended to include in-house print centre and virtual/home worker requirements?
6. Sales and distribution flexibility: is there a single point of contact and a consistent approach to MPS for businesses that span different geographies?
7. Commitment to innovation: Will they collaborate to understand the business and provide innovative ways for employees to work more effectively - beyond simply managing print?
8. Track record: can they provide quality references that demonstrate measurable and sustainable results?
“There are many ways to define and execute MPS - but only Xerox continues to earn industry recognition as the leader because we have a proven approach and an impressive history of delivering results,” says Moodley.
As a leader in MPS, Xerox was first to offer enterprise print services (EPS) to embrace all elements of an organisation's print infrastructure - from the networked office to the in-house print centre to the virtual worker. The IDC MPS MarketScape report distinguishes Xerox for strategic vision and ability to execute with high marks across the report's assessment criteria, including service offering, cost competitiveness, customer service and R&D commitment.
The Xerox MPS portfolio is extended to small and mid-sized businesses through the company's global network of channel partners. With a client list including Fiat, Procter & Gamble, Reuters, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, The Dow Chemical Company and KeyCorp, Xerox is the only MPS provider to monitor as many as 1.5 million devices from multiple vendors around the world.
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Bytes Document Solutions
Bytes Document Solutions, previously known as Xerox South Africa, is a R1.8 billion-a-year company made up of three business components:
* The sole authorised Xerox distributor to 27 sub-Saharan countries;
* The largest South African paper merchant through NOR Paper; and
* Africa's leading digital printing and mailing bureau through LaserCom.
Bytes Document Solutions is recognised as a Level Three Contributor as defined by the Department of Trade & Industry's Codes of Good Practice. In addition, Bytes Document Solutions has been recognised as a Value Adding Supplier, with its customers being able to claim 137.5% of their spend towards their preferential procurement measurement for their own BBEEE status.
Bytes Documents Solutions is a division of Bytes Technology Group South Africa, owned by Altron, with Kagiso Trust Investments as its empowerment partner.
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