A Look at 4 Key Trends in the Continued Evolution of Vendor Managed Print Services

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Despite its mature market status, managed print services (MPS) programs have significantly evolved in recent years with more vendors integrating modern technologies and services to better support today’s organizations. While the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the need for remote and mobile customer support, along with cloud-based zero-infrastructure and zero-trust MPS products, the post-COVID landscape brings a continued need for advanced MPS services and solutions such as process automation, managed IT services, and security services to help businesses augment management of their print devices.

To capitalize on this opportunity, MPS market leaders have forged a path in the direction of advanced MPS, which places an additional emphasis on improving business processes within hardware, supplies, and break/fix contract engagements. Many of today’s MPS vendors lead with a cloud-first development strategy, along with the use of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and advanced data analytics platforms within their MPS programs to glean greater insights on fleet health and performance.

So, let’s take a look at the trends!

• Payment flexibility is key, especially considering factors such as inflation and the varying needs of different organizations. The availability of multiple billing and subscription-based options for MPS customers has become more prevalent—and almost a requirement—for MPS providers. Payment options including flat-rate, as-a-service, per-device, per-page, and per-seat help cater to specific customer preferences.
• Cloud is the future of MPS. Cloud-based solutions and MPS platforms offer a range of benefits compared to expensive and burdensome on-premise print servers. Adopting a cloud MPS strategy enables organizations to reduce costs and increase efficiency and control. MPS print solutions can often be tailored to align with any environment and are scalable to meet future infrastructure goals.

Ricoh CloudStream is a cloud-native, vendor-agnostic print management solution.

• Optimizing workflows are a close adjacency to print. Leading OEM MPS programs have integrated document management and process automation solutions within their offerings to augment or enhance a customer’s digital transformation (DX) journey. These advanced solutions and services provide extended customer support, addressing larger document workflows and processes beyond the MFP.

Xerox Intelligent Document Processing (IDP) capabilities within the Capture & Content Services can manage, process, integrate, and gather insights from unstructured data.

• Managed IT services create new revenue streams for MPS. Many OEMs we covered in the study reported that they support a customer’s broader IT needs and can supply and service laptops, Chromebooks, and other light IT equipment, while others go further to provide full IT infrastructure and security assessments that aim to help optimize IT across an organization.

Keypoint Intelligence Opinion

Today, it is essential for vendor MPS programs to emphasize a consultative and flexible approach inclusive of adjacent products and services that can drive increased productivity and support DX initiatives across a workplace environment. Advanced analytics and predictive maintenance capabilities leveraging AI help businesses enhance their fleet management, drive service efficiencies, and reduce costs.

Looking ahead, it is necessary for MPS providers to offer cloud services, document workflow solutions, process automation, and security services to capture market growth opportunities. Customers are looking for technology partners that provide an end-to-end solution addressing not only their fleet management needs but larger IT infrastructure and business workflows, too.

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