Successful businesses are built from strong, profitable partnerships.
In any area, your choice of vendor has a dramatic impact on your cost, operations, and overall efficiency. Given the millions of dollars companies spend on paper each year, it only makes sense to select a managed print services (MPS) partner who understands your needs and can truly optimize your printing ecosystem.
As MPS becomes an increasingly popular option for businesses seeking a competitive edge, let’s break down key considerations for selecting the best-fit managed print solutions partner for your company.
Managed print services (MPS) are offerings that assess, streamline, and manage an organization’s print fleet, including printing devices and accessories, usability, and data security. The goal is to optimize printing usage, lower ongoing costs, improve productivity, and reduce the risk of data security issues.
When it comes to MPS, one size certainly doesn’t fit all. Different organizations have various sizes, organizational structures, data access needs, and regulatory requirements—all of which a good partner would need to deeply understand.
If printing equipment is so important, why not keep the management of it in-house? The task of maintaining printing, coping, and imaging devices is time consuming and expensive. In fact, companies can save up to 30% by outsourcing managed print services.
With a range of services offered under the umbrella of managed print services, it’s critical to consider your business type, industry, integration needs, current printer fleet, and more as you search for an MPS partner that will enhance and grow with your operations.
The costs associated with poorly managed printing can stack up fast. One recent study estimated that as much as 3% of a company’s annual revenue is eaten up by printing expenses. If you factor in hidden costs, this percentage can increase significantly.
Assessing current printing needs and anticipating future growth is crucial for any organization seeking a managed print partner. This proactive approach ensures that the chosen partner can tailor solutions to match the organization's requirements both now and in the future.
SymQuest excels in assisting organizations with these assessments through comprehensive consultations and assessments:
Not all managed print providers are created equal. Finding the best fit MSP partner requires considering key factors based on their offerings and your specific business needs.
Experience with MPS, and experience with your business type and within your industry is key. Ask for references, evaluate their history working with other companies, and research their reputation in your industry and beyond. Are their previous clients satisfied with the services provided? Did the MPS solutions deliver as contracted?
Managed Print Services refer to a suite of services. Consider what your organization needs and see if your proposed partner offers them, like device management, proactive maintenance, supply management, and more.
In order to optimize time and money, MPS solutions need to be customized to your organization’s needs. Ask your potential MPS partner what tools they use to evaluate your current printing, scanning, and document management costs. Inquire how analytics will be used to make decisions about best solutions at contract initiation and throughout the partnership.
It’s important that the introduction of MPS services enhances your existing IT infrastructure. Gauge whether your potential MPS partner can integrate their services into your existing workflow and evaluate compatibility.
Beyond assessment and setup, how will a prospective MPS partner service your organization on an ongoing basis? When problems arise, how does the partner address them, and on what timeline?
Will your prospective MPS partner be able to grow as your business grows? Consider your future needs and evaluate whether the MPS partner will be able to adapt to accommodate your requirements for potential growth.
If sustainability is important to your business, the MPS partner you select should also value these efforts. Beyond printing and scanning, understand a potential MPS partner’s ability to leverage cloud services and efforts to reduce overall printing and enhance overall efficiency through things like recycling and waste reduction.
The beauty of managed print solutions is that they come in many forms and can be tailored to your business needs. From robust print security and customization to sustainability and scalability, a strategic managed print services partnership will be a springboard for your business operations and a relief for your bottom line.
Interested in what SymQuest might be able to do for you? Print environment assessments, workflow assessments, and print monitoring–we can do it all. Talk to a Managed Print Services specialist to get started today.