Will the real MPS please stand up!

The more I look the more I am coming to the belief that the number of companies that actually understand what a real MPS is are very, very few.


From my own research I find a huge number of people talking about and offering to provide an MPS service but when you lift the lid what you find is still a simple 'pay for page' or ‘click charge’ offering with nothing else behind it but wrapped in some nice MPS marketing.

When are we going to get some sort of clear understanding that to provide an MPS you have to be able to fully understand not only the print side (hardware, supplies and service) but also the network side (drivers, operating systems, help desk support, desk side support at a network and local level) The document side (applications, document management, scan to archive, business document process, work flow), the user side (Accessibility, functionality, habits, wants, needs, wishes, emotions), The Finance side (reduced purchasing resources, full visibility of all services, audited cost savings, comprehensive SLA’s covering guaranteed cost savings with planned future reduction in print volumes and costs, planned annual device rightsizing over the contract period and simplified exit stratagy) and most important of all help, guidance and support to integrate the print (MFP) platforms into the clients business processes to increase efficiency and cost effectiveness of all paper or digital document workflow.

This requires the provider (and the client) to have a full understanding of where they are, where they want to be and how they intend to get there.

To use a well known saying, “An MPS engagement should be a long and profitable journey (for both parties) not just a final destination”.