If your business is considering moving from traditional printer management to a modern Managed Print Service (MPS), there are a few key elements to look for. While competitive pricing is always a priority, not all print services are equal, and it pays to ensure you understand exactly what you are getting.

Usage Monitoring and Reporting

A good MPS will have a clear plan for monitoring printer usage in your office and will provide reporting to support sound decisions about your service requirements. With modern printers, the amount of data they capture makes it easier than ever to understand exactly how your printers are being used.

Talk to your provider about the types of data and reports they can provide regularly. Information such as utilization and downtime, total number of jobs (pages) printed, as well as the breakdown of types of printing, such as paper size, and mono or full color printing, can help you make accurate business decisions when it comes to defining your printing requirements.

Streamlined Procurement Processes

Managed Print Services enable businesses to simplify procurement of printing hardware and consumables. You may not realize it, but the administrative burden of managing multiple printing solutions, brands, and technologies across your organization can add up. A good Managed Print Service will offer a simple way to scale your printing technology requirements and ensure you always have the right supplies on hand, minimizing downtime.

Simple Servicing and Support

Printing hardware and the components required to operate it are only part of the equation when assessing the true cost of maintaining a printer fleet. Another significant expense to consider is the cost of servicing and supporting printers when issues arise. While routine maintenance and servicing can be easily planned, the cost of emergency repairs or maintenance is largely unknown and can accumulate over time. In addition, the cost of lost productivity and reduced utilization is another factor to consider when assessing the true cost of printing in your business.

The benefit of Managed Print Services is that all this complexity is managed for you, and your printing costs are more transparent and more advantageous for your business.