-
Know That Implementing Managed Print
Services (MPS) Is a Work in Progress: Managed print services are not
something you buy and install, but rather a life cycle that you engage in to
gradually optimize a diverse and fragmented environment.
-
Assemble
the Right Team: Focus on change management and governance by engaging IT,
facilities and line-of-business owners early.
-
Balance RFP Criteria Among Device, Process
and Management Criteria: Vendor selection should highlight key business
drivers beyond cost and standard service-level agreement (SLA) goals.
-
Emphasize Print Policy Software: While policies
for color printing get all the attention, the most dramatic savings can occur
with global settings for duplex printing.
-
Avoid Billing Surprises: It's bad
enough getting the bill, but it's even worse if you can't understand it. Firms
should question providers about how billing works — particularly for global
initiatives.
-
Don't Fall for Fluffy Treatment of
Environmental Requirements: Make suppliers provide specific data on their
environmental approach and focus on reducing pages printed, as this has by far
the highest environmental impact.
-
Carefully Weigh Your Pricing Options: While
all managed print services have some price per image (PPI) component, there's
no "one size fits all."
-
Beware of Color: Users can get hooked
on color printing, which will have higher PPI rates and can erode projected
savings.
-
Resist the Tendency to Rush the Assessment
Phase: Assessment sets critical goals such as realistic user-to-device
ratios, as well as key metrics to monitor and improve service.
-
Get Ahead of Compliance and Security: It's
only a matter of time before auditors focus on security and compliance holes in
the office environment.
CRAIG LE CLAIR is a
principal analyst at Forrester Research, where he serves business process
professionals. He will be speaking at Forrester's Business Process and Application
Delivery Forum, October 7-8, in
Washington, D.C.
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