Managed Print Services(MPS)

[jneezy2008]

Our dealership is just getting into managing entire printer fleets for customers. Meaning, we will not only manage the copiers we've sold them but we will also manage all of their printers(HP, Dell, Lexmark, etc). This allows the customer to have just one thing to focus on, their business. It also enables us to monitor our competitors equipment in the office to determine volume and many other things.

This seems to be the way the copier market is going. Selling just hardware is a dying breed anymore.

I'd like to know:
Who out there is also doing this?
What software are you using?(PrintFleet, FMAudit, Konica Minolta opt-Workflow, Kyocera FASTtrack, PrintAudit, etc).
How well is it working for you?

[jimmy]

We're about to get into the same sort of stuff you mentioned. Have you decided on an auditing package yet?

Curious to hear what you've found.

[jneezy2008]

I've researched Konica Minolta's opt-Workflow a little bit. It's built off of PrintFleet which is expensive but they seem to be the Cadillac of managed print fleet software.
I've been looking a lot in to FMAudit(www.fmaudit.com) and recently discovered one call Labrador(www.labradorsolutions.com). I really like FMAudit. It's got all the features we NEED but I have no idea about price yet.
We're ready to do some demos of each. Once we do I'll update the post.

[LNorris]

Kyocera has partnered with FMAudit.

we just signed up with it.

[KenB]

You're on the money with fleet management being the way to go.

It's profitable for you, while at the same time being a HUGE cost savings for the customer.

On top of all that, now you are no longer a commodities broker, as you are when you only sell boxes. That means that you are more ingrained with the customer's daily workflow, and that makes it much more difficult to be replaced by the lowest bidder when contracts come up for renewal.

It's a win-win for everybody.

[unisys12]

Being a Savin Dealer, we use Ricohs @Remote. We have the system embedded in all our MFP's, but we can also use a Gate (linux thin client) that can monitor entire print fleets. Small investment up front for the dealer and a very cheap price for the customer.

We don't change anything for our embedded systems and less than $100 a month for a gate.

[KenB]

Just wondering... How many of our dealerships are offering Facilities Management services, where employees from your dealership actually run the customers mail room and print center, as well mange the fleet?

That is normally our most stable and predictable department.

For a while, our office was doing all heavy printing and mailing hospital statements for a local major hospital, right in our building. When their need grew to a point where we didn't have enough room anymore, we moved that operation off site.

Thanks!

[Kopyrtek]

Your about in the same boat as we are.Have had webinars with Fm audit,Labrador and with Lexmark.All are offering the same thing with a different feel to the operating system.But,only Fm audit offers the ability to capture the local printer and get you the info you need to capture ALL of the account.About to pitch the FM audit system to the CEO n about a week.Let you know how it works out

[jneezy2008]

LNorris, we are a Kyocera dealer and have been looking at FastTRACK. How is it working out for you?

[jneezy2008]

FM Audit seems to be really robust, especially the way is collects meter readings from USB connected printers. It can even collect meter readings without installing ANYTHING! That's great for the customers that are super paranoid.

[Kopyrtek]

Just to update.Labrador has come out and offered a lower monthly rate with a lower machine count.For $100 a month we can get 500 machines on the system with no money upfront.A lot better than the 1250 most have as a minimum.30 day free trial coming up.Will post what i find oout from the demo.

[Kopyrtek]

About to do the free trial with Labrador and Printtracker.Will post back after the trial period and let you know

[mjarbar]

Hello all,

We are looking at uniFLOW as it is supposed to be 100% Canon integrated and will also interface with 90% of the other makes out there.

What we have found though is that companies seem reluctant to put it on there network. It seems to be a mixture of 'will this put me out of a job', 'what other info is it getting', and 'will it bugger up the network?'

Even when you have answred all of their questions and allayed their fears they still drag their feet to do anything, even though it will save them money!!!

[jneezy2008]

About to do the free trial with Labrador and Printtracker.Will post back after the trial period and let you know

Kopyrtek, you get the Labrador trial after sitting through a demo?
I've had to do a Google search for Printtracker. I'll be checking that out too.

[Kopyrtek]

Suppose to be getting the info on username and password today.Hope to install it in the customers site next week.Let it run the month of August and see how it does.One of the sales guys is going to use the printtracker software on another customer and we will compare notes at the end of the month.
Go to printtracker.net.That one will pick up local printers as well as networked printers.But i think it hass to be put on the computer the local printer is attached to