Fuji Xerox is launching Next Generation Managed Print Services (MPS)– moving MPS beyond optimization of the printing environment to evolving services that support clients’ document-related work processes with enhanced security in the mobile and cloud environment.
Next Generation MPS users can effectively and securely obtain required information when and wherever needed. Its service roadmap segments the document-related processes into three stages – assess and optimize, secure and integrate, as well as automate and simplify – to enhance clients’ document-related workflows for smoother communications.
In each stage, the services using new tools can be implemented according to the maturity of the client’s office environment. In addition to operation and management of the printing environment, Fuji Xerox conducts periodic reviews of the services and provides support for further improvement.
Stage 1: Assess and Optimize
Here, Fuji Xerox introduces new analytical tools to optimize the client’s printing environment by capturing the total cost of ownership, user status, power consumption, and so on, to reduce cost and environmental load.
The tools visually present operating status including print volume and operating costs in comparison with other departments or industry standards, and offer what-if scenarios to enhance the work environment. Moreover, it sets management and user policies to establish the best-fit printing environment.
Stage 2: Secure and Integrate
After the client’s printing environment is optimized in Stage 1, the service enhances security and manages printers in various environment – offices, print rooms, mobile and cloud. Specifically, clients can configure detailed printer settings – for example, allocate the upper limit to print in colour by person, or allow a limited group to print confidential documents – by using enhanced management functions such as user authentication, print management based on individual user rules, and allocation of printer costs by department. The tools are effective across client’s existing user authentication system as well as non-Fuji Xerox devices.
Stage 3: Automate and Simplify
Based on the data collected from the environment established in Stage 1 and 2, Fuji Xerox identifies which work process relies heavily on paper. The service captures both quantitative – print volumes and devices – and qualitative data to analyze and visualize why the paper-based documents are printed and how they are shared/distributed.
Next, the service determines inefficient work processes, and suggests how the client can raise efficiency to quickly communicate required information by digitizing their paper-based processes and automating their workflow. Not only digitized documents, but also documents created in tablets, smartphones and other sources, are seamlessly shared, saved and converted in this environment. Fuji Xerox stays engaged with the services by conducting periodic reviews to keep client’s optimum work environment.
“MPS has been implemented in the market for several years now, and some companies that have already introduced MPS expect vendors to provide next step proposals,” said Eiji Ishida, analyst, Imaging, Printing & Document Solutions of IDC Japan. “Mobile and cloud technologies are about to be utilized to actually solve work issues evolving from the previous stage where they had to solve their own issues to become widely used. IDC considers that the integration of mobile and cloud into the workflow optimization is required for future MPS. Fuji Xerox’s Next Generation MPS is offering solutions in this new environment, and we expect that the new services will bring MPS to the next stage.”
While the advancement of IT has changed work styles and brought flexible work environment, it has generated new issues such as how to maintain corporate governance, enhance security, and streamline work processes that have become more complex. Enterprises today are in need of an efficient and secure work processes.
“One of our strengths is the capability to provide consistent services worldwide together with Xerox," said Masashi Sakamoto, president of Fuji Xerox Global Services. “We boast top market share and lead the MPS market in the Asia-Pacific region, and have gained vast experience with our customers to date. With this new service, we would like to become our customers’ stronger partner who can support and solve their management issues.”
Since the launch of Managed Print Services in Japan and the Asia-Pacific region in 2007, Fuji Xerox has led the MPS market, holding 56 percent share in Japan and 35.6 percent share worldwide (sales base as of 2013). Fuji Xerox supports clients to take control of information and achieve continuous business growth through Next Generation MPS that offer services beyond management of printers.