The Beginning of Managed Print Services Media: 2010'ish(?)

When you hear people say things like, "We've been promoting managed print services since the very beginning..." or "Our web-services are the best because we come out of your industry..." or even "We've been there, we've sold MPS and know what you need in lead generation, keyword utilization, and PPC programs. We've been in social media from the very beginning..." remember this video.

That's Ken Stuart and me on the banks of the San Antonio, right after a thrill-packed day of MPS pioneers at Photizo II.   The attendees were a collection of "cutting edge" MPS'rs and a great time was had by all.

"I blog because I like to read what I blog..." - GW

Ken and I were there, guess who wasn't.  The crusty old guys who today consider themselves oracles of marketing.  The self-proclaimed experts of all things "managed" - from printers, users, workflow to IT services (nobody but the uninitiated refer to managed services as "managed network services") are those who mocked MPS back in 2009.

This was then. This is now.

• How is your web presence going today?  
• Do you have a solid ROI?  
• Are you transforming your business away from copiers?  
• Are you that bold?
• Then why is your presence the same as everybody else?

I've put together a constellation of luminaries primarily focused on your success.  We've sold toner, copiers, paper, printers, MPS, MS, service, EDM, and fax servers.  

Just like you, we've struggled with EAutomate, incorrect meter readings, and billing, OEM quotas, and tardy service technicians.  We understand you don't have the time to understand or worry if your web team can translate your value proposition into a solid web presence.

Behold and be regaled:

Cool links:

"FOR IT PROVIDERS: MANAGED PRINT SERVICES COULD BE THE 24TH CHROMOSOME"

"I SAW MANAGED PRINT SERVICES FUTURE AND ITS NAME IS BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN."

Click to email me.

Things I Love About the Copier Industry - 2014

One night at the bar, while attending the MWAi Executive Summit, I was in a rather animated discussion about women in the industry and your MPSA.

a remarkable aspect of the copier industry is how some men regard some women.

During the conversation when I mentioned out loud, "The Managed Print Services Association", one of the more elderly industry participants replied, "Managed Print Services Assholes" as he walked away.

Photizo Speaks: Voice Controlled Print? Oh, good grief...

I'm one of their biggest fans, rooting all the way

I just listened to Photizo's, "9 Predictions for 2015" webinar:

#1.  Photizo just came off their European event
#2.  Interesting
#3.  HP and Canon have been breaking up ever since HP cancelled all those orders in 2009
#4.  Agreed and not only ink.
#5.  What the WHAT?
#6.  Well, they've got clients with NDA's right?  Name, names!  I will - EPSON.
#7.  We've helped end-users design and implement self-managed MPS for a while now.  They use applications like PrinterLogic and Cirrato.  They don't want Printaudit, Printsolv or people who want to sell them more printers/copiers.
#8.  Return?
#9.  Nail has been struck on the head.  Yes.

The take-aways:

The BTA channel will take a hit, finding more consolidation or outright attrition as more and more end-users bypass the salesie, sales people and go direct to the subscription model.  The power is now in the hands of the client as they will are empowered to reduce the number of printers, copiers and toner cartridges they purchase while transitioning into a paperless world.

All without us.

Photizo is out on a limb, but when you think about it, they've always been. Is there anywhere else they should be?

Kudos.