Three Reasons Managed Print Services is Not Dead

When one defines Managed print Services as "toner and service for printers on a single invoice..." MpS is dead.

But if you believe that managing devices and the business process associated with output is MpS, especially as organizations are reducing hardcopy, then MpS never went away.

IT folks hate printers and copiers for many reasons. They're big and hot and dirty, connect to their sacred network, pose a security risk, and that's not all. The biggest gripe is out of all the software and hardware an IT department supports, output devices are closest to the End User. And end-user support is the worst - face-to-face conversations are challenging because they usually start off with the word, "Why doesn't...?" IT techs don't like to be challenged or questioned.

This is a vacuum and your MpS prowess helps you fill that void for your clients.

Anti-MPSr's fail to recognize, managed print services was always our way into the IT realm. Real MpS includes optimizing workflows, working with IT resources, removing challenges associated with moving information not delivering toner, and dispatching service technicians.

Three reasons for Real MpS is not dead:

Hybrid Office is a Trap

I recently commented on all the companies requiring employees to sign an insulting, 'work from home' agreement.

Mistrust, insecurity, and control.

The work-from-home environment is a direct threat to the management and corporate status quo and will be fought, tooth and nail by politicians, mayors, old-school corporate leaders, and middle management.

• Why do we need managers, when there are no employees in the office?  
• How is it that for two years, employees worked at home and their productivity went up?  
• How can employees be efficient and productive without a manager looking over a shoulder or an executive giving a lunchroom speech?

Trap!

In boardrooms across the country, virtual boardrooms, executives are devising ways to entice and force employees back to the fields.  But nothing will work, the die is cast.

They will use Hybrid as a 'compromise' knowing the movement will fail, leading wayward toilers back to the secure, comfortable, office environment.

Then, crank up the 'velvet handcuffs' - couches in the office, windows for everyone, no cubes, etc., etc., etc., and invite everyone back.

Always feed the media narrative pushing in the opposite direction to pull people into the fold.  

Devious.

Three Reasons Hybrid Office Will Fail and Why

Hybrid work models are the best of both worlds. Hybrid work refers to employees returning to the office throughout the week. They may come in every Tuesday and Thursday, choosing to work Monday Wednesday Friday, and work from home Thursday and Friday. This is flexible and great. 

Like always, there is more to the story. For management, hybrid means they keep control because they see their workers face to face. For employees, the ability to work from home, at least, facilitates more freedom, happiness, and greater productivity. 

But there are problems arising from hybrid work environments. 

With 24 months of #WFH and #Hybrid work behind us, data is starting to trickle in revealing some interesting challenges with the practice. More than 80% of workers polled say that hybrid is ‘exhausting’ for employees, according to a TinyPulse survey report.