By Andrew Morrison, senior vice president, Xerox Managed Print Services Business
Though he stands an impressive 6 feet 6 inches tall, Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback Ben Roethlisberger cannot rely solely on his height, arm strength or football IQ to make a successful pass to a receiver in the end zone. As any other Super Bowl champion knows, an intricately-crafted game plan is necessary to ensure the perfect play is called in the huddle, the offensive line creates a pocket, the throw is accurate and the receiver catches the winning pass.
The same concept applies to businesses today.
When the Pittsburgh School District was faced with the challenge of reducing costs – without compromising educational integrity – the city took a strategic approach, creating a game plan with Xerox Managed Print Services (MPS).
The results of implementing MPS were significant – especially important because budget constraints had teachers’ jobs on the line. By using a centralized platform, consisting of 1,000 multifunction devices instead of the 6,000 that were initially installed, Pittsburgh was able to save $1.1 to $1.4 million in annual costs; create greater efficiency and sustainability; and accommodate future school consolidations or closings with the flexibility to scale the print solution up or down. The school district is now on track to streamline its printing infrastructure by more than 80 percent across 66 schools.
While the Steelers obviously won’t share their game plan for the season opener against the Denver Broncos this weekend, here are some strategies to borrow from our “Selecting and Engaging an MPS Partner” playbook:
- Play offense versus defense. A crowded MPS market means service and delivery can vary drastically across providers. Review industry research reports and customer success stories to ensure you are getting the best partner for your MPS venture.
- Secure additional yardage. Ensure your vendor fully understands your specific needs and can effectively demonstrate how simplifying the print infrastructure can impact your overall business, saving time and money in the long run.
- Challenge the ruling on the field. Clarify upfront that your MPS vendor will maximize existing technology. This includes optimization of multi-vendor devices.
- Regain possession of the ball. Change management support should be provided to help employees successfully adapt to new technology and streamlined work processes. Getting up and running quickly is the key to success.
Andrew Morrison leads the expansion and evolution of Xerox’s market-leading MPS portfolio.
Hi Andrew, Thanks for sharing what the customer should look for. Another play (if 5 are allowed) :ensure vendor solution is future proof. The solution should work with future needs example mobile print.