OKI Data Americas launches Total Managed Print Portal

OKI Data Americas launches Total Managed Print Portal

OKI Data Americas has announced its Total Managed Print (TMP) Portal, building on services formerly offered through OKI PageStart, FleetAssist and FullAccess. Designed to increase productivity and efficiency, the cloud-based Portal is geared specifically towards VARs who are interested in building MPS solutions capability.  That said, the brand agnostic Portal can also be used to supplement pre-existing MPS solutions offered by OKI channel partners. Tim Brien, Director of Managed Print Services for OKI Data Americas, said that the TMP Portal is a “comprehensive and turnkey solution” for managed print services (MPS) providers.

Provided free of charge to OKI channel partners, the TMP Portal is built around a suite of nine customizable services With features ranging from Customer Data Capture and Proprietary Proposal generation to Personalized Supply Fulfillment and Continuous Fleet Optimization, the TMP Portal delivers to managed service providers (MSPs) the flexibility to manage existing MFP fleets and provide customers with data-driven insights into potential fleet optimization projects.

In terms of customer data analysis and proposal generation, OKI has developed a unique proprietary system that performs 56 statistical analyses on captured data and creates reports based on TCO, ROI and CPP. OKI Customer Data Capture can utilize a variety of data capture sources, including USB Key and remote monitoring, and supports over 10,000 current and legacy devices.

Also available during the data analysis phase is the ability for a VAR to offer a client a “Future State” model comparing the customer’s current fleet and MPS state with a long-range potential state. With this automated tool, VARs can create a complete review of current fleet costs, print volumes and device issues and use these items as points of comparison when offering optimization plans.

Once an MSP has completed data capture and analysis for a customer, a proprietary proposal can be generated based on a provider’s sales strategy and customer needs. A key feature of the Proprietary Proposal Generator is the ability to create reports targeting specific aspects of a customer’s business. Reports including a CIO Executive Summary, a CFO Balance Sheet and a Comprehensive Strategic Recommendations plan allow an MSP to quickly customize a sales proposal.

Flexibility and customization also come into play once a customer decides to move forward with an MPS program. Individual device management requirements can be mixed and matched, allowing some devices to be used more freely while others are managed and monitored more closely. Multiple acquisition options are available through the TMP Portal, with purchase, service and pricing options. In the implementation stage, the TMP Portal allows channel partners to offer options ranging from phased product setup to executive reviews, as well as a host of on-site and off-site consulting plans. A few of the on-site options include product training and certification, national installation plans and fleet redeployment, while off-site services include an office ergonomics study, overall project management and employee change management.

After implementation, the TMP Portal includes numerous options in terms of service and supply, processing and billing, and fleet reporting and optimization.

Supply replenishment is automated process that allows customers the freedom to choose consumables based upon their own requirements. Channel partners are free to offer clients consumable delivery from their own sources or they can opt for OKI TMP just-in-time delivery. In terms of service, the TMP Portal offers asset tracking and proactive maintenance plans, product warranty status and real-time service alerts. Channel partners are able to offer clients service through their own organizations or through third party vendors, with helpdesk and break-fix options also offered through OKI strategic partners.

The service would not be called managed print if customers weren’t offered quality fleet performance reports. To this end, the TMP Portal offers quarterly reporting and adjustment recommendations and annual performance evaluation. Reports on costs, billing and gross profits are also available, with the ability to track by device, data, or complete accounts.

With an eye towards increased channel partner sales, the TMP Portal allows VARs to proactively pursue incremental sales opportunities based on data from the customer’s fleet. This process is automated, with VARs receiving e-mails as sales opportunities within existing fleets are indentified.

Considering all of the available features and the amount of automation in the offering.

OKI has attempted to create precisely what Mr. Brien claimed, “a comprehensive and turnkey solution.” As with all new products, though, only time will tell.

Oki does not have a direct sales organization and is totally dependent on the channel. In order to recruit more channel partners the Oki team has developed a very helpful Portal that will interest prospective dealers. The trend has been established in reaching out to the channel – the cloud is the answer. Those OEMs that take advantage of the cloud will be able to scale their solution faster and easier than the systems they have in place today.

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