Mid-sized firms offer best MPS prospects
IDC flags areas of future focus for outsourced print and document services
Andy Jones: It is not just about the office but the whole of an enterprise's print requirements
Growth in the use of print services, including managed services, in Western Europe is tipped to be highest in mid-size firms (100 to 499 staff) from 2009-14, an IDC report has said.
Basic print services and managed print services (MPS) are both tipped to grow 21.7 per cent by revenue during the period, reaching $1.2bn (£759m) and $667m respectively.
According to IDC, total print services demand will grow 12 per cent from 2009 to 2014 in large firms (500 to 999 staff) but only 3.8 per cent in very large firms. The market comprises MPS, imaging and archival services, business process document services and the declining in-house print and mailroom services segments.
Michael Orasin, research manager at IDC, said: “Opportunities are expansive and large for vendors that can muster the appropriate investments and best strategies.”
Growth will partly be around the need to cut costs. Imaging and document archival services globally will grow 14.1 per cent by revenue from 2009 to 2014, according to IDC.
Andy Jones, director of European document outsourcing at Xerox, confirmed the vendor is further differentiating and realigning its offerings.
“As well as MPS, we are extending out to the enterprise,” he said. “It is not just about the office but the whole of an enterprise’s print requirements.”
Market leader Xerox is losing share as competition increases. Fourth-placed vendor Lexmark in particular, turned in an outstanding performance in 2009, increasing its MPS revenue 80 per cent year on year.