Ingram Micro hails 'game changing' managed print service

Distribution giant claims PrintSense service is vendor agnostic and avoids customers having to invest in expensive new hardware upfront

Ingram Micro has unveiled its PrintSense managed print service (MPS), claiming it will be a 'game changer' in the market.

The strategy takes a vendor agnostic approach to the market, meaning customers are not tied into agreements with a particular manufacturer.

Instead PrintSense subscribers are able to take over an existing fleet on a cost-per-page model - including all consumables and break-fix- without having to invest upfront in refreshing hardware.

Gemma Glen, head of category for print, peripherals and supplies at Ingram, said: "We’ve identified that this revenue and profit stream has been difficult to lock down by the IT Reseller channel without extensively investing in infrastructure, therefore resellers are potentially missing out on opportunities. We have been developing this solution with our partners over the past 12 months and we are excited at the opportunities this will bring to the channel.”

She added: "PrintSense uses Ingram Micro’s skills and scale to help our customers increase sales opportunities and, in turn, enable end-users to gain the peace-of-mind that their print requirements are constantly monitored by the most advanced fleet automation technology and a reliable engineering service.”

Several vendors are already on board with the scheme, including Kyocera, HP, Lexmark, Canon, Brother, Epson and Xerox.

Glen said: "Each reseller has a portal which monitors their end-users’ fleets in real time. This opens up opportunities for them as it will highlight where a printer is being under or over utilised, allowing for discussions about hardware sales which of course Ingram Micro can provide support with."

She explained that the distributor will be providing full training to resellers to help them grow their MPS revenue streams. The first is a dedicated event in Twickenham on 18 and 19 November.