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Managed print the first step on the SME digitisation path
Quocirca has highlighted opportunities for those resellers offering managed print services and workflow expertise
Managed print services could well be the entry point for resellers looking to help get SME customers looking to make the digital transformation shift.
Research from analyst house Quocirca found that a significant number of SMEs (81%) viewed digitising paper-based processes as one of the main steps in gaining momentum with business transformation projects.
As a result there seem to be plenty of SMEs on both sides of the Atlantic that are prepared to spend on technology that fits into thr workflow solutions bracket, which will give the channel a fair amount of business to go after.
Most SMEs are nowhere near ready to go paper-free but do accept that the levels of information being digitised is going to inctrease over the next few years.
There is also a desire to control costs and where possible reduce them and managed print services also ticks that box for users.
“While budget and resource constraints have previously held SMBs back from digital transformation, the need to improve efficiency and productivity is now driving them to explore deploying increasingly affordable ‘as-a-service’ digital workflow technologies to achieve their goals. The appetite for digitisation is there, indicating strong market potential for companies that can offer advice and services to support SMBs in their efforts," said Quocirca’s research director Louella Fernandes.
As part of its look at what the global print market will look like in 2025 the question was also asked about attitudes towards hardware. More than half of the respondents said that they were looking to pay for print-as-a-service, rather than buying tin in seven years time.
“Momentum is growing behind digital transformation in the SMB space and many have identified document workflows as a great place to start to gain quick wins in efficiency and productivity. SMBs are already comfortable with the concept of print-as-a-service, with the majority using some form of basic managed service. With print volumes declining, MPS providers who want to secure their future profitability should look at how they can broaden their services to include digital workflow services that can help customers along the road to digital transformation," she added.
