Is 'Print-as-a-Service' right for you?
Darren Turner
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How people buy their print & scan technology is changing…
Print-as-a-Service is rising (particularly among small and medium-sized organisations), accelerated by the global pandemic, stretched budgets & the push to lots of decentralised working.
It’s said by 2025 more than half of small & medium organisations would rather invest in Print-as-a-Service than buy and use their own devices.
WHAT is Print-as-a-Service or PRaaS?
Well, it’s kinda like Managed Print Service (MPS) on acid.
The difference?
With PRaaS the print technology is included in the monthly charge. It’s the same concept as a mobile phone contract. You get the technology free & pay a monthly subscription that includes it.
Which could lead to other office technologies being bundled into the subscription service, like laptops, Microsoft Office 365 & internet phones. We'd then term it Office-Technology-as-a-Service or OTaas.
With traditional MPS you buy or lease the printer technology. Then sign a separate service contract to cover equipment monitoring, consumables, parts & maintenance.
With PRaaS you get everything you would in traditional MPS agreements, except you don’t buy or lease any print technology, as it’s provided as part of the monthly subscription.
One important factor. As the supplier owns the technology, the assets sit on their balance sheet rather than yours. Making PRaaS a pure service.
Are traditional MPS & PRaaS billed differently?
Traditional MPS and PRaaS are typically billed in the same 2 ways:
1. On a per-printed-page basis (cost-per-page or CPP)
2. In a fixed monthly subscription charge
PRaaS simply includes the printer technology as part of the CPP price or fixed monthly charge.
What are the benefits of PRINT-as-a-Service (PRaaS)?
Easy & affordable access to feature rich technology. There’s no upfront purchase cost for devices & none of the usual costs or headaches associated with ownership.
Everything goes on one invoice. Making print-related expenditures predictable & easier to manage.
And when the time comes for a replacement, it’s down to the supplier to provide it for free.
What else should I consider?
PRaaS is not just about you getting print technology for free.
It’s also about the supplier making sure the technology is fit for purpose & an ideal fit for your printing & scanning needs, without you having to compare technologies.
Like many traditional MPS suppliers, PRaaS suppliers will insist on long term contracts of 3, 4 or 5 years, to guarantee their income stream.
Although, there are a small few so confident in the service provided, they operate annual or even rolling monthly agreements with guaranteed fixed prices.
…if it’s certainty & peace of mind you seek, you best find 1 of these.