Demand for MPS continues to rise

Business technology solutions provider Brother UK has posted a successive record-breaking quarter for its managed print services (MPS) division, signaling the growing popularity among businesses for contract printing

The number of pages printed via Brother’s MPS contracts over the last three months grew by 13%, surpassing the previous record levels achieved in April 2022. The business attributes the rise in page volumes to significant demand from the grocery and healthcare sectors, with channel partners providing support for GP surgeries and pharmacies in particular.

Growth in demand for MPS follows the launch earlier this year of PrintSmart Essential, a print subscription service for SMEs. The solution allows firms to pay a small monthly fee for their ink and toner supplies, device installation, supplies recycling and maintenance services, while benefitting from a three-month notice period.

An increase in MPS page volumes is also matched by an uptick in devices currently used as part of MPS contracts, up 25% in the quarter compared to this time last year. This has helped Brother to retain its position as the number one provider of both single and multifunction colour laser printers*, after securing the top spot in early 2022.

Greig Millar, general manager for sales, services and solutions at Brother UK said: “The continued increase in demand for print via MPS, highlights its growth in popularity as firms focus on driving productivity and cost-efficiency.

“This also points to an opportunity for print partners, with customers looking to adapt print infrastructure as their hybrid working arrangements evolve. MPS contracts also benefit resellers as much as the businesses they support, as securing customers on contracts provides partners with clarity over their order book, recurring revenue from supplies, and an opportunity to build strong relationships and demonstrate the level of support they can offer.

“We can attribute our own success, particularly when it comes to MPS, to providing more bespoke assessments and offering tailored solutions based entirely on extensive conversations with businesses. Getting under the skin of how they operate and identifying hidden pinch points is crucial, and our latest figures proves that it pays dividends.

“The immediate priority for resellers looking to tap into this opportunity is embracing MPS and its benefits, and understanding how to relay those to customers. We’re helping to make it more accessible with the launch of low-cost options like PrintSmart Essential that’s specifically designed to support small businesses with lower volume requirements, which is a key area of growth. This is alongside continually evolving our portfolio of devices to support the modern world of work.”