Fusing paper-based and digital document processes efficiently with Konica Minolta Today’s IT environments are being irrevocably changed by megatrends such as big data and increased mobility, yet printing infrastructures have often been left behind. Many businesses are still reliant on a legacy patchwork of printing and imaging devices that don’t work well together and that creak under the weight of ever more challenging information demands. Even in increasingly digitised environments, businesses still rely on paper-based processes, with 64% of businesses believing that printing will remain important to their daily business – even up until the year 2025[1]. However, without itself evolving, print risks to become a costly and frustrating bottleneck. In response to this, Managed Print Services (MPS) has emerged as a pathway to unite paper-based and digital processes with a consistent level of efficiency.
Managed Print Services – taking on diverse business challenges
Every company is different and the extent of digitalisation can vary enormously from company to company. However, across the board, the challenge of legacy print services is well known: businesses struggle with the cost, inefficiency and administrative overhead of maintaining solutions from multiple vendors while at the same time seeking to reduce waste and tighten security. Hence, companies are placing an increasing emphasis on optimising printing services. Today, just under a quarter (23%) agree that MPS play a very important role in digital transformation, but 54% expect it to do so in two years’ time.[2]
However, just as customers’ challenges have evolved, print manufacturers also have to adapt. “Print vendors can no longer continue to operate within old paradigms – they must embrace new ways of thinking about their companies, employees, customers and the role they play in the changing digital landscape”, researcher Quocirca explains.[3] Accordingly, their need to develop innovative software and service offerings to support and extend their hardware solutions is omnipresent. Even so, while most vendors have expanded their digital workplace portfolios to include IT services, Quocirca notes that some traditional MPS providers are struggling “to deliver successful solutions due to the sheer complexity of workflow automation”[4]. Additionally, the increasing volume and sophistication of cyber-security threats targeting the Internet of Things is focusing minds on the critical nature of security in MPS.
Konica Minolta is a trusted partner that can bring it all together
As a result of these evolving, overlapping challenges, the vendors best able to meet the needs of today’s businesses are those that act as a trusted partner, helping simplify digital and print workflows and facilitate their customers’ respective digital transformations. Konica Minolta’s strategy is to serve as a solution provider and trusted advisor to deliver integrated IT and print services to customers of all sizes, providing a single point of contact for all IT and printing service needs with the ultimate goal of increasing overall process efficiency.
In its “Managed Print Services Landscape, 2018”, Quocirca named Konica Minolta the third time in a row a leader.[5] In recent years, Konica Minolta has moreover continued to build its credentials beyond MPS to become a leading global IT services provider. Konica Minolta Optimized Print Services (OPS) combines consultancy, hardware and software implementation, workflow management and automated services and supplies, with a range of current and future solutions that address the convergence between MPS and IT services. Solutions tailored to each customer’s goals
Through consulting, implementation and ongoing management, OPS optimises document workflows in many business environments, providing seamless integration of paper-based processes into contemporary digital office infrastructure. This positively affects the overall efficiency of customers’ businesses through higher productivity and a significantly improved cost situation. Konica Minolta works with each customer to analyse their actual document output infrastructure, map their processes and document workflows, and to create individual solutions tailored to their precise requirements and goals. These tailored solutions are designed to address key concerns regarding security and sustainability.
With regard to security, Konica Minolta expert teams work with clients to design and implement IT and information security solutions, covering everything from user authentication and data-safe hard-disk disposal for retired devices through to complex network security requirements.
Solutions are also created to be sustainable from both an environmental and financial perspective. Through OPS, companies can take advantage of Konica Minolta’s commitment to minimise energy consumption, reduce pollution and enable the effective recycling of consumables. By implementing the most environmentally friendly document-related hardware and business workflows and by subsequently monitoring and assessing environmental performance throughout the lifecycle, OPS makes it easier for companies to achieve their own environmental goals. Meanwhile, financial sustainability is assured by a “pay-as-you-use” model. Reducing the burden on end users – today and tomorrow
Optimized Print Services manages the entire print and scan infrastructure and minimises customers’ exposure to risk by offering a single point of accountability for all models in the device fleet, with full transparency of service performance. The service delivery operation provides world-class support for the entire infrastructure, including automated meter reading, proactive maintenance and even taking care of practical aspects such as the timely automatic delivery of consumables.
In addition to addressing everyday demands, OPS’ holistic approach to meeting customers’ needs requires a constant eye to the future, with solutions that evolve to leverage the benefits of new technology as these needs change. This is very much in line with the ethos of Konica Minolta, which has invested significantly in R&D and analytics, and in a culture of permanent innovation and agility.
Konica Minolta at work: BMW Group
An excellent example of how OPS implemented on a global scale can modernise and harmonise a customer’s print infrastructure can be witnessed in Konica Minolta’s partnership with BMW Group. The company operates a network of offices spanning the entire globe. The collaboration with Konica Minolta initially encompassed four offices. Due to the success of the programme it was subsequently extended to Asia-Pacific, Europe and North America.Additionally, Konica Minolta helped to fulfil BMW Group's exacting demands in the areas of sustainability, digitasation and, in particular, in security. A dedicated global customer service team was established to support BMW Group in 44 separate countries with printing solutions developed to optimise process, implement new systems and manage over 11,000 installed devices. Workung in close partnership with Konica Minolta, BMW Group has optimised resource utilisation whilst simultaneously improving the efficiency of information worklflows across the globe. Deploying state-of-the-art, multi-functional and desktop printers combined with smart follow-me software solutions such as YSoft SafeQ, Konica Minolta has delivered both secure print architecture and is enabling mobile printing possibilities. The solution design effictevly bring BMW Group's printing environment to the next level. This, could with a dedicated global customer service team, ensures that BMW Group's needs are placed at the very heart of the project.
With the comprehensive range of products and services delivered by Konica Minolta as part of its Optimized Print Services offering, BMW Group has been able to maximise its opportunity to greatly reduce costs and minimise its CO2 emissions whilst at the same time increasing operational efficiency on a global scale.
[1] Quocirca’s Global Print 2025 - 7 trends that will redefine the print industry in 2019, https://quocirca.com/content/7-trends-that-will-redefine-the-print-industry-in-2019/
[2] Quocirca “Managed Print Services Landscape 2018”,
https://quocirca.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Quocirca-MPS-2018-Summary-Report-Web.pdf
[3] Quocirca “Race for relevance: Five strategies for print vendors”,
http://quocirca.com/content/five-success-strategies-for-print-vendors/
[4] Quocirca “Managed Print Services Landscape, 2018”,
[5] Quocirca “Managed Print Services Landscape, 2018”,