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<\/a>Operational improvements through new technologies were already taking place in the MPS industry long before coronavirus transformed our working lives exceptionally.\u00a0 The pandemic-imposed necessity of homeworking has, however, accelerated the pace at which these tech-driven operational improvements have been taking place.\u00a0 It\u2019s a change for the better but it has come at a price for some elements of the MPS business model.\u00a0 Luckily for us, our personal experience as a supplier of intelligent service management software to the industry \u2013 our cutting-edge Smart MPS \u2013 has been spectacularly positive in spite of the impact of COVID-19\u2026 but more on that later.\u00a0 For now, let\u2019s take a look at the key changes we\u2019ve observed across the sector as a whole.<\/p>\nWhilst lockdown-easing in the UK continues apace and offices reopen, there is an abundance of evidence to support the expectation that hybrid working is here to stay.\u00a0 In case you\u2019ve been living in a cave since coronavirus crashed into our lives in early 2020 (and, frankly, who could blame you if you have) hybrid working typically describes a model of working from both the office and the home.\u00a0 It existed pre-pandemic but has become widely accepted as the \u2018new normal\u2019 for as long as we\u2019re at risk from COVID-19 and probably on a more permanent basis as well.\u00a0 The widely-held belief backed up by a wealth of personal experiences is that homeworking boosts productivity and, for this business-friendly reason alone, it\u2019s likely here to stay.<\/p>\n
What has this meant for MPS?\u00a0 Well, inevitably, this turbo-charged shift has taken its toll on traditional on-premise MPS and accelerated the step towards in-the-cloud MPS which is well-suited to remote working.\u00a0 Office print volumes are slowly beginning to recover but it\u2019s doubtful whether they are ever likely to reach pre-pandemic levels given the likely permanent shift towards hybrid working.\u00a0 We\u2019ve noticed that industry leaders, some of which we are lucky enough to do business with, are pioneering the evolution of traditional print services to accommodate this brave new world of centralised and decentralised working from office and home, and many have incorporated home printing within their MPS contracts.\u00a0 This is critical not just to mitigate the security risks presented by at-home printing but also to provide at-home MPS support in the form of printer servicing and supply replenishment, as well as to enable robust document workflow across home and office.<\/p>\n
The hybrid workplace presents new opportunities for smart office technology as businesses seek suppliers who offer flexible solutions for the agile office.\u00a0 MPS is strongly placed to leverage this digitisation of the workplace with the UK market alone worth circa \u00a31.8 billion.\u00a0 Cloud-based MPS is increasingly popular and we\u2019re confident that this trend is set to continue in the years to come.\u00a0 Furthermore, our Smart MPS solution will help your business deliver exactly this to your clients.<\/p>\n
At Zafire, we\u2019ve experienced these market trends first hand.\u00a0 Over the last 12 to 18 months, our existing customers have been taking stock and enhancing their solutions, and new customers have also come on board spurred on by the need to innovate and adapt their operating models.\u00a0 Accordingly, we\u2019ve seen massive growth in demand for streamlined, consolidated solutions which equates to a 500% increase in AUM (Assets Under Management) utilising our Smart MPS solution on a day-to-day basis.\u00a0 Yet further growth is anticipated as businesses seek to refresh their MPS contracts and devices, having been unable to do so for much of the previous year.<\/p>\n