HP's big MPS play arrives down under

HP has launched its new managed print service program for Australian partners, in a move it hopes will give more control and customer ownership to the channel.

Commencing two months ago in the US, The HP managed print specialist resell program offers a number of tools and sales options to help partners own customer contracts without the need for new infrastructure investment.

Included in the program are HP bundled page pricing, which offers supplies, services and parts for resale to businesses as part of a managed print service contract. HP said this provided a stable cost environment for partners to develop competitive offerings.

Partners signed up to the program also get access to services, fleet analysis and real-time reporting. In addition, business development such as sales support, training and marketing are available along with co-branding opportunities enabling partners to promote their own brands and MPS offerings next to HP.

“Many channel partners see a fantastic opportunity in offering managed print services to a growing base of medium-sized businesses,” said Bill Avey, VP partner managed print services, HP. “The new HP MPS  Resell Program will allow channel partners to leverage HP’s extensive printing portfolio, delivery infrastructure and tools to grow their MPS business.”

Avey affirmed that HP’s CEO Meg Whitman was a strong supporter of the company's print business, which was last year combined with its almost abandoned PC business, in a strong signal that Whitman, and HP, was not turning its back on hardware.

Earlier this year the company’s OfficeJet Pro X551dw printer was cited by Guinness Book of World Records for achieving the fastest rate for printing 500 colour sheets.

The technology underpinning HP’s MPS offering came with the 2011 acquisition of print software specialists Printelligent.

Avey said by allowing partners to focus attention away from the day-to-hardware, they had more opportunity to work strategically and market higher margin solutions.

“We want them to focus their working capital on higher value add places.”