If you run a large enterprise, the concept of Managed Print Services (MPS) is probably a very familiar one. But how familiar are you with Managed Content Services (MCS) or Managed Document Services (MDS)?

What is MCS?

The word ‘content’ is used quite freely in the digital age, but in this context it simply refers to a variety of business communications. 

The word ‘content’ is used quite freely in the digital age, but in this context it simply refers to a variety of business communications.

Gartner defines MCS as “a comprehensive package that rationalises, streamlines and optimises business communications by providing customers with consultative help, software and implementation”.

It goes onto say that MCS is closely linked to MPS.

In fact, MCS/MDS is effectively an extension of MPS and helps businesses improve process management by enhancing communication within the organisation.

How do you get started with MCS/MDS?

It all starts with your MPS provider’s level of experience, because they’re the people who will help you get your MCS/MDS strategy off the ground.

A great MPS provider should be able to smartly bundle services, software, devices and support to lay the groundwork for MCS/MDS.

If your provider understands that the new generation of MPS services focus on security, integration, automation and optimisation, you’ve found the right MCS/MDS partner, because they’re halfway there.

MCS/MDS is simply an evolution of MPS

The transformation from print to content is relatively straightforward when you consider that the focus simply shifts from devices and printing to capture and content.

MCS/MDS is about overseeing content’s journey from birth to use, transformation and, eventually, death.

Separating MPS from this journey is tricky, because it plays a pivotal role in so many workflows, but that’s fine, because MCS/MDS requires strategies for secure printing just as much as it does for sharing and accessing documents within and outside the enterprise.

These requirements are already part of MPS, therefore transitioning to an MCS mindset shouldn’t be too difficult for most businesses. There are simply a few adjustments you’ll need to make - for example scanning documents from outside sources to compress the content lifecycle and ensure information moves quickly.

There’s no ‘big leap’

It would be fair to assume that the transition from an MPS to MCS environment would require organisations to overhaul big chunks of infrastructure, but the opposite is true.

With the right MPS provider, you’ll take MCS/MDS onboard gradually, treating it as simply an evolution of the enterprise document environment. You’ll start to handle documents more efficiently and eliminate printing where practical.

As organisations wean teams off paper, more digital content will arrive, but that doesn’t mean the end of MPS. Your MPS vendor will need to continually optimise your fleet size to balance the management of digitised and traditional content.

It’s difficult to look at print in isolation and to truly benefit a company or increase productivity, the supplier needs to look at all workflows that include documents. For example, rather than just looking at how companies can ‘print for less’, Xenith looks at digitisation and automation as a standard part of MPS.

How prepared are you (and your MPS vendor) to start the journey to the digital workplace?