In any business, enhancing efficiency is a daily consideration.But for many smaller businesses, where margins can be very fine, print management is an often overlooked area for reducing operational costs.
SOS Group’s Managed Print Services (MPS) offers a comprehensive solution to streamline printing processes that can save both time and money, leading to significant benefits for small enterprises.
Andrew Skelton, a director at SOS Group, explains: “MPS simply means outsourcing the management of a company’s printing needs to an external provider and it’s an approach many small businesses are now taking.
“Initially drawn by the potential cost and time savings, they’re also discovering a host of additional advantages including predictable budgeting, improved cyber security and the many positives of leasing the latest technology.”
Established in 2002, SOS Group is an award-winning office technology company facilitating business requirements across all sectors.
Based on the Team Valley and specialising in providing copy, print, scan solutions, the company has grown into an SME that counts multinationals within its established client base and the company helps deliver internationally significant sporting and political events.
Its own growth was achieved by creating successful, long-term client relationships and each of the company’s directors has a passion to help others do the same, working closely with small businesses and supporting start-ups as they grow.
Andrew continues: “Small businesses face unique challenges that we can help them meet.
“For small business owners, the demands on their time are as varied as the sectors they work within. We work to identify and create a tailored solution to their every business need that can be as flexible as required.
“Some of our longest standing clients are smaller enterprises, including those with less than 10 staff, and we’re proud to be part of their story.
“We work within the manufacturing, engineering, retail, hotel and leisure sectors, in schools of varying sizes and, for the last 20 years, we’ve supported the wonderful team at Hexham Abbey with their varied print needs.
“When possible, we also provide support for local charities, like Smart Works Newcastle, by donating multi-function devices and our MPS support. The difference it makes is huge.
“We know that dealing with printer-related issues can be timeconsuming and frustrating for employees, as well as impacting on customers and clients.
“So, in addition to providing the most suitable technology for any given business activity, MPS offers proactive maintenance and support, including advising on up and coming technologies, freeing staff to focus on core business activities and thereby enhancing overall productivity.
“MPS also promotes eco-friendly practices by reducing paper waste, lowering energy consumption and implementing recycling programmes with no onus on the business owner.
“This not only helps the environment but also aligns with corporate social responsibility goals and reduces energy bills.”
As an MPS provider, SOS Group conducts a printing infrastructure analysis to identify inefficiencies and areas with potential for improvement. By consolidating devices, optimising printer usage, automating supply orders, and monitoring usage, MPS can significantly reduce unnecessary expenses.
SOS Group clients can lease, short or longer-term, or buy their own equipment and the service contract and standard of care remains exactly the same.
And the firm’s high standard of service is reflected in SOS Group achieving both the ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 accreditations, demonstrating their commitment to quality management systems and their understanding of cybersecurity, data security and data management.
Andrew says: “By their very nature, small businesses have significant demands on their time and that makes it challenging to remain up-to-date with every element of cyber security.
“Printers can be a weak spot for cyber-attacks and data breaches, so MPS providers implement advanced security features such as user authentication, encryption and secure printing to safeguard confidential information and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.”
Unexpected expenses are also something that can impact significantly on small businesses and this is where the predicable nature of MPS can aid with more accurate financial planning. With MPS, businesses benefit from predictable monthly costs covering maintenance, supplies and support. In addition, leasing printer equipment offers several advantages over outright purchases, particularly for small businesses.
It eliminates the need for significant upfront investments, preserving capital for other critical business areas and allows businesses to upgrade to the latest technology without the burden of disposing of outdated equipment.
With SOS Group, there is also the reassurance that leasing agreements can be tailored to match business growth and changing needs, offering flexibility that outright purchases may not provide.
Andrew adds: “Partnering with SOS Group to provide MPS allows small businesses and organisations to transform their printing infrastructure into a streamlined, secure and cost-effective operation.
“That allows small business owners to focus on what truly matters, growing the business”.
“It’s something we’ve seen happen time and again, and we would invite any small business or organisation to chat to us to see how we could help with their own very specific needs.”
For more information on Manged Print Services, please visit: www.sosgroup-ltd.co.uk