In a deal that could have some impact in Canada, OKI Data and CMIT Solutions of Austin, Tex. have confirmed the formation of a strategic alliance that will see the printer vendor provide CMIT’s 130-plus Managed Service Providers (MSPs) with a standardized business model of Managed IT Network and Managed Print Services.
CMIT is a national provider of managed IT services for small businesses. This new partnership incorporate OKI Data’s Total Managed Print solution and portal into CMIT’s portfolio of services. The offering is being marketed as “CMIT Print powered by OKI”.
According to OKI Data, SMBs face the daunting task of coordinating and networking their varying assortment of printers and operating systems, which can result in wasted time, effort and money. Outsourced Managed Print Services lift that burden from business owners’ shoulders in the same way MSPs manage their customers’ IT systems. Traditionally, these types of services have been available only to large, enterprise-sized businesses that could afford the hefty upfront investment; combined managed IT and print services are far rarer among SMBs.
The CMIT Print powered by OKI offering outsources both network and print services while maintaining their long-term business relationships with local MSPs.
Frank Picarello, COO of CMIT Solutions, said print management was a key component of SMB technology that we weren’t offering before this partnership. We’ve been looking for the right Managed Print Services provider to offer top-level print solutions for our local partners and to our SMB clients.
OKI Data’s Total Managed Print offering is a modular platform that will can enable MSPs to manage client print systems across all devices and operating systems. TMP offers features such as an analytic engine to assess customers’ print fleet according to the latest industry research and best practices; a report generator that automates up-front manual processes to deliver customized reports for clients; and fleet optimization that tracks usage, cost and profit.
Picarello added small business owners will no longer have to worry about any aspect of their technology platform. The local CMIT partner can manage their complete suite of technology offerings, and the business owners can reap the rewards of having more time, energy, and resources to run their businesses.