IDC Names HP, Lexmark, Ricoh and Xerox as Top Managed Print Players

A new report from IDC has singled out Hewlett-Packard, Lexmark, Ricoh and Xerox/Fuji Xerox as leaders in the managed print and document services (MPDS) market this year. The "IDC Marketscape: Worldwide MPDS 2013 Hardcopy Vendor Analysis" report profiles the leading vendors in the space as well as offering market analysis.

In addition to the market leaders, Canon, Konica Minolta, KYOCERA, Pitney Bowes and Toshiba were singled out as "Major Players." According to IDC, several other firms like Brother, Dell, Epson, OKI Data, Samsung and Sharp are in the planning stages or are developing MPDS programs, or else have already initiated programs for their channel. The growing number of players in the space is expected to heat up competition within the market, particularly through the indirect channel.

IDC outlines a number of factors that are considered important to the success of those in the MPDS space. These include having an integrated and holistic approach to delivery of MPDS, as well as the ability to leverage technologies like the cloud, mobility, big data and social media.

Developing professional services capabilities around horizontal and industry-specific document processes is another crucial component, along with extending direct capabilities to the indirect channel. This includes training, business development and marketing support. Companies should also focus on continued expansion into emerging markets as well as operational excellence.

"The MPDS market is at an inflection point, particularly in the developed, enterprise markets," said Holly Muscolino, research director of document solutions for IDC. "In those markets, penetration is relatively high, and it's increasingly difficult for vendors to differentiate their services and supporting technologies. Hardcopy vendors must strive to develop unique services portfolios that entice enterprise customers, drive adoption, and will ultimately result in increased revenues."