New Revenue Streams: Combining Managed Print Services with RSA Software in Production Print Environments

Many office technology resellers primarily associate Managed Print Services (MPS) with tracking page counts, monitoring toner levels, and managing fleets of A4 and A3 printers. However, as production print environments become more sophisticated and data-driven, a new opportunity is emerging to apply MPS principles to high-volume production settings.

For resellers seeking to expand beyond traditional hardware sales, integrating MPS services with workflow and output management software from Rochester Software Associates (RSA) can create new revenue streams and deliver clear operational advantages to print providers.

Why Production Print Needs a Different Kind of MPS

Production environments operate differently from traditional office printing. Jobs are typically larger, deadlines are tighter, and workflows often span multiple systems, from web-to-print portals to finishing equipment.

Although a traditional MPS contract might focus primarily on device uptime and consumables, production environments require deeper insight into the workflow itself. Print providers need answers to questions such as:

• Where are jobs spending the most time?
• Which devices or queues are creating bottlenecks?
• Are service-level agreements (SLAs) being met?
• What are the real production costs for specific jobs or clients?

Without a centralized system to monitor this data, production facilities often rely on manual processes or scattered reports. That's when software becomes essential.

Software as the Backbone of Production MPS

In a production-print MPS model, software is crucial. RSA solutions like QDirect and WebCRD allow resellers to go beyond hardware monitoring and gain deeper workflow visibility.

Instead of merely tracking device usage, RSA software helps dealers and print providers orchestrate the flow of jobs, from submission and routing to output and finishing.

For example, output management tools can automatically route jobs to the most appropriate device based on predefined rules such as file type, queue load, or production requirements. This reduces manual effort and helps production environments maintain steady throughput even during peak periods.

From an MPS perspective, this kind of automation also creates a data-rich environment in which activity can be tracked and analyzed through centralized reporting and dashboards.

Turning Production Data into Billable Insights

One major advantage of integrating MPS with production workflow software is the ability to capture detailed production data. With the right software infrastructure, resellers can help clients track metrics such as job volume by department or customer, device utilization across production equipment, job turnaround times and SLA performance, and reprint rates and error-related waste. This data can support cost allocation for internal chargeback or billing systems.

These insights change the MPS discussion. Instead of focusing solely on device management, resellers can provide ongoing reporting and analytics that help print providers work more efficiently.

In many cases, this data forms the basis for new managed services agreements that include reporting dashboards, workflow optimization consultations, and periodic assessments of production performance.

Enforcing SLAs in High-Volume Environments

Production print clients often work under tight deadlines, especially when handling transactional printing, marketing campaigns, or large-scale mail operations. RSA workflow tools provide the visibility and automation needed to support SLA compliance by routing jobs according to predefined rules and tracking job status throughout the production process. If a device becomes unavailable or overloaded, jobs can be redirected to other devices without manual intervention.

For resellers providing MPS, this capability strengthens the service relationship. In addition to maintaining hardware, they also reduce the risk of missed production deadlines.

Creating a More Complete Solution

For organizations already supporting production print environments, adding workflow software to an MPS offering enables a more comprehensive solution. Rather than selling individual components, such as presses, finishing equipment, or workflow tools, resellers can position themselves as partners overseeing the entire production environment.

This approach aligns well with the evolving needs of print providers, many of whom are seeking ways to improve efficiency while managing labor shortages and rising production costs.

Expanding the Reseller Opportunity

As production print operations continue to digitize their workflows, the need for visibility, automation, and data-driven decisions will only grow.

Resellers who combine MPS expertise with production workflow software are well-positioned to meet this demand. By using RSA software as the foundation for job tracking, cost capture, reporting, and SLA enforcement, resellers can move beyond simple hardware sales and build long-term managed services relationships.

For many resellers, that shift marks an entirely new category of recurring revenue in the production-print market.