How To Choose The Right Printer For You
Printing is one of those quiet costs that builds up in the background, until something breaks or a big toner bill hits. For many organisations, printing only becomes visible when it causes disruption.
Managed Print Services (MPS) change that. Instead of reacting to problems, MPS turns printing into a predictable, supported service that runs smoothly in the background.
In this week’s newsletter, we explore the benefits of Managed Print Services and why more Irish schools and businesses are adopting them.
What Are Managed Print Services (MPS)?
In simple terms, MPS means partnering with a specialist who takes responsibility for your printers, copiers, supplies and support under one clear plan. It usually begins with a print audit, followed by a recommended setup and ongoing monitoring.
Here’s how we deliver Managed Print at O’Rourke Office Supplies:
1. Free Print & Storage Audit
We analyse your devices, print volumes, workflows and consumable usage to understand what’s working, and what isn’t.
2. Identify Savings & Automation
We highlight where processes can be automated, where costs can be reduced and how to improve efficiency across your print environment.
3. Tailored Proposal
You receive a clear, easy‑to‑follow plan outlining recommended devices, cost‑saving opportunities, automated consumable management and ongoing support.
For many schools and businesses, this means replacing a mix of ageing desktop printers with a reliable fleet of multifunction devices, one contract instead of multiple vendors, and a single point of contact when issues arise.
According to NBM (2022), unmanaged printing and document production can consume 1–3% of a company’s annual revenue, a major driver behind the shift to managed print.
The Benefits of Managed Print Services
1. Lower Costs and Less Waste
MPS programmes commonly deliver 20–30% reductions in print costs by consolidating devices and controlling usage. Savings typically come from:
- removing old, inefficient printers
- standardising a few reliable models
- tightening default settings (mono, duplex)
- reducing abandoned or unnecessary print jobs
2. Modern, Efficient Devices
Many organisations still rely on older, power‑hungry printers on legacy leases. Moving to MPS modernises hardware and makes billing predictable, allowing budgets to be spread more effectively.
3. Proactive Monitoring & Support
Most MPS fleets are monitored remotely, meaning issues are often spotted before they disrupt workflows. Toner arrives just in time, error alerts trigger proactive fixes, and routine maintenance is scheduled before problems escalate.
4. Environmental Benefits
Managed print makes it easy to enforce greener defaults, like duplex and mono printing, and to report on usage by department or user. Fewer, more efficient devices and smarter settings usually mean noticeable reductions in paper and energy use.
For Irish schools pursuing Green Flag status or businesses working on ESG reporting, having hard numbers on reduced printing and lower consumption is a simple operational win.
MPS in Ireland
In Ireland, MPS adoption has grown steadily over the past decade, particularly among multi‑site schools, ETBs and mid‑sized businesses struggling with fragmented printer fleets. Many organisations are now moving from traditional copier leases to broader managed print contracts that cover both copiers and smaller office devices under one umbrella.
The Bottom Line
For schools, the big advantages are predictable budgeting, fewer disruptions to teaching, and central control over printing across corridors, buildings and campuses.
For businesses, the appeal is turning a messy mix of leases, purchases and ad‑hoc toner orders into one clear, scalable agreement that grows (or shrinks) with the team.
A local partner like O’Rourke Office Supplies can combine global best practice with on‑the‑ground experience in Irish schools and companies, carrying out a print audit, recommending the right mix of devices, putting sensible print rules in place, and then looking after supplies, monitoring and support.
Your printers quietly do their job in the background, and you can get back to doing yours.
Visit Us In‑Store
Main Street, Cavan & Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim
Call: (049) 433 1444 / 071 964 4251
Email: info/sales@orourkeoffice.ie
Website: https://orourkeoffice.ie/
Shop Online: https://online.orourkeoffice.ie/home
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