From Print Volumes to Smart Value: Why 2025 Is a Wake-Up Call for Dealers
- Henrik Lundsholm
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
The print market is changing. Fast. But the real risk isn’t the decline in pages printed. It’s holding on to old models while customer expectations have already moved on.
We’ve read the latest industry research and it confirms what many in our community already sense: the market for print is shrinking, but the demand for visibility, automation, and connected services is growing.
Let’s break down what that means for dealers, service providers, and anyone still relying on traditional MPS models.
The Real Decline: Not Just Pages, But Relevance
Print volumes are down. That’s not new. But what’s less visible is the quiet drop in relevance when services don’t evolve.
At 3manager, we’re seeing it clearly:
Businesses want data they can act on
End-customers expect transparency without phone calls and more self service options
Service managers need tools that automate the basics, so they can focus on value
Sales managers needs data driven analytics to advise customers more effective, accurate and with less time-consuming analytics
Monitoring is not only needed for device alerts and status but also behaviour and rightsizing
If you're still selling “device monitoring,” that won’t be enough in 2025. The conversation has already shifted.
Scanning, Automation and Advisory Are the Growth Areas
While print volumes decline, scan volumes are growing. Workflow automation is becoming mainstream. But most dealers aren’t monetising these yet.
You don’t need to become a software company overnight. You need a platform that:
Shows how much scanning is happening, and where
Lets you offer subscription-based services
Makes it easy to have smarter conversations with clients
Share relevant data for more transparency
Use systems focusing on automating as much as possible
3manager was designed exactly for this. Not just to track print, but to help you advise, plan, and optimise.
Your Advantage: You’re Already Trusted. Now Build On That.
This isn’t about competition. It’s about what customers now expect:
Dashboards they can access themselves
Alerts they don’t need to chase down
Environmental reporting they can share with leadership
If you're already managing the hardware, you should own the insight too. And the best way to protect your role is by sharing that insight transparently.
It's Time to Move From Monitoring to Management
Monitoring tells you what happened. Management helps you act before it becomes a problem.
That’s why we built 3manager with a focus on enabling the entire team to work better together:
Service managers, who need clarity to plan and prioritise
Account managers, who benefit from shared insights during customer meetings
Sustainability leads, who rely on accurate data to track impact
End-customers, who want transparency without having to ask
3manager is more than reporting. It’s about giving each stakeholder the information they need to act faster and with confidence.
This isn’t about saving time. It’s about protecting margins and strengthening relationships.
What You Can Do Today
Here’s how you can move forward:
Audit your customer access Are they relying on you for everything? Or can they see status, toner levels, and alerts themselves?
Start tracking scanning usage Even without charging yet, data is power. Understand the patterns, and you'll see the opportunity.
Shift from PDF reports to live dashboards If you’re still sending monthly summaries, it’s time to show real-time insights instead.
You don’t need to change everything overnight. But you do need to start.
The Industry Is Changing. So Can You.
2025 will be a turning point. For some, it’ll mark the beginning of decline. For others, it’ll be the start of a smarter, more scalable service business.
We’d love to show you how 3manager can help.