This IDC study uses the vendor assessment model called IDC MarketScape. This research is a quantitative and qualitative assessment of the characteristics that explain a vendor's success in the MFP marketplace and help anticipate the vendor's future.

This study assesses a number of vendors participating in the U.S. MFP office market and is composed of two key sections. The first is a definition or description of what characteristics IDC believes make a successful MFP vendor. These characteristics are based on vendor surveys conducted for this study, MFP buyer surveys, and analysts' observations of industry best practices.

The second part is a graphical depiction of multiple vendors in a single bubble chart format. This display concisely illustrates the observed and quantified scores of the reviewed vendors along strategies and current capabilities axes. The strategies axis represents a three- to five-year future perspective, while the capabilities axis represents current product and go-to-market execution. This standing determines if the vendor is a Leader, a Major Player, a Contender, or a Participant in the U.S. MFP office market. It also depicts the vendor's market size (as determined by current market share) by the size of the bubble and growth relative to the whole market (shown as a "+" or "-" symbol).

The study concludes with IDC's essential guidance to vendors in the MFP segment.

"While the transformation of the hardcopy industry is shifting to services and solutions, the "box" is still a critical component of the total offering. In the office market, MFPs that provide the avenue for new document management and workflow solutions will enable product differentiation and significant added value," said Keith Kmetz, program vice president of IDC's Hardcopy Solutions program. "This study identifies the Leaders, Major Players, Contenders, and Participants that make up the current office MFP landscape and reflects on the strategies and capabilities needed to be successful."