HP Inc. to buy Samsung Electronics’ Printer Business

HP Inc. to buy Samsung Electronics’ Printer Business

Anne Valaitis
Sep 12, 2016




HP Inc. announced today they are set to buy Samsung’s printer business for a reported $1.05 billion. HP Inc. went public with a number of announcements today during their Global Partner Conference in Boston, Ma continuing for the next few days. As part of the Samsung announcement, HP is set to gain about 6,000 Samsung employees once the deal is finalized. HP sets its expectation to close within 12 months (according to Enrique Lores HP, president of imaging and printing). Of the 6,000 employees, approximately 2,000 are research and development engineers, 1,000 are sales and support staff and the remaining are in service and manufacturing, Lores said. As of this writing, Samsung has not shared the revenue that had been generated from their printing business.


In addition to the acquisition announcement, HP Inc., announced today their next generation A3 printing portfolio aimed at disrupting the $55B copier segment with 6 new next generation Pagewide and LaserJet platforms.

InfoTrends will work to develop a detailed analysis piece to be published in the coming days as more information is gathered and the HP Global Partner Event concludes.

Samsung is said to be divesting the printer business as a means to focus on its core smartphone, television and memory chip businesses. HP will grow, with this acquisition, in areas such as Asia and will gain intellectual property such as a patent portfolio that includes approximately 6500 printing technology patents. In addition the obvious nature of eliminating a rival cannot be dismissed in what is a very competitive market that has had its share of challenges.

Dion Weisler, President and CEO of HP Inc. was emphatic in today’s Global Partner Conference presentation webinar that HP and the industry in which is competes must innovate, and change “…in order to grow, we must embrace change…keep reinventing everyday…” Dion was also joined by Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft who echoed many of same sentiments regarding change and innovation. Satya stated that we need to look differently at IT, “IT is not an enabler of office work, it is at the core of business…” In addition they both agreed that the industry has been lacking innovation with too much emphasis on a single product or area “…no longer can you over index on just the software, or just the hardware…”.

We look to share more information, insights and predictions to the ramifications of the HP Inc acquisition of the Samsung printing business in the next few business days.

Are you Flying without a Seat Belt?

When either flying in a plane or driving in a car, would you ever dare to think twice about refraining from the use of your seat belt?  Why take unnecessary risks with your life or your family when a proven protection system like a seat belt is readily available. Wouldn’t you agree?

As business owners, your goal is to provide a predictable level of safety and stability to your employees and customers. Through the use readily available industry tools, vendor partners, and business strategies, you can provide a predictable stream of profitable revenues that will help your business grow and prosper for years to come. The question is…are you using them?

In the print environment, the sale, servicing, managing, and retention of MFP and printer assets are critical to your survival. As you know there are many moving pieces inside this equation which includes hardware, software, and services. Invoicing of your clients properly, and in an efficient manner is one of the key components that are often overlooked. Detailed, timely, and uniform invoices have a greater chance of being paid on time, thus lowering your DSO. MPS and Office Equipment providers often have end-user agreements that consist of one invoice for equipment, and another that invoices for actual services. Is this the most efficient method for you and your clients? Multiple invoices, reports, purchase orders, and collections efforts are redundant and profit draining for your operation and those of your clients.  Moreover, what is keeping your clients from cancelling service agreements and moving them to your competition? An efficient expense reducing approach that can combines lease financing and services into one unified approach, is a win-win for all involved. So why aren’t you doing it?

A “bundled agreement” or a single invoice that includes hardware and services is your safety belt and helps you to retain clients, improve your operational inefficiencies, reduce your administrative expenses and can grow the profitability of your business. Taking services up when funding a deal with your lease provider is not a long term or sustainable strategy. It`s time to think longer term. A bundled process that provides for: annual service escalations, equipment add-ons, pooled billing, individual asset upgrades, no termination or trade up fees, daily ACH remittances for services from your lease provider, and protection from competitive “take –outs”, is a long term solution that a real financial partner can provide.

• So go ahead and fasten your seat belt and protect your business from unforeseen accidents. It’s time to evaluate your leasing partners, take control of your business portfolio, and use available tools as a differentiator and competitive advantage. It all starts with the assessment of your leasing partners and vendors and developing a strategic plan to smooth out your ride and take your business to the next level.

Samsung Brings Increased Productivity and Personalization with New ProXpress Printers and MFP’s

inShare8

RIDGEFIELD PARK, NJ – September 2, 2014 – Samsung Electronics America, Inc. announced the C2620DW, C2670FW, M4583FX, and M4580FX, a new line of ProXpress single and multi-function printers (MFPs) designed for desktop use, but with the functionality to run an office. These powerful devices are built for small and medium-sized businesses and comfortable in the enterprise. Businesses can customize applications to meet a variety of needs with XOA while the M4583FX and M4580FX feature the new Samsung Smart User Interface (UI) powered by Android™, the first time MFPs have come equipped with an Android operating system.

“Samsung is dedicated to producing high quality, cost efficient printers to provide business users with an unparalleled printer experience,” said Matt Smith, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Printing Solutions for Samsung’s Enterprise Business Division. “We understand the importance of seamless connectivity and simple user interfaces. Adopting the Android operating system into our printers makes them even simpler to operate and optimize.”
M4583FX and M4580FX: Powerful Performance and Intuitive Operability
The M4583FX and M4580FX are built for performance with fast scanning and powerful paper handling powered by a 1GHZ dual core CPU. Both models feature quick, reliable and economically efficient printing at speeds of up to 47 ppm. A Dual Scan Document Feeder (DSDF) allows for double-sided scanning at up to 60 images per minute. Further, a long life drum supporting up to 100,000 pages and high yield toner supporting up to 40,000 pages* are designed to perform longer, resulting in a lower total cost of ownership.
With the new Samsung Smart UI, along with an intuitive 10.1-inch LCD touchscreen display powered by Android, the MFPs can operate independently without a PC. Businesses can customize their printing experience with web search, quick print, and document preview functions. Both models also have an option to add wireless and active NFC capabilities, which provides users with the ability to effortlessly print files from an NFC-enabled smartphone using the Samsung Mobile Print App.
The M4583FX and M4580FX feature Samsung’s XOA-Embedded platform, allowing solutions developers and businesses to greatly enhance the functionality of these machines by building custom applications for a variety of business needs. From smarter workflows to enhanced security, custom XOA solutions can modernize an office and elevate businesses to new heights of efficiency.

C2620DW and C2670FW: Professional Color Quality and Ease of Use
Building on the successful line of CLP-680 series printers and CLX-6260 series MFPs, the C2620DW and C2670FW are enhanced for the modern office.Featuring Samsung’s Rendering Engine for Clean Page (ReCP) technology and polymerized toner, the printers deliver sharp vibrant prints at speeds up to 27 ppm for black & white and color.
The C2620DW and C2670FW are powered by a 4.1-inch LCD touchscreen display for intuitive and easy usage. Advanced mobility features, such as native Google Drive support and built-in NFC, allows users to print files from the cloud and from NFC-enabled smartphones via the Samsung Mobile Print App.
Additionally, the devices include the XOA-Web platform, allowing business to integrate server-based smart solutions to enhance the feature set and improve productivity. The cost per page has been reduced from previous models, resulting in a lower TCO and better value to businesses.

Samsung Business Core Printing Solutions (BCPS)
BCPS is a software suite that runs on the XOA-Embedded platform and was created to improve workplace efficiency for small to medium-sized businesses. With custom workflows, secure print release, and cloud printing, IT managers can easily implement the kind of print and document management solutions typically seen in the enterprise. By installing BCPS on a M4580FX or M4583FX, businesses can connect up to five XOA-Web enabled machines, including the new C2620DW and C2670FW, which will save on costly infrastructure and servers.

Fully Mobile
All four new models are Google Cloud Print and Apple AirPrint compatible, providing a universal user experience no matter how users choose to print. In addition, the Samsung Mobile Print App facilitates printing and scanning from any Android or iOS powered mobile device with any Samsung network shared printer and MFP without the need for a computer. The app can be easily downloaded to a smartphone or tablet from popular app stores such as Google Play. With its capability to print Microsoft Office documents as well as support for Job Accounting and Secure print, businesses can improve the efficiency of their increasingly mobile workforce. 
All Samsung printers can be found at select Samsung resellers and channel partners. Local availability can be determined by calling 1-866-SAM-4BIZ or by visiting samsung.com/business. Follow us on Twitter @SamsungBizUSA.

About Samsung Electronics America Enterprise Business Division 
As a global leader in Information Technology, Samsung’s Enterprise Business Division (EBD) is committed to introducing new business experiences across a diverse spectrum of industries from retail to healthcare, hospitality to sales.  We believe technology brings business and customers together — to better share, collaborate and discover new opportunities. With a market-oriented approach to innovation, EBD is a division of Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (SEA), a U.S. subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Company, Ltd. (SEC). For more information, please visit samsung.com/business, call 1-866-SAM-4BIZ or follow Samsung EBD via Twitter: @SamsungBizUSA. 

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in technology, opening new possibilities for people everywhere. Through relentless innovation and discovery, we are transforming the worlds of TVs, smartphones, tablets, PCs, cameras, home appliances, printers, LTE systems, medical devices, semiconductors and LED solutions. We employ 286,000 people across 80 countries with annual sales of US$216.7 billion. To discover more, please visit www.samsung.com.
*ISO Disclaimer

New Multi-Function Devices from Xerox Simplify Office Productivity, Offer Cost Effective and Secure Printing

MENAFN Press - 20/08/2014

(MENAFN Press) New multi-function printers (MFPs) from Xerox (NYSE: XRX) offer increased productivity, flexibility, and reliability to simplify how work gets done for any workplace.

The new Xerox WorkCentre 5945/5955 is designed with true 1200 x 1200 dpi that delivers superior image quality and print speeds up to 45/55 pages per minute. With output as fast as seven seconds and a 4,700 sheet paper capacity “ the device helps businesses get more work done, faster.

The Xerox devices allow users to scan, share or print documents, with increased flexibility. The devices have single pass duplex scanning, at up to 200 images per minute, and the customizable single touch scan feature makes it easy to quickly send scans to email, PC or the cloud “ with just a touch of a button.

Equipped with Xerox ConnectKey technology, users can print from the device of their choice, making printing quicker and easier too. Xerox Mobile Print and Apple AirPrint allow users to print securely, from almost any mobile device, to any MFP, regardless of brand.

In addition, the WorkCentre's uses the latest Xerox Emulation Aggregation (EA) Toner, which can be replaced by any user, providing less user intervention and more uptime “ so businesses can focus on the work that really matters.

To help businesses stay ahead of data breaches and other security threats, the WorkCentre 5945/5955 is integrated with McAfee technology “ ensuring that only authorized users have access to the device.

About Xerox
Since the invention of Xerography more than 75 years ago, the people of Xerox (NYSE: XRX) have helped businesses simplify the way work gets done. Today, we are the global leader in business process and document management, helping organizations of any size be more efficient so they can focus on their real business. Headquartered in Norwalk, Connecticut, we have more than 140,000 Xerox employees and do business in more than 180 countries, providing business services, printing equipment and software for commercial and government organizations. Learn more at www.xerox.com.

Kyocera Document Solutions America Introduces Six New Economical, Ecological Desktop Devices

Kyocera Document Solutions America Introduces Six New Economical, Ecological Desktop Devices

By: Reporting Company
March 14th, 2014
Industry News

Robust Printers and MFPs Bring Desktop Productivity to a New Level

FAIRFIELD, N.J. – March 13, 2014– KYOCERA Document Solutions America, one of the world’s leading document solutions companies, has just extended its impressive ECOSYS® lineup with three new color multifunctional printers (MFPs), one black & white MFP and two new black-and-white desktop printers. Each of the compact devices highlight KYOCERA’s hallmark ECOSYS technology in a small footprint, making these printers and MFPs ideal for virtually any office environment—from individual users to busy corporate workgroups.
The new printers and MFPs feature ecological designs, user-friendly features, and compatibility with critical business applications. The ECOSYS M6526cdn, M6026cidn and M6526cidn MFPs offer color print, copy and scan functions for high-end versatility, as well as USB Host Interface for print-from and scan-to capability; the ECOSYS M2035dn offers black and white printing and copying to go along with full color scanning, as well as a standard front facing USB Host Interface; the ECOSYS P2135dn and P2135d printers include print-from-USB capabilities for on-the-go printing. Equally important, all six devices offer crisp image quality at impressive speeds. The ECOSYS M2035dn, ECOSYS P2135dn and ECOSYS P2135d generate black-and-white pages at the rate of 37 per minute [ppm]; the ECOSYS M6526cidn, ECOSYS M6526cdn, and ECOSYS M6026cidn MFPs produce color and black-and-white documents at 28 ppm.
All ECOSYS devices come complete with KYOCERA’s patented long-life drum technology. This eco-friendly drum design, which separates the toner container, allows users to replenish toner without sacrificing the drum—thus reducing consumable costs and landfill waste. The devices also conserve energy and associated costs by switching to standby mode when not in use; they are Energy Star™ certified for their operating efficiency.
The new devices optimize performance while offering one of the lowest costs per print. The many features include:
ECOSYS P2135d and ECOSYS P2135dn Black & White Printers

• A maximum paper capacity of up to 800 sheets with optional paper-feed units;
• Standard Gigabit Ethernet (ECOSYS P2135dn only)
• Standard Duplex on both models

ECOSYS M2035dn Black & White Multifunctional Printer

• A maximum capacity of up to 800 sheets with optional paper-feed units
• Standard Gigabit Ethernet
• Standard copy, print  and color scan

ECOSYS M6526cdn, ECOSYS M6026cidn and ECOSYS M6526cidn Color Multifunctional Printers

• A maximum capacity of up to 1,300 sheets with optional paper-feed units on all devices
• Standard Gigabit Ethernet
• Standard color print, copy, scan and black & white fax (ECOSYS M6526cdn/M6526cidn)
• Standard color print, copy and scan (ECOSYS M6026cidn)

Powerful Business Applications
Select ECOSYS devices integrate seamlessly with a wide range of business applications driven by Kyocera’s scalable HyPAS technology. Some of the most popular include Mobile Print, which allows users to print files and web pages from a smartphone or tablet; Apple AirPrint, which enables users to print from iOS and OSX products to select KYOCERA devices; and Command Center RX, a convenient app that displays toner levels, paper availability, and device status via a web browser.
Other powerful apps include PinPoint Scan, a robust app that makes it easy to scan from the MFP to a desktop; Teaching Assistant, which streamlines the task of creating, printing, grading and analyzing multiple-choice exams; and SharePoint Connector, which connects a workgroup’s KYOCERA MFP to its existing Microsoft SharePoint Server.
 Pricing and Availability
Kyocera’s ECOSYS desktop MFPs and printers are available through authorized Kyocera dealers at a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of:

• ECOSYS M6526cidn:  $4,799
• ECOSYS M6526cdn:  $3,999
• ECOSYS M6026cidn:  $4,209
• ECOSYS M2035dn:  $1,181
• ECOSYS P2135dn: $599
• ECOSYS P2135d: $529

To find the nearest dealer, please visit Kyocera’s dealer locator at: www.kyoceradocumentsolutions.com/us.

ECOSYS, HyPAS, PinPoint Scan, Teaching Assistant and SharePoint Connector are trademarks of Kyocera Companies.
ABOUT KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS AMERICA
KYOCERA Document Solutions America, Inc. (www.kyoceradocumentsolutions.com/us), headquartered in Fairfield, N.J., is a leading provider of computer-connectable document imaging and document management systems, including network-ready digital MFPs/printers, laser printers, color MFPs/printers, digital laser facsimiles, and multifunctional and wide format imaging solutions. KYOCERA Document Solutions America is a group company of KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc., a core company of the Kyocera Corporation, the world’s leading developer and manufacturer of advanced ceramics and associated products, including telecommunications equipment, semiconductor packages and electronic components. KYOCERA Document Solutions America, the first document solutions company with third-party certified sales data, has earned numerous honors for its products’ high performance, reliability and cost efficiency. Kyocera Corporation’s consolidated net revenues exceeded $13.6 billion for the fiscal year ending on March 31, 2013.

New Smart Color MFPs from Ricoh Continue to Redefine Information Access

New Smart Color MFPs from Ricoh Continue to Redefine Information Access

Industry News

MALVERN, Pa., March 5, 2014 — Ricoh Americas Corporation today introduced two new color multifunction products (MFP) packing rich functionality into a compact footprint for smaller offices and workgroups.
The RICOH MP C2003 and MP C2503 print 20 and 25 pages per minute respectively while making information work for customers with a wide range of cloud and mobility services. Through an intuitive home screen or optional Smart Operation Panel, the MFPs connect to Ricoh’s Integrated Cloud Environment (ICE), which offers an extensive menu of document storage, management and OCR services.
“In today’s dynamic work environment, nothing can be more frustrating than trying to access information that’s slightly out of reach,” said Jason Dizzine, Vice President, Technology Marketing, Ricoh Americas Corporation. “That’s why we’re introducing two new MFPs with technology that helps customers access, transform and share information from anywhere, anytime.”
Take the lead in mobility
The RICOH MP C2003 and MP C2503 offer more ways to access information and manage documents beyond the office. Mobile print users with wireless access can now utilize the free RICOH Smart Device Print&Scan app, which lets smartphone and tablet users seamlessly print and now scan directly from these new Ricoh MFPs to mobile devices, as well as send scanned data to or print from their cloud storage services. And while most mobile printing apps offer only basic printing functions, Ricoh’s new app enables users to choose orientation, duplexing, finishing, color/monochrome and more.
Innovation that makes a difference
With the RICOH MP C2003 and MP C2503 comes the introduction of the new Stapleless Finisher, an optional feature unique to Ricoh, which bonds as many as five pages together without any metal fasteners. In addition to being friendly to the environment, a stapleless bond is safer for situations where food, pharmaceuticals and other consumables are made. It is also ideal for schools and child care facilities or anywhere young children are present.
The RICOH MP C2003 and MP C2503 further support sustainability with Typical Electricity Consumption (TEC) values that are among the lowest in this MFP category at 0.72 and 0.91 kWh@h/week. Other environmentally friendly features include programmable shutdown and power-up, automated duplexing, innovative PxP-EQ toner (requires less heat than traditional toner), and an Eco-Friendly Indicator that coaches organizations to reduce paper consumption. The RICOH MP C2003 and MP C2503 are Gold certified by the EPEAT green procurement program.
Media handling and image quality
While document functions are packed into a space saving design, the RICOH MP C2003 and MP C2503 let loose with support for a wide range of paper stock and sizes. Choose up to 300 gsm (169 gsm duplex) for media such as postcards, printed envelopes and posters while getting more coverage per print with paper sizes up to SRA3 (12.6 x 17.7 inches).
The RICOH MP C2003 and MP C2503 offer image resolution up to 1,200 dpi with automatic color calibration for superior image quality on the fly. Standard automatic duplexing and a maximum paper capacity of up to 2,300 sheets help further simplify any print job, while optional internal finishing reduces the overall maximum footprint of the device.
Both MFPs are available today. The MP C2003 sells for a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $6,890, and the MP C2503 sells for an MSRP of $9,330.

For details on Ricoh’s full line of products, services and solutions, please visit www.ricoh-usa.com.

| About Ricoh |
Ricoh is a global technology company specializing in office imaging equipment, production print solutions, document management systems and IT services. Headquartered in Tokyo, Ricoh Group operates in about 200 countries and regions. In the financial year ending March 2013, Ricoh Group had worldwide sales of 1,924 billion yen (approx. 20 billion USD).
The majority of the company’s revenue comes from products, solutions and services that improve the interaction between people and information. Ricoh also produces award-winning digital cameras and specialized industrial products. It is known for the quality of its technology, the exceptional standard of its customer service and sustainability initiatives.
Under its corporate tagline, imagine. change.,Ricoh helps companies transform the way they work and harness the collective imagination of their employees.
For further information, please visit www.ricoh.com/about/.

Lexmark Quarterly Business Roundup

Lexmark Quarterly Business Roundup

LEXINGTON, Ky., March 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- News Facts Corporate News Lexmark's fourth quarter financial results were highlighted by double-digit revenue growth in the company's high value areas of Managed Print Services (MPS) and Perceptive Software, which comprised more than 25 percent of the company's total revenue in the quarter. Highlights also included a record gross profit margin percentage for the fifth consecutive year, solid cash generation and the ongoing execution of the company's capital allocation framework. Lexmark International, Inc. (NYSE: LXK) announced financial results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2013. To access the earnings news release, click here, and for the earnings presentation, click here. Lexmark's Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.30 per share of Lexmark Class A Common Stock. The dividend is payable on March 14, 2014, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on March 3, 2014.    After the close of the markets on Jan. 28, 2014, Lexmark entered into an accelerated share repurchase agreement (ASR Agreement) with The Bank of Nova Scotia (Scotiabank). Pursuant to the terms of the ASR Agreement, the Company will purchase $21 million of the outstanding shares of its Class A Common Stock from Scotiabank.  Customer News and Company Recognition Lexmark has been recognized as a Leader in smart multifunction products (MFPs) by the IDC MarketScape 2013 Smart MFP report, which analyzes the strategies and current capabilities of companies providing smart MFPs. Lexmark's Perceptive Software announced that its Acuo vendor neutral archive (VNA) platform was ranked by global market research and consulting company MarketsandMarkets as the world market share leader among all independent and PACS-affiliated VNA solution providers. Lexmark's Perceptive Software announced that Catalyst, a provider of secure cloud-based software addressing the e-discovery, compliance and regulatory needs of Global 2000 corporations and their legal counsel, has licensed Perceptive Document Filters as a key component of its Catalyst Insight platform. Doosan Infracore International selected Perceptive Software for AP Automation for a $1.6 million total contract value. The U.S. General Services Administration has awarded a blanket purchase agreement to Lexmark as part of phase two of its MPS program, which is a major component of its Federal Strategic Sourcing Initiative for Print Management. Products, Software, Solutions and Services News Perceptive Software launched Perceptive Media Connector, which allows Perceptive Content customers to easily and securely capture, store and manage large and diverse rich media files. Lexmark was inducted into The Mopria Alliance, Inc., a global nonprofit membership organization comprised of leading global technology companies with the shared goal of providing intuitively simple wireless printing from smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices. The Human Rights Campaign Foundation has again recognized Lexmark's commitment to equality in the workplace. The Foundation's 2014 Corporate Equality Index (CEI) ranks Lexmark among the top companies with a perfect score of 100. Lexmark has been recognized on the index every year since 2005. Community News Lexmark presented one teacher with INSPIRE: Lexmark's Teaching Award. Bethany Neel, a math interventionist/resource teacher at Cane Ridge Elementary School in Paris, Ky., was recognized as an outstanding educator in the area of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Perceptive Software and the University of Kansas School of Engineering presented two educators with Educating Excellence awards. Kirsten Rhoads, a chemistry, physics and engineering instructor at Basehor-Linwood High School in Basehor, Kan., and Lewis McKenzie, a mathematics and engineering instructor at Ruskin High School in Kansas City, Mo., were honored as outstanding STEM educators. John Gagel, corporate manager of sustainability at Lexmark, has been named to the Manufacturing Leadership Council's Board of Governors. Supporting Resources: Additional content is available on Lexmark's News Blog. About LexmarkLexmark is uniquely focused on connecting unstructured printed and digital information across enterprises with the processes, applications and people that need it most. For more information, please visit www.lexmark.com. Lexmark and Lexmark with diamond design are trademarks of Lexmark International, Inc., registered in the U.S. and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. All prices, features, specifications and capabilities are subject to change without notice. SOURCE Lexmark International, Inc. Investor Contact: John Morgan, (859) 232-5568, jmorgan@lexmark.com; Media Contact: Jerry Grasso, (859) 232-3546, ggrasso@lexmark.com

Managed Print Services: From Big Paper to Big Data

Managed Print Services: From Big Paper to Big Data

By: Louella Fernandes, Principal Analyst, Quocirca Published: 30th May 2013 Copyright Quocirca © 2013

Paper-based information is not often thought about in today's Big Data picture, which tends to focus on the proliferation of unstructured data from sources such as blogs, social media and video that is growing at exponential rates compared to traditional enterprise data. Yet paper documents are an important part of corporate business operations, often containing valuable information that must be captured, stored, organised and analysed.

Despite all the talk of the paperless office, organisations still rely heavily on paper documents. Every day businesses receive and print thousands of paper documents, mail, email and faxes that need to be captured and transformed for entry into business processes. Whilst some businesses have transitioned to electronic forms and transactions, many mission-critical business processes—such as billing, claims-processing and accounts-payable—are paper based. This reliance on paper is costly and inefficient and paper documents can be a huge liability.

As organisations try to reduce costs, improve process efficiency and establish compliance with various government legislation and industry regulations (e.g. PCI DSS, SOX, HIPAA, Data Protection Act), digitising paper documents through document capture is an important first step in business process automation. Document capture solutions are designed to remove the bottleneck paper creates at the onset of many business processes today.
 
When captured at the point of origination, paper documents can be directly integrated into business-critical processes. The full capture process includes scanning, data extraction from scanned images, document classification and sharing of content across electronic content management (ECM) systems. Documents become more accessible and easier to find, distribute and track. This increases productivity and streamlines processes, while supporting record retention, document security, and privacy requirements. Consequently, paper documents become part of the wider big data picture, enabling organisations to extract value from information to support faster decision making, for instance through business intelligence or big data analytics.
However, the challenge of document capture and processing can be daunting for many businesses, requiring specialist skills and resources. Despite the clear benefits of integrating all types of information into business processes and eliminating paper from these processes, employee attitudes and existing departmental systems can make it difficult to know where to start. Most organisations are resource constrained today, so many turn to outsourcing providers in order to focus on their core business.

The benefits of using an outsourced service include improved customer service, reduced business costs, compliance and greater efficiency. Outsourced services allow for easy scalability and can minimise infrastructure costs and disruption. One area where such business process automation is becoming more prevalent is in the managed print services (MPS) market. MPS is a proven approach to reducing printing costs by optimisating complex printer fleets, and deploying tools and technologies to minimise wasteful printing. As businesses move to next generation MPS engagements and are looking for further cost and efficiency improvements, many are working with their MPS providers to digitise paper workflows. With many organisations having already invested in multi-function printers (MFPs), working with MPS providers enables them to leverage these devices as sophisticated document capture and processing hubs.
Although many MPS providers are now competing in the wider and highly competitive BPO market, providers such as HP, Lexmark, Ricoh and Xerox have mature industry-specific services to automate manual processes such as electronic invoicing, mortgage application processing and health records management. With the core MPS services becoming commoditised, such business process services (BPS) are becoming key to differentiation amongst leading players in the MPS market.

Whilst big data and MPS may not have immediately obvious connections, many MPS engagements are advancing beyond the realm of device consolidation to encompass business process improvement. By accelerating the transition to digital workflows, paper based information becomes better integrated with enterprise data enabling organisations to extract business value from all data—both paper and digital.
Read Quocirca's MPS 2013 Report at http://www.quocirca.com/reports/835/managed-print-services-landscape-2013

Ricoh Americas awarded the national U.S. Communities contract for multifunction products and document services

MALVERN, Pa., June 4, 2013 – Ricoh Americas Corporation today announced it has been awarded a multi-year contract to supply multifunction products (MFPs) and related services to participants in the U.S. Communities Government Purchasing Alliance. Fairfax County, Virginia, served as the lead agency and awarded Ricoh the contract after carefully evaluating proposals from other manufacturers.
The exclusive contract gives more than 90,000 public sector entities such as state agencies, local governments, special districts, school districts, and public and nonprofit higher education institutions access to Ricoh’s devices and services.

This new agreement combines Ricoh’s award-winning lineup of printing technology with the strength of Ricoh’s industry-leading services. Public sector clients now have access to a publicly-solicited cooperative agreement that can provide them with new strategies to manage print fleets, improve information flows, create more sustainable printing environments and help reduce operational costs.

“Ricoh was selected in a competitive solicitation process based on their proposal, offering a compelling services-led approach to assist public entities in transforming business processes and finding areas of cost savings,” said Cathy Muse, CPPO; Director/Purchasing Agent, Department of Purchasing & Supply Management, Fairfax County, VA. “We are excited that Fairfax County is able to provide the contract vehicle for this powerful offering on a nation-wide basis.”

For more information, visit www.uscommunities.ricoh-usa.com.

About U.S. Communities

U.S. CommunitiesTM Government Purchasing Alliance is a nonprofit government purchasing cooperative that assists local and state government agencies, school districts (K-12), higher education, and nonprofits in reducing the cost of purchased goods through pooling the purchasing power of public agencies nationwide. This is accomplished through competitively solicited contracts for quality products through lead public agencies. For more information, visit www.uscommunities.org.

###
© 2013 Ricoh Americas Corporation. All rights reserved. All referenced product names are the trademarks of their respective companies.
Contact:
John Greco
Ricoh Americas Corporation (973) 882-2023 john.greco@ricoh-usa.com
Jan Daley-Austin
AR Advisors, Inc.
(239) 257-3040 jan@analystadvisors.com

Ricoh Unveils MFPs and Printers Engineered for Healthcare

NEW ORLEANS, March 4, 2013 – Ricoh U.S. Healthcare today unveiled at the HIMSS 2013 Annual Conference and Exhibition a suite of versatile multifunction products (MFPs) and printers engineered specifically to help healthcare organizations improve outcomes in the face of rising costs, new legislation, security risks and provider consolidation.

Created after extensive research into unmet customer needs, the Ricoh Multifunctional Products and Printers for Healthcare – SP 5210DNHW/SP 5210DNHT, SP C431DNHW/SP C431DNHT, SP 5200SHW/SP 5200SHT, and SP 5210SFHW/SP 5210SFHT – offer a range of features to streamline the input, processing and output of healthcare information.

For example, healthcare organizations can now print patient wristbands from electronic medical records without the need for expensive single-purpose thermal printers or extensive configuration. Ricoh’s new Multifunctional Products and Printers for Healthcare provide a simple yet powerful turnkey solution for wristbands, which today carry an increasing wealth of clinical information, including barcodes, color-coded alerts, patient photos and more. The new Ricoh MFPs and printers further reduce cost of wristband production by deftly handling media as narrow as 3.25 inches, reducing consumption of expensive wristband stock. Ricoh will be offering demonstrations of wristband printing at its HIMSS booth #1361.

Other new features
Ricoh’s Tray Locks Solution makes it easy to secure sensitive and expensive forms, such as prescription paper. To reduce device management costs, workers can use an SD Card as a Portable Print Configuration Module to simply and efficiently swap out mission-critical devices or replicate system settings across fleets. New Teflon-coated paper trays easily accommodate specialty papers and minimize misfeeds for efficient, uninterrupted print runs.

The new devices also help organizations address their HIPAA compliance and privacy requirements through features such as: Locked Print technology, which holds documents until an authorized user provides credentials such as a password; Hard Drive Encryption, which encrypts address books, passwords and certain data stored on the device; and the DataOverWriteSecuritySystem (DOSS), which protects valuable information by overwriting digital images on the hard drive. To optimize information flow, Ricoh healthcare MFP users can scan records directly to secure email addresses, folders, FTP sites, document servers and archives.

“This new line of Ricoh devices exemplifies the printer/MFP’s growing service role across the entire continuum of care,” said Michael Campana, Senior Manager, Healthcare Marketing, Ricoh Americas Corporation. “It satisfies the broad-based need for new, innovative business information solutions that directly address the unique challenges of healthcare information systems’ output in the most cost-effective manner.” Specifications

The new devices print in the 32-52 ppm range with resolution up to 1200 x 1200 dpi. Each MFP or printer comes standard with a Java VM card that enables customers to easily add on Ricoh and third-party applications to gain powerful new capabilities.

The MSRP for each device is as follows: SP 5210DNHW/SP 5210DNHT at $2,399/$2,199, SP C431DNHW/SP C431DNHT at $2,399/$2,199, SP 5200SHW/SP 5200SHT at $3,699/$3,499, and SP 5210SFHW/SP 5210SFHT at $4,719/$4,519.

To learn more about Ricoh’s full line of products, services and solutions for healthcare, please visit www.ricoh-usa.com/healthcare.

| About Ricoh |
Ricoh is a global technology company specializing in office imaging equipment, production print solutions, document management systems and IT services. Headquartered in Tokyo, Ricoh Group operates in more than 200 countries and regions. In the financial year ending March 2012, Ricoh Group had worldwide sales of 1,903 billion yen (approx. 23 billion USD).
The majority of the company’s revenue comes from products, solutions and services that improve the interaction between people and information. Ricoh also produces award-winning digital cameras and specialized industrial products. It is known for the quality of its technology, the exceptional standard of its customer service and sustainability initiatives.
Under its corporate tagline, imagine. change. Ricoh helps companies transform the way they work and harness the collective imagination of their employees.

For further information, please visit
www.ricoh.com/about/

Ricoh unveils MFPs and printers engineered for healthcare

Ricoh unveils MFPs and printers engineered for healthcare  
Multipurpose devices dedicated to cost reduction can supplant expensive thermal wristband printer
New Orleans, LA, March 4, 2013 - Ricoh U.S. Healthcare today unveiled at the HIMSS 2013 Annual Conference and Exhibition a suite of versatile multifunction products (MFPs) and printers engineered specifically to help healthcare organizations improve outcomes in the face of rising costs, new legislation, security risks and provider consolidation.

Created after extensive research into unmet customer needs, the Ricoh Multifunctional Products and Printers for Healthcare – SP 5210DNHW/SP 5210DNHT, SP C431DNHW/SP C431DNHT, SP 5200SHW/SP 5200SHT, and SP 5210SFHW/SP 5210SFHT – offer a range of features to streamline the input, processing and output of healthcare information.

For example, healthcare organizations can now print patient wristbands from electronic medical records without the need for expensive single-purpose thermal printers or extensive configuration. Ricoh’s new Multifunctional Products and Printers for Healthcare provide a simple yet powerful turnkey solution for wristbands, which today carry an increasing wealth of clinical information, including barcodes, color-coded alerts, patient photos and more. The new Ricoh MFPs and printers further reduce cost of wristband production by deftly handling media as narrow as 3.25 inches, reducing consumption of expensive wristband stock. Ricoh will be offering demonstrations of wristband printing at its HIMSS booth #1361.

Other new features
Ricoh’s Tray Locks Solution makes it easy to secure sensitive and expensive forms, such as prescription paper. To reduce device management costs, workers can use an SD Card as a Portable Print Configuration Module to simply and efficiently swap out mission-critical devices or replicate system settings across fleets. New Teflon-coated paper trays easily accommodate specialty papers and minimize misfeeds for efficient, uninterrupted print runs.

The new devices also help organizations address their HIPAA compliance and privacy requirements through features such as: Locked Print technology, which holds documents until an authorized user provides credentials such as a password; Hard Drive Encryption, which encrypts address books, passwords and certain data stored on the device; and the DataOverWriteSecuritySystem (DOSS), which protects valuable information by overwriting digital images on the hard drive. To optimize information flow, Ricoh healthcare MFP users can scan records directly to secure email addresses, folders, FTP sites, document servers and archives.

“This new line of Ricoh devices exemplifies the printer/MFP’s growing service role across the entire continuum of care,” said Michael Campana, Senior Manager, Healthcare Marketing, Ricoh Americas Corporation. “It satisfies the broad-based need for new, innovative business information solutions that directly address the unique challenges of healthcare information systems’ output in the most cost-effective manner.”

Specifications
The new devices print in the 32-52 ppm range with resolution up to 1200 x 1200 dpi. Each MFP or printer comes standard with a Java VM card that enables customers to easily add on Ricoh and third-party applications to gain powerful new capabilities.

The MSRP for each device is as follows: SP 5210DNHW/SP 5210DNHT at $2,399/$2,199, SP C431DNHW/SP C431DNHT at $2,399/$2,199, SP 5200SHW/SP 5200SHT at $3,699/$3,499, and SP 5210SFHW/SP 5210SFHT at $4,719/$4,519.

To learn more about Ricoh’s full line of products, services and solutions for healthcare, please visit www.ricoh-usa.com/healthcare.

| About Ricoh |
Ricoh is a global technology company specializing in office imaging equipment, production print solutions, document management systems and IT services. Headquartered in Tokyo, Ricoh Group operates in more than 200 countries and regions. In the financial year ending March 2012, Ricoh Group had worldwide sales of 1,903 billion yen (approx. 23 billion USD).

The majority of the company's revenue comes from products, solutions and services that improve the interaction between people and information. Ricoh also produces award-winning digital cameras and specialized industrial products. It is known for the quality of its technology, the exceptional standard of its customer service and sustainability initiatives.

Under its corporate tagline, imagine. change. Ricoh helps companies transform the way they work and harness the collective imagination of their employees.

For further information, please visit
www.ricoh.com/about/

Printer Reliability and Satisfaction: Brother, Canon, and Epson Lead the Field

No one printer maker stood out in our survey of readers about their experiences with printer reliability and their satisfaction with features.

By Mark Sullivan, PCWorld Dec 5, 2011 9:00 pm

Our survey results show up-and-down results for many printer makers. Samsung received high marks for its printers’ reliability and copy speed, but poor ones for photo and graphics printing quality. Participating readers esteemed Xerox for its machines’ printing speed and network connectivity, but bashed it for their poor reliability. Only Canon, Brother, and Epson had especially strong showings in both reliability and feature satisfaction; and of those three, only Canon also graded high in service and support.
Highlighted in the three charts below are our survey participants' ratings of desktop PC manufacturers in three general areas: reliability, features, and service/support. These results are drawn from our 2011 Reliability and Service survey of some 63,000 PCWorld readers. The other product categories covered in this survey were desktop PCs, laptop PCs, tablets, digital cameras, HDTVs, and smartphones. For a closer look at the methodology we used in our survey to gauge manufacturer reliability and customer satisfaction, see "Reliability and Satisfaction: What the Measures Mean."

Notes and Quotes

The printers section of our Reliability and Service survey prompted some vivid comments from participants, and we spotted a couple of significant details in the data, too:
• In the category as a whole, 14.2 percent of printer owner said that they had run into a significant problem with their machine in the past year. That percentage jumped to 27.6 percent when we counted only Lexmark printer owners.
• Overall, 6.3 percent of printer owners said that that their printer had developed a problem in the past year that was serious enough top prevent it from working.
• "I've used Brother printers for over 15 years at my office. They are workhorses and last a long time. I very rarely have any problems with them." --Brother printer owner
• "Reduce the noise. When it prints, it sounds like a dinosaur eating a helicopter in my room." --HP printer owner