Following are the big and small news stories for the month of July.
PrintFleet Voted Best MPS Software in Recharger Magazine’s Reader’s Choice Awards
July 25, 2012 – PrintFleet Inc. was awarded the title of Best MPS Software by Recharger Magazine Reader’s Choice Awards 2012 at WorldExpo in Las Vegas this past week.
The Reader’s Choice Awards reflects voting by subscribers of Recharger Magazine wanting to recognize companies and individuals they feel have made significant contributions to the industry in the past year. “We are honoured that leaders in our market have selected PrintFleet as their choice for Best MPS Software. We appreciate their loyalty, and look forward to continuing to provide the best MPS software in the years ahead,” says Chris McFarlane, President & CEO.
PrintFleet partners, LMI Solutions and Great America Leasing Corporation were also honoured. LMI Solutions, a recognized leader in providing print management solutions in North America won the category of Best MPS Program. The Best Customer Service award was won by GreatAmerica Leasing Corporation, the largest independent leasing company in the office equipment financing market.
Standley Systems Brings Print Management to Customers Via Print Audit Premier
July 23, 2012 – Current and future customers of Oklahoma-based office equipment dealer Standley Systems can now take advantage of a variety of print management tools at a low cost per page price via Print Audit Premier. Premier is a new subscription service that gives office equipment dealers access to comprehensive managed print services tools that can be used to increase their customers printing efficiency and reduce printing costs. The print management capabilities available to Standley Systems and its customers via Premier include remote meter reading, cost recovery, rules-based printing, in-depth print assessment, as well as secure print release and pull-printing solutions.
Sharp Launches High-Speed Color Document Systems
July 17, 2012 — Sharp Imaging and Information Company of America (SIICA), a division of Sharp Electronics Corporation, has introduced two high-volume high-speed color document systems. The Sharp Polaris Office MX-6240N and MX-7040N high-speed color document systems leverage the company’s user interface, and offer high speed print production, while providing enhanced image quality, color consistency and productivity. The new Sharp Polaris Office models combine the simplicity of touch-screen menu navigation with multi-tasking workflow features – with speeds of 62 and 70 ppm in color and black and white for the MX-6240N and MX-7040N respectively.
Built for high-volume office environments, smaller CRDs, and copy rooms the Sharp MX-6240N/7040N allow dealers to tailor the devices to fit the different needs of clients, based on their industry or intended use. For example, in a college setting, dealers could customize a simple screen so that walk-up users can easily retrieve applications or course materials.
The Sharp MX-6240N/7040N high speed color series document systems offer enhanced paper handling capabilities and a maximum paper capacity of up to 8,500-sheets, with support for up to 110 lb. cover stock (300 gsm). Sharp’s new paper feed option uses air-feed technology, maximizing reliability while minimizing down time and enabling users to quickly and easily feed a wide range of paper types with confidence, according to Sharp. Typically found only on production devices, Sharp reports that the triple air-feed system directs air flow with precision accuracy to practically eliminate paper jams in paper input. Scanning originals is streamlined with the usage of a standard 150-sheet Duplexing Single Pass Feeder (DSPF) document feeder that scans documents at up to 150 images per minute.
Sharp’s enhanced third-generation micro-fine toner technology combined with 1200 x 1200 dpi print resolution and true Adobe PostScript enables businesses to produce highly professional looking documents in-house, at optimal image quality. Sharp’s Color Consistency System reportedly helps ensure brilliant, high-quality color output page after page.
The Sharp MX-6240N/7040N offers a wide range of high-performance finishing options to further enhance the professional look and feel of all documents, offering end-users outsourced quality for the cost of in-house production. With the ability to produce up to 80-page saddle-stitched booklets, smooth edged documents, Half-fold, Double-fold, Tri-fold documents and more, users have more options at their fingertips than ever before. Specifically, the MX-FN19 4,000 sheet stacking finisher offers 50-sheet stapling capacity, while the MX-FN22 4,000 sheet saddle stitch finisher offers 100-sheet stapling capacity and 80 page booklets. The MX-CF11 two-tray inserter option lets users insert covers and pre-printed materials for making professional looking booklets and complex documents. For a clean finished edge, the MX-TM10 trimmer unit can be added to the MX-FN22 further enhancing the appearance of saddle stitched booklets. Meanwhile, the MX-FD10 multi-folding unit option provides a host of fold types for virtually any application, including Z-fold, C-fold, Accordion-fold, Double-fold and Half-fold.
Sharp’s intuitive user interface delivers interactivity, simplicity, and customization to the document management experience. Similar to that of today’s smartphones and smart-tablets, the user interface provides easy access to all MFP features, each of which are viewed as icons which can be customized to individual user needs. The home screen can be further customized by adding custom backgrounds, icons or language, and by changing the layout or naming of function keys. All tasks can be performed in real-time, using flick, tap and slide menu navigation, on a large 10.1-inch (diagonally measured) high-resolution, color LCD touch-screen display.
These newest MFPs feature several layers of security, including standard 256-bit (AES) data encryption, up to seven times data overwrite protection, group account management, user authentication and Sharp’s industry leading “End of Lease” security feature. At the push of a button, this feature erases all personal and confidential information stored by the machine, essentially restoring to factory settings.
The new Sharp MX-6240N and MX-7040N are available through authorized Sharp dealers and direct sales.
Sharp Introduces High-Volume Monochrome MFPs
July 17, 2012 – Sharp Imaging and Information Company of America (SIICA) has announced three new models that will be added to its line of multifunction document systems for the high-volume markets. The new MX-M904, MX-M1054, MX-M1204 Hercules II monochrome series were showcased at the company’s annual National Dealer Meeting in Dallas.
Each of the new models will be available in three engine speeds: 90 ppm, 105 ppm and 120 ppm, and will offer advanced capabilities, such as air-feed paper handling for higher reliability and enhanced media support, and modular finishing options that offer professional folding and booklet making. To manage all these features, the Hercules II models use Sharp’s 10.1-inch (diagonal) high-resolution touch screen user interface, that offers real time editing and customization.
The modular design allows a variety of paper handling and finishing configurations ranging from basic high-volume printing and copying to advanced folding and booklet making. The available triple air-feed paper handling option provides excellent reliability and is virtually maintenance free. The MX-M904, MX-M1054, MX-M1204 models have paper capacity for up to 13,500-sheets with options and boast Standard PCL® 6 and true Adobe PostScript 3 printing systems. The job management function remembers each individual print job and allows users to combine and edit numerous jobs, directly from the machine itself.
The MX-M904, MX-M1054, MX-M1204 are built on the latest Sharp OSA development platform, making network integration with external applications and cloud services easy and secure. The built in security platform offers 256-bit data encryption and up to 7-times data overwrite protection to safeguard sensitive business or customer information. Additionally, a convenient End of Lease feature can erase all personal data, address books and job data at trade-in time.
The MX-M904, MX-M1054, MX-M1204 monochrome series document systems will be available in the fall through authorized Sharp dealers and direct sales.
Sharp Announces Collaboration with SHI International Corporation
July 17, 2012 – Sharp Imaging and Information Company of America has announced its collaboration with SHI International Corp. With this first-of-its-kind strategic alliance in the imaging industry, SHI clients now have access to Sharp’s full line of imaging products.
SHI is best known for offering its clients the broadest portfolio of IT products and solutions available, on a global scale. This new relationship with Sharp allows SHI to build on its reputation within the services industry, and significantly expand its product portfolio to all SHI enterprise partners, including Fortune 500 companies.
SHI’s account sales teams will be provided with relevant background information on Sharp multifunction printers, including Sharp’s forthcoming light-production models, in order to make the best possible referrals to its network of long-standing clients, across industries. Effective immediately, SHI customers will have access to Sharp’s expansive imaging and commercial display products. This collaboration will also allow Sharp’s independent dealer network to capitalize on a massive convergence of managed print and managed IT services.
“This collaboration with SHI builds on Sharp’s goal to develop our product line and provide IT services as part of a comprehensive portfolio,” says Doug Albregts, president, Sharp Imaging and Information Company of America. “SHI’s experience as an industry leader, combined with Sharp’s world class product line is certainly a winning combination.”
FlexPrint Featured as “AZ Best in Business” by Forbes Magazine
July 18, 2012 – FlexPrint, Inc., (www.FlexPrintInc.com), a national provider of managed print and document management solutions, is featured in an article published by Forbes magazine as one of the best businesses in Arizona. Titled “Arizona Best in Business” in the July 2012 edition, the article was penned by copywriter, Fred Anderson, after interviewing FlexPrint’s team members at their corporate offices in Tempe, AZ. The article highlights FlexPrint’s key attributes that have led to the companies well documented success.
Read the article published by Forbes.
Sd|University Holds Strategic Sales Management Workshop in September
July 16, 2012 – Sd|University, the advanced training division of Strategy Development, is conducting their comprehensive Strategic Sales Management Workshop on September 4-5, 2012 in Dallas, TX.
“To be successful in today’s economy, it is imperative that you have the best trained sales professionals,” says Tom Callinan, principal of Strategy Development. “And to have the best trained sales teams, you need to have dynamite sales managers who know how to develop, manage and retain their people. Our SD Sales Management Workshop will not only teach your sales managers how to develop great sales people, but it will also show them how to significantly grow their business.”
For those who are a sd|University member company, this is one of the portfolio of educational experiences a sales and management team should attend. For those not enrolled in the tuition program, they can still attend Strategy Development’s education by enrolling for the individual classes. This training—receiving the highest accolades over the last six years—is available at the lowest individual class investment in the industry.
The SD Strategic Sales Management Workshop was designed to provide sales leaders a framework, process and tools concentrated on developing sales professionals, uncovering new business and expanding share of wallet with current customers. All sales leaders, or sales professionals moving into a management position, will benefit greatly from this interactive workshop. They will leave with proven processes that, when implemented, will increase their effectiveness, reduce turnover and drive improved results. The workshop will be taught by Gary Schwartz, consultant for Strategy Development.
Some of the topics covered in this two-day workshop include: how to build an effective sales team; territory design and management with focus on MPS and equipment; designing individual development plans; account planning and penetration; and, effective forecasting. All attendees will leave with templates for account planning sessions and development planning as well as a customizable on-boarding schedule.
All sd|University classes can also be held at a dealer’s location for larger groups. For more information on sd|University and how the tuition program works and how it stacks up against the competition please visit www.sd-university.com. Individual class registration is offered as well. For a list of all classes currently scheduled for sd|University visitwww.strategydevelopment.com/events. For more information or to register for the SD Strategic Sales Management Workshop, visit www.strategydevelopment.com/salesmanagement or contact Tom Callinan at callinan@strategydevelopment.com or at (610) 527-3317.
Digitex Signs Up for Print Audit Premier
July 17, 2012 – Digitex Copiers & Fax Inc., an Alberta-based company, has signed up for Print Audit Premier to offer clients a full suite of cost saving possibilities at an affordable price. Premier is a new subscription program that gives Digitex virtually unlimited access to all of Print Audit’s products in order to help their customers analyze, reduce and recover their printing costs.
Premier provides Digitex with numerous tools they can use to help organizations increase efficiency in their print environment. The company plans to begin by offering Print Audit 6 Rules to its clients to help them cut printing expenses by redirecting jobs, enforcing printing limits and controlling color usage. From there, Digitex will deploy other capabilities such as remote device monitoring via Print Audit Facilities Manager to provide proactive service and supplies fulfillment. Digitex also sees Premier as a way to distinguish itself from its competitors.
Ricoh Leads Transformation in London this October
July 12, 2012 –The imaging industry is in the midst of transformation, moving from a product-led business to managed print services, document management, business process optimization and broader IT outsourcing. Understanding how critical this transformation is to the success of the channel, Ricoh has signed on as the first-ever diamond sponsor of Transform 2012 Europe, to be held in London, 9-10 of October.
Hosted by Photizo Group, Transform is the premier imaging event focusing on managed print services and the future trends of the industry. With in-depth education that prepares the channel for the market not only today, but tomorrow, Photizo’s series of events have been highly-acclaimed for their straight-forward education and in-depth insight. Content will include end-user case studies, transformation success stories, research and analysis, market trends and more.
“We look forward to being a part of Photizo’s Transform 2012, helping to inform and debate the shift from product-led thinking a services and process led approach,” says Dominic Keogh, marketing director of Ricoh Europe.
“Ricoh has always been at the forefront of the transformation occurring in this industry and a great supporter of Photizo’s series of conferences. We are extremely excited to have them as our first diamond sponsor; this is a unique and unprecedented level of support. It really shows their commitment to the success of the industry, the channel and their partners,” adds Ed Crowley, CEO of Photizo Group.
Transform 2012 will be held at the Twickenham Rugby Stadium, which could not be a more perfect setting for the dynamic keynote sponsored by Ricoh. Sir Clive Woodward, former international rugby player, champion coach, and director of sports the British Olympic Association will deliver this year’s address. He has enjoyed a highly successful career while playing international rugby as an amateur and a remarkable coaching career, becoming the first-ever full-time professional head coach for England’s rugby team. Revolutionizing the way the game was coached and played, Woodward will bring his skills and knowledge of business and sport to present “Creating Champions” at Transform 2012.
KYOCERA Document Solutions America Launches Two Black & White MFPs
July 11, 2012 – Kyocera Document Solutions America has introduced two new black and white MFPs – the FS-6530MFP, a 30 ppm and the FS-6525MFP, a 25 ppm device, within its ECOSYS family product line. Standard features include print, copy, and scan along with optional fax.
Primary features of the ECOSYS FS-6530MFP and FS-6525MFP include simple installation and operation, long-life components, intuitive color touch screen control panel, standard USB host interface with print from and scan to capabilities, and a paper capacity of up to 1,600 sheets.
The ECOSYS FS-6530MFP and FS-6525MFP not only provide a low total cost of ownership and are energy efficient, they’re also HyPAS capable; transforming these MFPs into tools for running Kyocera’s Business Applications with the addition of a compact flash card.
As part of Kyocera’s ECOSYS line of environmentally friendly products, both new devices meet Energy Star guidelines for power efficiency and utilize long-life consumables for consistent high-quality image output and low total cost of ownership.
The Kyocera FS-6530MFP and FS-6525MFP are available through authorized KYOCERA Document Solutions America dealers at a suggested retail price of $5,879 and $4,679, respectively.
Pearson-Kelly Office Products Partners with Konica Minolta
July 11, 2012 – Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. has announced that Pearson-Kelly Office Products headquartered in Springfield, MO has become an authorized dealer partner of Konica Minolta. Pearson-Kelly now offers Konica Minolta’s complete line of office systems, digital presses, printers, as well as an extensive portfolio of document management and workflow solutions.
A Konica Minolta press announcement describes Pearson-Kelly as southwest Missour’s premier document solutions source with over 25 years of experience. Since 1983, owner, Mike Kelly has provided office equipment to Missouri-based businesses. The company provides industry leading office products combined with support and services to address all of a customer’s office equipment and workflow needs. Pearson-Kelly uses a consultative approach to fully understand customer concerns and customize a complete office solution.
Pearson-Kelly has offices in Springfield and Joplin, Missouri.
Kodak and NovaCopy Enable Cloud-Based Collaboration via Document Scanning with New Connector for Microsoft Office 365
July 11, 2012 — Kodak is working with NovaCopy to help businesses upload documents to Microsoft Office 365, a cloud-based collaboration and productivity platform. NOVACOPY CONNECT 365 Software releases captured images and metadata from Kodak’s capture platform, which includes KODAK Capture Pro Software and Smart Touch functionality found on most KODAK Scanners, into Microsoft SharePoint Online for Office 365. The new solution can be used across a wide variety of businesses including financial services, healthcare and insurance. Typical use case scenarios include human resource documents, accounts payable, shipping and receiving and other documents where paper enters a business process.
The new connector from NovaCopy serves as a bridge between data from paper documents and back-end systems to more collaborative, cloud-hosted libraries and taxonomies built in SharePoint Online for Office 365. The software, which includes a setup wizard, enables users to easily deploy a solution that can manage content, backup files, provide anytime access of information, and ensure portability. These benefits allow for more efficient use of document capture as a means to import data from paper-documents into document libraries in SharePoint Online for Office 365, according to Kodak.
Additionally, Kodak says that its document capture technology coupled with CONNECT 365 Software further streamlines integration of paper documents and Microsoft Office 365 through a combination of advanced image processing and easy-to-use functionality. Kodak’s Perfect Page Technology provides users with high-quality images that improve the accuracy of data for better recognition. Users can also upload information more easily from CONNECT 365 Software using Kodak’s Smart Touch functionality, a single-button feature that can automatically scan documents and send captured images to pre-programmed document libraries and lists within Microsoft Office 365.
Epson Announces Five New Flexible, Powerful Flatbed Document Scanners
July 10, 2012 – Epson America has announced five professional flatbed document scanners, including the large format EPSON WorkForce®DS-70000, DS-60000, and DS-50000, and the letter size WorkForce DS-7500 and DS-6500. The new models offer one-pass duplex scanning, excellent paper handling, large capacity paper feeders, high duty cycles, and a software suite for increased productivity and records management.
The WorkForce DS-70000 and DS-60000 large format scanners deliver two-sided scans from 2.7 x 4.7-inches up to 11.7 x 100-inches, and include a 200-sheet automatic document feeder. The WorkForce DS-50000 handles business cards up to oversized documents, such as drawings or maps. The EPSON WorkForce DS-7500 and WorkForce DS-6500 offer one-pass two-sided scanning at up to 40 ppm/80 ipm, and the WorkForce DS-6500 delivers speeds up to 25 ppm/50 ipm.
The EPSON WorkForce DS-70000 ($3,999 MSRP), WorkForce DS-60000 ($2,899 MSRP), WorkForce DS-50000 ($1,499 MSRP) will be available September 1 and the DS-7500 ($1,199 MSRP) and DS-6500 ($899 MSRP) will be available October.
Office Business Systems Sells Copier Division to LDI Color Toolbox
July 9, 2012 – Prosperity Plus Management Consulting, Inc. has announced that LDI Color Toolbox has acquired the copier/MFP division of Office Business Systems (OBS). Prosperity Plus represented OBS throughout the transaction.
Located in Lincoln Park , NJ , OBS is a Toshiba copier dealership that also provides a full line of voice recording, telephony, video and network technology. LDI is based in Jericho , NY with offices in New York , New Jersey , and California . LDI will support the customer base from its Totowa NJ location.
Doug Smith, the president of OBS, was quoted as saying that “the sale of the copier division is a real win-win for all concerned. OBS will now focus completely on our telephony, voice recording, video and network divisions. Our copier customers will be well cared for and will have access to an expanded suite of products offered by LDI.”
Specific details of the transaction are confidential and have not been released.
Copier Careers Publishes 2012 Sales Manager Salary Survey Results
July 1, 2012 – Copier Careers, a Minneapolis-based retained recruiting firm serving the document imaging industry for over 25 years, just published their Tenth Annual Sales Management Salary Survey. This year’s survey garnered response from 1,001 Sales Managers across the United States. Here’s a sneak peek at what they had to say:
Base salaries and commissions are up from 2011.
Selling Sales managers are becoming more common. Sales professionals who know how to ask the right questions are rewarded with additional revenue and opportunities, but if they don’t understand the nuances they will leave a lot of money on the table.
Long hours and high stress levels have caused many sales managers to reconsider their responsibility levels.
Sales Managers answered this survey online anonymously. They logged on to CopierCareers.com and answered a series of questions related to their particular job description. Copier Careers then compares results from prior year’s study and publishes the survey in print and on www.CopierCareers.com.
Visit www.copiercareers.com/salary_survey/2012_sales_manager_salary_survey.pdf for the entire salary survey with expanded online-only data.
Print Audit Releases Print Audit 6.7 with French Language Support and Dozens of Enhancements
July 3, 2012 – Print Audit, the print management company, has released a significant update to its flagship software, Print Audit 6. Version 6.7 of the software includes support for the French language, as well as fixes for issues found in previous releases and many improvements to the core components of the program.
Users running Print Audit 6.7 on a Windows Operating System with the language settings configured to French can now view all of the components of the program in French rather than English. This release also includes several enhancements to the Print Audit 6 Administrator, reporting tools and tracking client.
Print Audit 6 is a suite of print management tools used on over a million workstations worldwide to uncover printing inefficiencies, enforce printing rules, and recover expenses from clients or users. Comprised of three components called Analysis, Rules and Recovery, the software can be purchased in a variety of configurations depending on the needs of an organization.
For more information on the improvements in this release and to download the update, visit: http://www.printaudit.com/software-updates.asp?id=1
