Toshiba Color MFPs Best in Class!

Results taken from the Color MFP Reseller Study conducted by The Office Products Analyst (The OPA)

Each year, the OPA conducts a study in which office equipment service managers are asked to rate the color multifunctional printers (MFP) their technicians work with in a variety of areas. This year’s survey is based on the data compiled via extensive telephone interviews with 177 service managers encompassing 22,335 color MFP devices.

The OPA defines an MFP as any platen-based device that can be connected to a personal computer (PC) or local area network (LAN) and which supports at least two of the four traditional office functions (copying, scanning, faxing and printing). Of six major brands in our study, service managers rated Toshiba Color MFP Best Overall, tied with one other brand. Toshiba was also ranked highest in other key categories, including Overall Reliability, Ease of Operator Maintenance, Color Cost per Page, Cost of Service, Print Driver Stability and more.

Toshiba color MFP have made great strides over the past few years and based on what their technicians have told us, we would recommend a Toshiba device to anyone in the market for a quality color MFP.

Andy Slawetsky

President

Industry Analysts, Inc.

OPA The Office Equipment Authority

The Office Products Analyst is the longest running, continuous publication that focuses exclusively on the office automation industry. Published by Industry Analysts, Inc. in Rochester, NY. The OPA conducts thousands of end-user and office equipment dealer surveys each year. Reproduction of this document or the full report from which this document was created is forbidden without the expressed written consent of Industry Analysts, Inc. For more information, contact IA, Inc. at +1(585) 232-5320.

Customer Spotlight on Bradley Associates

Tell us about your company…

In April of 1989, Bradley Associates was formed to engage in the real estate business, specializing in syndicating single tenant, commercial real estate. Today, Bradley Associates distributes cash distribution to over 2,500 investors who have invested in over 100 properties nationwide valued in excess of $700 million. Bradley Associates is responsible for all requisite functions on behalf of its investors including acquisition, management, accounting, distribution and asset disposition.

What differentiates you from similar organizations?

Our success, and that of our investors, is the direct result of our commitment to long-term growth, and the application of our unique investment criteria and market insight. Stability of ownership, dedication to the pursuit of our investment objectives and the insistence of each and every acquisition meeting strict quality requirements have, without exception, served our investors well.

How has working with Imagetec resulted in your success?

The quality of the Equipment, Customer Service Representatives, and Field Technicians offered by Imagetec has allowed Bradley Associates the ability to create professional marketing and syndication publications in high volumes to thousands of investors each year. Bradley Associates is confident that they can depend on Imagetec for their professionalism and quality services for our specialized business needs.

By: Rob Sethre

An interesting article appeared recently which is relevant for the imaging industry.

For the first time in its history, Amazon sold more electronic books for their Kindle product than hard copy books. While this development is inevitable (eventually), it was remarkable for several reasons:

• Speed - Now? Already? That was fast! If anybody was watching the divergent trends of digital and analogue cameras at the time, they will recall that transition took place at a more leisurely pace. Years of anticipation preceded the actual event.
• Magnitude - this was not a case whereby the electronic books just barely edged out hard copy sales. Over the past quarter, Amazon sold a whopping 143 e-books for every 100 hard copy books sold. In fact, it appears that the pace is accelerating: in the last four weeks, the ratio increased to 180:100, nearing a two-to-one ratio.
• Competition - this boom took place during the launch of Apple’s iPad, which theoretically might have deflected sales away from Amazon’s Kindle product. Evidently not, at least as far as e-book sales went (Amazon does not publish Kindle hardware sales numbers).

Incredible. Sudden. A milestone. So what does this mean for the printing and imaging industry?

If we pursue MPS engagements aggressively and digitize more and more documents and workflows, how (and how quickly) will hard copy output be displaced? If this “inevitable” development is coming faster and stronger than many have been anticipating, how do we plan and time the shift?

One answer is that we need to be tracking and sizing the market constantly to anticipate such major developments. There was also an interesting sub-story: this development was in fact not the result of pure displacement. While industry (not only Amazon) e-book sales quadrupled in the past year, total hard copy book sales increased as well, by a healthy 22%. The first datapoint, digital book sales, is clearly driven by the maturity of the technology and broader consumer acceptance. But what drove hard copy sales? There may be a demographic component supporting short-term continuity, or actual usage patterns may be shifting – for example, favorable availability and pricing trends may have conspired to expand the average personal library.

Either way, the intriguing fact embedded in this article is that hard copy sales have not (yet) started to diminish – a new and highly complementary technology just continued to grow at a much faster pace.

Certainly there is a message in there for the imaging community as well.  The book business represents, first and foremost, consumer trends, and we must be cautious about extrapolating expectations to the world of business imaging. But there are technology and usage overlaps, and there is no reason to rule out the possibility that the same patterns may emerge as well.

One sensible response is to take care not to be locked into the hard copy world. The user organization has to be the consumer with a hard copy library as well as a Kindle (iPad, etc.). Vendors have to be like Amazon, who most certainly does not care whether that last book sold was hard copy or an e-book. They just want to be the source . . .

By: Bob Groover

Have you ever thought to yourself, “I’m so happy with my current vendor!”  No? Well, you are among the majority…

I’m not sure why this question is not asked more often.  With the current state of the economy, you would think CEO’s and other decision makers would want to review their options and hear out what competitors have to offer.  Ask yourself these questions:

1. Does my current vendor of office technology happen to like me as much as I like them? This being asked, you probably would have those reoccurring nightmares of your vendor having your pricing so high, that you wake up in a cold sweat.
2. With this industry being filled with companies that supply the same things, do I benefit from competitive pricing? On the contrary, some of the suppliers have become very lax and comfortable with their long standing customers, which lead to non competitive pricing for the customer that has chosen to stay with the same vendor/supplier for years.

This is why it is so important to have competitive pricing on an annual basis.  It’s also very important to have a vendor that can both supply the product that you need and back it up with service you deserve.  When it comes to units, widgets, whatever you want to call it, make sure someone is consulting you on not only saving money, but having the proper solution for your specific office needs.

So the next time someone asks, “Can I speak to you about your current office technology needs?” please don’t say “I’m happy with my current vendor!”… Unless you really mean it.

Spending Money to Save Money

By: Garrett Prenovost

There’s no hiding the fact that we have all felt the effects of the struggling market over the past couple years.  More often than not, we fear that we are handcuffed and have to proceed with the assets we have. The fact is, in most cases this only appears to be a viable option. In the long run, if you want your business to succeed you have to be willing to spend money to make money.

Companies who refuse to adapt and grow will undoubtedly struggle. In the print market itself there are several different ways that a new piece of equipment may have a positive outcome rather than sticking with the current means of operation. In an industry study they have found that a company spends anywhere from 3-5% of the companies top line revenue on their print costs. That may not sound like much, but think of what you would do if you had some extra money laying around that you didn’t plan on having. How much money do you spend on paper and toner? How many out dated forms do you have in file cabinets that just take up space? How much electricity do you use on office products that you may not need to? And finally, how valuable is your time?

Let’s take a deeper look at some of the indirect costs associated with doing business that you may not have thought about:

• Think of the time and storage space you are using. Now, what if all your documents were electronically stored and available at the tips of your fingers, rather than in have a room full of file cabinets?  It takes little effort to scan and archive all your old files and rid yourself of the wall of storage cabinets.  Plus, you can find everything with the touch of a button, using your computer, rather than searching through all those files.
• Setting up Print on Demand and Auto-Duplexing as a standard.  This allows half the paper usage and employees won’t print drafts they don’t need, saving you a substantial amount on consumables.
• What if you had a system in place that would send your employees print jobs to the most cost effective device and gives you the power to control what and where they print.
• Imagine if instead of 15 printers you could have two MFP’s that are energy star compliant - simply put, less over head and less energy use!

Your time is the most valuable thing, and we can’t put more hours in a day.   These solutions can help you save some of that time and decrease indirect costs along the way!

By: William Leandro

We can all relate to a  time when the handle of a screwdriver was used to hammer in a nail to hang a picture.  While the nail may have gone in, the screwdriver was not the right tool for the job.  In the same way, office machines are tools used to make work easier.  As with every tool, each one has an intended purpose.  Many times we may use a device and think to ourselves:  “I got the result I wanted, and that’s all that matters.”  But what if something had gone wrong?  What if the result you wanted could have been obtained more efficiently (i.e. saved time, money, etc.)

Unfortunately, when it comes to office technologies we are not all experts in finding out what the right tool should be.  That is why we should seek out someone who is.  Given the speed with which technology is changing, we could all use a little guidance.

An expert will work with you to discover what your objectives are, review your document workflow, and then develop a plan to help you reach your goals in the most efficient way possible.  Whether you need to know which device is most appropriate, what the best accessories are, or find out if there is software that can reduce the steps in your business processes, an office technology expert will work with you to help you reach the right decision.

Remember, tools are supposed to make work easier and usually result in the added benefit of saving you time and money.   To find out which solution is right for your particular situation, just contact your authorized expert.

Visit Source: PREO | Shared By: IMAGE Talk

Managed Print Services (MPS) has existed in some form for over 10 years. However, the focus of most of this effort –by vendors and customers—has been on “device-optimization” or “fleet-consolidation”. Very often customers and MPS providers find that even after this phase, actual print volumes have not materially changed, and conceivably could be higher, as end-users now have access to more efficient devices, color-capable MFPs and the like. The only way to achieve lasting change is through an effective “change-management” program that delivers results without impacting end-user productivity.

Printelligence™, is designed to understand and influence end-user print behavior, by implementing a defined process (see flow chart). In a nutshell, this is done by tracking attributes of the print job and the print queue, and then alerting the end-user when their print-behavior triggers pre-established rules.

6 Key points:

Customers report achieving ROI of 45 days or less against hard cost savings. Additionally, the data itself becomes of immense value to manage the print environment on a continuous basis.

Request a FREE Software Demo or Print Analysis.

One Device, Many Solutions

By: Tim Brasic

Ah, the joys of testing! Students study for days only to find themselves facing another “standardized form”. Scantrons are used most often to test, score and gather data; that has in many cases become a requirement due to NCLB (No Child Left Behind) standards. The scantron process was a great tool to help eliminate time for teachers and get the reports back to the students in a timely manner.  However, as many of you are aware, these forms are costly and time consuming.

Core Print Solutions is pleased to announce that we have “partnered” with Lexmark to not only deliver the Lexmark products to market, but also make “Education Station” products a key ingredient in the offerings that we present to school customers and prospects.

What is “Education Station” and how does it work?

Simply put, it’s a software based solution that can be added to any Lexmark Multi-Functional machine that will allow you not only to print, scan, copy, and fax, but most importantly it allows you to grade student tests all within minutes. This information proves incredibly valuable in establishing classroom plans and curriculum.   The Lexmark “Education Station” will not only allow you to increase workflow efficiency but will also help you cut operational costs.

4 key applications that go with the “Education Station”

1. Print Bubble Sheets – Print tests for 15, 30, 60 or 100 questions on demand
2. Instant Grading Module – Grades tests and creates statistics within seconds which will ultimately help a teacher determine if they need to develop a more effective teaching method to relay the content which helps address overall classroom comprehension.
3. Scans-to-Classroom – Instantly send documents anywhere in the school
4. Prints Forms on Demand – Print electronic documents that have been “bookmarked” on the MFP.

With the reduced cost, timeliness of data and a real time ability to adjust your classroom to fit the needs of your student population, it is believed that the quality of materials and delivery will lead to increased test scores and may lead to additional funding for programs.

Please contact a representative to learn how we can reduce your costs and increase the efficiency of delivering information to you students. No risk, no obligation.

A Deeper Look at Re-Rite as a Managed Print Solution

By: Shelley Brady

Paperless offices, managed print services, document management. These terms are thrown around quite often lately; but what do they really mean? Let’s dig into one software solution called Re-Rite to better understand why software is now involved in copier purchasing.

WHY CONSIDER MPS?

Help cut ownership costs, enhance productivity and reduce energy consumption. Managed Print Services will allow professionals to work with your business in designing, implementing and also assisting with the set-up of your imaging and printing infrastructure. All solutions are tailored to your specific business requirements. See an example.

WHAT CAN IT DO FOR ME?

Let’s explore one MPS solution called Re-Rite. This software service program allows users to convert paper documents into editable file formats and then distribute those files to a shared network folder, an email address or both. View the video and interactive web page here.

Other Capabilities:

• Automatic Optical Character Recognition
• Convert scanned images to any of 17 common file formats automatically
• Converted images can be sent to network drives, email or FTP sites
• Single-license multiple user software
• Simple to use with Toshiba MFP template system

By using Re-Rite you are able to convert your hardcopy documents and/or incoming facsimile messages automatically and route them to where they are needed, automatically. Contact a representative today for more information on how Re-Rite or other managed print services can help your organization.

Click here for a FREE Print Analysis.

By: Glenn Moore

There are currently many ventures founded today enabling cloud printing in public spaces. The latest trend has been the release of an Android application which enables true cloud printing uploads to its print network. GlobalPrint for one, has units installed in public locations such as convention centers, hotels, resorts and airport lounges. The company’s install base of enabled printers, nodes and kiosks can be used by consumers to walk up, login, print and go.

According to a release, users can “print to the cloud” using a number of methods, including the Android SmartPhone.

A consumer can download the free up-loader from the company’s website, then use it from within any Windows based application by simply choosing File… Print. Consumers can also print from thumb drives or by sending an email to the user’s unique email address. Now, users can also use their Android smart phone to select any document on the phone’s storage, email folders, SMS text messages or photo gallery. The application is available now on the Android Market by searching for “PrintPOD.”

What is truly different about all of these offerings is that they are all non-destination specific. Users print to the cloud, not to a specific print device. Users can find enabled locations using Google Maps (either on a web browser or with the Android application), approach a device, login, and choose their document, print and go. Unlike other products which require the advanced selection of a specific printer, entering “release codes” or finding an open Wi-Fi or Bluetooth printer, this new approach is the ultimate in ease of use.

The simplicity of the implementation relieves the “owner” of the printer from having to interact with the user, but it encourages “stickiness” — the user can stay out in  the field or at any other public location and use more services since printing is available back their home “owner” site. For example, an architect, engineer or any other professional working in the field will now not have to stop their critical activity as output is now available. Owners of print devices also enjoy the timeliness of information communication.

For the coffee shop, restaurant, hotel or any other hospitality organization, they can now charge customers that use their printer for  prints made in their facilities, underwriting the total cost of ownership of a device they most likely already own to print emails, invoices, customer orders and other general business documents. The site owner can now move the printer from the back office to the public space, encouraging consumer use and capturing more consumer transactions.  And as we all know, with economies of scale, this will enable the device owners to get a more effective, efficient device for their own usage.

View additional details and source information here.