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LASER PRINTERS
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The 9700 which was one of the
most successful products in Xerox
history – it routinely generated more
than $1 billion in annual revenues
– transformed office printing with
generations of laser printers and
multifunction devices using the
technology. In the decade after its
release, it was the printing press of
choice to print bills and statements
for credit cards, banks and utilities. It
led the market for high-speed, high-
volume production of other types of
documents that use transactional data
as well, including insurance policies
and investment reports.
Last year, KeyPoint Intelligence cited the
9700 as the product that heralded the third
wave of industrial automation (computer-
driven printers) after steam-powered presses
in the early 1800s and electric-powered
presses later that century.
“The Xerox 9700 helped usher in the
wave of computer-driven automation in
the 1970s that transformed offices, data
centres, copy departments and ultimately,
the printing industry around the world,”
said Jeff Hayes, Managing Director, KeyPoint
Intelligence. “Much of how we communicate
in hard copy today can be traced back to this
remarkable product.”
Greatest invention
“The laser printer is arguably the greatest
invention made in a Xerox research centre,”
said Steve Hoover, Chief Technology Officer,
Xerox Corporation. “The 9700 was the
first in a long line of iconic products that
were made possible by Gary Starkweather’s
invention, including DocuTech and today’s
iGen family.”
The 9700 also paved the way for variable
information printing by personalising each
document in a production run. The machine
also could be outfitted with Magnetic Ink
Character Recognition (MICR) toner for
printing checks.
For Xerox, the laser printing innovation
continues, most recently with the launch of
29 new Xerox ConnectKey-enabled printers
and multifunction devices, which offer
on-the-go capabilities, cloud connectivity,
and access to productivity boosting features
and apps that transform traditional printing
devices into smart, connected workplace
assistants.
The family of products, introduced earlier
this year, includes a variety of sizes, speeds
and capabilities to match the needs of
small- and medium-sized businesses as well
as large enterprises – and at the heart of
ConnectKey devices is the laser technology
Xerox invented 40 years ago.
Future of Work global tour
In the wake of the biggest product launch
in Xerox history, the company traversed
the globe to introduce its new ConnectKey
portfolio. The Future of Work Global Tour
visited 14 cities in Europe and North
America in a six-week span, driving demand
and sparking early sales of the company’s
new line.
Xerox played host to more
than 2,000 customers and channel
partners at 16 events, from Milan to
Montreal to Manhattan, discussing
how the fundamental nature of work
is evolving and why office technology
must stay ahead of the curve to meet
the changing needs of today’s modern
businesses.
Future of Work forum attendees
heard predictions from leading
technology futurists and received advice
from Xerox experts on a variety of
topics. They also experienced hands-on
product demonstrations and training
Forty years ago, the launch of the Xerox 9700 - the company’s first commercial
laser printer – gave rise to the digital printing industry, which today generates
more than $120 billion in global annual revenues, according to Smithers Pira
Transforming office
printing for 40 years
The Future of
Work Global
Tour visited
14 cities
in Europe
and North
America in
a six-week
span, driving
demand and
sparking
early sales
of the
company’s
new line
sessions about the new Connectkey
portfolio. The global series of events drove
significant demand for Xerox technology and
expertise, as well as complementary services
and custom apps developed and delivered
through channel partners.
Marketing muscle for channel partners
Xerox channel partners now have access
to two new marketing kits packed with
promotional tools. The kits help generate
awareness in local markets and drive
demand for Xerox’s broad technology
portfolio, as well as the partners’
complementary services, custom apps and
deep expertise.
The new Xerox event and demand
generation kits are the latest ways the
company is helping prepare its channel
partners to build closer, more lasting
relationships with customers, leading to new
and accelerated revenue streams.
The Future of Work Forum Kit provides
all of the elements a channel partner
needs to host its own Future of Work
forum for customers, showcasing their
views on the future of work, as well as
how their experience and offerings can
ready potential customers for workplace
evolution. The kit includes suggested
venues, sample invitations and agendas,
presentation materials, imagery, equipment
recommendations, logistics and budget
guidance, social media assets and public
relations support.
The Demand Generation Kit includes a
host of marketing touch-points spanning
online content and outbound emails – all
designed to keep the partner and its
offerings top-of-mind with current clients
and prospective customers, as well as
drive demand for Xerox’s 29 ConnectKey-
enabled printers, multifunction devices
and apps. The tool kit includes social media
templates with images, suggested content
to post, webpage elements, photography
and inserts for customer emails.
Furnishing channel partners with sales
and marketing tools is core to Xerox’s
strategy to increase its share of the lucrative
and growing small- and medium-size
business market – as 75 per cent of office
technology sales are made through indirect
channels.
programs
