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outsourcing strategy for the processing,
routing and management of all print traffic.
“Users simply click print to send the
document to a cloud-attached printer at a
location they choose. The data is securely
routed through a proprietary network
and can be released at any device using
authentication policies specified by the
enterprise.
“One key advantage of cloud printing
is it is virtual and so eliminates the cost
and complexity of buying, managing and
housing print servers. It’s also fully scalable.
Reshaping the fleet configuration or ramping
up print server capacity to support peak
loads, for example, is quick and easy. Hosted
cloud solutions remove the requirement
for contingency storage for print traffic,
enabling enterprises to reduce server
capacity, free up IT budget and rack space.
“Cloud printing also helps support the
practical, reliable and secure introduction
of new working practices such as mobility
and off-premise printing, Bring Your Own
Device (BYOD) policies, cloud scanning
workflows and data storage platforms.”
Andy Johnson:
“We have three different
kinds of cloud print offerings. Users of one
of our cloud connected devices can scan
and print directly to/from a range of cloud
services including Dropbox, One Drive,
Google drive, Box, Evernote and OneNote.
We also offer customers the ability to
print whilst on the go, using Google Cloud
Print, and there’s also our free cloud-based
iprint&scan app that enables users to print
to our devices. Worldwide printing from this
app passed the 100 million pages mark in
2014, up from 66 million pages in 2013.”
Jason Cort:
“Sharp has a comprehensive
cloud and cloud print offering and uniquely
offers its own cloud-based file sharing and
collaboration environment called Cloud
Portal Office. Many Sharp MFP ranges
support AirPrint and provide their own Wi-
Fi hotspot for direct print applications. The
free Sharpdesk mobile app for phones and
tablets provides ‘Print from’ and ‘Scan to’
mobile capabilities.
“Sharp also offers a wide selection of
third-party software to complement its
MFP ranges, which support mobile and
pull print (sometime called secure print)
functions. These allow users to submit print
jobs from devices not connected to the
corporate or university network for printing
on any convenient connected printer.
Examples of these would be PaperCut,
YSoft SafeQ and Everyone Print.”
Mark Robinson:
“At Canon, we
recognised the changes in the way people
work early and have constantly added new
features to our products and solutions that
make it easier for our customers to do their
jobs.
“For example, our MAXIFY inkjet and
i-SENSYS laser ranges for home, small
and medium-sized businesses come with
a variety of mobile and cloud printing
capabilities as standard. Users enjoy
the freedom of printing anywhere over
the internet from cloud services, such as
Evernote, Dropbox, OneDrive and Google
Drive; from the printer screen; or remotely
from their mobile phone or tablet using
the Canon PRINT app. And it also works
the other way around, as they can scan
documents to cloud services, too.”
Donna Marley:
“The foundation of the
cloud is virtualised servers providing needs
like computing power, network, bandwidth
or storage. Xerox delivers cloud solutions
within a three-tier stack, which focuses on
infrastructure, platform and software. This
offer includes:
•
Software as a Service
– the layer
that provides people with software apps
suited specifically to them. Workflow on
Demand - a collection of SaaS solutions
that simplify work in business, including
aspects of mobile and document scanning.
•
Platform as a Service
is included
within the cloud offer, providing tools for
security (authorisation and authentication);
e-commerce; and interoperability. Xerox
solutions are built on cloud-ready
platforms with SDKs and APIs that enable
our software developers, our cloud
consortium and business innovation
partners to produce a steady stream of
innovative solutions.
•
Infrastructure as a Service
. Xerox
and our partners provide a full range
of state-of-the-art cloud infrastructure
services.
Wayne Snell:
“Develop has developed a
series of MFPs designed for simple mobile
and cloud integration. It’s not about
adding value, it’s about getting connected
and integrating with today’s mobile and
cloud work practices.
“Different apps are also available.
Specifically designed for Google Apps,
Evernote and SharePoint, they facilitate
and simplify cloud-device integration so
that ineo MFPs seamlessly connect to the
respective cloud service. Customers can
then print documents direct from their user’s
cloud account and scan documents to their
cloud account too. Connection to cloud-
based functions is easily done straight from
the operating touch panel of the ineo MFP.”
Are your partners seeing success
with it?
Eddie Ginja:
“Yes, but slowly. It is taking
time for some partners to get their head
around this new type of solution/service.
That said, the ones that have embraced
this have seen good success with cloud
printing – for them and their customers.”
Andy Johnson:
“Some more than others.
Those that have seen the opportunity
are busy changing their sales proposition
from speeds and feeds to the extended
functionality of cloud printing, mobile
working and convenience. They are seeing
their average selling prices increase.”
Donna Marley:
“Yes, they’re seeing
success and transforming their business.
A great example is a reseller in the
UK who went from being a company
that only deals with others within the
UK to an organisation supporting a
global implementation of Xerox Mobile
Print Cloud. Unbelievably, the original
conversation started with the customer
enquiring about a single printer, costing a
few hundred pounds. Talking about cloud
capabilities can take the client conversation
in a new, more profitable direction.”
Wayne Snell:
“Develop devices have
offered web access for some time and,
with the recent introduction of the dStore
application gateway, users now have the
ability to install direct access to the most
popular cloud servers. Feedback from
authorised Develop dealers has been
very positive and many are rolling out the
dStore access to their user base as a mobile
document workflow benefit to the already
advanced offering of the Develop ineo
range.”
kyoceradocumentsolutions.co.uk,
,
,
,
It is taking
time for
some
partners
to get
their heads
around this
new type of
service
...continued
Donna Marley,
Channel, GM UK
& Ireland,
Xerox
Wayne Snell,
Product Manager,
DSales (UK)
