Print.IT Reseller - issue 81

01732 759725 44 VOX POP ...continued printer, users can sign in with card or ID code and release documents from the touchscreen control panel of the printer. Mobile Print. Print from phones and tablets, Android and iOS/iPadOS, to Printix-managed printers. Direct IP Print. Print direct to any printer, including UP-compatible printers. Keep documents local and ensure print availability when there is no internet connection.” Adam Bishop: “Organisations looking at Universal Print will do so because it solves a very Microsoft-centric set of problems. But one-size-does-not- fit-all – Microsoft isn’t offering print management so as businesses look to address their secure print and pull print requirements, to enable printing from other operating systems especially mobile devices, or authentication for example Okta, they will see a need for third-party solutions. Universal Print will cater for all of these needs, but that will be reliant on a number of third-party connectors. “Our Hybrid Cloud Platform solution is probably more flexible and customisable than Universal Print in terms of where workload sits, so customers can choose to maintain some level of local authentication services or local print job storage, in a way that Universal Print doesn’t necessarily give them the flexibility for. So for the end customer, they have to choose between a platform that needs third-party solutions to tick all of the boxes or do they just stick with one platform that does everything they need, across all devices?” Peter Silcock: “Epson devices will benefit from all of the advancements and features the Microsoft Universal Print platform is offering. As we continue to develop our programme, we will ensure our devices offer the benefit of almost identical services, whether the device is cloud hosted or uses an on-site print server.” Liz Benson: “Kofax is partnering with Microsoft to deliver an effortless customer and business experience, which is a priority for CEOs and business today. COVID-19 has only accelerated companies’ adoption and embrace of providing this effortless and unified experience. “By Kofax and Microsoft partnering, we deliver a seamless experience through Microsoft’s cloud-based Universal Print and Kofax ControlSuite’s single integrated solution for print management, intelligent capture, and mobile workflow automation across the enterprise. These solutions result in reduced cost of ownership and improved, secure experiences for employees, overall improving business operational capacity and efficiency. “Kofax ControlSuite delivers document workflow automation with seamless connections to an extensive set of business applications and a wide range of printers and MFDs providing a unified user experience. Customers benefit from Kofax ControlSuite’s advanced content-aware print and capture capabilities to automatically initiate workflows which maximise security, drive efficiencies and productivity as well as reduce costs. “With Kofax ControlSuite’s content- aware capabilities, customers ensure document security and compliance by automatically applying business rules and data protection policies like redaction, watermarking and rule-based printing – allowing end-users to maintain security and compliance while leveraging the convenience of the Microsoft printing service.” Pietro Renda: “Thousands of dealers and managed print services providers using MPS Monitor can now help customers to move their print infrastructure to the Microsoft 365 cloud and have all their print fleet managed by a single SaaS platform. “Using our native integration features, customers can enable all Universal Print functions for their users with extreme ease. Printer sharing, print queues and pull print functionalities are available for all customers who have a suitable Microsoft 365 subscription and access the MPS Monitor Portal. “Dealers and MPS providers can perform automatic registration of managed devices on Azure AD, and manage printing users and print queues from inside MPS Monitor. This allows the consolidation of remote monitoring and management, user management, and job tracking in a single, integrated, and fully secure SaaS service.” Kerry Rush: “Sharp’s development strategy puts cloud and mobile support as a major priority. Our next generation of MFPs and printers will support Microsoft Universal Print out of the box so integration will be seamless. Older products do have Sharp’s native universal print which works across the Sharp fleet and allows ease of use and consistence. We are working on developments for our older models that will allow them to integrate with Microsoft Universal Print.” Andy Johnson: “We’re working alongside Microsoft to ensure native printing from Universal Print. And the benefits of switching to the cloud, from changing payment models to providing enhanced security and scalability, nicely complement the offering that we’ve grounded into our product and services portfolio. “For example, our managed print services have supported IT departments to turn capex investments in print infrastructure into opex spending for almost a decade. Where MPS facilitates the delivery of easily scalable print estates, Universal Print now underpins the supporting infrastructure – removing the need for time and money to be spent on the installation of server hardware. “While Universal Print removes some of the jobs of managing a print estate, we can do the rest – whether that’s through supplies replenishment as part of an MPS, or maintenance support made available direct through a printer’s interface with our free Remote Panel add-on.” Eric McCann: “Microsoft developed the proxy connector so that any printer can participate in their solution. Lexmark was able to integrate the device registration directly through the device for a one to one connection with no PC required. This enables a direct connection with Microsoft and the device to allow for seamless printing.” Howard Roberts: “HP’s in-device Microsoft Universal Print offering will allow users to authenticate a device, identify the print jobs which they have sent to the Microsoft Universal Print queue and release them at that device. They also have the ability to delete Kerry Rush Howard Roberts Organisations looking at Universal Print will do so because it solves a very Microsoft- centric set of problems