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Printers
OKI extends smart MFP range with compact A4 workgroup devices
OKI has introduced a raft of new
colour printers/MFPs for the office
print market. The new devices
represent a significant
refresh and modernisation of
OKI’s range, which now includes
no printer more than three years
old.
The most important new
announcement is the extension
of OKI’s sXP (smart Extendable
Platform) to small workgroup A4
colour printers for the first time.
OKI smart MFPs combine a large LCD
touchscreen display, open sXP solutions
platform and smart send functionality
including a built-in OCR engine.
With print speeds of 33 pages per
minute, the ‘smart’ C542dn printer
and MC573dn multifunction printer
sit squarely in OKI’s core market – the
C500 series has been the company’s
biggest seller for years.
As well as enabling small businesses/
workgroups to enjoy the sophisticated
printing/scanning and document
workflow capabilities previously only
available to larger enterprises, the new
models strengthen OKI’s solutions
offering for vertical industries with a
large number of small branch offices.
Easy integration
Smart MFPs enable customers to
implement new print/copy/scan
workflows to increase efficiency and
productivity through easy integration
with embedded and/or supported
applications like PaperCut, Drivve Image,
Ringdale FollowMe and YSOFT SafeQ.
Other solutions can be integrated
through a software developer kit (SDK).
In addition to integration with
enterprise applications, the printers
boast a number of embedded
features that can help a customer
streamline workflows and keep
digital documents organised and
secure, such as Private Print,
optional Card Release and free
integrated SENDYS Explorer
LITE document management
software.
This versatile software lets
users scan, distribute, organise
and store paper-based material
electronically. A built-in OCR engine lets
you convert scans into searchable formats
for easy document management on-site
or in the cloud, using services such
as Dropbox, Sharepoint, Google
Drive and One Drive. An optional
Output Manager connector offers
full pull printing and job accounting,
enabling administrators to maintain
document confidentiality and
manage all users’ print, copy and
scan jobs.
With smart devices’ easy-to-use
touchscreens, this can all be done at
the point of creation, for example at an
MFP in a branch office or GP reception
area, helping companies to work more
efficiently, save time and cut costs.
The smart screens also simplify
installation and operation of devices
by providing video-based tutorials and
problem-solving.
Vertical solutions
Having a ‘smart’ capability on small
workgroup devices strengthens OKI’s
ability to develop fully integrated
solutions for retail and healthcare.
OKI has always been strong in these
areas due to its heritage in distributed
printing, as opposed to the centralised,
high volume printing of vendors with a
copier heritage.With the launch of the
C542dn/MC573dn, OKI will now be able
to offer solutions originally developed for
larger smart devices on compact devices
better suited to small branch offices.
For example, the printers could be
used in retail stores to find, retrieve
and print centrally produced posters,
shelf edges and marketing material on
demand, saving the delays, expense and
waste of a print and distribute model.
Using sophisticated retail solutions
from OKI, managers could even amend
content with local pricing,
offers and descriptions, for
example.
Other notable features
of the new devices include
1200 x 1200 dpi print
quality, flexible media
handling,Wireless Direct and
Gigabit Ethernet connectivity
and compatibility with Apple
Airprint and Google Cloud Print 2.0.
Smarter printing with OKI
Printing on demand
The ‘smart’ C542dn and MC573dn
may have been the most noteworthy
new products launched by OKI, but
the company is also introducing a
number of other devices designed to put
professional in-house colour printing
within reach of every business. These
include the C612dn, C712dn, C332dn,
MC363dn and C823/833/843 A3 devices.
On demand, in-house colour printing
has long been a selling point of OKI
devices due to the specific qualities of
LED printing technology, notably its
small size and flat paper path, which
enables the printers to support a wide
range of paper sizes and media, from
banners to plastic plant tags.
In his opening address, Tetsuya Kuri,
Vice President of Marketing for EMEA,
OKI Europe Ltd, said he expected more
businesses to adopt in-house colour
printing as an effective alternative to
digital messaging, which had reached
saturation point.
He said: “With our range of new
products, OKI will get even closer to
customers’ printing needs by enabling
on-demand, in-house, high quality colour
printing, producing effective documents
for small businesses in a compact and
affordable form; by increasing business
efficiency and security through tailored
and secure document workflow integration
for large corporates; or even by enabling
special applications on unique print media
in the retail and healthcare environments.”
The printers
boast a number
of embedded
features that
can help a
customer
streamline
workflows and
keep digital
documents
organised and
secure
MC573dn
C542dn
OKI :
Smart MFPs
ISSUE 130
