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Autumn 2013 | P2P Magaz i ne |
31
www.binfo.co.uk
SCANNERS
Reduced reliance on
paper-based processes
Canon Europe’s 2013 Office Insights
report, a pan-European study into
office technology trends, found that
printed and electronic documents
are central to our working lives.
However, the way employees want to
create and manage them is changing,
due to increased flexibility of
working arrangements – with mobile
connectivity and consumerisation of
IT being the key drivers.
The independent report based on a
survey of 1,671 end users and decision
makers revealed that more than half
(58%) of those polled scan more than
they did three years ago. This suggests
that businesses are taking steps to
reduce their reliance on paper-based
processes by implementing electronic
workflows.
Value locked away
A new study commissioned by Ricoh
Europe illustrates the benefits to UK
businesses of tackling the bigger data
opportunity – the digitisation of business
critical, hard copy documents for
business decision-making.
Leaders clearly understand that
significant business value lies locked
away in paper documents, with 89%
agreeing that digitising and unlocking
data from physical documents would
improve business decision-making.
Furthermore, 61% of UK business
leaders believe that digitising hard copy
documents would save between five and
20% of their annual turnover, with 35%
able to achieve a five to 10% return and
26% an 11 to 20% saving.
A growing market
Matthew Searle, Director, Canon Partner
Channel, Canon UK and Ireland says
that scanning is now becoming the
principal driver of document workflow.
“We’re seeing a sharp rise in the volume
of electronic documents that end users
are processing. As a result there’s huge
interest for solutions to improve the
processing of scanned documents which
saves time and increases productivity.”
According to Klaus Schulz, Manager
Product Marketing EMEA for PFU
Imaging Solutions, scanners are the
interface between the physical and
the virtual worlds. “We assume that
today only 10% of all companies
have implemented comprehensive
document management solutions across
departments. This represents a great
market potential.”
Despite the rapid adoption of
multifunctional print, copy, fax and
scanning devices, single function scanners
whether that’s document scanners,
business card scanners or photo scanners
still have a firm foothold in the office.
Fujitsu PFU Imaging Solutions held
60% of the UK market in FY12. Lee
Michigan, Country Manager UK & Ireland,
agrees that the market is buoyant. “We
anticipate around 8-10% unit growth
year on year.”
Danielle Cook, Global Public Relations
Manager, Visioneer & Xerox DocuMate
Scanners says that single function
scanners not only have a strong and
dedicated following, but in offices that
use multifunctional devices (MFDs), the
need for dedicated scanners is actually
on the rise.
“When you use the right tool
for a job, such as a single function
scanner, offices improve productivity
and satisfaction as well as profitability
and their return on investment. By
strengthening your office with a single
purpose scanner, you will relieve the
undue burden of intensive scanning
requirements on your MFD that will only
create serious bottlenecks and added
Scanning is very much de rigueur (and indeed a growing trend)
in offices everywhere. Research conducted by industry analyst
Redshift Research on behalf of Eclipse Group shows that there is
still growth potential in the scanner market. The survey sampled
the views of 200 financial decision makers and found that nine out
of 10 (88%) consider removing paper to be important.
...businesses are clearly taking
steps to reduce their reliance
on paper-based processes
and implmenting electronic
workflows.
Canon’s new imageFORMULA ScanFront 330 is a
compact and intuitive network scanner for fast, easy
and secure document scanning and processing.
The ScanFront 330 offers several versatile file sending
options such as scanning to networked folders, email, FTP,
fax, print and USB memory. Users can also set up scan
jobs which allow them to scan to multiple destinations
in one operation. In addition, the new ‘email-me’ feature
allows users to quickly scan and mail documents to
themselves, while a new ‘ad hoc fax’ feature enables them
to simply scan to a fax number which they enter at the
time of scanning.
The productive imageFORMULA ScanFront 330 scans
up to 60ipm and includes a newly-designed feed roller
mechanism, which increases the feeding and separation
reliability when scanning batches of mixed documents.
Supported by its straight through paper path, the
device is capable of scanning a variety of documents,
from thin to thick card, ID cards and even documents
of A3 size (using folio mode) and up to
1m long. In addition, it includes an
ultrasonic double feed detection
sensor to ensure all important
documents are captured.
www.canon.co.uk
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