At its annual dealer conference (“Inspire Customer Passion”), this year held at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, and attended by Wirth Consulting, Konica Minolta previewed new bizhub MFPs that incorporate a new 9″ color swipe touch screen called Info-Palette, new business apps accessible from the touch screen of an Internet-connected bizhub, and rolled out new programs designed to expand the reach of its dealers into the Managed Print and IT Services market.
At the conference, which was attended by dealers, the firm’s direct-sales force, and analysts, we heard from various Konica Minolta executives, including Rick Taylor, president and chief operating officer of Konica Minolta Business Solutions (KMBS) U.S.A., and Kevin Kern, senior vice president of marketing at KMBS. Taylor noted that KMBS enjoyed 14 percent U.S. revenue growth in 2011, with 22 percent of that revenue made up by sales of production systems, and IT services contributing $100 million in revenue. Significantly, while in 2008, KMBS had only 10 percent market share for MFPs, production systems, etc., Taylor says KMBS market share grew to 16 percent in 2011. (Sales are derived 48 percent from dealers, and 52 percent from the direct-sales force.) Kern, who previewed new bizhub hardware (see below), also noted that Konica Minolta will be launching new production systems this year, including the C951, which replaces the C950, and boasts higher resolution (1,200 dpi versus 600 dpi), and a much larger touch screen.
"Inspire Customer Passion" Photo Gallery
MarketPlace bizhub Apps
Similar to the Web apps we’ve seen with many All-in-Ones for small business, the firm’s MarketPlace bizhub apps are accessed from the Internet-connected bizhub’s touch screen. Administrators can preview and download apps at a MarketPlace Web page or on the touch screen (with the optional i-Option LK-101). The firm previewed these bizhub apps:
Print from/Scan to Google Docs Accounts: This app enables users to access and print documents, e-mail messages, and e-mail attachments stored in Google Docs and Gmail accounts from the bizhub touchscreen. From the touch screen, users can browse, search for, preview, and print files stored in Google Docs acounts (and print with Secure Print, Encrypted PDF Print). Using the bizhub’s scanning ability, they can also scan hardcopy documents to Google Docs accounts (and OCR them), scan to Gmail (and attach a scanned document to send via Gmail), and assign a “star” to mark important scanned documents. They may also browse, search, and view Gmail messages and attachments, print Gmail messages and attachments.
Connect to SharePoint: From the bizhub touch screen, the SharePoint app enables users to log into Microsoft SharePoint services, and then access, browse, preview, and print documents stored on SharePoint servers. Users can also scan and upload files to SharePoint servers. The SharePoint app supports SharePoint Server 2007 and 2010.
Secure Notifier: From the touch screen, administrators can verify that bizhub Secure features (such as password authentication and hard-drive encryption) are enabled and operating properly. With this app, the system automatically polls various bizhub MFP settings and displays the appropriate icon on the touch screen that indicates security settings are properly enabled.
Legal Scan: From the touch screen, scan and distribute information to pre-programmed e-mail addresses for attorneys, clients, courts, etc. Users can create separate folders with e-mail address settings for separate legal cases. Administrators can also restrict user access.
Clean Planet: With the Clean Planet app, from the touch screen, users can order bulk shipping boxes to ship depleted consumables back to Konica Minolta for free recycling (the firm’s Clean Planet program), and also print shipping labels. The Clean Planet app accesses the enterprise’s stored information to pre-populate order-form fields with addresses and MFP serial numbers, so that users don’t have to manually enter this information themselves.
Paper Templates: This app provides a free library of forms that can be accessed and printed with the touch of a button at the touch screen. Forms include cover sheets, permissions forms, certificates, ruled paper, graph paper, blank sheet music, etc.
Other bizhub apps enable users to access and display RSS and Twitter feeds, current stock prices, and weather by location on the bizhub’s touch screen, as well as display frequently visited Web sites. Konica Minolta says more will be on the way.
The i-Option LK-101 v3 also provides Web browsing on the touch screen. (Other i-Options include: the LK-102 v3, which provides PDF/A [1a/1b] formatting, linearized PDF, AES 128-bit PDF encryption, and an Image Panel interface for accessing information stored in User Boxes. The LK-104 v3 option adds Voice Guidance operation, while the LK-105 v3 option adds Searchable PDF files. The LK-106, LK-107 and LK-108 i-Options add Bar Code Font, Unicode Font and OCR Font support.)
New “Touch and Swipe” Touch Screen and bizhubs
With the new 9″ Info-Palette touch screen shown above, text displayed on it is visible from any angle, and it’s operated via touch and swipe similar to operation of many smartphones. The touch screen can be slid over by about 4″ to reveal a numeric keypad as seen above. There’s also previewing of documents before printing, and an audio guidance option. Konica Minolta says it’s simplified menus in order to reduce the number of steps in workflows, and icons can be customized to show the most used functions.
The firm also previewed a new A3 color product family that consists of five units, including the system shown above. These new bizhubs incorporates the firm’s bEST open-development platform and are based on its Emperon print system. The units range from the bizhub C745/C654, which are rated at 75 (B/W)/60 (color) ppm and 65 (B/W)/60 (color) ppm respectively, to lower-speed C364, C284, C224, C544, and C454. The bizhub C745/C654 can be equipped with an optional IC-414 Fiery Image Controller.
The bizhub 42/36 (right) are monochrome A4 (up to 8.5″x14″ media) MFPs with automatic duplex printing and enhanced security, as well as options for internal document finishing, such as stapling and sorting. Specifications for the bizhub 46 are available here.
The bizhub 215 is a monochrome printer/copier unit with control panel with LCD (no touch screen) and 46 opm scan speed. Super G3 fax (including IP fax and PC network fax) is optional, as are a PCL print controller with network interface card, automatic document feeder, duplex unit, and bypass tray.
Also previewed were:
- A ”Toner Loop System” that enables the new bizhubs to collect, circulate, and reuse any toner not fixed to the paper during printing, which the firm says helps reduces toner waste.
- Full color scanning (up to 180 opm with the bizhub C745/C654), and scan to e-mail, FTP, SMB, user boxes in hard-drive memory, scan to cloud-based document storage sites, and even scan-to-PowerPoint (scan documents and convert into PowerPoint format).
- Standard dual-scan for scanning both sides of an original in a single pass.
- PDF/A, Linear PDF, and scan to PPTX functions.
- Direct printing of OO XML (PPTX, XLSX, DOCX).
- Eco-Indicator to monitor energy usage.
- Lower-noise operation.
- Smoother-sliding paper drawers to reduce noise.
- Automatic blank-page removal.
- Use of recycled plastic in device construction.
Above: We also saw the introduction of Konica Minolta’s new Customer One Guarantee (accompanied by the tagline, “It Works or It Walks.”) Under the guarantee, Konica Minolta says that each bizhub will (1) meet factory specifications and (2) be compatible with the customer’s network, or it’ll replace it with an equivalent model. For the first two years, the replacement will be a brand-new MFP. After two years, the replacement may be a new or refurbished MFP. Plus, Konica Minolta will also provide a $1,000 credit towards the customer’s next Konica Minolta MFP.
The firm also demonstrated its Pagescope Mobile Version 2.0 mobile-printing solution, a mobile-printing app that enables users to print files stored in their Google Docs accounts via their Apple OS 4.2 iPhone, iPad, and iPad touch mobile devices to bizhub MFPs. These mobile users can also scan documents using a bizhub and, using the PageScope Mobile app, upload them to their Google Docs account. The new 2.0 version also adds secure printing (users must authenticate themselves at the control panel before the document prints). The new 2.0 version is available free-of-charge at the Apple App Store here.
Expands All Covered’s Reach to Dealer Network; Enterprise Managed Print Services with New Pharos Partnership
At the conference, Konica Minolta launched a new Managed IT and Managed Print Services program for dealers. Under the new Managed IT program, dealers will be able to provide desktop management, e-mail communication security, server and network monitoring, and 24×7 client help desk support from Konica Minolta’s All Covered - which Konica Minolta acquired last year and which provides IT Services for small‐ and mid-size businesses. Dealers will also be able to extend MPS to enterprise accounts as part of the Konica Minolta’s Enterprise Optimized Print Services (OPS) program. The new platform for Enterprise Optimized Print Services is a result of a collaborative development agreement with Pharos Systems International, which provides enterprise print-management solutions, such as its Pharos Blueprint® Enterprise software. Pharos Blueprint Enterprise software discovers and tracks every device that users print to, whether networked or directly connected, and can capture print activity at the user level in any kind of print environment, whether single- or multi-vendor.
Later this year, dealers participating in the program will be able to offer Konica Minolta’s Optimized Print Services (OPS) on a national level for enterprise accounts. Using technology from Pharos, OPS will provide enterprise-level managed print services ranging from the office, to central reprographics departments (CRD), and commercial printers. The new functionality provides visual updates on a worldwide basis for monitored networked MFPs, printers, servers, and routers, with access from any iPad, tablet PC, etc., via Web browser. Other new features include comprehensive management reporting, applications reporting, reporting of end-user printing patterns, and drag-and-drop floor planning tools.
Optimized Print Services consists of Consulting with the customer to assess their imaging fleet, Implementing changes, and then Managing the print and imaging infrastructure:
Consulting – The Consulting phase provides software-based identification of all existing print assets, as well as monitoring of current usage patterns and printing volumes. Total Cost of Ownership is calculated and is benchmarked against averaged current street supply costs. Detailed recommendations are provided. Next, a plan for making the most of the print fleet is developed, including visualization based on actual floor plans.
Implement – As part of the Implement phase, Konica Minolta delivers all consumables, replacement parts, and maintenance kits, as well as technician dispatch, for pre-determined devices and for an agreed-upon period, as well as remote monitoring and support of devices. Remote monitoring includes continuous supervision of networked and locally attached devices for monitoring device utilization, status, and alerts. Online access to actual status information, performance indicators, and reports on the device fleet, service calls, will be available via a Web portal 24/7/365. Also provided is training for administrators and key users.
A single invoice will be available, and can be sub-totaled into accounts, devices, departments, locations, etc.
New EnvisionIT Brand for Vertical-Market Solutions
The firm also launched a new brand program, EnvisionIT, that encompasses its new Managed IT and Managed Print Services offerings, as well as its solutions for the education, legal, and healthcare vertical markets.
EnvisionIT Education includes software solutions integrated with Konica Minolta hardware, and designed for K-12 to higher education. A sampling of solutions include Promethean ActivClassroom and Interactive Whiteboards, as well as the Performance Matters Testing & Assessment Solution, the latter of which is a cloud-based solution for printing and grading student exams.
EnvisionIT Legal solutions are designed to automate legal record management, and include Dispatcher Phoenix Legal. This solution enables users to route scanned documents automatically from bizhub MFPs or bizhub Pro production printers; use OCR to convert files to searchable PDF format; and add Bates stamps, watermarks, multi-line annotations, and notes, as well as redact confidential information.
EnvisionIT Healthcare solutions include Prism HealthFlow document- and forms-management system, and NSI Autostore for Healthcare, the latter of which enables healthcare professionals to scan and route prescriptions with one touch at a buzhub’s control panel directly to pharmacies and electronic medical-record applications.
Overall Impression
We found that dealers were very enthusiastic about the new hardware, including the new A4 MFPs, as well production printing offerings. One thing that struck us was how Konica Minolta delivers and markets solutions differently from some other vendors. For instance, with some vendors, the dealer must choose among different solution providers themselves for the same type of product. In contrast, Konica Minolta certifies the solutions, and then the solutions are available from the product catalog, and dealers can order the solution just as if they’re ordering hardware – dealers don’t have to shop around for and research the best solution, and everything is integrated into their Konica Minolta account. So when we went to the product expo, it was clear the solutions on the floor were integrated into Konica Minolta’s marketing strategy – and were not just a collection of solution providers. Overall, the company sees the handwriting on the wall – as “click” (prints) remain static or grow slowly, it realizes it must continue to add value to its product portfolio, and at the same time, claim clicks from other vendors who don’t have as clear a strategy. In sum, this impressively organized and presented conference showed why Konica Minolta continues to be a growing force in the digital-imaging market, in the office, production and vertical- market segments.
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