This Week in Imaging: Dealers Diversifying with Managed IT, Security, Business-Process Outsourcing, More

by Kathleen Wirth · October 1, 2021

Interactive Novatech graphic illustrating the various services it provides.

At this point, we’re all pretty aware that office print volumes continue to decline, a trend exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Office-equipment manufacturers have adapted by seeking to diversify into areas such as production printing, managed IT services, and medical-imaging technology.

But what about dealers? Today we look at how some of the largest U.S. dealers have diversified.

Applied Imaging

The home page at Applied Imaging’s website states: “The one provider for all your business technology needs.”

In the document-imaging market, Applied Imaging provides office printers and copier/MFPs, as well as production printers, managed print services, managed print software, fax solutions, and cloud scanning.

Outside of that, it also provides managed IT services, as well as Paperless Content Management – a large area that includes business-process optimization, automated workflows, enterprise content management, document management, and backfile scanning and conversion. Other services and products include secure document shredding, hard-drive destruction, interactive white boards, and body-temperature scanners.

Loffler Companies

Loffler Companies‘ tag is “Helping companies organizations align technology with business.”

In the document-imaging category, it provides office printers and copier/MFPs, managed print services, production printers, large-format printers, document scanners, fax machines, and mailing equipment.

In the IT solutions’ category, it provides managed IT services, IT security services, IT consulting, and unified communications/phones. Prominently displayed on its website’s home page are IT security services, as well as business security systems, which includes video surveillance, security cameras, access control (such as employee entrance cards), and alarms and surveillance equipment.

Marco

The tag on Marco’s website is: “What does your business need to operate?”

Marco provides office printer and copier/MFPs, as well as production printers, wide-format printers, and managed print services.

Outside of that, it also provides managed IT and IT security services, network infrastructure, backup and disaster recovery, phone systems and managed voice, enterprise content management, shredding services, and security and access solutions.

Novatech

Novatech’s tag is “Welcome to the managed office, bring everything up to speed.”

Novatech’s approach is to offer solutions for the entire office, from IT to security. It breaks down its solutions into four categories:

Managed IT – Managed IT services, both on-premise and cloud-based, that include a Network Operations Center that includes 24/7 network monitoring and management, help desk, field service, and managed data center.

Managed Print – Print-fleet assessment, provision of office document-imaging hardware, as well as employee training, and supplies delivery.

Managed Cloud – Includes deployment of Microsoft 365, private cloud or public cloud/Microsoft Azure, collaboration, and document management.

Managed Security (and Cyber Risk Management) – Services for securing employees, core business network, and applications and data.

RJ Young

The home page at RJ Young’s website states: “Technology solutions that empower your business.” It notes that it provides printers and copier/MFPs it provides, but also emphasizes the many business-technology solutions it provides.

Aside from printers and copier/MFPs, RJ Young provides managed print services, managed IT services, managed facility services (copy centers, digital mailroom solutions), scanning services, and business process outsourcing. It also provides business phone systems; temperature screening kiosks; digital lockers; security cameras and access control; and personal protection equipment.

Our Take

This brief look at how large “megadealers” are positioning themselves shows that they’re positioning their office hardware as just one segment of their offerings. None prominently feature printers or copiers on their websites’ home pages – instead office hardware is presented as a segment of their offerings.

One interesting thing to note is how many dealers are adding security to their offerings, including both cyber security and physical alarms and video surveillance. This should also extend to employees, not only making them aware of risks and the importance of mitigating them, but securing employees themselves, particularly for avoiding intellectual property theft – but that’s another story.

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