Next Generation MFPs

By Matt Smith, VP, Printing Solutions, Samsung Electronics America

Matt Smith, VP, Printing Solutions, Samsung Electronics America

MFPs are the on and off ramp of any enterprise environment, cloud or on premise. The easier you make it to get onto an environment and off an environment, the more you will use it. Next generation MFPs can identify specific locations and actions, pull data from those locations and be the PC-less and server-less access to the cloud. This enablement will keep paper and printers at the center of the cloud computing optimized work environment Samsung has been leveraging the cloud for printing since the debut of our Mobile Print App in 2011, which enables secure, fast and easy printing and scanning direct from mobile devices, and the Cloud Print App, which provides an easy way to print when one is not next to the printer. Samsung also acquired a pioneer in mobile cloud printing solutions called PrinterOn. PrinterOn offers a unique cloud-based directory service that enables a secure interface to mobile devices and private and public cloud servers.

Does MPS Really Lead to Cost Savings?

For Samsung, MPS is more about an optimized work environment of decentralized printers that increases productivity than cost savings. That being said, it does provide cost savings over the typical mix of copiers, managed printers and unmanaged printers.In the case of Samsung’s Managed Print Services Program, it provides businesses with a complete suite of tools designed to help optimize and manage their printer, MFP and copier fleets, while lowering operating costs. It substantially increases productivity, while lowering cost per copy.

An example of cost savings is The City of Arlington’s managed print program that utilizes Samsung multifunction printers. Key performance metrics achieved by the program included reducing the overall size of the city’s printer and copier fleet by 56 percent, cutting the number of pages printed each month by 21 percent and increasing the use of black and white toner to 85 percent of all printed pages.

Samsung is always evaluating our MPS Program and identifying changing customer and market demands that reveal a need to add new services or amend current offerings. As we know businesses evolve, so will we to meet their changing needs. This flexibility includes providing or connecting our customers with industry-leading third party solutions from vendors at competitive costs to help develop, propose and manage MPS programs as needed. Our MPS dealers have access to a cost-per-copy calculator and an online TCO tool that allows them to compare Samsung product specifications and total cost of ownership with comparable products from other OEMs.

Advice for Fellow CIOs

Managing IT was about control of technology in the office, but today and tomorrow is about maximizing productivity through technology while keeping the office secure. CIOs should value flexibly more than cost; however, it is important to remember that both are critical. Fast and nimble are what is expected from today’s business user. Further, companies are transitioning from the traditional way of purchasing individual items from various dealers to using an MPS and strengthening global central purchasing. To address this changing purchase behavior, Samsung has created a task force team exclusively for strengthening the support of global dealership and MPS offerings.

"More professionals are working outside of the office and looking for technology that supports an increasingly mobile work environment."

IoT means more data and more connections, which means more opportunity to get on and off the enterprise environments; this is where the printing industry excels. With the expansion of inter-device connectivity through the Internet, printing firms are extending features such as printing management through user/usage analysis and device analysis and remote control through cloud technology. With our Android-based Smart UX Center, Samsung has already secured connectivity and expandability with other IT devices to enable not just printing of documents, but also creating, editing, and sharing of information in the office environment as well as managing print devices as mobile devices with any MDM enterprise software or tools. By providing a variety of workflow solutions through analysis of product usage information with Samsung’s cloud platform (Samsung Cloud Print), Samsung will proactively meet the needs of the future work environment that is transforming with IoT.

MPS Technologies and Processes the Print Infrastructure is in Need of Right Now

Today, a mobile phone can serve as the interface to any/all print devices, from smart copiers to basic MFPs. A user can walk up to their home MFP, office printer or a central copier in the office and control it with their phone in a secure and personal way. They’re able to print/scan according to their personal preferences, regardless of environment. The printing industry is evolving from offering document printing-centered services to specialized solutions to meet the particular needs of businesses and to improve workflow. It is no longer sufficient to differentiate with hardware technology alone, so dealers will need to work with vendors to adapt to these changing business requirements. For example, businesses in financial services require secure mobile printing that also allows for digital document handling. In education, printers are starting to be used as digital hubs, promoting collaboration and document sharing. Teachers and students can easily share, scan and print from any mobile device with no connection to a PC. In healthcare, providers and staff need the flexibility to print from their mobile devices, while maintaining secure authentication and protecting patient data.

More professionals are working outside of the office and looking for technology that supports an increasingly mobile work environment. As such, Samsung is leveraging our expertise for mobile workers with convenient mobile printing solutions that extend beyond printer hardware. Samsung is a mobile first printing company, offering capabilities that support printing needs where today’s business users are, whether that’s in the office or on the road. For example, Samsung offers customers the ability to download the Samsung Mobile Print App to wirelessly print, copy, fax, and scan to take full advantage of their printer’s capabilities using their mobile device.