Issue No. 10

November 2009

In This Issue:

   

PRINT 09 – A Showcase for Precision Marketing

During PRINT 09, the InfoPrint booth buzzed with conversations, demonstrations and new product announcements. Attendees experienced firsthand the excitement generated by our precision marketing solutions, the Worth-a-Look award earned by the InfoPrint Pro C900AFP, customer success stories and new Print On-Demand capabilities.

More international than ever, PRINT 09 attracted InfoPrint customers from India, Japan, Australia, China, Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil and several African countries in addition to the U.S. During the show, we hosted more than 70 scheduled meetings, briefings and tours to introduce attendees to our precision marketing solutions and new products:

Solutions

• TransPromo >
  Targeted, relevant content can help differentiate you from the competition.
• Automated Document Factory >
  One solution can bring together disparate hardware and software, eliminate manual processes and reduce complexity in high volume production shops.
• Print On-Demand >
  Document composition and variable data capabilities, Web-to-print tools, prepress automation and high quality monochrome and color devices can improve operational efficiencies and satisfy demanding clients.

New Products

• InfoPrint 5000 >
  The InfoPrint 5000 continuous form color duplex system with MICR demonstrated checks and TransPromo statements.
• InfoPrint Pro C900AFP >
  This color cutsheet printer demonstrated the printing of reprints of InfoPrint 5000 statements and TransPromo.
• InfoPrint Pro 1357EX >
  The InfoPrint Pro 1357EX monochrome cutsheet printer with inline finishing demonstrated booklet making.

Even if you missed the show, you don’t have to miss the special highlights:

• Visit UStream to view a conversation between Lee Gallagher and Tom O'Toole, former Chief Marketing Officer of Hyatt Hotels.
• Read the PRINT 09 Show Daily, PRINT 09: Recent Mailroom Survey from InfoPrint.
• Check out the video on WhatTheyThink.com that describes the results of a recent TransPromo pilot at a major hotel chain.
• Learn why the InfoPrint Pro C900AFP won the Worth-a-Look award – read Feelin’ Those Print Migrations: PRINT 09 Wrap-Up Part 2 in Printing News.

When our trade show staff compared notes at the end of the show, we were pleased to learn that many of us participated in conversations with visitors who were discussing their upcoming investments in output solutions and who were expressing increased confidence in the economic climate. Please let us know if we can show you how precision marketing strategies are a cost-effective way to attract and retain customers and increase revenue opportunities. See you next year!

More for Your Money with New InfoPrint Workgroup Printers and MFPs

New InfoPrint color and monochrome workgroup printers and multifunction printers (MFPs) include many improvements that can lower total cost per page and deliver more for your money. Review a summary of highlights that include high yield toner cartridges, eco-mode and more.

Workgroups have widely differing needs, so it makes sense to shop carefully for a printer or MFP. The newest InfoPrint workgroup devices are designed to offer low cost of acquisition and to match particular requirements of small, medium and large workgroups. Many popular features, such as extra drawers and duplex, are standard – so there’s no extra charge. Optional features allow you to tailor devices to your needs.

Enhance workgroup productivity with one of these budget-friendly InfoPrint devices, which are built with sustainability in mind:

The InfoPrint 1823 monochrome workgroup printer (up to 40 pages per minute¹) is an ideal replacement for aging printers or expensive inkjet printers. In addition, it offers:

• Compact design fits virtually anywhere
• An easy-to-use, intuitive operator panel simplifies operation
• Eco-mode features save power and money

The InfoPrint Color 1825 printer (up to 25 pages per minute¹) is ideal for executives, small workgroups and small offices because it can keep costs low for short-run jobs. Notable features include:

• Standard, integrated duplex saves paper
• Direct USB drive printing offers a convenient, "portable" print solution
• Recyclable extra-high yield cartridges reduce waste
• Great value

The InfoPrint Color 1836 multifunction printer (up to 25 pages per minute¹) is compact, yet powerful, with advanced functionality:

• Scan to FTP or e-mail saves time
• Extra high-yield toner cartridges reduce user interventions and packaging waste
• PictBridge-certified front USB port makes printing fast and easy
• 256 megabyte hard drive expedites complex jobs

The InfoPrint 1948, InfoPrint 1968 and InfoPrint 1988 monochrome laser, wide-format MFPs (up to 35, 45 and 55 pages per minute¹, respectively) offer sophisticated networked printing in addition to:

• Standard duplex saves paper
• USB direct port offers print-and-scan convenience
• PIN-based printing, user access controls, corporate directory browsing and encryption enhance security
• Optional wireless connectivity can reduce installation costs

The InfoPrint 1985 monochrome laser printer (up to 50 pages per minute¹) features ledger-size printing, wireless capability and more:

• Functionality that enables support for custom mini-programs, which can save user time
• High-yield toner cartridges reduce user interventions and packaging waste
• Toner saver mode and eco-mode support sustainability

The InfoPrint 1892 monochrome printer (up to 55 pages per minute¹) is designed for medium and large workgroups with demanding deadlines. Features include:

• 7" color touchscreen enables access to advanced security functions such as PIN-based printing
• 80 gigabyte hard drive allows users to personalize the device and store jobs
• Standard Gigabit Ethernet improves performance
• Extra-high yield toner cartridges reduce user interventions and packaging waste

InfoPrint workgroup printers equip you to expedite communications and support the environment. Ask your InfoPrint representative or InfoPrint Solutions Partner to prepare a total cost of print analysis so you can see how much more you get for your money. Availability varies by country so please ask your representative if InfoPrint offers these printers in your area or visit www.infoprint.com/workgroup for more information.

Create, customize, order, print and deliver documents with Press-sense iWay

Streamline Print On-Demand workflow management with Press-sense iWay™ software. Virtually every type of print provider can automate any workflow, encompassing Web-based ordering, prepress, production and delivery.

In Print On-Demand operations, you need to satisfy your customers yet protect margins. Automation can help. Press-sense iWay enables digital and offset commercial printers, in-plant centers, copy shops, marketing service providers and print buyers to create, customize, order, print and deliver documents in one streamlined operation.

Highlights of this open-platform solution include:

• Customizable user storefronts for catalogs and variable data ordering
• Order processing from nearly any source, including Web sites, e-mails, procurement systems and print drivers
• Online repository for just-in-time ordering
• An iForm editor that enables print buyers to create static and variable information templates

Add the Press-sense Manager™ extension to the iWay platform to integrate non-Web-based flows into the iWay Web-based back-end print management system. By unifying workflow management, customer relationship management and operations, you can increase business efficiency and reduce costs.

Slash maintenance costs with 9x5 Next Day ServicePac

Give your supply chain a year-end boost with an InfoPrint 4247 multiform printer and 9x5 Next Day ServicePac – a new lower-cost maintenance offering that is available until December 31, 2009. You can save up to 14% compared to an InfoPrint 4247 with 24x7 Same Day Service.

The end of 2009 is just around the corner. No better time to invest remaining budget dollars in a solution that can lower total cost of print in mission-critical environments. Purchase an InfoPrint 4247 multiform printer, and you can choose 9x5 Next Day Service – a new lower-cost maintenance offering – until December 31, 2009.

Whether you want to replace an aging printer or add capabilities, the InfoPrint 4247 can offer exceptional versatility and reliability at up to 1,100 characters per second¹:

• Print labels, bar codes, invoices, multi-forms, shipping documents, inventory reports and more
• Utilize an optional second tractor feed to enable two types of paper to be available for printing without intervention. Consider replacing two printers with one!
• Support Intelligent Printer Data Stream™ (IPDS™) and Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) with integrated Ethernet
• Enable powerful remote printer management with included software

For more information, please call us at 877-646-3677 or view our InfoPrint 4247 promotion.

Don't become part of a $20 billion problem – use MICR printers

Checks and other negotiable documents must be managed properly. Otherwise, your company may incur hundreds of thousands of dollars a year in cost. Check fraud is a $20 billion problem² in the US, so it makes sense to minimize your risk with secure MICR printing.

InfoPrint secure MICR printers can help make a critical difference in daily operations. Manual processes, which are intended to reduce issuance errors and control fraud, are costly and often ineffective. On-demand MICR secure document printing can streamline your issuance processes and save your organization time and money, while also reducing or eliminating fraud.

Complete MICR printing solutions, which utilize MICR printers and MICR toner, can deliver significant benefits:

• Reduce voids, missing checks and paid-unadvised charges while reducing non-value added activity.
• Reduce or eliminate the expenses and operational inefficiencies associated with purchasing, storing, distributing and tracking pre-printed check or other negotiable document stock.
• Utilize blank check stock and achieve immediate cost savings.
• Alleviate costs associated with maintenance on outdated equipment, such as dot matrix printers.

In cooperation with our two MICR providers, Source Technologies and Rosetta Technologies³, InfoPrint can equip your organization with comprehensive MICR solutions. Our solutions include reliable InfoPrint MICR printers and payment systems software that integrates with your enterprise systems to provide even higher levels of security and control.

Your InfoPrint representative can provide recommendations for desktop, workgroup, light production or production MICR printing. Whether you want to print locally, corporate-wide, or inter-enterprise, InfoPrint MICR solutions offer a flexible and secure way to print checks on demand.

Spotlight On…Kevin Ochiai, Vice President, Strategy & Business Development

Kevin: I work as a direct report to the CEO, Daisuke Segawa, in InfoPrint’s executive office. One of my roles is to define the company strategy so that InfoPrint will bring incremental value to the Ricoh Family Group. On a daily basis, my team is helping our CEO to check the company’s performance and take action by running a PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Action) cycle. Also, my team provides market and competitive intelligence to senior management and product managers.

Kevin: Our biggest asset is our highly motivated, skilled people around the world. InfoPrint has the capability to offer world-class solutions including consulting, workflow, and professional services. Additionally, our AFP architecture and end-to-end skills truly differentiate our company in the market.

Kevin: Unfortunately, in my current role I don't have many opportunities to interact with customers directly. However, I do work very closely with our product managers and with the sales management team to promote sales synergy activities with the Ricoh group, such as a joint account planning pilot program in the US.

Kevin: I have participated in or initiated several cross-functional activities and I believe it is one of the most effective ways to break silos. When we assemble people from various organizations for a project or a task force, those people are eager to discuss and cooperate without any boundary for a common goal.

Kevin: As I mentioned before, we have started a pilot program in the US engaging Ricoh US and IKON to jointly approach selected customers. I really hope I can tell you about some specific success stories from those pilots in the near future.

Kevin: Our biggest challenge is to continuously create new value for our customers. For example, InfoPrint is poised to add more value in our cutsheet printers business with the introduction of the Pro C900AFP model and the new cutsheet business model with Ricoh.

Kevin: InfoPrint is a joint-venture between Ricoh and IBM. Both of these parent companies have a different culture and a unique way of working. Both companies have strengths and weaknesses. For me, the most exciting thing is that I can participate in the process to blend the good and strong points from both companies and make InfoPrint a truly unique entity within the industry. I was involved in the acquisition of IBM PSD with Mr. Segawa while I was in Japan. Now I am contributing to the implementation of what was planned three years ago.

Kevin: I like nature, especially spending time in the countryside. I like visiting various Colorado recreation areas, both driving and hiking. Other than that, I enjoy reading books and I also play golf when the weather is good.

Kevin: Although we have challenges ahead, I truly believe that InfoPrint Solutions Company can find a way to grow our business and build upon a very unique position within the industry. Mr. Kondo, the CEO of Ricoh who visited us in early October, expressed his high expectations for our company. We’re working to continue to transform ourselves into a truly unique, valued entity that is envied throughout the industry.

TransPromo Made Simple

TransPromo combines personalized marketing messages with must read statements, invoices, and other documents to help you increase revenue, extend and deepen customer relationships and lower direct marketing costs.

About InfoPrint

InfoPrint Solutions Company™, the former Printing Systems Division of IBM®, is a Ricoh-IBM joint venture. Committed to environmental sustainability, we provide print and electronic output solutions to companies of all sizes around the world. We can integrate hardware, software and services to meet your business objectives, saving you time and money through an approach that emphasizes flexibility, reliability, efficiency and data security.

1. Exact speed varies depending on document complexity, system configuration, software application, driver and printer state.
2. www.stopcheckfraud.com/statistics.html
3. Source Technologies and Rosetta Technologies solutions and products are sold, licensed and warranted by Source Technologies, not InfoPrint. These offerings do not include, but may be sold with, products and services from InfoPrint. Neither party has any responsibility for, nor makes any representations or warranties about the other’s products and services.