Smart MFPs: An intelligent solution for improving SMB workflows by OKI Europe
Research by IDC has confirmed the fact that most European SMBs would like to improve their business process efficiency. However, feedback from many of the businesses also shows that most need to justify any investment in the technology and services required to make this a reality. In fact, when the analyst firm asked European SMBs about their top business priorities, improving productivity scored highest. This was followed by sensitive data protection and customer care enhancement. The research also showed that the reason 70% of European SMBs would adopt business process automation tools is to increase employee productivity.
For the many businesses seeking to improve and transform their processes in response to changing business needs, the evolving IT agenda and new market opportunities, smart multifunction printers (MFPs) are a highly valuable tool. In IDC’s research, employee mobility emerged as a strong driver in support of the digitisation of documents. This is a further area where the flexibility and connectivity inherent in these smart devices now really comes into its own, facilitating easy integration of information and rapid, secure access to documents – anywhere and at any time
From ‘dumb device’ to smart solution
In IDC’s latest whitepaper: ‘Are your business processes stifling your market opportunity? Cost-efficient print and document management through smart MFPs establishes a clear link between SMBs’ need for process efficiency and smart MFPs. Crucially, it makes the point that these latest solutions make the leap from ‘dumb device’ to smart solution, unlocking substantial workflow benefits for smaller organisations.
IDC’s findings follow on from an earlier European survey also carried out among SMBs by Atomik Research on behalf of OKI Europe, which said that, despite a changing and more flexible workplace environment, very few companies had recently reviewed their print infrastructure. A third of businesses polled in the study also believed they could save up to half their annual business-related print spend if their requirements were brought in-house.
Here, the fact that smart MFPs offer many of the features which enhance the ability to conduct in-house printing presents a huge advantage to SMBs hoping not just to improve processes, but also to save costs. Independent of this previous research IDC also points out that, by integrating a smart MFP with a company’s core systems – such as enterprise resource planning software – even greater streamlining of key processes is achievable.
Likewise, rather than turning straight to costly enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, organisations can instead consider making smaller investments in customising workflow tools such as smart MFPs, which may provide them with sufficient automation and integration to drive up productivity in a shorter timeframe.
Security – how safe are your documents?
Security is also an essential consideration, especially given the feedback from SMBs that employee mobility is driving the need to streamline processes and digitise documents, with just under half of businesses with fewer than 250 employees allowing staff to use their own personal smartphones. In addressing these needs, smart MFPs will offer secure printing from mobile devices to guard against any threats or viruses, control access and protect a company’s intellectual property. Using authentication tools and permission-based access to client records or other sensitive data, SMBs can control access to information, ensuring best-practice processes are followed and regulation is always adhered to.
In concluding that smart MFPs are no longer ‘dumb devices’ and making the business case for secure, cost-efficient print and document management through smart MFPs, IDC has effectively confirmed the fact that the devices are helping to take small businesses’ print and document management capabilities to the next level.
Solutions that once needed to be implemented separately to MFPs are now integrated into the hardware. This provides a richly-featured, cost-efficient and valuable tool that meets the needs of SMBs and helps them to improve and transform their processes, while at the same time enabling them to keep a tight grip on their IT budgets.
OKI Europe’s portfolio of smart MFPs combine a range of features required to capture and process information more intelligently, helping employees work more productively. The cost-effective solutions combine sophisticated software, advanced technology and open architecture, enabling them to integrate seamlessly with existing document workflows.
This in-built flexibility responds to the 70% of European SMBs that IDC has found adopt business process automation tools for increased employee productivity and means MFPs can be scaled up in line with future growth, as well as new business and technology trends.
For further information and to receive a copy of the whitepaper and infographic, visit
www.okime.ae/smartmfps
For the many businesses seeking to improve and transform their processes in response to changing business needs, the evolving IT agenda and new market opportunities, smart multifunction printers (MFPs) are a highly valuable tool. In IDC’s research, employee mobility emerged as a strong driver in support of the digitisation of documents. This is a further area where the flexibility and connectivity inherent in these smart devices now really comes into its own, facilitating easy integration of information and rapid, secure access to documents – anywhere and at any time
From ‘dumb device’ to smart solution
In IDC’s latest whitepaper: ‘Are your business processes stifling your market opportunity? Cost-efficient print and document management through smart MFPs establishes a clear link between SMBs’ need for process efficiency and smart MFPs. Crucially, it makes the point that these latest solutions make the leap from ‘dumb device’ to smart solution, unlocking substantial workflow benefits for smaller organisations.
IDC’s findings follow on from an earlier European survey also carried out among SMBs by Atomik Research on behalf of OKI Europe, which said that, despite a changing and more flexible workplace environment, very few companies had recently reviewed their print infrastructure. A third of businesses polled in the study also believed they could save up to half their annual business-related print spend if their requirements were brought in-house.
Here, the fact that smart MFPs offer many of the features which enhance the ability to conduct in-house printing presents a huge advantage to SMBs hoping not just to improve processes, but also to save costs. Independent of this previous research IDC also points out that, by integrating a smart MFP with a company’s core systems – such as enterprise resource planning software – even greater streamlining of key processes is achievable.
Likewise, rather than turning straight to costly enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, organisations can instead consider making smaller investments in customising workflow tools such as smart MFPs, which may provide them with sufficient automation and integration to drive up productivity in a shorter timeframe.
Security – how safe are your documents?
Security is also an essential consideration, especially given the feedback from SMBs that employee mobility is driving the need to streamline processes and digitise documents, with just under half of businesses with fewer than 250 employees allowing staff to use their own personal smartphones. In addressing these needs, smart MFPs will offer secure printing from mobile devices to guard against any threats or viruses, control access and protect a company’s intellectual property. Using authentication tools and permission-based access to client records or other sensitive data, SMBs can control access to information, ensuring best-practice processes are followed and regulation is always adhered to.
In concluding that smart MFPs are no longer ‘dumb devices’ and making the business case for secure, cost-efficient print and document management through smart MFPs, IDC has effectively confirmed the fact that the devices are helping to take small businesses’ print and document management capabilities to the next level.
Solutions that once needed to be implemented separately to MFPs are now integrated into the hardware. This provides a richly-featured, cost-efficient and valuable tool that meets the needs of SMBs and helps them to improve and transform their processes, while at the same time enabling them to keep a tight grip on their IT budgets.
OKI Europe’s portfolio of smart MFPs combine a range of features required to capture and process information more intelligently, helping employees work more productively. The cost-effective solutions combine sophisticated software, advanced technology and open architecture, enabling them to integrate seamlessly with existing document workflows.
This in-built flexibility responds to the 70% of European SMBs that IDC has found adopt business process automation tools for increased employee productivity and means MFPs can be scaled up in line with future growth, as well as new business and technology trends.
For further information and to receive a copy of the whitepaper and infographic, visit
www.okime.ae/smartmfps
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