OKI MPS5502mbf
This week OKI Data Americas reaffirmed its commitment to the BTA channel with the introduction of new Smart A4 MFPs, including the MPS3537mc+, MPS4242mc+ and MPS5502mb+ Series. The new models are aimed at what OKI calls the mid-workgroup market. These announcements follow up on the recent announcement of the ES8473 wide-format color A3 MFP.
Available in four monochrome and five color configurations, the new Smart A4 models include Apple AirPrint for iOS compatibility, Adobe Systems (PDF/A) portable document formatting embedded into scan functions, compliance with Mac OS X Yosemite, and an upgraded on-site parts and labor warranty of three years.
“This is a refresh of our A4 mono and color MFPs,” noted Associated Marketing Manager Kirsten Warner in a Webinar a week ago.
According to Keith Fenton, product planning, MFP software & solutions, the key enhancements over the previous generation center around the aforementioned software solutions as well as new features and functions.
The MPS3537mc+ and MPS4242mc+ color and MPS5502mb+ monochrome series devices incorporate the latest open API iteration of the smart Extendable Platform (sXP) to support OKI’s suite of print management, document capture, and document management solutions. This new platform, scheduled for summer release, will offer additional functionality for developers to build solution applications for OKI smart MFPs.
The devices are available with two new document management solutions: ABBYY FineReader Sprint OCR (Optical Character Recognition) for file search and conversion, and the cloud-based SENDYS Explorer LITE connector.
ABBYY FineReader Sprint OCR allows users to convert paper documents and PDF files and images into edit and searchable text in 190 different languages. SENDYS Explorer LITE manages documents with server-based software and can be used with all OKI smart MFPs. With SENDYS Explorer LITE users can capture documents from various sources and then convert, distribute or upload them to a chosen location.
SENDYS Explorer LITE is included with every + model and offers ability to scan and print from the op panel, making it easier to scan and print. As an option customers can acquire cloud connectors such as scan to Sharepoint, Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive.
The MPS3537mc+, MPS4242mc+, and MPS5502mb+ Series offer competitive acquisition and running costs with a low overall total cost of ownership, value propositions that anyone familiar with OKI would recognize.
Key benefits to the BTA channel are the opportunity to offer a product to customers who are looking for a low cost solution, three-year parts and labor covered by OKI, and incremental business opportunities driven by the solution lineup. For the SMB user, the benefits are a lower acquisition cost and better TCO, less downtime with ease of use, and workflow improvement via Smart Expandable Platform.
During the Webinar OKI also outlined its FY15 plan for strategic business growth, including growing its business into office solutions and professional markets and growing its business into selected vertical markets, including retail and medical.
These introductions demonstrate OKI’s commitment to the BTA channel, particularly with the 3-year free dealer warranty. These are also described by OKI as “OKI-like products,” meaning the focus on ease of use, enhanced easy maintenance, and the focus on reducing down time as much as possible with user guidance and cloud support .
The Webinar also offered an opportunity for a closer look at the ES8473 wide-format color MFP. Three configurations are available, including the ES8473 basic configuration, which is a desktop model; the ES8473c, which is a floor standing configuration with one tray and one cabinet; and the ES8473s, a floor standing model with three trays.
Warner describes the ES8473 as an A3 device in an A4 footprint. “It’s the smallest A3 color device in its class. It has an A4 footprint with copy, print, scanning, and faxing.”
The key selling points for the SMB market include compact size, low running cost, user friendly functionality, and robust performance, again familiar OKI product attributes.
Print speeds are up to 35 cpm in color and monochrome while maximum paper capacity is 2,005 sheets. It also supports AirPrint & Google Cloud Print. There’s also a 3-year on-site warranty for parts & labor.
A notable feature is diagnostic guidance via the new 7-inch color tilting touch operator panel. This can identify issues and walks the user on how to correct an issue such as properly installing a toner cartridge. The new operator panel also includes a Job Macro Feature for creating custom job macros for frequently used or complex tasks, reportedly reducing time and increasing productivity. It also has a QWERTY keypad and an alphanumeric keypad.
A few other things that Warner says makes the ES8473 unique are a standard job separator, which is normally an option in copier devices; standard analog and Internet fax; and a stapler.
Compared to previous OKI models, in addition to faster print and copy speeds the ES8473 offers 500 percent more storage capacity and 37 percent more maximum paper capacity. Plus the previous model only had a one-year onsite parts and labor warranty.
Warner says this new model allows the BTA channel to target customers who may not be able to fit a traditional copier in their office but still need similar functionality, including the ability to print tabloid materials. “It’s an alternative to the higher cost of a traditional copier,” noted Warner.
Additional solutions, including the Smart Extendable platform, will be released in July for the ES8473. “With that we will have support for all current solutions, including PaperCut MF, Drivve Image, and DocuWare integration,” says Fenton.
Another new solution is scan to cloud and OKI offers optional connectors for that. Fenton also revealed that OKI is working on additional solutions for this product.
U.S. list pricing for the new products are as follows:
ES8473 MFP – $7,699
ES8473c – $799
ES8473x – $8,999
With the new Smart A4 MFPs and the A3 wide-format color MFP, OKI is expanding the value proposition its legacy products have been known for and reinforcing its commitment to the BTA dealer channel, particularly those dealers looking for a solid second or third line that will appeal to SMB customers and beyond.
