Print.IT Reseller - issue 80

COVER STORY 01732 759725 26 With the launch of the C650, the world’s smallest high performance A4 colour printer, OKI is providing channel partners with an opportunity to capitalise on demand for high quality media-flexible print within sectors such as warehousing, logistics, retail, HoReCa, education and healthcare OKI offers new revenue opportunities for channel partners transactions being conducted online, which correlated to increased demand for printed labels, invoices, delivery notes and on-demand packaging within warehousing and logistics operations. Print requirements in other settings such as schools, healthcare establishments and within the hospitality and retail sectors for example, have also dramatically changed. “With continual changes in government regulations, these sectors need the flexibility to quickly adapt customer communications. Within retail for example, implementing social distancing signage as well as keeping customers informed about opening times and health and safety guidelines has never been more critical. In 2020, OKI ran a campaign to help keep people safe by providing social distancing signage. We saw a phenomenal demand and are delighted we could help over 800 businesses and schools to remain operational or re-open safely.” These changes in printing habits look set to continue. Webster continued: “There have been key learnings for these sectors about the benefits to having a flexible printer on-site and this presents an opportunity for channel vendors to start new conversations in sectors other than the traditional office. The challenges of the pandemic have highlighted the need for organisations to take a more agile approach to remain operational, even in a volatile environment. Being self-sufficient provides more control, saving time and money. This need for robust, high performance, cost-effective printers with superior media handling capabilities to produce non-standard size materials in-house, on-demand, and in many settings, where space is at a premium – is where the C650 provides a competitive edge.” Space saving The C650 A4 colour printer combines speed, quality, reliability and ROI in one compact package. This device sits at just 290mm (h) x 395mm (w) x 430mm (d) meaning it will fit comfortably in the smallest of spaces, and delivers the performance, media handling and cost- efficiency of a class-leading workgroup printer. Innovative Space Saving Technology includes full front access which significantly reduces the amount of space needed to operate the printer compared to a device with a similar footprint, by uniquely ensuring all operations, including maintenance, can be performed from the front of the device. The C650 only requires a 2cm space around the sides, and approximately 20cm above to open the lid. “Space is an important consideration for so many businesses when it comes to choosing the right printer,”Webster noted. “Typically, buying a compact printer means having to compromise on performance, productivity, quality or cost-efficiency. The C650 turns this on its head, providing exceptional print quality, superior speed and reliability, while delivering true ROI. Designed for any business that has limited space, the C650 will finally tick all the boxes for so many organisations, whether they’re looking for a device to sit in a busy warehouse, on a production line, in a compact kiosk, or in the back office.” Pioneering digital LED technology Powered by OKI’s pioneering digital LED technology, the C650 delivers high speed printing in rich LED colour, perfect for handling everything from everyday documents to all manner of marketing collateral and signage. Despite its compact size, the C650 outperforms in both print speed and media handling, printing up to 35 pages a minute, while Print resellers have seen a sharp decline in volumes output from traditional office printers, as COVID-19 has radically changed how and where work gets done. Office closures forced many organisations to re-think critical workflows and many turned to alternative communication methods as access to business-quality printers was restricted. On the flip side, the pandemic has accelerated demand for print across a number of sectors such as manufacturing, retail, warehousing and logistics to name a few. OKI believes there is a significant opportunity for channel partners to re-build lost revenue and that the new C650 is the perfect A4 colour printer to meet customer demand. “Print remains critical in a number of key vertical sectors,” said Lee Webster, General Manager Product Marketing, OKI Europe Ltd. “Nationwide lockdowns and the closure of non-essential retail outlets led to a massive uptick in the number of OKI C650 - A4 COLOUR PRINTER