Business Info - issue 135

01732 759725 magazine 31 PRINTING MFPs and associated software might account for 90% of Sharp’s revenue, but today the company offers a much wider range of products, including large format displays, digital signage, videoconferencing systems, document management software, managed IT services, cloud services, AI-based digital assistants, meeting room furniture and even watercoolers that turn office air into drinking water (shown below) . Many of these solutions were on display at Sharp Inspire 2018, held in Edinburgh on January 15-18, where Alexander Hermann, President of Information Solutions Europe, explained the rationale for the company’s rapidly evolving line-up. He said: “Today, there are fewer instances where a single type of product constitutes a sellable solution. Different ...and 10 makes 24 Sharp Europe has completed the refresh of its MX series of A3 MFPs, with the launch of 10 new B&W models. These additions bring the number of colour and mono devices in the MX series to 24, with print speeds of 26 to 60ppm, a common user experience and pull printing to prevent the loss of sensitive documents. The MX line-up includes Essential Series models for everyday office needs and Advance Series models featuring additional functionality, including a customisable 10.1in touch- screen interface; a motion sensor that detects approaching users; Office Direct Print; wireless connectivity; and direct access to the Cloud and popular applications, like Microsoft OneDrive for Business, SharePoint Online, Box and Google Drive. At any point, Essential Series models can be upgraded with Advance features. Sharp’s new additions include five mono Essential models (the MX-M3050, MX-M3550, MX-M4050, MX-M5050 and MX-M6050) and five Advance models (the MX-M3070, MX-M3570, MX-M4070, MX-M5070 and MX-M6070). They accommodate paper sizes up to A3W and weights up to 300 g/m2 and can be enhanced with a wide variety of print and finishing options for the creation of professional reports and booklets. www.sharp.co.uk/gb Sharp is positioning itself as a one-stop-shop for the smart office. James Goulding reports Smarter together hardware devices need to interact and connect with each other to form a solution. Sharp’s products are more like components. It is only when they are brought together that you will have the final product.” Sharp is encouraging channel partners and its own sales force to put together customised solutions for customers that combine ‘components’ from its range (e.g. MFPs and displays) with software and services from technology partners and Sharp itself. Examples on display at Sharp Inspire 2018 included applications for reception areas, administrative offices, meeting rooms and marketing departments. Among them were: n a touch-screenWelcome Board that provides a complete self-service visitor solution for reception areas, including the ability of visitors to register their arrival, alert the person they are visiting and print off a name badge; n a Digital Mailroom solution that lets users scan incoming mail on an MFP and index and save it to the cloud where it can be viewed by the recipient in the office or remotely, using a PC, tablet or smartphone; n a Sharp Accounts PayableWorkflow that automates the entire process, from the extraction of information from scanned invoices to approval, payment and archiving; n a Big Pad interactive whiteboard running Sharp videoconferencing software that brings quick and easy collaboration to huddle rooms, as well as the ability to mark-up on-screen documents, distribute copies to meeting participants and connect wireless devices such as tablets and smartphones; and n a digital signage solution that makes it easy to create multimedia content and distribute it via the cloud to multiple screens located on-premise or in public locations. Hermann said: “We at Sharp are offering an extremely broad line-up of business hardware and software.We are also developing new concepts and smart ways of linking technology to our daily lives, introducing forward-looking ideas that will change the way we work and play.” Sharp Digital Assistant The stand-out product in this context is the Sharp Digital Assistant, pencilled in for a 2019 launch, which leverages artificial intelligence to transform day-to-day business activities. A built-in speaker and Continued...