Toshiba Announces Entry Level DocMan

Press Release:

RVINE, Calif. - (Business Wire) Toshiba America Business Solutions (TABS) today announced the launch of three new software solutions – deskSystem, deskRecord and deskForm – designed to improve document management, capture, work flow, and output for multifunction printer (MFP) users.

These solutions represent tier one offerings in a new, multi-tiered Toshiba software strategy announced to dealers over the summer during Regional Summits in Las Vegas and New Jersey.

The “desk” software developed by Prism Software Corporation, targets small- to mid-sized businesses requiring affordable entry-level solutions. These solutions are also easy for dealers to install, connect, and complement the award-winning Toshiba MFP line-up. Software add-on options within tier one will range between $495 and $3,995.

“Part of the reason we designed a tiered strategy was to help our SMB customers who had a need for software add-ons, but often felt that the options available in the marketplace were too advanced and thus too costly for their particular needs. This made it difficult for them to fully maximize productivity and efficiency within their offices. By offering simplified, affordable solutions, we can meet their needs, increase their productivity and improve their bottom line,” said Joseph Contreras, director, Product and Solutions Marketing, TABS.

“At the same time, we’re providing an opportunity for Toshiba dealers to complement MFP sales and build professional services practices by offering solutions that are easy to deploy.”

deskRecord is a complete desktop document management system that:

Quickly searches and retrieves documents;
Decreases the need for physically filing paper documents;
Provides real time document tracking and auditing;
Instantly shares documents via email; and
Saves documents directly from Microsoft Office applications

deskSystem is an easy-to-use desktop application that allows users to:

Create work groups for community-based work flow and collaboration with intuitive document composition and editing;
Create personalized and automated workflows and business processes for the automatic processing of documents;
Automatically route documents in and out of software programs such as DocRecord,
deskRecord and SharePoint; and
Easily and quickly compose and edit complex documents.

deskForm is a complete personalized communication solution for cross-channel messaging for small organizations. Key features include:

Create personalized print and electronic promotional, transpromo and transactional documents;
Generate personalized Web pages and HTML emails;
Fully-integrated postal certification;
SMS text messaging to provide instant notifications to customers;
All capabilities in a single application;
Integrated Microsoft SharePoint Server Output; and
Integration with DirectSmile for the creation of unique, personalized graphics and images.


About TABS

Toshiba America Business Solutions Inc. (TABS) manages product planning, marketing, sales, service support and distribution of copiers, facsimiles, multifunction printing products, network controllers, and toner products throughout the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., TABS has five divisions: the Electronic Imaging Division; the Toner Products Division; the Document Solutions Engineering Division; the International Division; and TOPAC U.S.A., Inc., dba Toshiba Business Solutions (TBS), a wholly-owned subsidiary corporation of TABS, that operates a network of wholly-owned office equipment dealers throughout the United States.

Named the most favored manufacturer ten times by the Business Technology Association (BTA), Toshiba's entire product line, customer support and marketing distribution policies are markers for the industry. Among the many other awards garnered in recent years, Toshiba was named the "Manufacturer of the Year" eight times by Marketing Research Consultants (MRC), and has twice been named to the CIO 100 for being among the top 100 "bold" (2008) and "agile" (2004) companies in the world.

TABS is an independent operating company of Toshiba Corporation, the seventh largest electronics/electrical equipment company and the world's 91st largest company in terms of sales. Ranked by Fortune magazine as the eighth Most Admired Electronics Company in the World, Toshiba Corporation is a world leader in high technology products with more than 300 major subsidiaries and affiliates worldwide. Fiscal year revenue in 2008 was approximately $76.7 billion.

Video of The Week: She's The One, Springsteen

I first saw Bruce in 1980, in Joe Louis Arena, Detroit Michigan.

My seats?

I could lean back against the wall - I was in the very last row, on the highest level, the furthest anyone could be.

Didn't make a difference. He came on at 8:15 and the show ended at 1:07AM...incredible. The Big Man studded out in a white tux, and yes, that was Mighty Max on the drums - you know, he's on Conan now.

Mitch Ryder sang and the last 45 minutes all the house lights came on and stayed on.

Nobody was sitting - good lord, it was magic.

Enjoy, it's a 6 minute, 42 second break...start the week strong.

Managed Print Services is Like a Box of Crayons

2009 -

Forest had a box of chocolates - we have a box of crayons.

And by "we", I mean all of us in the business to business, office automation, document management, Managed Print Services/etc., industry.

And by "crayon", I am not making some left-handed swipe at the ColorCube or Phaser.

Look at what we've got to work with:

Copiers, toner, service, printers, fax machines, fax servers, EDM, scanners, electronic work-flow, monitoring software, automatic fulfill, email, email servers, telephony, readers, the cloud, production, facilities management, BPO's, sales managers, software specialists, leasing specialists, service managers, accounts receivable specialists, MPS specialists, consultants, advisers, coaches, vendors, manufacturers, distribution, training specialists, lease agreements, SLA's, service technicians, sales managers, quota's, owners, on-site service, assessments, help desk, CPI, CPC, copiers, single function, multi-function, color/black and white, tablets, on and on and on...

It's a big box with lots of crayons - some are prettier than others, some have been dulled by years of use, a few still sharp and still others have had their name changed.

Either way, everyone is in the same "box" - I like to think our box is one of those that has the sharpener in the back...you remember.

Look, don't start thinking I am having some kind of MPSA, kumbaya moment, I'm not. There is still friction, there are still those who try to influence others; manufacturers do all they can to make sure "boxes" don't sit in any of their warehouses.

And there are still plenty of areas for improvement and plenty of flawed approaches and beliefs - so be it.


Carbon 6, Digital Gateway, LMI, MWAi, Supplies Network, Synnex PrintSolv, Toshiba Encompass, HP, PagePack 4.0, Okidata Total Managed Print, Konica Minolta OPS, on and on - each program an attempt to coral a bunch of "crayons" for you. Worthy attempts from accomplished leaders, yet has anyone fashioned a crayon'd Mona Lisa or Starry Night?

And here's the rub - they are ALL good.

Every MPS infrastructure package, approach and process from the manufactures to the toner/supplies guys, is a good one.

They're all the same. (What?!)

I have been kicking this issue around for a bit- it seems that the MPS world has all the right ingredients, the correct crayons.

Now It's coming down to that person who decides to use Fuchsia instead of pink. The ones who either stay in the lines or draw new ones.

It is coming down to execution - execution in the field.

This phenomena is nothing new. From industry to industry, the best infrastructure and supporting processes, the prettiest marketing slick, website or Value Statement can't sell on it's own and never could; never will.

My point is this - successful MPS isn't about all the infrastructure, remote meter reads, toner yield or page coverage - these MPS tools will evolve all on their own - successful MPS, just like everything else in life, is all about you.

You, the MPS/Toner/Copier/Printer/VAR selling professional, it is all about you. This is no simple thing because as the center of attention, not only do you get the spotlight, you get the responsibility. Uh, oh.

That's right, just because, as an example, it isn't your fault that your A/R department keeps trying to collect on an invoice raft with bad meter reads - it is your responsibility to get it settled.

All those colorful crayons are for you. The trick is finding your blank sheet of paper and beginning to color, inside or outside of the lines.

It's Not the Content, it's the Fishies! - DOTC Name The Fish Contest(?)

It has come down to this.

So many hours spent toiling away, blood soaked digits leafing through the dictionary.

Eye-drying nights searching for that perfect "hot girl next to copier" picture.

Eternities spent scrolling through thousands of output based web sites and news stories - all in an effort to bring you, dear reader, a fresh, bold look at our world.

And what do I get for my labor of love?

More people feed the fish than read the content.

Fine - I can deal.


There are, as I am sure you know, a total of eight fishies, five red ones, floating over my mug, on the left.

After deciding not to "sell out" by advertising in that most coveted location, I put fish there. Made sense at the adult beverage enhanced time. Figuring out how to get my face in the tank was a challenge but a few more Jack and Cokes did the trick.

One red fish has been named "Elfman" compliments of Fred Jeffery from Document Technology Solutions, Inc. in Bloomington, MN - Don't-ja know,eh.

The Vision and Mission at DTS:

" To become the best Document Workflow Solutions Provider in Minnesota, one client at a time. We know from past experience that bigger is not better. Better is better. Our unique approach involves improving the business of our clients and enhancing the lives of our employees. We believe this philosophy leads to success for everyone..."

No small mission in the land of "The Body..."

Why Elfman? I have no idea - but why not!

This leaves four, red, nameless inhabitants in the digital fish bowl. I bestow the creation of their monikers to you, the faithful readers and feeders of electronic fish.

Email me with suggestions, if I like, I shall name your fishie and raise it as though it were my own. Also, I will mention you or your company and link back.

Just click on one of the "contact me" buttons over there on the left, and let's get these little red critters some identity.

Oh, for the record, I did not expect so many hits on a "hot girl fish" Google search - fishing? Really? Who woulda thunk.

Photizo Opening New Office

"Today had a ton of 'meat' in terms of content. Very good, even better than San Antonio." - Chris Stoates, Laser Network.

Press release:

Amsterdam, The Netherlands (MMD Newswire) October 22, 2009 - The Photizo Group continues to grow in response to the burgeoning need for Managed Print Services research, consultation and community. With the opening of a new European office in London, England, the total number of Photizo Group locations is now five. Company headquarters are in Versailles Kentucky, with staff in Boston, New York and Austin, and the newest office in London.

Photizo has also expanded its executive force. Senior Consultant Steven Swift now heads up the London office for Europe, while David Cameron, PhD, has joined the company as Senior Consultant and Partner.

"Interest in the MPS market continues to expand, as more companies and vendors adopt these business models. It is important for the Photizo Group to maintain both the market coverage and the expertise to ensure our customers stay abreast of developments and achieve their MPS goals," said Ed Crowley, CEO and Senior Partner of the Photizo Group. "We are thrilled to have such esteemed professionals as David and Steven join Photizo. Their contributions are already being felt as we add more value through our MPS services."

Dr. Cameron has over 20 years in the hardcopy industry. His background includes managing after sales support, engineering and business director leadership positions at Texas Instruments, IBM Global Services and Dell. Most recently, he was Director of Product Development for the startup Imaging Systems business at Dell. The enterprise blossomed into a $1 billion business, with some of the fastest growth in the industry. Dr. Cameron also teaches Management courses at Texas State University.

"I'm excited to join Photizo Group, as it is a great opportunity to apply my experience in developing innovative products and services to a new market. This is a fantastic challenge to bring fresh ideas and meaningful thought leadership to the industry," said Cameron.

"I am delighted to be joining Photizo at such an exciting time. MPS is a concept whose time has truly come, and we can expect to see stellar growth rates over the next few years. Photizo has established itself as the industry thought leader in MPS, and is in pole position to provide independent, authoritative market intelligence to both vendors and users," said Swift. "I have over 15 years experience in the printing and imaging business, and I have been involved with the development of MPS from its earliest days. I hope to put that experience to good use, helping vendors and users throughout Europe"

As a general manager and business development director, Steven Swift has a long track record of both building and turning around international businesses. He helped establish Ricoh Global Services Europe as a €100M + business, and ran a €140M European business unit for Acco Brands. He has a broad background with experience throughout Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Americas, and Asia Pacific. His diverse experience includes blue-chip consumer marketing at P&G + Mars, followed by corporate strategy responsibility with an FTSE 100 company. Swift is a graduate of Oxford University with an MA degree in chemistry. His language skills include fluent French. He has completed the Inchcape Senior Management Programme at INSEAD, and courses in corporate finance and M&A.

For more information about the Photizo Group and Managed Print Services, visit at http://www.managed-print-services.com.