Canon U.S.A. Announces uniFLOW V5.3, Providing Greater Flexibility, Security and Control over Printer and MFP Fleets

MELVILLE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, today announced the release of uniFLOW V5.3, the newest version of uniFLOW.  uniFLOW is an integrated software platform for device management, secure printing, including mobile print, advanced scanning, document routing and accounting. uniFLOW V5.3 offers a variety of new features, such as enhanced scanning to cloud-based services and a new per-device scanning licensing model. In addition, uniFLOW V5.3 offers more flexibility in print infrastructure design and multivendor support to address customers with heterogeneous printer environments.

“Today’s multifunction devices have advanced to more than just a print centric device, they have evolved to be and essential element in automating and or optimizing businesses processes,” said Ron Glaz Research Director at IDC. “A key MFP enabler is the incorporation of intelligent document solution software. Canon’s uniFLOW V5.3 enhancements are very timely and relevant in supporting MFP integration within back-office and line of business workflows.”

“Improvements to uniFLOW were made to help users maximize productivity, heighten document security and provide users with the flexibility to customize the platform to meet the needs of their individual businesses,” said Junichi Yo****ake, senior vice president and general manager, Business Imaging Solutions Group, Canon U.S.A., Inc. “uniFLOW continues to play a critical role in helping customers actively manage their print environment and costs. With new scanning capabilities and licensing, uniFLOW extends support to include document capture and workflow functions, allowing customers to more holistically manage their document related activities and processes.”   

The new key benefits offered by uniFLOW V5.3 include:    

• Advanced Scanning and uniFLOW Capture: uniFLOW V5.3 has made scanning more useful by allowing users to scan directly from  MEAP-enabled imageRUNNER MFPs to an extended number of destinations, including third party cloud-based applications, such as Box.com,  Dropbox, Evernote^®, OneDrive, Google Drive™ as well as to document management systems and Enterprise Content Management applications. With the addition of the uniFLOW Capture feature, small businesses can also enjoy the benefits of uniFLOW scanning via a new, right-sized and simplified per-device licensing model.

uniFLOW SmartClient: This solution helps businesses to manage         printer fleets with fewer servers – as few as one – and move the         process, management and storage of print jobs from servers to a         desktop or a Canon imageRUNNER ADVANCE device. This helps reduce print server costs and network print traffic, by allowing customers with a  distributed multi-site infrastructure to print more securely and track         costs without the need for a local print server in each office.      

• Extending the base: Document security has always been a         keystone feature for uniFLOW software. This new version further         extends these capabilities by providing users with the option to         increase security measures across their organization with a more         secure printing workflow. uniFLOW v5.3 allows users to check the         status of the device and jobs upon log-out, and in the event of a         device error, such as a paper jam or no paper in the tray, delete the job and notify the user thereby eliminating the potential for         incomplete jobs to be output at the time of a new user login. Also         with uniFLOW V5.3, security and network traffic can be improved with the built-in encryption and compression of print jobs in transit. Other improvements to the core functionality of uniFLOW include improved customization of the uniFLOW Universal Driver and Secure Print queue, allowing for user creation of new cost centers and IPv6 support.      
• Multi-Vendor Support: uniFLOW V5.3 introduces the uniFLOW Release Station, a device-independent touch screen with an embedded card reader that provides more secure printing across a multivendor fleet environment. This allows users to cohesively connect  their print devices from different manufacturers and gives them the         consistent look and feel of the Canon MEAP user interface when         retrieving print jobs at any networked device. The uniFLOW Release Station will be available in the fourth quarter of 2014.      

“We were already impressed by Canon’s imageRUNNER ADVANCE systems. When coupled with uniFLOW, our expectations were met and exceeded,” said Cris Beagle, sr. systems engineer, Propex, Inc.“uniFLOW provided the ease of integration we demanded and delivered the user-friendly       operation that would eliminate the barriers to productivity that existed       for so long.”    

“NT-ware is excited to collaborate with Canon on bringing uniFLOW V5.3 to market,” said Karsten Huster, president/CEO NT-ware. “The key       features of this release help address the needs of the market for a one       platform output management and advanced scanning solution, while also giving businesses options to reduce the impact on IT infrastructures.” 

uniFLOW V5.3 is currently available through Canon Authorized Dealers and Canon Solutions America. 

For more information please visit www.usa.canon.com/software.    

About Canon U.S.A., Inc.  

Canon U.S.A., Inc., is a leading provider of consumer,       business-to-business, and industrial digital imaging solutions. With       approximately $36 billion in global revenue, its parent company, Canon       Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), ranks third overall in U.S. patents granted in       2013‡ and is one of Fortune Magazine's World’s Most Admired Companies in       2014. In 2014, Canon U.S.A. received the PCMag.com Readers’ Choice Award       for Service and Reliability in the digital camera and printer categories       for the 11th consecutive year. Canon U.S.A. is committed to the highest       level of customer satisfaction and loyalty, providing 100 percent       U.S.-based consumer service and support for all of the products it       distributes. Canon U.S.A. is dedicated to its Kyosei philosophy       of social and environmental responsibility. In 2014, the Canon Americas       Headquarters secured LEED® Gold certification, a recognition for the       design, construction, operations and maintenance of high-performance       green buildings. To keep apprised of the latest news from Canon U.S.A., sign up for the Company's RSS news feed by visiting www.usa.canon.com/rss and follow us on Twitter @CanonUSA.    

‡Based on weekly patent counts issued by United States Patent and       Trademark Office.    

      Specifications subject to change without notice.    

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