FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ricoh Web Site: www.ricoh-usa.com
Contact:
Russell Marchetta Andrew Stein
Ricoh Corporation Peppercom
973-882-2075 212-931-6190
russell.marchetta@ricoh-usa.com astein@peppercom.com
RICOH ANNOUNCES COMPATIBILITY FOR @REMOTE SYSTEM WITH OMD’S VISION SOFTWARE SOLUTION
Integration to Automate Meter Collection Process
West Caldwell, NJ, July 19, 2007 – Ricoh Americas Corporation, the leading provider of digital office equipment, announced today the compatibility of its @Remote intelligent management system with Vision integrated business software solution by OMD, the leading provider of business software solutions for dealership automation. This integration automates the meter collection and billing process for dealers. By enabling Ricoh technology to automate these processes, a dealership can improve cash flow, minimize the amount of time spent in collecting meters and improve service to their customers.
@Remote is an intelligent device management system that enables automated device service and toner alerts, as well as remote firmware upgrades. In addition, @Remote collects operational data from networked laser printers and multifunction products (MFPs). This information is made available as device population and trending reports, which details the activity of a business’s printing devices enabling proficient business and IT operations by collecting and sharing data for meter billing and connected fleet utilization reporting. Previously, meter reading was done manually by customers through a labor intensive, time consuming and error-prone process. By eliminating the costs and labor involved in meter reporting, @Remote provides an efficient automated alternative for businesses to boost productivity and improve bottom-line results.
OMD’s Vision software is a comprehensive integrated business software solution that provides the highest-level of efficiency in handling mission critical business tasks. Vision provides tools to perform over 1500 business applications and is used by printer and MFP dealers to report the meter billings of their customers. Prior to @Remote’s compatibility with Vision, a customer would send their meter count at the end of each month and dealers would have to manually input the information into their Vision database. With the integration of @Remote and Vision, the report is formatted for automatic integration into Vision, eliminating hours of data entry work for dealers.
The @Remote system is available as a network appliance or embedded in the MFP or printer. The appliance version is designed for businesses with larger printer fleets. It features meter reading and reporting capabilities with the ability to track the utilization of up to 500 devices in various locations by way of a local or wide area network. The appliance is able to report the information by vendor, model and segment, allowing IT or purchasing managers to identify what devices are being over and under utilized. Embedded @Remote is built directly into the printing device and allows a single networked machine to automatically report its meter counts and provide them directly to the service provider, as well as send service and toner alerts and receive remote firmware upgrades.
“The compatibility of @Remote and OMD Vision is a huge advancement for printer and MFP dealers” said Ron Potesky, vice president Corporate Product Marketing, Ricoh Americas Corporation. “The complete automation of the meter billing process will vastly reduce the amount of time spent on reporting and improve dealers’ bottom line.”
About OMD Corporation
OMD Corporation is a global provider of fully integrated management information systems software. Today, OMD Corporation has more than 3,000 user locations across the world, and 90% of the most successful independent dealerships and acquisition groups use OMD software solutions. Committed to providing business efficiency and productivity through varied product offerings, OMD has led the industry in dealership automation and cutting edge technological development since 1984.
About Ricoh Americas Corporation
Ricoh Americas Corporation, headquartered in West Caldwell, N.J., is a subsidiary of Ricoh Company Ltd., the 71-year-old leading supplier of office automation equipment and electronics, with fiscal year 2006 sales in excess of $17 billion, a 8.4 percent increase over the previous year.
Ricoh Americas Corporation is a leading provider of document solutions. Ricoh’s fully integrated hardware and software products help businesses share information efficiently and effectively by enabling customers to control the input, management and output of documents. Ricoh’s line of document management devices include, color and black & white digital imaging systems, facsimile products, printers, scanners, digital duplicators, production printing products and wide format engineering systems. Additionally, Ricoh offers a wide variety of document and printing solutions directly and through strategic alliances enhancing office productivity and document workflow. Ricoh’s document management software enhances workgroup collaboration and offers secure storage, retrieval and sharing of critical information.
Ricoh Americas Corporation directly or through its network of authorized independent dealers markets and distributes products in North, Central and South America. For fiscal year 2006, Ricoh Americas Corporation sales exceeded $3.3 billion, an increase of 7.4 percent over the previous year.
Information about Ricoh's complete range of products and services can be accessed on the World Wide Web at www.ricoh-usa.com.
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