InfoPrint Blends Managed Print Services With Cloud Computing

InfoPrint Solutions — a Ricoh company — is the latest technology provider to jump on the cloud computing bandwagon. Specifically, the company has launched InfoPrint Solutions Managed ADF Services (ADF is short for Automated Document Factory) — a managed, turnkey production print workflow solution.What does this have to do with cloud computing? Glad you asked…

Through the cloud model, InfoPrint ProcessDirector and supporting workflow software will be hosted on remote servers through a secure network connection. The web interface can be accessed by anyone with proper authorization using a browser inside the network. InfoPrint claims to be the first company in the print market space to offer a cloud-delivered, managed workflow service.

For now, the company will launch the offering in the United States. If all goes well, InfoPrint plans to expand its ADF service to its international clientele.

No doubt, printer companies have been trying to wrap their arms around the managed print services and cloud markets. Most of the major printer makers now offer some sort of managed print partner program. But generally speaking, the uptake for managed print services has been somewhat slow among MSPs, who frequently overlook the MPS opportunity. Only about 20 percent of MSPmentor 100 survey participants in 2010 said they offer managed print services. Additionally, Most managed print services out there are, for the most part, consumer-based or business-user based and are primarily targeted at printing individual documents from handheld devices to workgroup printers. InfoPrint’s Managed ADF Services offering provides managed workflow for transaction output generated from line of business applications like billing statements or Explanation of Benefits (EOB’s).

Still, the managed print services market — a close cousin to cloud computing since much of the software runs as SaaS — is certainly growing. To put the spotlight on that growth, Photizo Group is set to host a Global MPS conference May 2-4 in Orlando, Fla.

Additional reporting by Joe Panettieri. Sign up for MSPmentor’s Weekly Enewsletter, Webcasts and Resource Center. Follow us via RSS, Facebook, Identi.ca and Twitter. Check out more MSP voices at www.MSPtweet.com. Read our editorial disclosure here.