Keith Kenny, solutions account manager, Canon Ireland, has worked for the company for over 20 years. He talks to Donna Ahern about home office options for remote workers and simple, user-friendly solutions that will allow retailers to print signage on-site
Regulations introduced to protect citizens from COVID-19 mean that retailers are expected to change in-store signage on an ongoing basis in order to inform and protect their staff and customers. This can be both costly and time consuming, especially for retailers that have to outsource their signage requirements on a frequent basis.
A practical solution is to bring their printing capabilities in-house and to obtain a fast and flexible printer – one that will allow them to update their signage on an ongoing basis.
Retail Ready Printers
Keith Kenny recommends a number of Canon office printers that he believes will allow retailers to print their own signage with ease on site.
“For the smaller retailer, I would recommend the imageRUNNER DX from our mid-range C5700 series,” he says. “This range provides automatic duplexing, which would allow independent retailers to produce relevant signage in-house. As HSE guidelines change, the retailer would be equipped to instantaneously revise the store’s messaging to reflect those changes. Heavy 300gsm media can be deployed for robust window and floor displays which, combined with an attractive total cost of ownership, makes the imageRUNNER DX C5700 series an inviting proposition.”
For larger supermarkets or multi-branch retailers, he recommends Canon’s latest entry-level colour production printer, the imagePRESS C165. “This press is strategically aimed at in-house printing environments,” he says.
“It combines media versatility with the ability to produce high-quality graphic applications to help customers produce a diverse range of printed material. With its heavy stock and long sheet capability, users can produce all manner of signage in an instant. We would describe the imagePRESS C165 as the ideal business support for retail outlets, including supermarkets, that are operating in the current challenging environment.”
While the imagePRESS C165 printer is designed to produce the high- quality output of a digital press, it is also designed to meet the needs of environments that require the simplicity of a walk-up device.
“It provides customers with a user-friendly control panel that requires minimal guidance,” he says. “However, Canon can deliver same-day comprehensive training to ensure that the retailer’s key staff fully capitalise on the C165’s potential. The replacement of toner and other consumables is a breeze, with a message and diagram displayed, prompting the user to prepare or perform toner cartridge replacement. The door catch is automatically released, ready for the toner to be exchanged with ease, and in a matter of seconds.”
Document Management
Document management is an area of growing concern for many business owners and their employees, especially for those who need to be able to share information remotely.
To ease the pressure and to simplify this process, Canon also offers a document management solution, Therefore Online, which is designed to capture, manage and deliver business documents when, where and how they are needed.
“It can be easily accessed anywhere – from the office, at home, or remotely via a PC, tablet, optimise the way information is managed, helping retailers and employees work more efficiently, while gaining better and improved security over their documents, at a store or group level. Users will have access to all of their documents, such as orders, invoices, contracts etc, relating to a customer or supplier, as long as they have permission to access them.”
Therefore Online is a cloud solution hosted in Microsoft Azure. The implementation process is simple. As Canon’s solutions account manager, Kenny can advise a business retailer how a Therefore eFrom Link can be issued to employees. The employee completes and submits their application. The response is then evaluated and approved by a member of the Therefore team. Finally, a confirmation email is sent to the employee.
According to Kenny, just like online banking, it is completely secure, with automated back-up. Additional functions and features are added on a regular basis. “Therefore Online does not require an IT manager or any IT staff to support it – all of that expertise is an integral part of the package supplied under the monthly subscription model,” he says.
Return to Work Safely
Therefore Online also supports retailers to manage the safe return to work of employees.
To coincide with the ‘Return to Work Safely Protocol,’ published by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA), the Health Services Executive (HSE) and the Department of Health, Kenny points out that Canon Ireland has created an eForm solution that will enable organisations to protect their employees, clients, visitors and contractors when returning to work, while ensuring that they are following the government’s COVID-19 guidelines.
“Our cloud-based solution is simple, secure and easy to use,” he adds.
Working From Home
Given that one of the government’s recommendations, issued along with a raft of new measures on 18 August to limit the spread of Covid-19, is that employees should work from home, unless it is ‘absolutely essential’ for an employee to attend in person, Kenny recommends that businesses invest in Canon’s ‘functional, compact and user-friendly’ PIXMA Megatank printers.
“All types of organisations are planning to support home workers for the next 12 to 18 months,” he says.
“With this in mind, Canon have designed the Megatank printers for light office and home workers. I would recommend either the G4511 or G3501, as these support colour and black and white printing, WiFi, and copy, print and scan as standard. Each printer is designed for the demands of frequent office use, with better quality and very competitive running costs, while also being better for the environment. With enhanced mess-free ink bottles, high-yield ink tanks, and a wide array of connectivity options, Canon’s latest Megatank printers grant small business owners uncompromised quality and extensive functionality,” he concludes.
For further information, contact Keith Kenny, solutions account manager, DS Direct Channel. T: (01) 2052400. M: (086) 839 2237. F: 01 205 252
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