Business model irony: Lexmark wants to help customers reduce printing costs.Business Editors/High-Tech Writers BERLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 5, 2000 Lexmark International, Inc.,(NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange :LXK) which has become one of the world's leading information technology enterprises through its exclusive focus on products, services and solutions for global printing markets, surprised an audience of journalists today with the revelation that one of its principal goals is to help customers spend less on hardcopy output. Speaking before an international gathering of approximately 200 journalists at the "20/20: Vision on Print" press symposium symposium In ancient Greece, an aristocratic banquet at which men met to discuss philosophical and political issues and recite poetry. It began as a warrior feast. Rooms were designed specifically for the proceedings. , Nick Metcalfe, (title) of the European division of Lexmark Solutions Services, attempted to quantify Quantify - A performance analysis tool from Pure Software. the costs that companies spend on printing. Technology analyst firms Gartner Group (company) Gartner Group - One of the biggest IT industry research firms. Address: Connecticut, USA. and CAP Ventures estimate that the total cost of output, including personnel resources and document management processes, is an amount equal to eight to 15 percent of a company's revenue. Lexmark's own research estimates that an amount equal to one to three percent of revenue is spent on hardware, supplies and asset management alone. Process and operational improvements delivered by Lexmark Solutions Services can reduce those costs by at least 20 percent, meaning the average billion dollar enterprise can save nearly $4 million in printing expenses each year. "As network printers and document management software come together, companies have the opportunity to capitalize on Cap´i`tal`ize on` v. t. 1. To turn (an opportunity) to one's advantage; to take advantage of (a situation); to profit from; as, to capitalize on an opponent's mistakes s>. these assets by adapting their business processes based on improved levels of management information," said Metcalfe. "Similar to the convergence of voice and data networks, the integration of hardcopy output devices with document and network management software is driving a new and more strategic understanding of these resources." In order to address the need for intelligent output and document management solutions, Lexmark has developed technologies, consulting and outsourcing (1) Contracting with outside consultants, software houses or service bureaus to perform systems analysis, programming and datacenter operations. Contrast with insourcing. See netsourcing, ASP, SSP and facilities management. practices that minimize costs and increase efficiency. Lexmark's solutions focus on reducing output through improved document processes and deploying scalable, multifunction technology within a distributed network printing environment that decentralizes the printing process. "We believe that by understanding the clients document processes and the reason a document needs to be in hardcopy form at all, we can situate sit·u·ate tr.v. sit·u·at·ed, sit·u·at·ing, sit·u·ates 1. To place in a certain spot or position; locate. 2. To place under particular circumstances or in a given condition. adj. hardcopy output devices over the network and offer scalable document management technologies that intelligently link and manage these devices. In doing so, we create total solutions without adding unnecessary hardware, manpower or costs to a company's IT infrastructure," said Metcalfe. Metcalfe demonstrated for journalists an example of the kind of innovation that is produced by the Lexmark Solutions Services managed services An umbrella term for third-party monitoring and maintaining of computers, networks and software. The actual equipment may be inhouse or at the third-party's facilities, but the "managed" implies an ongoing effort; for example, making sure the equipment is running at a certain quality process when he unveiled a new Lexmark product, the W810Z. This multifunction device integrates the scan/print/copy/fax functions with a touch-screen command display that is so intuitive and easy to use that audience members were able to use the device to perform sophisticated functions such as scan to e-mail where hard copy is converted to electronic form, in a nearby exhibition hall with no instructions. Metcalfe said the W810Z is a customized solution that will soon be rolled out for broader distribution. The journalists in Metcalfe's audience were attendees of the fifth annual "20/20: Vision on Print" technology conference. The 20/20 conference is the world's only media symposium dedicated to the future of printing and associated technologies. This year's event included a series of presentations, panel debates and break-out sessions intended to educate and entertain journalists attending from around the world. In addition to Metcalfe, featured speakers included Lexmark's chairman and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. , Paul Curlander; the vice president of research and development for Lexmark's Consumer Printer Division, John Zbrozek; futurist/author John Naisbitt John Naisbitt (born Jan. 15, 1929; Salt Lake City, Utah) is an American author and public speaker in the area of futures studies. He is best known for authoring the international bestsellers Megatrends, which was written in 1982 and Re-inventing the Corporation. ; and British Telecom's chief technologist, Peter Cochrane For the historian of the same name, see . Peter Cochrane (born 11 July, 1946 - ) is an English futurist. He was Head of BT Research from 1993 until 1999, when he was appointed Chief Technologist. In November 2000 he retired from BT to join his own startup company - ConceptLabs. . For more information about he conference and to access speakers' presentations, visit www.lexmark.com and click on the 20/20 icon. About Lexmark Lexmark (NYSE:LXK) is a leading, global developer, manufacturer and supplier of printing solutions, including laser and inkjet printers A printer that propels droplets of ink directly onto the medium. Today, almost all inkjet printers produce color. Low-end inkjets use three ink colors (cyan, magenta and yellow), but produce a composite black that is often muddy. and associated supplies for offices and homes. Founded in 1991, Lexmark employs more than 11,000 people worldwide and markets its products and services in over 150 countries. Lexmark reported approximately $3.5 billion of revenue in 1999 and can be found on the Internet at www.lexmark.com. Lexmark, Lexmark with the diamond design and W810Z are trademarks of Lexmark International, Inc., registered in the U.S. and/or other countries. |
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