Epson introduces new printers in the local market

……the printers to allow users to print wirelessly

Epson has introduced into the local market a series of printers that allow users to print documents and photos directly to their Epson printers from a mobile device.

 The move is part of the company’s strategy of expanding its mobile and cloud printing services for mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets.  At the moment, all Epson Workforce Pro printers being launched globally have mobile and cloud printing capabilities.

The Epson L355 and Epson L550 being introduced in the East African market have iPrint and e-mail print functionalities as well as three in one and four in one capabilities respectively, the latter being fax, copy, scan and print. Epson iPrint is a print application for the latest iOS- and Android-based devices. By downloading the Epson iPrint application and connecting to a wi-fi-enabled printer, users can print out a wide range of contents ranging from photos and documents to recipes, coupons, and web pages.

 Email Print on the other hand is a service that allows customers to print out electronic mail and file attachments by simply sending an email from their smartphones or other mobile device to an enabled Epson printer. By using this service, people on the move can check mail on mobile devices and print out essential emails and attachments such as documents, presentations and tickets on Epson printers in their home, office, and other locations.

 At the moment, over 105 Epson-branded printer models worldwide can allow consumers to print documents from their mobile devices. The printers come with a software dubbed iPrint which makes it simple to print emails, photos, web pages, and documents directly from the latest iOS- and Android-based devices without having to connect software, drivers or cables.

Speaking during the launch of the two printers, Epson’s Regional Sales Manager for East Africa Mukesh Bector said iPrint support is an important part of the company’s commitment to make mobile printing more convenient and productive.

"Epson's widespread support of iPrint demonstrates our global leadership and commitment to providing customers with easy printing solutions that meet their evolving mobile business and personal lifestyle," said Mukesh.

"We recognized some time ago that mobile printing wasn't just a novel idea, it was a necessary requirement for both sharing memories and mobile productivity in a rapidly changing digital marketplace. As smartphone momentum continues to grow, Epson will continue to lead the development of various innovative mobile digital imaging solutions," he added.

Other Epson products in the market that support iPrint functionalities include Epson Stylus PX730WD and Epson Stylus BX635FWD.

In recent years, increasing numbers of people have used smartphones and tablets to send electronic mail, browse web pages, and create presentations and documents. According to Mukesh, it has been difficult for users to print out their work because mobile devices have not been equipped with a printer driver.

“The widespread use of these devices has also increased demand for printing services for people on the go who want to print documents when they are outside the office or the home,” he said.

Epson has also declared its commitment to supporting mobile solutions provided by other companies. By supporting these solutions, Epson hopes to provide a platform for customers to print out documents regardless of their location, and without a printer driver.

Not only do the new printers being introduced into the market offer a very low cost of ownership but they are also Epson iPrint compatible.  The revolutionary mobile application will allow Epson customers to print and scan their documents and photos using your tablet or smartphone. It also enables them to preview and print Microsoft Office documents directly from the cloud using advanced printing options and wirelessly scan and save files from a nearby Epson printer. 

Other revolutionary technologies being employed by the company include Epson Scan to Cloud, EPSON Remote Print, Apple AirPrint and Google Cloud Print. Epson Scan to Cloud allows consumers to use their printer to scan and share document or photo by emailing right from the printer. EPSON Connect-enabled printers allow users to store their emails or account information for easy access right from their printer´s control panel.

EPSON Remote Print on the other hand enables users to print to an EPSON email-enabled printer anywhere in the world right from their computer or laptop. Since Remote Print works with any Windows® software, users can streamline their productivity without worrying about formatting or fonts.

AirPrint makes it simple to print emails, photos, web pages and documents straight from an iPad or iPhone. There's no software to download, no drivers to install and no cables to connect as the Apple device automatically connects to AirPrint-enabled EPSON printers. Google Cloud Print allows for print on-the-go from a smartphone or tablet using a Gmail or Google Docs account.

Epson courts financial institutions to drive sales

Epson, a global imaging and innovation company, has introduced several banking solutions as it strives to grow its business in the region.  
 The products, which include printers, projectors and cheque scanners were unveiled at a banking forum held in Nairobi organized by Epson and one of its major distributors Mitsumi Distribution. Some of the products that were showcased at the banking forum include Epson PP-50, PLQ-22CS, PLQ 22CSM, LQ-350, LX-350 printers and TM-C3400, TM-2000MJ, DS-30, TM-T88V cheque/voucher scanners and EB-485Wi interactive projector.
 All the printers, projectors and scanners are tailored for financial institutions and feature speed, quality and reliability that banks need for fast throughput and customer satisfaction.
Speaking at the forum, Epson Regional Sales Manager for East Africa Mukesh Bector said the printers, projectors and cheque scanners feature innovative technology and functionality that will help banks to increase productivity, improve customer satisfaction and reduce costs.
“What we are offering banks are proven solutions that reduce operating costs, simplify training, and speed up transactions. We are aware that with costs, regulatory complexity and economic pressures on the rise, financial institutions are seeking ways to lower operating costs, simplify internal processes and increase customer service,” he said.
Some of the printers that were being introduced have in-built high-speed duplex colour scanner which will help banks to eliminate the risk of fake cheques by combining the high resolution and high-speed scanner with an application for verifying signatures or detecting counterfeit cheques. The printer is also able to process cheques speedily with this multi-function device that reads magnetic characters on cheques, prints, and scans both sides of a cheque simultaneously.
The company also introduced scanners which include Epson TM-S2000MJ, a compact, 2-in-1 cheque/voucher scanner and endorsement printer. The printer is designed to improve efficiency and is ideal for financial institutions, restaurants and any organization needing to scan cheques, vouchers or other cheque-sized documents.
Epson Workforce DS-30 on the other hand will enable business people such as sales forces and staff at trade shows to easily manage documents in the field.  The portable A4 scanner is the first of this new range, allowing SoHos and large enterprises’ mobile workers to simply and quickly digitize paperwork both inside and outside of the office with ease.
 The DS-30 offers first class mobility because it is one of the lightest business scanners on the market at just 325 grammes and has compact proportions.  It’s easy to take anywhere as it’s powered by USB 2.0. Similarly, the company also showcased the Epson EB-485Wi, which is an intelligent and interactive projector that allows business presenters to conveniently turn any standard whiteboard or smooth surface into an interactive presentation area.
The projector it features two digital infrared pens that allow users to write with “virtual ink” on the projected area, manipulate interactive onscreen objects and features, or use them as a computer mouse. This innovative tool delivers a cost-effective solution for presenters to easily use its interactive capabilities and eliminates the need to purchase and install cumbersome dedicated interactive whiteboards.
Since opening up regional headquarters in Nairobi, Epson has been aggressive in marketing and creating consumer awareness about its range of products. The company has not only been introducing products that are tailored towards different market segments and price points but also developing new markets. 
Currently, Epson is focusing on developing the Eastern Africa Region mainly Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania and South Sudan using Kenya as the hub. Epson is also investing heavily in research and development. At the moment, the company re-invests six percent of its annual turnover into producing innovative business solutions. The focus now is shifting towards producing products tailored towards meeting the needs of the African market which is offering huge growth potential.

 

Luminarc Unveils Nationwide Promo to Reward Customers

Leading household and kitchen utensils dealer Luminarc has announced plans to expand operations into the larger Eastern Africa region. 

The company will apart from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania be launching operations in Zambia, Rwanda, Ethiopia and South Sudan in multimillion expansion programme driven by increasing demand in the larger region.

Luminarc products are sourced from France based world leader in tableware Arc International by East African Glass Mart (EAGM) who are the authorized distributors. 

The company currently controls 65 per cent of the regional kitchenware market.

According to EAG Head of Consumer Unit Mohammed Zulfikar, the company will engaged an aggressive marketing campaign to further increase the market share.

“We plan to achieve this growth through introduction of new and innovative shapes and tableware solutions to meet the market needs,” said Mr. Zulfikar.

He said the company will also be introducing a price strategy anchored on products and solutions tailored for various market segments in its quest to tap the low-end market segment.

 Luminarc CEO Neil Ribeiro said the company has lined up a number of new products for the African market.

 The two were speaking in Nairobi during the launch of  a two months nationwide promotion to reward its customers and enhance the Luminarc  brand visibility.

The two pronged Kshs20 million promotion dubbed ‘Winda na Luminarc’ will see the company visit over 24 towns in the country in a caravan that will see customers walk away with fabulous merchandise. Customers who spend over Kshs799 on Luminarc products will be entered into a draw that could see them win a whole kitchen makeover or fridge and a cooker. One overall lucky winner will drive off with a brand new Toyota Belt.

There will also be weekly consolation prizes and gift hampers from the company.

Ribeiro said the company will use the promotion to reconnect with and reward its loyal customers who have believed in Luminarc’s quality products over the years.

“This promotion will provide us with a perfect opportunity to travel across the country, meet and greet our loyal customers while giving them a chance to win fantastic prizes. We encourage our shoppers to look out for a scratch card upon purchase of our merchandise worth Kshs799. The shopper should then scratch the card and send the secret code to 20799 to be entered into the draw. A message acknowledging the entry and total number of entries will be relayed to the customer,” said Mr. Ribeiro.

The company envisions growing its sales volumes by another 35 per cent as a result of the promotion.

 During the countrywide roadshows, the company will showcase its product range that consists of dinnerware, which has a wide variety of shapes and colors in dinner plates, soup plates and bowls. It will also be showcasing items in its drink ware category with a variety of juice glasses, whisky glasses, beer glasses, tot glasses and wineglasses. Others on display will be hot drinks selections and kitchenware storage items.

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