In a conference call with industry analysts recently, Canon announced the release of the Canon Business Services Platform (CBSP), an online marketplace that enables authorized dealers to offer, order, manage, bill, and deliver subscription-based document and information management solutions from Canon.
“The self-service portal is designed to strengthen dealers’ solutions offerings, helping them build the future of their customers’ success,” said Hiro Imamura, Vice President and General Manager, Marketing, Business Imaging Solutions Group, Canon U.S.A., Inc. “With the ability to help channel partners manage SaaS solution sales, this platform empowers dealers with the opportunity to enhance relationships with their customers by making it simple to order subscription-based Canon solutions and to access support information, such as the overall configuration and term end-dates.”
According to Imamura, CBSP will enhance the ordering and billing process for customers and dealers alike. “Available solutions and the information necessary to place an order are located on a single landing page, which ensures that customers get their solutions sooner,” said Imamura.
The platform aims to simplify management of Canon’s subscription-based solutions at every stage of the process. “Dealers can centrally manage their customers’ subscriptions, which can include visibility into all subscriptions sold, adding and renewing subscriptions, billing information, subscription expiration, and notifications, plus control over device-license management,” said Imamura. “Licenses, along with maintenance and support can be sold and added to an account on a monthly basis and/or on a device basis.”
Likewise, billing is handled in a centralized location online. Invoices are auto-calculated and sent digitally, which means dealers will be paid faster and costs associated with paper-based billing will be eliminated. Dealers will also enjoy the flexibility afforded by CBSP.
According to the company, the initial software/services to be offered on the CBPS platform will include uniFLOW Online, Therefore Online, Advanced CLOUD Portal, and Intelligent Grading Solution. While there are no plans to offer third-party solutions via the platform at the current time, Canon officials note that it is feasible for CBSP to handle that.
“SaaS has numerous benefits to organizations including high adoption rate, lower initial costs, painless upgrades, and seamless integration,” noted Imamura. And ultimately, it is CBPS that Canon hopes will help dealers to develop long standing relationships with the customers, as well as to expand their own solutions portfolio.
