The COVID-19 pandemic has put the need for solutions that support information access, provide seamless collaboration, deliver workflow productivity, and promote cost efficiency in stark relief. Moreover, the solutions must account for the needs of a workforce that is (most likely) split between the home and office. Document imaging software and services can address this constellation of challenges, and our annual study of the offerings from the leading OEMs shows how each is serving this market.
For this study, Keypoint Intelligence’s experienced analysts considered the imaging software each leading OEM officially sells and supports via its direct and independent sales channels. The vendor’s own products and those from partner ISVs are considered, and the portfolio is judged on the breadth and depth of the offerings. For the breadth aspect, analysts consider how complete each vendor’s line is across the categories of software Keypoint Intelligence covers in its bliQ Solutions Center service: MFP Apps & Connectors; Capture & Workflow; Document Management/ECM; Fleet Management & MPS Tools; Output Management; as well as security, OCR, fax servers, vertical-market solutions, etc. Another consideration is the variety of offerings in each of those categories to suit the needs of different-sized organizations.
The study also unveiled trends in the overall document imaging solutions market. The top development this year (not surprisingly) is that OEMs have shifted their document imaging solutions strategies to address the “new normal” of office/remote/hybrid workforces, largely by embracing cloud solutions that are accessible from anywhere. Our October 2020 survey of IT decision makers foretold this trend, with 78% of respondents indicating that the pandemic would increase the share of their organization’s office workers who would be working from home at least semi-permanently.
| Please indicate if the pandemic will increase the share of your knowledge workers or office workers who will be working from home at least semi-permanently. |
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| Source: IT Decision Maker Office Survey – US (Keypoint Intelligence, November 2020) |
Outside of any pandemic-related investments, companies are continuing their digital transformation journeys—the first step of which is transferring paper files into a digital format and removing hardcopy from certain business processes. Our study showed that the leading OEMs are well-equipped to help their customers embrace digital transformation, with each offering a strong portfolio when it comes to content digitization, management, and collaboration.
Xerox (recipient of our 2022 Document Imaging Software Line of the Year award) had the strongest overall showing in this study and, by our count, boasts the widest portfolio of document imaging solutions among all printer/MFP OEMs. The company and its developer partners have continued the expansion of a robust portfolio of MFP apps—especially ones targeted at key vertical markets, such as healthcare, education, and retail—with more than 130 apps available. Notably, the app portfolio is supported on a wide range of Xerox A3 and A4 hardware, which means home-based workers outfitted with the company’s VersaLink MFPs can have access to the same time-saving workflows as their office colleagues.
Other standouts in the study included Canon, HP, Konica Minolta, Lexmark, and Ricoh. Be sure to check out the entire Document Solutions Market Insights analysis for a detailed look at these leaders and the trends shaping the document imaging solutions landscape.
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