Software offers web-to-print solution.
Press Release Summary:
Compatible with Ricoh's color and black and white multifunction products, EFI Digital StoreFront(TM) v3.0 provides 24/7 access to print shop services. Customized print products or variable data print template-driven documents can be hosted on DSF, allowing customers to add personal touches to standard formats. Integrated XMPie and FusionPro enable MFP to produce single record products such as business cards and personalized 1:1 products such as direct mail campaign materials.
Original Press Release:
Ricoh Debuts New EFI Digital Storefront
Web-to-Print Platform Provides Customers with 24/7 Access to Printing Services
BOSTON, April 17 /-- Ricoh Americas Corporation, the leader in document and printing solutions, and EFI (NASDAQ:EFII), the world leader in color digital print servers, superwide format printers and inks, and print management solutions, today introduced Version 3.0 of EFI Digital StoreFront(TM) (DSF), the intuitive and powerful Web-to-Print solution. Compatible with Ricoh's high-volume color and black and white multifunction products (MFPs), DSF provides customers with around-the-clock access to print shop services, with a unique visual and customizable shopping experience. DSF increases the profitability and efficiency of print shop services by enabling printers to meet customers' diverse print needs and create a streamlined production workflow.
Version 3.0 of DSF is on display at On Demand, through April 19th at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, in Ricoh's booth #619. Developed with input from hundreds of EFI customers, this latest version of DSF encompasses a completely redesigned and highly customizable user interface, easier and faster web-based administration, new variable data print (VDP) choices, and hundreds of new features across the entire system.
In today's fast-paced business environment, it is increasingly important for print shops to create full-service solutions for clients that operate on a 24/7 schedule. As such, DSF offers several capabilities to make ordering, monitoring and paying for print services easier. With DSF, customers need only to submit information that pertains to their specific print job. These instructions are delivered between sender and recipient via a structured, electronic workflow that moves information easily from customers' desktops to production and business units. DSF also delivers real-time visibility into the printer's manufacturing process that enables clients to see the status of their print job at any interval. Furthermore, to make purchasing even easier, DSF allows customers and service providers to customize payment options. No matter if the client is paying with a credit card, cost center or cash, DSF collects billing information before the print job enters production workflow, therefore minimizing lost revenue and time.
In addition to its intuitive self-service web storefront, DSF also supports value-add print products to help print shops cater to the individual needs of each client. Customized print products or variable data print (VDP) template-driven documents can be hosted on DSF, allowing customers to add personal touches to standard formats for unique print products. DSF integrates two powerful and popular VDP offerings -- XMPie and FusionPro -- enabling the MFP to produce both single record products such as business cards and personalized 1:1 products such as direct mail campaign materials.
DSF offers several solutions to simplify the print process from idea to end product. An intuitive on-ramp provides easy access to DSF from clients' desktops, and DSF seamlessly integrates with other EFI products. Additionally, EFI PrintMessenger(TM) enables users to quickly and fluidly transfer content from their desktop to the Ricoh MFP, bypassing bulky attachments, outdated software applications or slow networks -- all scenarios where efficiency is reduced and cost is incurred. Instead, users can "print" to DSF, which automatically converts documents to a PDF workflow. Print shops receive clients' projects in a clean, organized copy with fonts, images and graphics intact. PrintMessenger comes standard on all DSF platforms.
DSF offers direct integration with the new MicroPress 7.5, a unique raster-based workflow solution that is also on display in Ricoh's booth. MicroPress 7.5 is compatible with ColorWise(r) Pro Tools, EFI's popular color print production management suite, and Spot-On, a feature that provides the ability to measure and manage spot colors. Production speed for both black & white and color is optimized via several MicroPress functions, and particularly because MicroPress minimizes the need for re-RIPing in complex production, including Make-ready. With MicroPress, print service providers have an unprecedented workflow two-punch power -- top speed and accurate, high-quality color.
To learn more about Ricoh's full line of products, please visit www.ricoh-usa.com.
About Ricoh Americas Corporation
Ricoh Americas Corporation, headquartered in West Caldwell, N.J., is a subsidiary of Ricoh Company Ltd., the 71-year-old leading supplier of office automation equipment and electronics, with fiscal year 2005 sales in excess of $17 billion, a 5.6 percent increase over the previous year.
Ricoh Americas Corporation is a leading provider of document solutions. Ricoh's fully integrated hardware and software products help businesses share information efficiently and effectively by enabling customers to control the input, management and output of documents. Ricoh's line of document management devices include, color and black & white digital imaging systems, facsimile products, printers, scanners, digital duplicators and wide format engineering systems. Additionally, Ricoh offers a wide variety of document and printing solutions directly and through strategic alliances enhancing office productivity and document workflow. Ricoh's document management software enhances workgroup collaboration and offers secure storage, retrieval and sharing of critical information.
Ricoh Americas Corporation directly or through its subsidiaries markets and distributes products in North, Central and South America. For fiscal year 2005, Ricoh Corporation sales exceeded $3 billion, an increase of 8.1 percent over the previous year.
Information about Ricoh's complete range of products and services can be accessed on the World Wide Web at www.ricoh-usa.com.
About EFI
EFI (www.efi.com) is the world leader in color digital print servers, superwide format printers and inks, and commercial and enterprise print management solutions. EFI's award-winning solutions, integrated from creation to print, deliver increased performance, cost savings and productivity. The company's robust product portfolio includes Fiery(R) digital color print servers; VUTEk superwide digital inkjet printers, UV and solvent inks; industrial inkjet printing systems; print production workflow and management information software; and corporate printing solutions. EFI maintains 23 offices worldwide.
All referenced product names are the trademarks of their respective companies.
Ricoh Web Site: www.ricoh-usa.com
CONTACT: Russell Marchetta, of Ricoh Americas Corporation, +1-973-882- 2075, russell.marchetta@ricoh-usa.com
