Nearly 70% of businesses are leveraging cloud print management solutions, and that number is projected to grow significantly as more organizations embrace hybrid cloud environments. As global tech analyst firm Quocirca notes, "For distributed working environments that need to be both agile and closely monitored, cloud print management makes a lot of sense."

But what if cloud print management could do even more?

 With enhancements released in early February  this year, Lexmark Cloud Services (LCS) takes this essential technology to the next level with a unified, secure and scalable platform that provides ubiquitous connectivity spanning the entire product line. This comprehensive suite streamlines print management by bringing everything under one umbrella — eliminating the need to juggle multiple vendors and disparate solutions.

LCS is built on three core components, the new Cloud Solution Centre (CSC), Cloud Fleet Management (CFM) and Cloud Print Management (CPM), each addressing a critical aspect of print management – enabling scalability of resources, from small companies to large enterprises.

 

AI-powered cloud-based tool centralizes document processing

This is where the magic happens. The Lexmark Cloud Solution Center (CSC) is a one-stop shop for document workflow nirvana, using AI to capture, process and route documents. Customers can add enhancement features like language translation, redaction and optical character recognition (OCR) within a single, intuitive platform. Unlike traditional solutions, it's easily deployed across multiple destinations.

What do these enhancements mean?

• Translation: Essential for organizations with multilingual audiences, CSC’s translation capabilities help break down language barriers and connect audiences in an instant. With a few clicks on an enabled Lexmark printer or in the online CSC portal, documents can be easily translated into dozens of languages on the fly in consistent format, streamlining communications (especially for schools and government agencies), localized marketing documents and correspondence.
• Redaction: Robust redaction capabilities help customers protect sensitive information with ease. Now, customers can redact confidential data before sharing or storing documents, ensuring compliance with regulations like GDPR and HIPAA.
• OCR:This functionality plays a vital role in an organization’s digital transformation initiative by simplifying document-centric processes and eliminating the dozens of manual tasks associated with information management. By converting scanned documents into searchable text, OCR enables users to quickly locate specific information within a large amount of data. Further, users can digitize paper-based documents and create electronic archives for simple retrieval and storage.

Finally, users can quickly route these enhanced documents to multiple destinations across the enterprise including email, direct print and print management queues, as well as cloud storage options like Microsoft SharePoint or OneDrive, Google Drive, Box and Drop Box. This final step of the one-stop solution frees time for users to complete other, more critical tasks.

Cloud-based fleet management provides next-level visibility 

With Lexmark Cloud Fleet Management (CFM), customers or partners can take command of their organization’s or their customer’s entire printer fleet, regardless of device location. CFM simplifies remote configuration, firmware updates and application deployment, ensuring consistent security and peak performance across organizations, in real-time. Plus, it integrates with Lexmark Cloud Bridge technology, empowering partners with enhanced remote support capabilities for every network situation, slashing downtime and boosting device lifespan.

 

Advanced cloud platform offers streamlined, secure device control

Replace on-site print servers with streamlined control, with the power of Lexmark Cloud Print Management (CPM). Secure print release, real-time analytics and flexible printing options put you in the driver's seat. You can save paper, printing out only what you really need, gain valuable insights into your users’ printing behavior, and have peace of mind knowing print jobs can stay within the firewall thanks to innovative hybrid technology, sending only the metadata to the cloud for analytics.

Flexible new features include:

• Offline print: This technology detects cloud connectivity issues and ensures print jobs can still be complete – even if the network is down.
• Advanced hybrid storage: Balancing cost with performance, this feature accounts for every organization’s unique requirements and allotted budget and provides ability to store print job on premise for security purposes.  

Cloud brings undeniable benefits for organizations large and small

Beyond the unique features, LCS is about embracing the power of the cloud:

• You gain the flexibility of a scalable platform alongside the cost savings of eliminating on-premises infrastructure, while having confidence in continuous access and uptime.
• As part of how LCS revolutionizes print operations, it integrates security at every level, from device management to individual print jobs. Customers can deploy security updates across their entire fleet in real-time, control access to sensitive documents, and redact confidential information with certainty.

LCS is more than just a suite of tools; it's a strategic partner for organizations looking to transform their print and document management.

Visit Lexmark.com/cloud to learn more and request a demo. The future of print is here, and it's in the cloud.

Maggie Little has been the cloud services portfolio manager for Lexmark since 2023. Previously, she worked at ACDI (PaperCut) and Xerox in a variety of roles focused on providing customers with technology that helps their organizations grow and thrive.