Built on advanced technology, Panasonic`s systems products provide businesses with functional solutions that enhance productivity and drive-out costs, together enabling greater efficiency and improved profitability. So says Jan Holtzhausen, Managing Director: Panasonic Systems Company, who explains the benefits to PanaNews as follows.
In a nutshell, how do Panasonic systems products add value to business?
The philosophy behind all Panasonic products is to add value by enabling people to operate more efficiently anytime, anywhere. Our system products achieve this by leveraging the IT platform, which is virtually ubiquitous, as the pivot-point of corporate productivity. By harnessing the connectivity advantages of digital networking and the communication capacity of Internet protocols ("IP"), our products enable smoother and quicker workflow both within a local environment and further afield.
Do all Panasonic systems products offer these advantages?
Broadly speaking, yes they do. However, the advantages offered by the various categories of product - which include copiers, fax machines, PBX`s and telephones, scanners, printers, projectors, Panaboards, and closed circuit video equipment ("CCVE") - varies in extent.
Which category has the potential to add the most value?
Our WORKiO range of Digital Multifunctional Products ("MFPs") offer incredible value, especially the top-end models which offer high-speed copying plus built-in network printing and document management capability, plus the option of network scanning. Linked to the local area or corporate backbone network, these machines are capable of handling all the scanning, copying, printing, faxing and e-mailing requirements in the office. For example, you can use a WORKiO machine to scan documents to the PC platform, the server or to send as e-mail. Once captured, the document can be managed efficiently utilising one or more of the many output options, such as network fax, fax to e-mail, network printing and archiving for easy retrieval. You can also configure the WORKiO as a network printer, accessible directly from the PC platform. As it is, the status of the WORKiO MFP can be monitored from any PC on the network as well as remotely by field service agents - the latter allowing remote diagnostics and ensuring optimum performance at all times. What`s more, WORKiO machines on the network can be operated in tandem, giving you far greater simultaneous copying and printing capacity.
What about Panasonic`s other office automation products?
Panasonic has a selection of advanced laser fax machines that offer business-quality high-speed scanning and Super G3 transmission rates that are capable of operating within a network environment. Connected to a PC, the units transform into multifunctional machines with diverse document processing capabilities such as scanning paper documents into PC image data for storage on your computer (scan-to-file) or attachment to e-mail (scan-to-e-mail); and high-quality laser printing. You can also send a fax directly from your PC without having to print it out - either to another fax machine or to an e-mail address.
Then there are the Panasonic high-speed simplex and duplex document scanners, which provide a powerful solution for both entry-level and high-end storage and archiving applications. Banks, government offices, hospital, insurance companies and others utilise these machines as desktop scan stations or workgroup process stations which are linked to a central server to facilitate distributed processing capabilities. In fact, the document management, form processing and knowledge/content management functions facilitated by the top-end Panasonic scanners have resulted in several South African government tenders being awarded to the brand.
Panasonic also has WORKiO-branded networkable colour and monochrome laser printers with built-in duplex printing that deliver at high-speed while maintaining an economical cost-per-page. Compatible with both PC and Macintosh platforms, these machines support PCL 6 Emulation and Adobe PostScript(r) and can be used in various network environments either by single- or workgroup users. Remote users can also access these printers by sending print jobs directly from their computer to the printer using the unit`s e-mail print feature. What`s more, the IPP compatibility of printers allow you to control them remotely using a standard web browser to access the printer at its IP address - a definite time- and resource-saving bonus for network administrators.
You listed projectors and Panaboards among the Panasonic system products that add value to today`s businesses.
How do these presentation tools streamline workflow?
Panasonic`s Interactive Panaboard is the most technologically advanced product of its kind. Positioned as an "all-in-one print board solution" the unit has full integration capability. This means that the unit can be linked seamlessly to your PC while enabling simultaneous projection of your presentations at locations across the globe. Material presented on the unit can be printed directly from the screen or scanned to your PC for further dissemination through the network. This functionality makes the Interactive Panaboard ideal for a wide range of applications - from training to global teleconferencing and brainstorming.
The range of Panasonic wireless projectors gives users a powerful platform for projecting presentations prepared on their PC - either directly or by using the PC to retrieve the presentation file from the network. Either way, network access to the projector is gained via the projector`s IP address, with usage of the unit being password protected. Alternatively, you can transfer your presentation to the printer using Secure Digital ("SD") Memory Card technology, enabling a PC-free presentation.
How do Panasonic`s telecommunications systems enhance operating efficiency in the business environment?
Over the years Panasonic has set world trends with its sophisticated digital telephone systems. The super-hybrid technology of our PBX systems allows proprietary digital and analogue telephones, conventional single-line fax machines, modems, cordless `phones and answering machines to be accommodated simultaneously. By combining PBX reliability with IP technology, these systems are integrated seamlessly with the PC platform through USB and advanced messaging solutions. This enables the delivery of voice over existing datalink infrastructures in the business environment ("VoIP") and the creation of virtual private networks.
The incorporation of computer telephone integration ("CTI") technology into our systems offering enables the delivery of comprehensive end-to-end telecommunications solutions that include features such as call centre and hotel functions, multi-functional messaging, networking and DECT mobility. Linkage to the network (whether LAN or WAN) also enables networked telephone management and remote diagnostics for identifying and rectifying system errors. The net result is more efficient communication between the organisation and its audiences (both internal and external).
There`s a lot of talk about the value of networked security systems. What does this mean?
Panasonic has been at the forefront of CCVE for in excess of 40 years and is dedicated to making surveillance systems work in the real world. Today, this demands connectivity to the information technology network such that security cameras can be accessed and controlled remotely, including viewing of the video images captured on the PC platform. Panasonic has fulfilled this mandate by developing a variety of Ethernet networkable conventional and high-speed dome models in colour, monochrome and combined colour/monochrome variants (all of which can also be interfaced with conventional monitoring systems using coaxial cable); as well as advanced server software for video storage and distribution purposes.
All you need do to monitor images or control networked Panasonic surveillance cameras from anywhere in the world is use a standard web browser to access the unit via its IP address (provided you have password security clearance). What`s more, multiple users can view images, control the cameras and playback footage remotely - which means that you can monitor the office from home and vice versa.
Certain models can also be configured to send an e-mail or SMS when an alarm is triggered, simultaneously prompting image recording. In addition, recorded data can be archived for review later.
The net result of this functionality is global accessibility to live video, real-time - giving users the opportunity to be pro-active in instituting remedial actions when necessary.
Share
Editorial contacts