Kodak Alaris expands remote solutions with new monitoring as a service offerings

Kodak Alaris is expanding its remote service offerings with three new monitoring as a service tools that deliver cloud-based device management and optimise scanner performance

The new MPS capture agent, scanner manager and scanner finder tool from Kodak Alaris enable channel partners to deliver added customer value by allowing scanners from Kodak Alaris to be seamlessly integrated into device monitoring solutions for smarter reporting and management. By leveraging these new capabilities, Kodak Alaris partners will be able to optimise customers’ document capture infrastructures as easily as printer fleets, achieve visibility over all imaging costs, reduce the cost to provide service, and expand their business opportunities.

With the MPS Capture Agent, developers can seamlessly add scanners from Kodak Alaris to a fleet of devices a business is monitoring without needing to deploy an additional device management tool. The MPS Capture Agent integrates easily with MPS and PC management solutions, is compliant with industry-standard security requirements and provides MPS providers and end-user customers with visibility of key scanner operational data and status via existing dashboards. MPS dealers can benefit by selling dedicated scanners in addition to MFPs to give customers higher quality scans and faster throughput. Plus, they can charge per scan since scanner usage data will now be easily accessible. Customers also benefit from faster throughput, higher quality scans, greater reliability and access to the Kodak Alaris service team.

The Scanner Manager from Kodak Alaris is a smart device management dashboard designed to optimise scanner operations and manage the lifecycle of devices. This cloud-based solution improves productivity and profitability; a Kodak Alaris partner or an end-user’s IT department can directly monitor and collect scanners’ operational data, deliver usage reports (including ‘power on’ hours, scan counts, consumables and firmware or driver versions), and manage multi-variate alerts for customers’ devices. Customers that have mission critical equipment at multiple scanning locations or customers that have 20 or more scanners in a central facility can benefit from the ability to remotely access telemetry data rather than physically going to each location.

“Cloud-based service offerings like the Scanner Manager and MPS Capture Agent are essential for organisations that want to manage and track devices as part of their fleet management strategy,” said Anne Valaitis, Senior Consultant for InfoTrends’ Image Scanning Trends and Professional & Managed Print Services. “It’s important for the IT channel to understand and embrace these tools. Being able to measure and optimise utilisation makes you a better partner. There’s only upside and benefit to it.”

Kodak Alaris is offering three Scanner Manager plans in a flexible, subscription-based pricing model.

Customer access: Administrators use the Scanner Manager tool to access a Health Check Dashboard. The dashboard monitors a fleet of scanners from Kodak Alaris and displays telemetry data. Customers can access and download cloud-based dashboard data anytime, from anywhere, to view real-time status and run reports for monitored scanners. Scanners can be added or removed as required.

Usage reporting: Kodak Alaris provides one or more recipients with a standard monthly report via email. The report contains the list of monitored scanners and provides insights derived from scanner-specific rules. When triggered, these rules generate alerts that combine information with insight to maximise scanner and system performance.

Alert management:  Real-time alerts for proactive management of fleets such as multi-feed/jam reports, consumables reporting and more. Data-driven insight identifies potential productivity issues and generates proactive responses to prevent unscheduled downtime and help prevent future issues.

Kodak Alaris has also expanded its Professional Services with the launch of the Scanner Finder Tool. This standalone application can be used as part of the discovery phase of a ‘Capture System Assessment’ engagement with existing and new customers. The Scanner Finder Tool enables automatic discovery of Kodak Alaris and multi-vendor scanners on customer networks and delivers an initial inventory of a customer’s USB scanner base in minutes. It can be delivered as a chargeable Professional Service or as a complimentary service to customers purchasing the Scanner Manager tool.

“Kodak Alaris understands the needs of our partners and customers,” said Gary Chamberlain, vice president global services, Alaris division of Kodak Alaris. “We now have unique tools in the marketplace that maximise efficiency and productivity, leading to a more outcome-based model and helping customers realise the full benefits of ‘as a service’ options. MPS vendors are leaving money on the table by leaving scanners out of their offers. With the MPS Capture Agent, vendors can now include scanners in their offerings and connect them to their MPS solutions.”