Who Needs a Phone Anyway? Print Documents Anytime, Anywhere from Google Docs or The Cloud

Some of the hottest office technologies we're really excited about now - Part 2

Imagine you're traveling to Germany for an important client meeting. You scan your presentation from your copier to Google Docs or "The Cloud" and hop on the plane. When you arrive in Germany, your documents are available with Internet access to print and distribute. No PC or laptop is required!

With Cloud Portal software for Canon equipment, ussers can easily scan hard-copy documents to Google Docs or The Cloud while, at the same time, printing documents already stored there. Cloud Portal software is a server-less, driver-less solution designed for companies already using -- or considering using -- Microsoft SharePoint Online and Google Docs cloud services. This unique solution enables end-users to access their cloud content easily, quickly and securely.

Benefits:

• Cloud services connectivity right from your copier
  


• Scan to or print directly from Google Docs or The Cloud
  


• No servers, drivers or accessories are required
  


• Access and manage the cloud content as you would from your desktop PC/laptop

Download a copy of our "Hottest Office Technologies" white paper for more information on this and other exciting technologies.

Mobile Magic 101: Printing From Your Smartphone & iPad

Office technology has gone way cool. Print documents from your Smartphone & iPad. Scan documents to The Cloud and print them half way around the world. Simply point and click for key-free data entry. Integrating all your office technologies to work together and build synergies is the goal.

Some of the hottest office technologies we're really excited about now - Part 1:

Mobile Magic 101: Printing From Your Smartphone & iPad
Imagine you're traveling to San Francisco for a company-wide sales meeting. You scan your division sales reports from your copier to your Smartphone or iPad and hop on the plane. When you arrive at headquarters, you print out your documents directly from their copier. No USB drive to lose, no paper documents to carry!

The demand for mobile users to be able to print directly from their devices is on the rise. Applications such as Page Scope Mobile from Konica Minolta and Capture 2 Go from Kyocera allow you to scan documents on office copiers for review and distribution on Smartphones, iPads, and tablets. In addition, once scanned into your Smartphone, the documents can be printed on any networked device from the same manufacturer for increased flexibility and mobility. It's now easy for you to browse, read and make prints of documents, emails and photos directly from your Smartphone.

Benefits:

• Mobile printing from your Smartphone, iPad & tablet
  



• Print, scan and then keep track of all your important documents and photos
  



• Print PDF, TIFF, PNG. BMP and GIF files
  



• Access business documents anytime, anywhere

Download our free "The Hottest Office Technologies to Excite You Now..." white paper.

Next up: Who Needs a Phone Anyway? Print Documents Anytime, Anywhere From Google Docs or The Cloud

Cobb & Canon -- Get the Facts!

If you love your Canon, make sure you’re partnering with an authorized Canon dealer like Cobb Technologies.

PROBLEM: Servicing Your Current Canon Equipment
You have a Canon device and are experiencing issues getting parts from your current service provider because they are no longer an authorized Canon dealer and have lost their ability to buy genuine Canon parts quickly and efficiently to meet your needs.

SOLUTION: Partnering with Cobb & Canon
Cobb Technologies is an authorized Canon sales and service dealer. Partnering with Cobb to service your Canon equipment gives you the assurance of:

• Advanced technical support and field services.
• Direct dealer access to Canon’s service and customer relations personnel.
• The most recent product updates and upgrades to Canon’s imaging hardware lineup.
• The use of genuine Canon parts.
• Locally-owned and operated since 1990 which means that you get fast, consistent, local response to your issues and concerns.

Contact Cobb Technologies to see if you are eligible for Cobb to pick up the service on your Canon equipment. You should demand only genuine Canon parts and supplies to guarantee maximum performance and warranty assurance of your equipment.

Earn an A+ by Implementing a Managed Print Services Program at Your School

We have all heard the news; under mounting financial pressure, state and local governments are cutting budgets and education is a large focus of these budget cuts. So what can school boards do to minimize the financial implications without sacrificing the education of the students? A logical first step is to cut operational costs.

Educational institutions are being encouraged to rebuild, innovate and improve the infrastructure of their operational systems. A Managed Print Service (MPS) Program can help manage costs, provide strategic control points, and consequently address growing budget concerns. A comprehensive site assessment, the first step in implementing an MPS program, can assist in better understanding and even uncovering unknown issues that could lead to significant cost saving opportunities for a school or district, such as unnecessary or under-utilized stand alone devices, inefficient large central production departments, and expensive, multiple current vendor contracts.

Educational institutions which migrate to an MPS program enjoy many Hard and Soft Cost benefits:

Hard Cost Benefits
Standardization of devices to simplify workflow and user interaction
Reduced energy costs and environmental impact by replacing older devices with newer energy-efficient devices
Less required maintenance due to higher reliability
Just-in-time supply replenishment for reduced inventory issues

Soft Cost Benefits
Reduced administrative costs for service and supplies
Improved document workflow
Simplified training and support
Department accountability by utilizing account codes or network credentials for access

Earn an A+ this year by implementing a Managed Print Services Program to save time, money and staff involvement at your school.

It's Hot Outside! What's Hot inside the office?

It's summer and it's hot outside. Want to know what's hot inside the office as well? You've heard of "Searchable PDF," right? Well, let me tell you what it is and why it's HOT!

Scanned paper documents are stored in an image (rather than text) format. PDF (Portable Document Format) is a universal file format for document exchange that preserves all the fonts, formatting, colors, and graphics of any source document (whether it's on paper or from the Web or other electronic sources). Preservation is faithful regardless of the application and platform used to create or view the material. PDF files can be shared, viewed, navigated, and printed on a broad range of operating systems by anyone using free Adobe Acrobat Reader or other software.

With scanning software, volumes of legacy paper documents may be converted to PDF so you can search, annotate, publish, and archive all of your information in a digital environment. There are different types of PDF for use when scanning paper-based documents but let's concentrate on "PDF Searchable."

PDF Searchable Image is a PDF image-only document with the addition of a text layer beneath the image. This approach retains the look of the original page while enabling text searchability. PDF Searchable Image files contain two layers: a bitmapped (image) layer and a hidden text layer. The bitmapped layer maintains the visual representation of the orginial document. The text layer contains the Optical Character Recognition (OCR) version so you can search for any word on any page. That is hot!

The OCR process required to create PDF Searchable Image typically provides text accuracy of 97 to 99 percent. That means that Searchable PDF technology enables you to find a single word instantly that may be hidden inside a 100-page PDF document. Very hot!

Cobb Opens Second Tidewater Office in Virginia Beach

Cobb Technologies, Virginia’s leading independent office technology dealer, has opened a new office in Virginia Beach. The new office, which opened in late May 2011, is located at 4646 Princess Anne Road, Suite 105. The 1800 sq. ft. office and showroom is part of the Ogden Centre business complex.

Cobb Technologies has a second office in the Tidewater area located in Newport News.

Cobb Technologies is the Tidewater area’s leading provider of Canon, Konica Minolta and Kyocera copiers, printers, multifunctional devices, scanning technology, and document and managed print services for businesses, government, and educational and non-profit organizations. The company’s offices in Virginia Beach and Newport News are managed by Kevin Oberman, Tidewater Regional Sales Manager. Cobb has five account executives and nine service technicians covering the entire Tidewater area and locally warehouses equipment parts and supplies at its Newport News location for faster service.

Cobb Technologies has been serving the document solutions needs of Virginia businesses since 1990. Cobb is headquartered in Richmond and has seven offices throughout Virginia.

I Love My Store-Bought Copier But...

How do you know when it’s a good decision to upgrade from a store-bought copier to something bigger?

Perhaps you’ve been to Office Max, Staples or Office Depot and bought a $200 super duper copier that prints and scans and sometimes even faxes. You set it up in your small office and you’re printing and copying in no time like a pro. Scanning? Well, that takes a little more work but you figure it out. Faxing? Many people still use it, so you’re dialed into that too. You’re all ready to get some ink on paper!

Business is booming. You’re printing all those reports and proposals. You’re buying copy paper by the ream and there’s no end to this joy. But then something strange happens. You find yourself going back to Office Max, Staples or Office Depot to buy more printer ink. You just went two weeks ago and you need to head out again! What is going on? Why does this thing eat ink like a great white shark devours chum in the water?

Your business continues to grow. Deadlines get tighter for all those reports, proposals and letters that need to be printed. You’re pushed for time. Man, this store-bought copier is all of a sudden really slow. And yes, it’s time to head out for some more printer ink. Sound familiar?

So when is it time to move up to a commercial-level copier?

When you find yourself spending over $150 a month on ink it’s time to think about upgrading. Why? Truth is the commercial models don’t use ink, they use toner. Toner is 55% less expensive than ink and still produces great color. You can lease a pretty fast commercial level copier for about $150 a month. Sometimes you can get the business copier for less than $200 a month, including a large number of images (prints, copies) per month and all the toner you need. You even get unlimited onsite service from the copier company at no charge. One last benefit – it’s faster than your desktop copier.

So in summary, keep an eye on how much you spend on ink for your desktop copier. We all want to ignore that cost, but it’s to your benefit to look at it carefully. Upgrading to a business-sized copier could save you money and it will certainly save you time. Your business is growing; let your copier grow with you!

Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami Disrupt Parts & Supply Orders

Important Information from Cobb Regarding Potential Inventory Disruptions Due to Japanese Earthquake & Tsunami

Cobb Technologies has received alerts from our manufacturing partners that due to the recent earthquake and tsunami which devastated Japan, a strong potential exists for inventory issues with supplies and parts for office technology equipment.

The natural disaster in Japan has disrupted electrical power, destroyed manufacturing plants, and temporarily halted shipping in to and out of much of Japan. This could impact Cobb Technologies’ ability to obtain certain equipment parts and supplies in the short term.

Cobb Technologies is working proactively to counteract the effects of these disruptions for our customers. We have ordered additional parts and supplies, where possible, to stock in our local warehouses here in Virginia. In addition, we are in constant contact with our manufacturing partners to monitor their ongoing progress in resuming Japanese manufacturing operations.

Cobb will keep you informed of further progress on this issue as the need arises. The Japanese government, people, and businesses are working frantically to rebuild their devastated country. Cobb Technologies expresses deep sorrow for the tremendous loss of life and devastation experienced by the Japanese people. Thank you for your continued support of Cobb Technologies and your good wishes for the people of Japan.

Cobb Technologies: Homegrown Solutions -- Cobb Technologies was featured in a wonderful write up in the March 2011 issue of the Oyster Pointer Newspaper, which covers the Tidewater area of Virginia. The article said Cobb "has grown into a leader in the document solutions industry while remaining a privately-owned company since its founding." The article goes on to say that Cobb's team has "transformed the copier industry in Virginia with innovative programs and services that allow Cobb to customize [document] solutions for the unique needs of each business." The article points out that Cobb has a "multifaceted approach" to document solutions, partnering with clients and remaining "accessible to ensure fast, flexible decisions to meet each customer's unique needs."

The article goes on to say that Cobb's full sales and service office in Newport News includes an equipment showroom and warehouse for parts and supplies. Quoting Cobb's regional sales manager, Kevin Oberman, the article points out that Cobb Technologies continues to adhere to the values that have driven its ongoing success. "What's important to Cobb is strength of characer, community support, customer service and attitude," explained Oberman. "A can-do attitude is important." Cobb has offices in Newport News, Richmond, Roanoke, Lynchburg, Blacksburg, and Charlottesville, and is opening a seventh office soon in Virginia Beach.

Read the full Oyster Pointer Newspaper article.

A Cure for the #1 Frustration in Office Technology!

Workers everywhere say that their #1 frustration with office technology is something like this:

“How can I automate copier meter reads, service calls and supply ordering?”

You know the drill: It’s time to let your copier provider know your copier’s meter read. The provider needs the number of clicks in order to bill you properly, right? Well, it can be a real pain to go to the copier, somehow figure out how to get a meter read, and then either call your provider or fax that meter read to them.

Well, many office technology dealers offer a way to take that burden off your shoulders, providing a FREE and safe way to collect your meter readings automatically. You don’t have to do a thing. Special software sends a “meter read agent” out to your copier, collects the meter read in the background, and sends it electronically back to your provider. Cool, huh? Plus, it virtually eliminates billing errors.

Then there’s the dreaded service call. Your printer or copier is not functioning properly. You’re in a panic. That presentation for a client must be printed or copied right away! What if you could go to your provider’s web site, log in to a secure area just for your account, and enter a service call request with an instant message directly to your provider? And then get an IM right back saying the call is placed and a repair technician is on the way? Cool? Yes, and it’s another great service offered by many of today’s advanced office technology dealers.

Finally, how about the process of supply ordering? You know….toner, developer, printer ink. Have you ever run out of toner or ink right in the middle of trying to print a presentation or mission critical report? We all have. What can be done to alleviate that?

The same technology that sends the “meter agent” out to your printer can send a “supplies agent” out electronically also. The little electronic agent finds your printer, scans all the supplies electronically, and sends a message back to your printer provider alerting them to your current supply needs. Your provider sends the toner, developer or printer ink right out to you! Amazing? You bet, and what a stress reliever for you and your office.

So, make sure your local copier/printer providers offers these cool and practical technologies. Automating meter reads, service calls and supply ordering can make a real difference in how your business runs. We’re all looking for ways to reduce stress in the office; this is one easy way to accomplish just that!

Stop Print Waste Now

You can save your company serious money with one simple decision -- implementing a Cost Recovery Solution.

Cost Recovery solutions are a single, all-encompassing answer to print waste -- a problem that can add major costs to any business' overhead. Is your recycle bin overflowing with single-side color prints? Do unclaimed print jobs pile up? Do your employees print documents they shouldn't? Cost Recovery solutions are the answer to all these challenges and more.

• Eliminate Unnecessary Printing by tracking individual users, setting personal print budgets and establishing workflows that discourage wasteful printing. Ensure that the documents your employees print are needed.
  
  
• Manage Output by user, department or client, allowing you to attribute billable costs to clients and keep tabs on your overall use.


• Evaluate Usage by your employees, so you know who printed what, when and why. Cost Recovery solutions provide a comprehensive view of your document output, giving you the tools to combat waste.


• Control Costs by changing employee behavior, billing clients for account-related print costs, routing print jobs to the most efficient printers, and gaining a full understanding of document output.

Cost Recovery Solutions can maximize the efficiency of your printing. Think of them as "your bottom line's new best friend."