Canon Announces New Software Platform for Printer and MFPs

Canon U.S.A.announced the release of uniFLOW V5.3, the newest version of uniFLOW. uniFLOW is an integrated software platform for device management, secure printing, including mobile print, advanced scanning, document routing and accounting. uniFLOW V5.3 offers a variety of new features, such as enhanced scanning to cloud-based services and a new per-device scanning licensing model. In addition, uniFLOW V5.3 offers more flexibility in print infrastructure design and multivendor support to address customers with heterogeneous printer environments.

“Today’s multifunction devices have advanced to more than just a print centric device, they have evolved to be an essential element in automating and or optimizing businesses processes,” said Ron Glaz Research Director at IDC. “A key MFP enabler is the incorporation of intelligent document solution software. Canon’s uniFLOW V5.3 enhancements are very timely and relevant in supporting MFP integration within back-office and line of business workflows.”

“Improvements to uniFLOW were made to help users maximize productivity, heighten document security and provide users with the flexibility to customize the platform to meet the needs of their individual businesses,” said Junichi Yoshitake, senior vice president and general manager, Business Imaging Solutions Group, Canon U.S.A., Inc. “uniFLOW continues to play a critical role in helping customers actively manage their print environment and costs. With new scanning capabilities and licensing, uniFLOW extends support to include document capture and workflow functions, allowing customers to more holistically manage their document related activities and processes.”

The new key benefits offered by uniFLOW V5.3 include:

Advanced Scanning and uniFLOW Capture: uniFLOW V5.3 has made scanning more useful by allowing users to scan directly from MEAP-enabled imageRUNNER MFPs to an extended number of destinations, including third party cloud-based applications, such as Box.com, Dropbox, Evernote®, OneDrive, Google Drive™ as well as to document management systems and Enterprise Content Management applications. With the addition of the uniFLOW Capture feature, small businesses can also enjoy the benefits of uniFLOW scanning via a new, right-sized and simplified per-device licensing model.

uniFLOW SmartClient: This solution helps businesses to manage printer fleets with fewer servers – as few as one – and move the process, management and storage of print jobs from servers to a desktop or a Canon imageRUNNER ADVANCE device. This helps reduce print server costs and network print traffic, by allowing customers with a distributed multi-site infrastructure to print more securely and track costs without the need for a local print server in each office.

Extending the base: Document security has always been a keystone feature for uniFLOW software. This new version further extends these capabilities by providing users with the option to increase security measures across their organization with a more secure printing workflow. uniFLOW v5.3 allows users to check the status of the device and jobs upon log-out, and in the event of a device error, such as a paper jam or no paper in the tray, delete the job and notify the user thereby eliminating the potential for incomplete jobs to be output at the time of a new user login. Also with uniFLOW V5.3, security and network traffic can be improved with the built-in encryption and compression of print jobs in transit. Other improvements to the core functionality of uniFLOW include improved customization of the uniFLOW Universal Driver and Secure Print queue, allowing for user creation of new cost centers and IPv6 support.

Multi-Vendor Support: uniFLOW V5.3 introduces the uniFLOW Release Station, a device-independent touch screen with an embedded card reader that provides more secure printing across a multivendor fleet environment. This allows users to cohesively connect their print devices from different manufacturers and gives them the consistent look and feel of the Canon MEAP user interface when retrieving print jobs at any networked device. The uniFLOW Release Station will be available in the fourth quarter of 2014.
uniFLOW V5.3 is currently available through Canon Authorized Dealers and Canon Solutions America.

(Source: Canon)