Sharp Synappx Cloud Print is a cloud-based print management solution for small and medium-sized enterprises. Here, Rob Davis, Solutions & Services Business Manager at Sharp Europe, shares his thoughts on the service’s key features, benefits to end users, and what we can expect going forward.
What is Synappx Cloud Print?
Rob: Synappx Cloud Print is our next generation print management solution. It has been designed to address the requirements of SMEs workspaces, so it is easy to purchase, easy to install, and easy to maintain.
We already offer a proven on-premises Print Management Solution, Job Accounting II, which is an on premises proven management solution but after seeing strong demand for movement to the cloud, offering a cloud print management solution has become mandatory.
Synappx Cloud Print has been designed to work seamlessly with our own hardware. While there are third-party solutions providing for all manufacturers, Sharp has a deep understanding of how our MFPs work, how we can code against them, to really optimise this product at work with our own hardware.
Synappx Cloud Print makes user-onboarding easy, automatically generating welcome emails which include a PIN code so new users can start using the system straight away. Administrators can easily discover, add and remove MFPs and re-use licenses, providing flexibility and convenience.
What problem does Synappx Cloud Print look to solve?
Rob: One of our intentions with Synappx Cloud Print was to create a new ecosystem of printing related products and services. Synappx products previously have been display or meeting oriented, so we really wanted to create an ecosystem of products to support our MFP hardware.
Print hardware in recent years has become somewhat commoditised to an extent that it is becoming harder to have a clear selling point. Synappx Cloud Print allows us to really add unique Sharp value to our hardware offering, using a closely integrated software solution.
Over time, we're planning to build out the ecosystem. So while printing is the first, we're looking at other productivity solutions that are closely aligned, such as scanning, capture and digital workflows.
How does Synappx Cloud Print secure sensitive data?
Rob: Synappx Cloud Print is secure by design. Sharp has implemented a Zero Trust Design, which is a security framework that requires all users, whether in or outside the SME’s network, to be authenticated, authorised, and continuously validated for security compatibility before being granted access to applications or data. It comes with full integration with Microsoft 365 and Google Workspaces and tools to quickly import users ensure fast and convenient deployment.
There are several components that comprise this approach, First, all authentication and identity management is handled through an Active Directory, which essentially means the user is authenticating to the solution using their network assigned authentication. Identity Management is in the Cloud and today Synappx Cloud Print is connected with EntraID (previously Azure AD) and Google Workspace AD, which are inherently secure. In the near future, we are looking to be integrated with other Identity Management in the Cloud.
Secondly, only metadata concerning the print job is sent to the cloud. This means, if a user is standing on a train and releases a document for print, all they are doing is sending an instruction to the cloud saying it has released this print. The document to be printed never leaves the company network. This makes it incredibly secure.
The third and final step is at the device itself, which we think is an incredibly important step and there are several options to help security. Secure Print Release means that a user must authenticate themselves at the device, whether via password, pin number, or token. Additionally, this is supported by an array of administrator controls that can define levels of security, such as adding two-factor authentication, for example.
How can Synappx Cloud Print help SMEs reduce unnecessary cost and waste?
Rob: Print management solutions at their core are about saving a business money, while at the same time reducing waste. With Synappx Cloud Print this can be handled in several ways. Being a subscription model helps organisations, especially smaller SMEs, budget smarter, while being a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution means there are no upfront costs on the infrastructure side of the solution.
This means Sharp customers can enjoy savings as they pay for the product rather than having to pay upfront and then try to figure out if they are going to save money moving forward. Furthermore, it gives SMEs the opportunity to scale up or scale down their requirements without penalty.
The fact that there is no hardware infrastructure to pay for is a saving and because everything is outsourced to Sharp there is very little requirement for internal IT teams to get involved. We provide everything as a fully inclusive service subscription.
We also have features in the product which aim to encourage sustainable printing using visual prompts and cues. For example, if a user at a Sharp MFP decides to switch to duplex printing a small green leaf highlights that the decision is benefiting the environment.
Furthermore, it informs the user every time they go to the MFP how many sheets of paper they have saved over the course of a year. This is powered by an algorithm that calculates how a user ranks on their behaviour in terms of how many sheets of paper they have saved as an individual, and how they compare against their company. It is also possible to see how users compare with others in the Synappx Cloud Print install base across Europe.
What’s next for Sharp Synappx Cloud Print?
Rob: At Sharp, innovation is a core strength and Synappx Cloud Print is an important step forward in demonstrating our ongoing commitment to innovation and software development surrounding our devices.
As a company, we are actively making our hardware endpoints as productive and as useful as possible in the office environment. Our print management solutions are designed to become ever-more feature rich. For example, as we begin to introduce scanning and workflow tools into the service, users will be able to see how we’re making their devices more relevant.
The nature of how we work in the office is changing, maybe less printing and more use of digital, and Synappx Cloud Print will evolve to match those changes, making our MFPs productive and much more convenient.
To find out more about Synappx Cloud Print, Get In Touch.
