And no, it's not your workers' Smartphones

When you think about potential warehouse safety and security risks, here’s what a top ten list would look like:

1. Improper lifting of heavy items
2. Heavy items improperly stored overhead
3. Accidents involving heavy equipment or production line equipment
4. Potential exposure to hazardous materials due to improper storage or handling
5. Insufficient training on safety and security
6. Inventory theft
7. Workers’ use of unsecured personal technology to access business systems and sensitive info
8. Issuing workers handheld devices not suitable for use in all warehouse environments
9. Access of business systems by unauthorized parties
10. Workers or unauthorized people accessing restricted or unsafe areas

And when you name the potential countermeasures you could implement to mitigate these risks, the top recommendations may include these:

1. Define and enforce strict material handling procedures
2. Define and enforce strict equipment operation and maintenance guidelines
3. Create a detailed safety plan and enforce key requirements such as scheduled breaks, etc.
4. Conduct safety training for all new employees and for all employees when procedures change
5. Only allow the use of enterprise mobile devices within your operating environment
6. Only use mobile devices certified safe to use in hazardous locations and harsh environments
7. Limit or completely restrict personal technology use within the warehouse or the loading dock
8. Require workers to use company-issued devices to complete maintenance and safety checklists
9. Instruct workers to use company-issued devices to communicate, collaborate and call for help
10. Invest in enterprise-grade IT security tools to lockdown business systems and devices
11. Implement active locationing technologies to increase visibility into equipment traffic patterns
12. Implement ID badges that can serve as electronic timecards and ensure authorized access

If you’re responsible for manufacturing, storing or distributing time- or temperature-sensitive items such as food, beverages, vaccines or pharmaceuticals, then you may also utilize sensor-based, Internet of Things (IoT) and blockchain technologies to help monitor product quality and ensure compliance with safety requirements as such inventory moves through the supply chain.

In other words, there are numerous technologies that can help to improve safety and security within the warehouse.

However, one technology that can be overlooked as a safety and security tool is your printer. Well, two printers specifically: your card printer and label printer.

Smart Cards (and Card Printers) Help to Improve Worker Safety and Data Security

Controlling access to your facility is the first step to keeping workers and data physically safe. In fact, we’re seeing more and more warehouses transition to smart card-style access cards, similar to what you may see at a secure government facility – and for good reason.

Dozens, if not hundreds or thousands, of people are coming in and out of your warehouse all day long: shift workers, seasonal workers, transporters, inspectors, customers, supply chain partners and many others. It’s not reasonable to expect a gate guard to recognize every face, and not every warehouse has security officers and video cameras at all entry points or covering every square inch of its facility. On top of that, you may have restricted access areas within your four walls that require additional security clearances, such as areas where expensive equipment, goods, tools or hazardous materials are stored.

Implementing a highly secure, card-based access control system can be very valuable in all these cases. However, the best way to prevent access by unauthorized parties is to produce highly secure access cards that sync with back-end security clearance systems and are difficult to reproduce. (Yes, even warehouses need to worry about fake IDs.)

That means that you need a very specific type of PVC or smart card technology and, more importantly, you need a very specific type of card printer.

Your printer has to be capable of producing smart cards featuring highly detailed images with rich colors, crisp barcodes and other smart security features that are critical to facilitating fast and accurate ID and access verification. The last thing you want is an ambiguous photo that could make it challenging to spot an impersonator with a stolen badge.

I recommend looking for an enterprise-grade card printer that may also be used to print cards for other purposes, such as forklift training verification, time clock systems and more. Beyond offering edge-to-edge printing customization options, these types of card printers feature several integrated encoding options, meaning you can print contact, contactless, proximity or magnetic stripe cards right out of the box. This gives you flexibility in the type of access control system you deploy, and it allows the card to become multi use.

For example, the same card used to control physical access can be used to control access to desktop, laptop and mobile computing devices such as rugged tablets that connect to sensitive data systems.

For example, line supervisors may find it frustrating to have to log out and log back into their computers every time they’re called to the floor or the loading dock; it can be just as easy forget to log out. But leaving their computer unlocked for even a minute is risky. Anyone could jump on after them and gain immediate access to data. However, simply having to remove a smart card when they walk away and then slide it back into the card reader when they return to immediately log back on makes it more likely that they will take care to secure their computer and your data.

To summarize, the right card printer can help you:

1. Keep unauthorized parties out of your facility, specifically those who could be potentially hostile (which helps improve worker safety) and potential thieves (which helps protect your assets)
2. Know when authorized parties enter and exit your facility in case of an accident, theft or other occurrence in which further investigation is needed
3. Lockdown your data by giving workers an easier way to secure devices when not in use

RFID Printers and Label Printers: The Secret “One-Two Punch” for Improved Warehouse Safety and Security

As I just explained, the card printer can be a triple threat technology – or triple threat preventer – for your warehouse! But, add on the right label printer (and right labeling technology) and you’ll also be able to:

1. Better maintain quality control of time and temperature-sensitive products, which helps to improve product safety in the supply chain
2. Track and trace inventory movements to identify and, ideally, mitigate potential losses
3. Confirm whether a missing item is actually stolen or just misplaced and then aid with locating and recovering the item
4. Improve worker compliance with supply chain safety standards related to proper materials handling, storage and transport of all items, including hazardous materials

Just know that not all label printers may be capable of producing the secure labels you need to secure your assets.

Look for enterprise-grade label printers capable of producing barcoded labels and/or labels with RFID tags depending on the type of asset your trying to track. You may also want to consider investing in a high-resolution micro-label printer, especially if you produce or store extremely small but highly valuable electronics such as circuit boards or chips. The proper labeling can deter theft of this type of inventory and provide track-and-trace assistance should they go missing. (This white paper goes into more details about the benefits of micro labeling.)

No matter what type of label you need to print, just ensure that both the label printer and labels themselves are designed to combat ink fading, tampering and even normal wear and tear through human and machine processing methods. The label needs to be readable at all times, whether by a barcode scanner, overhead RFID reader or a worker trying to determine if a shipment contains hazardous materials. It’s also hard to maintain a first-in-first-out rotation for perishable items if the date isn’t clearly printed on the plastic, cardboard, aluminum or glass packaging.

Take Note: What’s Inside Your Printer is Just as Important to Maintaining Data Security as Your Printer’s Output Capabilities

With all the hundreds or thousands of connected devices in your warehouse facility, security is an important topic. Locking down access to the printers connected to your enterprise systems should be on the list of “to dos.” That means the intelligence inside your printer is important to consider, much like you would evaluate the processor, security or operating system (OS) within a laptop, tablet or handheld mobile computer. Safeguarding your IT infrastructure with a printer OS that has security capabilities built in will help you sleep better at night. Encrypting all your printer connections, rotating credentials and remotely managing your systems to keep them current are among a few of the nine measures you can take to increase device and data security.

In this day of having a warehouse filled with Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)-connected technology, there are so many entry points for unauthorized access. It is important that each connection and data exchange is carefully controlled to ensure the information is protected and available to authorized users only.

The Takeaway?

Take a close, hard look at the card, RFID and label printers in your warehouse. Are they able to produce the type of cards and labels you need to improve your warehouse safety and security? Do they offer the IT security you need to keep out unauthorized access? If not, you may want to upgrade your printers sooner than later.

Contact Clarity Imaging Solutions to discuss how we can help you secure your warehouse.

Do you have a weak link in your overall security strategy? Have you ever sent a document to the printer only to get there to discover it didn’t print or, worse yet, someone picked it up by accident? Did your document actually print, or did someone pick it up by accident? Have you ever walked by a printer to see confidential documents waiting to be picked up? Cost control and secure management of documents is top of mind for many companies. Let’s face it. There are times that what you’re printing is confidential and needs to be secure, either in printed form or in electronic form.

Your IT department has ensured that your network is secure. Your computer has various login authentications to ensure you are who you say you are. But what about your printers? Printing should be just as secure as your electronic documents. Many companies have introduced multi function printers or shared team/floor printers. How do you secure your documents from prying eyes? Manufacturers have come up with different methods to secure your output. Here is a review of several of the more common implementations.

Follow Me Print or Pull Printing

This option provides the flexibility to print from any associated devices. Your print jobs are located on a server. If your main printer is down, you can walk down the hall to an associated printer, authenticate yourself, select your print job and release it. This not only saves time but is secure and protects confidential documents by allowing you to release these jobs in a more private environment if required.

Pin Printing or Locked Print

This refers to a document sent to a printer which only releases the print job when the owner authenticates themselves with a PIN. This not only saves companies money from reducing forgotten prints but also creates a layer of security.

What About Large Format Printers in your company?

HP contracted Spiceworks to complete a survey of 501 IT decision-makers around the world. 78% of them did not monitor their printers for security threats. Firewalls alone cannot withstand attacks from sophisticated hackers. Understanding the points of vulnerability within your printer fleet and applying layers of protection at every endpoint is a must in today’s environment.

HP not only offers the most secure large format printers in the world, but part of their philosophy is to save the customer money. They accomplish this in a variety of ways. From very low ink consumption, in both printing and maintenance, to securing various endpoints in the large format printer fleet, protecting your data.

Imagine if your information is jeopardized due to unsecured printing. The result could include identity theft, stolen competitive information, a tarnished brand image and reputation, and litigation. Additionally, regulatory and legal noncompliance can result in heavy fines.

Protecting the printer

1. At startup, their secure printers will check the BIOS to ensure that the HP-signed code is being loaded.
2. The printer then checks to see if the firmware is digitally signed by HP
3. After being rebooted, the HP JetAdvantage Security Manager checks and fixes any affected device security settings.

Protecting the Data

1. The self-encrypted hard drive protects sensitive business information stored on the hard drive.
2. The secure file erase feature ensures that no data is left behind in the printer after your files are deleted from the hard disk.
3. Secure disk erase deletes all information from the printer's hard disk, making it impossible to recover sensitive data.
4. Standard encryption protocols 802.1x or IPSec use encrypted network standards to protect data traveling over the network.

Protecting the Documents

1. Pull Printing, using Celiveo Enterprise, is a fully integrated secure printing and tracking solution. This access control-based function has end-to-end tracking and reporting to protect sensitive information and media and reduce unclaimed print jobs. It helps boost productivity and keep abandoned documents from falling into the wrong hands. HP DesignJet large-format printers are also compatible with other third-party pull printing solutions.
2. Encrypted PIN printing allows users to send confidential print jobs, by assigning a PIN to the document from within the printer driver. The document will then be held in the printer until the user enters the PIN at the device. This way the user can be sure their confidential document won't be left unattended. With encrypted PIN printing, document data is encrypted when the document is sent to the printer to protect document confidentiality through the network.

Is your print environment secure? Contact us today to discuss how a managed services contract can be used to upgrade your large format printers to a more secure fleet with very little incremental costs to what you are spending today.

Data security is important to every organization. It incorporates securely designed and deployed hardware, software and networking. Many IT departments focus on the networking, software and computers attached to the network, but ignore the printers attached. Your printers are not only connected to your network but are also connected to the internet. 43% of companies surveyed ignore their printers as a security risk. 78% of companies don’t monitor their printers for security threats (Spiceworks survey of 501 IT decision-makers in North America, EMEA, and APAC, - June 2018.). Lately there have been more and more incidents of corporate hacks resulting in stolen corporate data, Ransomware demands or worse, customer data being compromised. Do critical gaps exist in your printing and imaging environment?

To protect your data, you must ensure that authorized users have access to devices on the networks they’re connected to. If your printers are not based on current technology, then you might have a hole in your security infrastructure. Upgrading to the latest technology could save you from being hacked and jeopardizing your network which not only costs your company time but also money.

Specialty printers are no different. In fact, these are oftenoverlooked as they are in environments that are outside the norm. Check out the latest security features for Zebra’s label printers and HP’s large format printers.

Zebra Print DNA

Zebra label printers can be found in warehouses, shipping departments or in manufacturing facilities and are easily overlooked. Zebra’s Print DNA ecosystem is built on their secure Link-OS foundation. This ensures that each connection and data exchange can be controlled to ensure information is protected and available to only authorized users.

Their printer operating system, Link-OS, features PrintSecure, making it not only easy to configure your printers to use secure connections, but also blocks unwanted access and ensures your data and infrastructure are protected.

Download Zebra's 9 Measures to Increase Device and Data Security brochure to see more.

HP DesignJet

HP DesignJets are found in engineering and marketing departments. The new DesignJets from HP incorporate multiple points of security. HP Secure Boot enables the BIOS to check the integrity of its Startup code. Whitelisting automatically checks the firmware during Startup to determine if it is authentic and digitally signed by HP. If an anomaly is detected, the device shuts down and notifies IT.

LDAP/Kerberos user authentication are protocols authenticating the printer user through the company directory to ensure that the user only accesses authorized options and information. Security event logging provides full visibility to quickly detect malicious threats. The security log records each event as defined by the audit policies set on each object.

Download the HP DesignJet Security brochure to learn more.

This was a quick overview of some of the security features for both Zebra and HP. The question you should be asking yourself by now; "Is my specialty printing fleet secure?"

Need Help?

Clarity Imaging Solutions provides a path for companies to upgrade their specialty printers using a managed print services approach. We will complete a fleet analysis and provide you with an upgrade and deployment plan. Implementing a managed print services approach not only saves you time and money but immediately improves your network printing security. Want to learn more? Contact us for a free Cost Benefit Analysis.

Sustainability impact. It's in everything we do. Today, more than ever, companies are not only looking for ways to reduce their capital expenses, but also ways to reduce the impact they have on the world we live in.

Let’s look at a typical engineering department and the large format prints they generate. Did you know that if your department is printing 100 x D size (24”x36”) prints per day (on average), you will consume approximately 16 x 300ml cartridges, using a HP DesignJet T2530, per year? This is assuming there is no waste and that each print has 8-12% ink coverage. What is your company doing with all the empty cartridges? Do you have a recycling program or are you simply disposing of them? Does the printer manufacturer have a recycling program?

HP Planet PartnersHP offers a free recycling program for almost everything they ship, including their packaging. You can take advantage of this by implementing a process and having someone within your company manage it or, you can look at another solution. Managed Print Services from Clarity Imaging Solutions, Inc.

If you are asking yourself “What is managed print service (MPS)” then read on. MPS is outsourcing the management of your fleet of printers. The result saves you time and money as well as providing you more visibility, control and security for your fleet. Did you know that you can save up to 30% of your print management costs by outsourcing? Think of the time spent supporting and maintaining these devices. With an MPS contract, ordering supplies becomes automated which means no excess inventory and, better yet, no more running out of ink or toner. We even provide a mechanism to recycle your depleted ink cartridges at no additional cost!

How does it work?

Each customer is different, and their requirements are unique. In order to best serve the customer, an initial conversation is required to determine what they want to accomplish. Most customers look to assign their large format printers to a third-party company thinking this will save them time and money. While it is true, they will save a little, the best way to maximize your savings is to allow the managed print services company to complete an assessment analyzing

• The current devices or fleet, capabilities and condition of existing printers
• Determine current usage and total cost of print
• What is being printed, what is being outsourced and what other issues or needs should be addressed.

All this leads to being able to create a fleet optimization plan. Recommendations on consolidating or adding/removing printers to optimize the print environment or costs will be made. The partner will also be able to provide a plan or roadmap to reduce the number of, or types of printers and supplies being utilized. Once implemented, quarterly governance reviews allow both parties to address any concerns with the fleet allowing fine tuning on a regular basis.

Continuing proactive mechanisms are implemented to monitor the fleet for consumable levels and possible service issues. All of this adds up to your ability to reduce your environmental impact by printing less (using more efficient printers with less waste), consuming less electricity (consolidation where possible) which in turn leads to generating less greenhouse emissions.

Read our previous Blog on Managed Print Services

Want to learn more?

Call us today to book an appointment. We will provide you with an overview of what we can do to help your company reduce its printing costs as well as reducing its sustainability impact. By the way, this example is for large format printers. We also offer Managed Print Services for your Zebra label printers.

Mobile computers such as smartphones and tablets have revolutionized the way we connect and communicate; likewise, they are enabling enormous increases in business productivity. In this article, we highlight some of the ways you can make immediate gains in business productivity by mobilizing workflows and equipping your workers with mobile computers and printers.

1. More Productivity in Less Time

With mobile computers such as handhelds, smartphones, or tablets, facility workers or healthcare professionals can access business information and workflow capabilities faster, more efficiently, and practically anywhere.

By putting business-critical apps, voice, data, barcode scanning, printing, and labeling at your workers’ fingertips, they can get more done, in less time, without being tethered to workstations or forced to go back-and-forth between work areas and desktop computers and printers.

Today’s enterprise-grade mobile computers are compact, lightweight, ergonomic, and even come in form factors that make them wearable or vehicle-mountable.

2. Faster Business Processes

Mobile computers and operating systems simplify workflows by allowing facility workers or healthcare professionals to access information, capture barcodes, and perform software-based tasks with the touch of a button or a tap on a device screen. Tasks that were once complex are completed in seconds through a mobile app, at blazingly fast speed and efficiency.

The end results are faster processes, more throughput, and better customer service—all from virtually anywhere inside or outside the four walls.

3. Smarter Decision-Making

Since mobile technologies capture, share, and deliver business-critical information in real time, facility workers and managers can make better decisions. With an array of off-the-shelf or custom software solutions, they can access orders, pick lists, inventory, shipments, work in process, dashboards, performance metrics, and more.

Mobility and real-time insights help with everything from inventory management, procurement, and scheduling to order processing, shipping, fleet deployment, and customer service.

4. Increased Accuracy and Error Reduction

Mobile computers and printers enable automated identification and data capture, which means you can identify products or assets, track their location and condition, and keep your databases and systems updated without manual and error-prone data entry and paper-based processes.

By mobilizing and automating tasks and data capture, you can decrease paperwork, minimize the risk of human error, and achieve virtually flawless accuracy in inventory, shipping, order processing, and more.

In addition, with radio frequency identification (RFID) and mobile handheld RFID readers, you can completely automate data capture and tracking by tagging and remotely locating and tracing items automatically, without manual barcode scanning.

5. Faster and More Efficient Customer Service

Whether you’re dealing with customers in a store aisle, at a loading dock, or even remotely, mobile technologies are also a great way to provide faster and more efficient service.

Equipped with mobile access to business information, inventory, and voice and data communications, your facility employees can respond faster to customer queries, initiate and fulfill orders faster and more accurately, and keep customers updated along the way.

It’s all available at their fingertips, as long as they have a Wi-Fi or wireless cellular connection.

Exploring Mobility and Getting Started

At Clarity Imaging, we’re a leading provider of Zebra mobile computers and printers. Zebra is the unparalleled leader in mobile computing, barcoding, and printing technologies, with solutions ranging from rugged, industrial handheld computers and mobile printers to enterprise-grade touch computers and tablets.

Contact us today to explore the best ways to integrate mobile technologies in your operations and maximize your productivity.

Through the years, the technology of large format printers has changed dramatically. Deciding which large format printer is right for your firm can be a difficult process. A large format printer should not only produce clear and precise prints, but also enhance the efficiency of your work. The new HP Designjet Z6 & Z9+ printers produce professional quality photos and, as important, break down barriers in the printing industry with increased print speeds and dual drop technology. For graphic designers, the HP Z6 and Z9+ produce nothing less than precise printing with amazing quality and fewer inks. Below is a brief description of each so you can compare the HP Z6 vs Z9.

Key Innovative Features of Each Designjet Printer

Designjet Z6 Series

Increased Print Quality
Being able to print for an upcoming project successfully relies on the quality of your printer. With its enhanced print quality, the HP Designjet Z6 Series reads details clearly and uses high contrast color with new high-definition HP printheads. In addition to the quality of prints, there is now no need for light inks. HP Pixel Control remains a vital feature for this printer series. This innovative technology allows the printer to read color in each pixel for identical print runs. Having HP Pixel Control ensures that your prints will contain a level of detail and high-resolution quality unmatched by any competitor. In addition, HP Pixel Control mixes color consistency with HP Nozzle Architecture to deliver greater ink efficiency. The HP Designjet Z6 Series comes in a range of sizes to meet your needs.

Faster Print Speeds
The Designjet Z6 handles complex files with powerful processing architecture and the Adobe PDF Print Engine. The Z6 prints up to 20% faster with high-definition HP printheads, dual roll support and automatic roll switching, allowing you to spend less time on changes and adjustments. The ability to cut projects to different sizes in fewer steps due to the new vertical trimmer also decreases post-processing labor time allowing you to save throughout a project.

Better Data Security
Sharing and managing information during the course of a project is crucial. It’s also essential to be able to share information securely. The HP Designjet Z6 protects your data from unauthorized access with HP Secure Boot and encrypted hard disk. Other authentication solutions such as PIN printing and card readers protect documents and preserve confidentiality.

Designjet Z9+ Series

The Designjet Z9+ has similar innovative features to the HP Designjet Z6 including, data security, enhanced print quality, no light inks, and the optional vertical trimmer. Here are a few more features that make the Z9 a good fit for graphic designers.

Reduced Labor Time
Like the Z6, the Designjet Z9+ includes an integrated vertical trimmer. The trimmer, combined with increased print speeds up to 2.5x and 2400 nozzle-per-inch high-definition printheads, allow you to print your project to the correct size with no additional steps, decreasing post-processing labor time.

Enhanced Print Quality
The Designjet Z9+ also features HP Pixel Control, delivering high quality prints. The Z9+ has 9 print cartridges, including an optional gloss enhancer. Dual drop technology combines the HP Nozzle Architecture with high definition printheads to produce a print with clearer details and a higher level of contrast between colors.

Fewer Disruptions
The Designjet HP Z9+ can help prevent disruptions to your workflow. Similar to the Z6, it has automatic roll switching so you spend less time on adjustments and changes. This innovative large format printer works for your current validated RIPs with HP RIP certification program. Having the correct information when and where you need it can be the difference between failure and success in your project. The HP Print OS in the Z9 provides you remote visibility and control to better manage your print production environment.

Choosing the Right Large Format Printer for You

For graphic designers, selecting the right large format printer can be a challenge. There is no question that both the HP Z6 and the Z9+ deliver industry-leading technology that not only helps designers print projects in higher resolution, but increases efficiencies around the office. Whether you choose, the HP Z6 vs Z9+ depends on your company needs.

While there are many similarities between these two printers including HP Pixel Control and dual drop technology, there are key aspects that differentiate them. If print speed is important, then the Z6 would be a better option. The Z6 has a print speed of 866 sq ft/hr as opposed to the Z9+ with a print speed of only 769 sq ft/hr. If you are looking for a large format printer with enhanced color quality, the Z9+ would be a better fit. The Z9+ comes with nine print cartridges, including an optional gloss enhancer, ensuring your prints are identical to your computer screen design. The Z6 only comes with 6 print cartridges while previous models needed 12 inks to achieve the same results. The Z9+ also allows a rear sheet feed for any rigid media projects.

While both printers offer class-leading technology with their innovative features, each printer series has its own unique offerings, delivering not only quality prints, but also increased efficiency in your company.

About Clarity Imaging Solutions

At Clarity Imaging Solutions we pride ourselves on the ability to enhance business printer functions. Our mission is to help customers increase efficiencies, lower costs and grow their revenue through unique managed print solutions. Clarity provides best-in-class products and services designed to a graphic designer’s specific business needs. If you would like more information on the Designjet Z9+ & Z6, or on any HP product, we invite you to contact us today.

As companies grow, they often end up adding more printers and print functionality throughout their operations until it becomes difficult and costly to manage.

What is a Managed Print Service?

The responsibility of maintaining and servicing your printers while ensuring your firmware and security is updated becomes a major project that requires IT and personnel time. A managed print services provider provides an easy and cost-effective solution. Instead of dealing with the challenges and headaches internally, outsource the responsibility to a third-party provider who reliably handles it for you. It’s no different than hiring an outside firm to do your facility’s maintenance, landscaping, tax preparation, or annual audits.

Services can vary dramatically based on your company’s needs, but a managed print services (MPS) provider typically offers an initial assessment, printer procurement or redeployment, consumable printing supplies and service, monitoring and maintenance of your hardware, and continuous improvement through ongoing assessment and optimization.

Key Benefits of Using Managed Print Services for Specialty Printing

Save Money on Hardware and Maintenance

A managed print services provider helps avoid expensive upfront capital outlays for hardware. Hardware, supplies, and servicing costs are allocated over a 36- to 60-month contract and often converted into a per-page printing cost.

The actual pricing of an MPS agreement will depend on the specific details of coverage including hardware selected, scope of service, length of agreement, contract inclusions, and other variables you can customize to meet your needs.

Increase Employee Efficiency

With MPS, the goal is to alleviate the burden of printer and print management tasks from the staff so employees can spend time on more strategic projects. Specialty MPS providers handle all day-to-day and long-term print management and consumable ordering for your business while you save time, money, and resources.

The end result is a major increase in savings and productivity. An MPS provider will tailor a complete program for your business (including implementing process improvements to create new efficiencies and managing your resources to reduce costs and eliminate waste).

Clarity Imaging Solutions Managed Print Services for Specialty Printing

At Clarity Imaging Solutions, we’ve been delivering managed print services for specialty printing to North American companies for over 20 years. We focus on companies with specialty printing requirements and deploy our label and barcoding MPS solutions using Zebra’s printing technologies. Zebra’s label (RFID) and ID card printers help us ensure the highest print quality with the most reliable performance and lowest total cost of ownership.

Here’s how we implement label and barcoding MPS for each of our clients:

• Match Zebra print hardware and technologies to your business needs
• Deliver efficient fulfillment and installation of your hardware
• Proactively monitor all devices and print service alerts remotely
• Apply remote upgrades or fixes before end users experience an issue
• Manage your consumables to minimize costs and waste
• Provide consistent, high-level support with a single point of contact
• Integrate device output tracking with your billing and accounting system
• Provide transparent reporting to ensure all print jobs are billed accurately

For companies looking to spend more time focusing on their business and less time worrying about their printers and printing supplies our turnkey MPS solutions are a great fit.

To learn more and get a recommendation for your business contact Clarity Imaging Solutions today.

There’s a huge shift happening in enterprise mobile computing, with thousands of facilities migrating from Windows mobile to Android. In this blog, we’ll explain why this is happening and the five biggest reasons why you should migrate your apps to Android as soon as possible.

By 2020, Windows mobility will end as we know it.

This is no crazy doomsday prediction. Microsoft has already ended all support for Windows Mobile and has ended mainstream and extended support for multiple versions of Windows Embedded Handheld. By 2020, all versions will reach their end of life, and there will be no further OS updates or security patches.

Unless you’re looking to be the next hacking victim, it’s critical to upgrade to a supported OS as soon as possible.

Windows 10 IoT is the latest Windows mobile OS, but it’s not compatible with Windows Embedded Handheld 7 or 6.5. This means a migration from those versions will be costly and time-consuming. You’ll have to redevelop your apps and databases and probably reconfigure your wireless networks.

You’ll be going through an expensive hassle to stay with Windows, when Microsoft has largely abandoned the enterprise mobile market in recent years.

The entire mobile computer industry is moving away from Windows.

Only 4% of enterprise mobile computers come with Windows 10 IoT today, and all major hardware developers have made Android their OS of choice.

This hardware switch is also driving sweeping changes in app development, with developers moving to Android in droves. If you want to avoid running an OS that most of the industry no longer supports, you need to migrate to Android. Many organizations such Home Depot, Best Buy, Whirlpool, and the U.S. Air Force have already done the same, so you’ll be in good company.

Android is an easier mobile computer OS is for everyone.

Including your IT team and the facility managers who most rely on enterprise mobile computers. Android provides a highly intuitive and extremely simple interface, which makes enterprise mobile computers much easier to use. Many workers already use it on their devices at home, so it’s an easy transition with minimal training.

Android is also an open source mobile computer OS with a thriving app store, a global network of developers and endless sample code. This makes migrating apps to Android much easier and less costly. As an added bonus, Android’s over-the-air OS and security updates make it much easier for your IT team or vendor to update your devices and protect them with the latest patches.

Android is a powerfully secure enterprise-grade OS.

Thanks to Mobility Extensions (Mx) from Zebra Technologies, you can rely on Android as a mobile computer OS. Zebra’s Android devices come with a complete set of Mx tools and utilities that give you complete control over your devices, apps, users, and connections.

You can achieve a level of security on par with anything Microsoft provides, with support for single sign-on, application and browser lock-downs, and even a customized company home screen.

Recommended Android Mobile Computers

For a limited time, Zebra is offering rebates up to $300 per device when you trade in your old hardware for the latest Zebra Android mobile computers. You can even trade in non-Zebra devices, so it’s a no-brainer for easy savings.

Want to learn more about migrating your mobile computer operating systems from Windows to Android?

At Clarity Imaging Solutions we can answer any questions regarding the Android migration. We invite you to contact us today!

Finding the best large format printer for your architecture firm doesn’t have to be a complicated process. Here, we have collected 5 great options from HP that can efficiently print your full sized drawings, blueprints, and presentations. Whether you are looking for a large format printer that can print at production speeds, print more securely, or reduce post processing time, there is an option for every application.

Here’s an in-depth look at five of the top HP Large Format printers for architects:

1. HP Designjet Z6

The Designjet Z6 printer is the newest addition to the HP family. This series includes three different models (24in, 44in, and the 44in with Vertical Trimmer).

The main benefits of the Z6 series include the ability to:

• Handle even the most complex files with powerful processing architecture and the Adobe PDF Print Engine
• Cut maps to different sizes in fewer steps with the first printer including an integrated vertical trimmer
• Protect printers/data from unauthorized access with HP Secure Boot, whitelisting, and encrypted hard disk
• Print up to 20% faster, increasing your productivity
• The Z6 Postscript Printer series is the precise, fast and secure solution to your graphic print needs.
• Printer Cost Savings Calculator

2. HP Designjet Z9

The Z9+ is another substantial addition to the Designjet family. This large format printer for architects provides you with a higher level of quality with smooth transitions and sharp details thanks to HP Pixel Control.

Some benefits of the Z9+ series:

• Achieve expanded gamut with RGB HP Vivid Photo Inks bedded spectrophotometer
• Cut post-processing labor time up to 20% with the first printer to include an integrated vertical trimmer
• Print up to 2.5x faster without losing the quality of your designs (2400 nozzle-per-inch)
• Keep using your current RIPs, validated with HP RIP certification program
• The Designjet Z9+ allows you to impress even the most demanding customers.

3. HP XL4500

The HP Pagewide XL printer does the work of two plotters, giving you color and monochrome faster and cheaper than LED.

You can expect the XL4500 to:

• Provide a range of strict security features—self-encrypting HDD, Secure Disk Erase, IPSec, and PIN printing
• Produce excellent technical documents - crisp lines, fine detail, smooth grayscales that beat LED
• Print, scan, copy in a single device— MFP incorporates an integrated 1200 dpi scanner with advanced and convenient workflows
• Decrease production time with up to four 650 foot rolls and a 100-page integrated top stacker
• The Pagewide XL 4500 provides you a single, easy-to-use device for all your monochrome and color printing requirements.

4. HP T3500MFP

In addition to being one of the most productive large format printers, the HP T3500MFP can allow you to manage projects and control cost effectively, using embedded professional accounting features.

The T3500MFP can improve your workflow:

• Print out your first page right away thanks to ultra-fast processing and zero warm-up time
• Copy and scan quickly with advanced features—presets, batch scanning, multi page PDFs, and scan to email
• Operate unattended due to two heavy rolls of up to 650 ft and a total ink capacity of 1,800 ml
• Protect and control confidential jobs securely while retrieving documents at the printer with a personal PIN
• The T3500MFP will safeguard confidential information, using a self-encrypting HDD with AES-256, Secure Disk Erase, and IPsec

5. HP T1700

The new HP T1700 is the most secure, empowering HP DesignJet printer for CAD/GIS workgroups

With the T1700, you can:

• Reproduce transparencies, layers, color palettes, and gradients with the embedded Adobe PDF Print Engine and free up your computer immediately after sending to print even with the most complex files
• Expect no workflow interruptions due to a dual-roll option that will reduce roll changes; two rolls double capacity and expedite switching paper types
• Handle the most complex files with a powerful processing architecture, 128GB memory, and 500GB HDD at 116 A1/D pages per hour

Securely print your most important documents, containing the most complex files, with the greatest of ease with the T1700.

Although selecting the ‘right’ large format printer for architects can be a difficult decision, we have a simple answer…

At Clarity Imaging Solutions we pride ourselves on the ability to enhance business printer functions. Our mission is to help customers increase efficiencies, lower costs and grow their revenues through unique managed print solutions. Clarity’s provides best in class products and services designed to an architects specific business needs. If you would like to receive a free cost benefit analysis or to learn more about what Clarity can do for your business, we invite you to contact us today.