At its Executive Forum 2018, HP Inc. showcased its new print portfolio, arming partners with a range of products, services and solutions in cloud, security and mobility that accelerate growth through smart printing.
“HP is at the forefront of print reinvention – transforming how industries, communities and people at home operate, ideate and create what matters most,” said Enrique Lores, President, Imaging & Printing at HP Inc. “Relentless innovation and a laser focus on the customer allows us to create intuitive printers and predictive services that solve current business challenges and anticipate the future, driving success for our partners.”
The OEM announced that it has expanded its A3 multifunction printer line, now including new PageWide A3 skus for both transactional and contractual channels with external finishing. With more than 600 A3 premier partners on-boarded, the company is offering its customers affordable colour via HP’s PageWide printing technology and “outstanding” device uptime through Smart Device Services.
In addition, following the successful close of HP’s acquisition of Samsung’s print business in November 2017, the company today stated that its Suwon, Korea location is now officially named “HP Printing Korea.”
Engaging with printing technology in the office is becoming easier than ever for people with disabilities and age-related limitations. Today HP announced at Executive Forum that it has reinvented the standards of voice command and screen reader support for workers with disabilities through the new HP Accessibility Assistant. The HP Accessibility Assistant is built on transformative innovation leveraging conversational voice technology that improves the usability of HP products for people with a range of cognitive, physical and vision-related abilities. It is anticipated to be available in Spring 2018 to a wide selection of A3/A4 HP Enterprise-class devices via the latest firmware version of Future Smart 4.
Print is at the core of the modern office, and security is the foundation. At Executive Forum, HP also announced it is extending its print security leadership with enhanced integration into existing IT security monitoring tools frequently used for PCs including SIEM and endpoint protection and management platforms like Microsoft SCCM (System Centre Configuration Manager).
Printer endpoint security is vital to the health of the broader IT network infrastructure, and so HP has expanded its current security management tools integration with Splunk, ArcSight, and SIEMonster to now include McAfee’s SIEM. HP explains that it is the only manufacturer to offer integration of printer security compliance and event data with these management and monitoring tools. The company also states that it is making it easier to secure printer endpoints alongside PCs, regardless of customer size or industry, improving the overall security posture of the entire network, not just the print infrastructure.
In addition, HP announced a new endpoint security sales and technical certification training that is anticipated to be available for channel partners beginning 1 May 2018.
Building on the success of HP printer compatibility in the U.S. with all three major smart speaker platforms – Amazon Alexa, the Google Assistant and Microsoft Cortana – HP Voice will be expanding internationally. This April, voice assistant support in the U.K., Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and India will become connected to HP printers.
