TOKYO: OKI Data Corporation, an OKI Group company specializing in the printer business, today announced a partnership with Rossi, one of Brazil's real estate developers and builders.

Under the agreement, OKI Data will analyze Rossi's overall printing operations and provide solutions for the company's managed print services. By introducing a print control system and optimizing printer placement, the two companies plan to boost security and cut current total print volumes by some 20 per cent. Rossi expects these measures to improve its print productivity by 30 per cent, and improve print control.

The Brazilian real estate market has expanded alongside the country's growing economy. Facing expanding business and rising print volumes of CAD drawings, contracts, and project proposals, the company has identified the management of its printing environment, including maintenance, as an area in which can cut costs and time spent on repairs, while boosting security.

OKI Data examined average monthly print volumes for all the 80 cities that Rossi has operations and determined the number, types, and placement of printers and MFPs required for each office, as well monthly printing costs. Rossi then installed OKI's MC860dn (an A3 color workgroup MFP) and a B6500 (an A4 monochrome LED printer) in a central location of each office to centralize maintenance. Proprietary software issues advance alerts to replace consumables, allowing the company to plan the purchase and replacement of consumables and eliminating unexpected shortages in stocks of consumables.

"We're pleased to contribute to Rossi's productivity with our managed print services," said Alexandre Lessa,MPS Supervisor of OKI Data in Brazil. "In addition to exclusive software that tracks consumable supplies and use, Rossi has introduced reporting software that automatically creates reports on print volumes, types of paper used, and color/mono prints made at each office. In partnership with NDD Digital, the company has also developed a card authentication system based on employee ID cards to control access to office premises. This system allows accurate tracking of print volumes per division and increases security by eliminating print-outs left on printer output trays. Through all these measures, the company expects to cut print volumes by 20 per cent."