Konica fits printers with Wireless Logic Sim cards

Konica Minolta Business Solutions (UK) is collaborating with Wireless Logic, an M2M Sim connectivity company, in the integration of data Sim connectivity within its printing devices.

The printer manufacturer claimed that the development is allowing remote consumable ordering, usage diagnostics and fault prevention management and resolution.

As part of its CS Remote Care service, Konica Minolta is now embedding Wireless Logic Sim cards into each GPRS modem fitted to its printing devices and is using Wireless Logic's Managenet connectivity service, which addresses connectivity, security, managed firewall and M-VPNs.

Once a Sim is installed and activated, Konica Minolta can monitor each of its devices' usage, consumable usage and performance.

It automatically re-orders consumables once the supply is running low, which means that companies should never run out.

The service can also diagnose any faults or issues immediately, sending an email to the customer organisation and mobilising Konica Minolta to call out an engineer.

As a result, Konica Minolta said it is now seeing a reduction in its billing queue of 50 per cent and is experiencing savings attributed to early diagnosis and rectification of faults.

Each printing unit is fitted with a GPRS module, embedded with a Wireless Logic Sim card that is remotely activated when the device is dispatched and set up.

Each Sim card is given a fixed IP address, with a choice of operator, allowing two-way communication between the printer and Konica Minolta.

Via Konica Minolta's CS Remote Care service, this is then managed and monitored via Wireless Logic's Managenet secure private network management system.

Brent Mayo, customer support manager at Konica Minolta, said: 'This technology has brought benefits to our customers such as automatic ordering of consumables and automatic logging of faults, which are directly logged into Konica Minolta's ERP system.

'This saves time and means we know of faults before our customers do; allowing us to be more proactive in effecting a repair.

'We have also seen a significant reduction in our billing queue; previously done manually, this is now done automatically through Wireless Logic's service,' he added.

In working with Wireless Logic, Konica Minolta believes it now has a one-stop connectivity service with one point of contact across all of the UK's cellular networks.

Tailored tariffs from each of the networks have been developed to meet the data needs of the device portfolio.

Invoicing is itemised and consolidated, easing the monthly burden of multiple network billing, added the company.

Cost savings have been made by utilising the infrastructure of Managenet, avoiding expenditure of setting up their own mobile private network.

Managenet has fail-over back-up systems that are claimed to provide 99.99 per cent service and Wireless Logic also provides an account management support facility with regular reviews based upon performance, tariff expenditure and service updates.

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