Vol 29.5
See inside ...
Published by: CJ Interactive CC Tel: 011 795 1815 | Fax: 086 555 3526 Email: info@which.co.za | www.which.co.za
HD Video Conferencing • MFPs • Data Video Projectors Digital Printing • Bar Code Printers • Shredders Binding Equipment ... and much more In Association With:
FREE SUBSCRIPTION! Simply point your browser to www.which.co.za/ subscribe
BUSINESS PRODUCT Review
Contents Published by CJ Interactive CC P O Box 278 Ferndale 2160, SA Tel 011 795 1815 • Fax 086 555 3526 General e-mail:info@which.co.za Web: which.co.za
2. PDC Nice Label 3. Cartridge SA Printer Cartridges 4.
Nashua Avis Fleet Services Streamlined
6.
Nashua A4 B&W Multifunctional
7.
Altech Card Solutions Card Printing Solutions
8.
Pitney Bowes Hard Drive Shredder
10. Black Sheep Design Graphic Design & Print Services 11. Nashua Multifunctional Printing Solution 12a. Roan Systems Lexmark Back Office Solutions 12b. PDC Barcode Printing Solutions 13. Subscription Competition 14. World's Toughest Endurance Race 16. Pitney Bowes DAHLE Shredding Solutions
18. Digital Signage The right Information in all the right places 22. Nashua Solutions Provider 24. SBMS Sony Projectors 26. W Vos & Co Renz Binders 27. SACIA Trade Association 28. Sony HD Video Conferencing 29.
Cartridge SA Suppliers of Original & Generic Printer Cartridges
30. CSX Kodak ScanMate i940 31. The Business Card Centre Business Cards 32. Fellowes Quality Office Products: Binders
BUSINESS PRODUCT Review
Avis Fleet Services streamlines document management with Nashua Avis Fleet Services wanted to move from paper-based to electronic processing of invoices and other documentation – aiming to cut its print volumes by tens of thousands of pages every month.
A
vis Fleet Services wanted to move from paper-based to electronic processing of invoices and other documentation – aiming to cut its print volumes by tens of thousands of pages every month. If your company leases a car or other vehicle in Southern Africa, there’s a good chance it will come from Avis Fleet Services. Since it was founded 30 years ago, Avis has grown to become the largest fleet management provider across the region, and has won PMR’s award for best fleet management company every year for the last five years. It provides long-term rental and management services to customers throughout South Africa and in Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia and Swaziland, with a fleet of nearly 200,000 vehicles under finance, maintenance and management contracts.
The challenges
To manage its fleet, Avis was until recently using paper-based processes to move documentation between its field offices and its headquarters, but these were inefficient and slow. “Doing business over a large geographical area and relying on postal services and a data communication infrastructure that was below par in most places, meant that document consolidation and dissemination was a big problem for us,” says Vincent Kelly, Senior Application Developer at Avis Fleet Services. “Our business processes in our finance sector alone generated about 85,000 documents per month.” Staff spent many hours sorting through paper documents and there was a lack of document accessibility. This increased Avis’ operational costs while decreasing its efficiency. Resolving queries was slow, reducing customer satisfaction.
all documentation related to the vehicles and their maintenance – including quotes, repair work documents, and invoices received from suppliers and sent to customers. On the basis of this proof of concept, Avis decided to contract Nashua to provide a full solution. “Nashua provided us with an integrated document and process management solution that merges with our existing AS/400 based fleet management system, which contains all of our customer and transactional data,” says Kelly. “The Nashua system has allowed our IT team to build new solutions on top of these existing software applications and websites, which gave us the ability to streamline our business processes and centralise our data storage for easy retrieval – leading to increased operational efficiency and cost savings across the business.”
Saves time, improves customer service and reduces printing costs The solution is based around Laserfiche Rio 8.3, an Enterprise Content Management (ECM) system. This integrates with other sof tware products that pull data from Avis’ Oracle
The solution
To overcome these issues, Avis decided to look for a document management solution to improve efficiency and save money, and turned to Nashua for help. Kelly comments: “We evaluated many different suppliers, but the product and services offered by Nashua were the most appropriate – for both cost and flexibility – to meet our specific needs.” Within four months, Nashua had created a ‘proof of concept’ solution, which manages
4
CHALLENGES • Reduce printing and document handling costs • Cut time spent by staff dealing with paper documents • Improve customer satisfaction by resolving queries faster.
SOLUTION • Enterprise content management solution based on Laserfiche handles around 85,000 invoices per month • Solution integrates smoothly with existing systems and database.
BENEFITS • Printing volume reduced by 55%, with 65,000 fewer documents printed each month • Documents sent for filing each month reduced from 90 boxes to one box • Total cost of printing reduced by 40% • Filing costs reduced by 85% • Customer service improved with faster responses and online documentation • Staff time to handle documents reduced by typically 75%.
BUSINESS PRODUCT Review
“The Nashua system has allowed our IT team to build new solutions which streamline our business processes and centralise our data storage – leading to increased operational efficiency and cost savings across the business.” Vincent Kelly, Senior Application Developer, Avis Fleet Services database and use it to create customised invoices which manage the scanning of paper invoices. Nashua’s system now handles around 65,000 invoices per month in accounts receivable, and about 20,000 per month in accounts payable. All of these are securely processed and backed up, with no risk of losing paper documents.
Cost and time savings Efficiencies and cost savings have been considerable. For accounts receivable, the sending of paper for filing has reduced from 90 boxes per month to one per month, and printing volume has gone down by 55 percent – meaning that Avis prints 65,000 fewer documents every month just in this one department. Paper usage has also decreased, as there is no need to make unnecessary copies of supporting documentation. As Avis moves into the next phase of automating its processes, it expects to reduce the number of documents needing printing even further. No pre-printed stationery is now required, as the system can print formatted invoices with logos onto plain paper, as Kelly comments: “Nashua’s variable data printing application makes it more flexible for us to produce our customer invoices and statements and we’ve got control of the format we send out.” “The solution has helped us bring our expenditure down by 40 percent in terms of the total cost of printing,” says Kelly. “Our filing costs have been reduced to around 15 percent of what they were, due to space that we’ve managed to re-allocate for offices.” The system has also saved time and money by making it faster and easier to find documents. For example, when a customer phones in with a query, in the past, a clerk would have to put the phone down, go find a file, and call them back later.
With the Nashua system, they can type a reference number into the system and the invoice comes up on screen so they can sort a query immediately – saving time and improving customer satisfaction. In addition to handling phone questions faster, customer service is also improved because Avis can keep its clients automatically notified of progress with a query or booking. “As well as the time savings to retrieve documents, we’ve been able to speed up the actual processing of certain functions,” says Kelly. “For example, an old paper-based process could take up to 20 minutes, now it takes us five minutes to do the same job – so throughput with the same amount of staff has increased.” Avis has also been able to expand its offering to customers by providing documents via email, or through online customer portals where they have access to their invoices and statements, instead of only relying on sending paper documents through the post. About 20 percent of Avis’ customers have so far opted to receive their statements online, helping to reduce printing, storage and postage costs. “While some of our competitors have got similar benefits in terms of providing documents online, we have progressed to have a competitive advantage in other areas” says Kelly.
5
Nashua also provides a scanning service for Avis, with an offsite bureau that can handle any bulk jobs. Nashua delivers the scanned documents as electronic images in the correct format to be added to the Laserfiche system.
Flexible solution Throughout the project, Nashua has worked with Avis to make sure the solution delivers real benefits, as Kelly comments: “Nashua has really made the effort to understand our various business needs and adapt the solution accordingly.” “Nashua’s solution team is professional in their approach to find the relevant solutions to suit our specific requirements,” concludes Kelly. “Its continued support is of great value to us, and will assist us in making the solution become even more effective in years to come.”
CONTACT INFO
Nashua
Contact : Natalie von Gericke Tel : + 011 2328134 Email : natalievg@nashua.co.za Website : www.nashua.co.za
BUSINESS PRODUCT Review
Compact and high value A4 B&W multifunctionals Black and white printing and copying, colour scanning - the Aficio™ MP 301SPF packs plenty of punch
T
he MP 301SPF is a fast blackand-white A4 multifunctional in a compact design. It offers advanced print, copy, scan and fax functions, available via a large 4.3-inch colour touch panel. This innovative device can easily replace several single-function devices and improve your workflow. The small footprint saves valuable office space. Nashua’s next generation controller (GWNX) also gives you outstanding device management capabilities.
Simple to operate With a tiltable 4.3-inch colour touch panel, the MP 301SPF is very easy to operate. You can customise the home screen to show only the icons you need. You can even insert your company logo on the screen. In addition, full front access eases operation and maintenance.
Productivity up Reliable equipment is the first requirement for business efficiency. Robustness and long durability are the MP 301SPF’s trademarks. The device is continually productive thanks to its impressive paper capacity and easy troubleshooting.
PRODUCT SPECS
Intelligent compact design The MP 301SPF has a smaller footprint than comparable MFPs. The simple and intelligent cube design optimises desktop workspace. The dual-colour design concept promotes intuitive usability.
Next generation controller architecture (GWNX) Featuring Nashua’s next generation controller, the MP 301SPF interacts intelligently with users, improving access to information. Intelligent workflow features include the ability to customise the control panel, browse and print directly from the web.
TCO down Minimise costs as well as your environmental footprint with energysaving features that r e du ce e l e c t r i c i t y consumption. A unique indicator g ives an
• Warm-up time: 23 seconds • First output speed: 5.4 seconds • Continuous output speed: 30 ppm • Copier resolution: 600 dpi • Print resolution: 300 / 600 dpi • Scanner Resolution: 100-600 dpi • Scan Speed: Max 30 originals/minute
instant overview of your usage by device, month, week or even daily, to implement further Total Cost of Ownership reductions.
Highly secure Securit y features include locked print, hold print (with optional HDD), an embedded watermark (optional Copy Data Security Unit required), LDAP authentication, and HDD option with overwrite and encryption function to meet your company’s security requirements.
Environmentally friendly At Nashua we help you lower your environmental footprint. The MP 301SPF has ecofriendly features such as sleep mode, duplex printing and paperless fax. T h e Ty p ic al E l e c t r ic i t y Consumption is 1.5 kW/h at 30 cpm. An eco-friendly indicator displays information to help you reduce paper usage.
CONTACT INFO
Nashua
Contact : Glenn Goslin Tel : +27 11 232 8136 Fax : +27 87 944 5446 Email : glenng@nashua.co.za Website : www.nashua.co.za
6
Exceeding expectations. Keeping you in budget. It’s what makes the Datacard® SD/SP Series printers the best in their class.
Reliability, superior image quality and performance – right on your desktop
SP30 – Entry-level simplex printer
T
SD260 – Mid-range simplex printer
he Datacard® SD and SP Series printers operate faster, better, and at a lower cost, whether you’re striving for security, loyalty or convenience. Their competitive features and price make them the best value on the market. Dozens of innovations combine to create these industry-leading card printers. SD and SP Series printers outperform in their categories so you can do the same in yours. TruePick™ anti-jam card handling (SD Series) accurately picks cards and helps reduce the stress of a busy workday. The SD360™ and SD260™ card printers consistently print ID cards faster and more reliably – and at the best value on the market. Whether you need a more secure workplace or a convenient solution to office identification, SD Series printers adapt to your needs and your budget so you can print confidently. Designed for card issuers looking to increase productivity and manage costs, the Datacard® SP30 Plus card printer offers an economical printing solution that produces professional, high-quality cards with full- or partial-colour images – ideal for issuing drivers licenses, national healthcare cards, corporate ID cards, government ID cards and more. Smart card encoding on most printer models produce more secure solutions for a range of applications including education, healthcare and corporate needs.
SD360 – Mid to High range duplex printer
BUSINESS PRODUCT Review
Enquire about our trade-in offers
SP75 Plus – High-end duplex printer
For enhanced security and durability, the Datacard® SP75 Plus card printer has been engineered to enable government agencies, high-tech corporations, universities and other security-minded organisations to protect people, facilities and critical assets. The next generation of card printing from Datacard combines dozens of great innovations into industry-leading perfection.
Datacard® SD360 for vibrant images at superior speeds
Datacard® SP30 for low costper-card, high yield printing
Datacard® SP75 with advanced security technology
• One-sided edge-to-edge printing; manual two-sided printing • Full-colour printing: Up to 160 cards per hour; Monochrome: Up to 750 cards per hour • Easy to operate: The printer driver provides message prompts, recovery instructions, colour image preview and online user help
Datacard® SD260 for superior speed and productivity • One-sided, edge-to-edge printing; manual two-sided printing • Full-colour printing: up to 200 cards per hour (single-sided), up to 155 cards per hour (two-sided). Monochrome: up to 830 cards per hour • Easy, fast installation • Printer messages display on LCD panel • TruePick™ Features
• Two-sided (duplex) card printing • Full-colour printing: up to 200 cards per hour (one-sided) up to 155 cards per hour (two-sided). Monochrome: up to 830 cards per hour (one-sided) • Intuitive LCD panel with soft-touch controls • TruePick™ Features
• Intense security: one standard laminator and a second optional laminator (extend card life and help defend against tampering) • High durability • Diverse functionality: apply the same security laminate to both sides of the card or apply different laminates to each side Call Altech Card Solutions today for more info!
CONTACT INFO
Altech Card Solutions
Contact : Kurt Burger Tel : 011 879 5700 Fax : 011 879 5800 Cell : 083 600 0057 Email : kurtb@acs.altech.co.za Website : www.acs.altech.co.za
7
Design Ideas To Life
PI X L PS
LTD EY
BULLION BROKERS
•
LO
StratWorks We Empower!
NDON
•
SH AR
Bringing
Black ink
IRRIGATION MADE BRILLIANTLY SIMPLE
A division of Cold Press Media
Black Sheep Design Co is an authorised Adobe reseller. Tel: +27 21 686 1025 | Cell: +27 82 454 2478 Fax: +27 86 510 2267 | Email: info@blacksheepdesign.co.za
Black Sheep Design Co.
www.blacksheepdesign.co.za
BUSINESS PRODUCT Review
The perfect partner for a hardworking office Nashua’s Aficio™ MP C3002 – a smart MFP you can adapt to meet your team’s unique needs
T
he Aficio™MP C3002 is the perfect office partner. This elegant, highachieving all-rounder will look good and work well in any office. The user-friendly home screen saves time and effort, while a range of handy features aid workflow and connectivity between colleagues.
Print from USB/SD The new MFPs are equipped with a USB/SD c ard reader. Located to the side of the operation panel, the card reader is easily accessible. Particularly useful in walk up environments, it enables users to print documents and JPEG images without needing to open them on a PC. JPEG files can be previewed in colour on the MFP’s operation panel.
Customisable Home Screen The home screen of the MFP can be customised. A corporate logo can be inserted at the upper right corner of the screen and the desktop customised to include preferred function icons. Individual users can also create their own personal home screens to include a programme shortcut which automates a frequently used operation.
able to control the print environment and reduce cost. A new scheduling feature enables the administrator to set the point at which individual users and group print quotas are reset.
Scheduled print The Scheduled Print feature enables users to specify when documents will be printed. Using this feature, it is possible to schedule long print jobs – invoices, statements, reports etc. – to run overnight, when they are less likely to inconvenience other users. The time is specif ied within the print driver and can be amended using the operation panel or WebImage Monitor.
Auto Job Promotion This feature reduces downtime associated with paper size mismatch and other print errors. With Auto Job Promotion enabled, jobs that can be executed immediately will be promoted over jobs that would otherwise cause the print queue to stall. Skipped jobs can be reprinted from the operational panel or Web Image Monitor once the error has been resolved.
MFP Web Browser (option) Using the optional MFP Web Browser, users can browse external websites and print out the displayed page directly from the operational panel of the MFP. Webpage addresses can be registered as bookmark icons on home screen. Using this feature, users can print Google maps, e-tickets and coupons without needing to access a PC/Mac.
ECO-Information Screen The eco-information screen encourages sustainable behaviour by bringing green metrics directly to the attention of users. A pop-up on the operation panel advises the total number of pages printed by each user and shows any reduction they have made in paper consumption through use of duplex and N-up printing. The pop-up has a free-type area in which the administrator can promote a corporate environmental message.
Data Overwrite Security and HDD Encryption Data Overwrite Security overwrites temporary data held on the MFP’s hard drive with random data. The random data is overwritten twice to ensure that the original data cannot be recovered. This method of data overwrite is the USA Department of Defence standard. HDD Encryption protects information by encrypting the address book, authentication information and stored documents.
CONTACT INFO
Nashua
Contact : Eugene Engelbrecht Tel : +27 11 232 8142 Fax : +27 87 944 5437 Email : eugene_engelbrecht@nashua.co.za Website : www.nashua.co.za
Quota Scheduling Quota Setting allows the administrator to limit the output of individual users and user groups. By setting page count and user count limits, the administrator is
11
Yourthe Place or Ours? End paper chase
Print Anywhere, Print Less
Solutions for running your back office more efficiently - so they don't run you. With Lexmark Print Release and Document Accounting, create atops secure, shared outputsuch as Of all the many things that can drain efficiency from your back you office,can paperwork the list. Operations environment while gaining true visibility into how your organization captures, manages andand accesses accounts payable, human resources and expense management even the basic office tasks of printing information. What’s more, today Lexmark can offer these two solutions as on-premise software or as scanning can be quickly buried under the flood of paper. Software as a Service (SaaS) to maximize your performance goals and generate greater value from
your investment Lexmark back office solutions energize your daily routines. They help you get more done in less time with fewer resources. Gauteng (011) 462-6838 | Pretoria (012) 665-2226 | Kwazulu Natal (031) 569 6330 | Western Cape (021) 982-1775 Gauteng (011) 462-6838 | Pretoria (012) 665-2226 | Kwazulu Natal (031) 569 6330 | Western Cape (021) 982-1775 www.roan.co.za www.roan.co.za
www.tpdc.co.za
Gauteng (011) 462-6838 Pretoria (012) 665-2226 Kwazulu Natal (031) 569-6330 Western Cape (021) 982-1775
Subscribe to Which? and win! Subscribe or update your details and stand a chance to win one of four Office Well-Being Hampers, valued at R800.00 each. Congratulations to the winners of last month’s competition! They are: Clive Zar, GD Blackbeard, Stuart Fyfe and Gary Van Riet
BUSINESS PRODUCT Review
Vol 29.4 in Association With:
FRee SUBSCRiPTiOn!
Published by: CJ interactive CC Tel: 011 795 1815 | Fax: 011 794 7280 Email: info@which.co.za | www.which.co.za
Simply point your browser to www.which.co.za/ subscribe
FREE SUBSCRIPTION! Simply point your browser to www.which.co.za/ subscribe
See inSide ...
HD Video Conferencing • MFPs Mailing Equipment• LED Displays Projectors • Bar Code Printers Digital Printing• Shredders Binding Equipment ... and much more
Products in hamper may differ from products shown
By
Painful truth! Sit up to a smarter way of Working. Introducing Prof Ergo – Here to help you work smarter.
One of the easiest and quickest ways to understand if you or your employees are at risk is to take a simple workstation assessment to analyse, consider and reduce risks, discomfort and injury, ensuring it’s safe to use. It can also help to identify the accessories most effective in preventing reoccurrence of common injuries. Prevention reduces the costly burden of injuries to businesses, improves employee performance and reduces sick days. Professor Ergo is here to help you understand the benefits of adopting Office Well-Being in the workplace. Making a positive change to the way the people in your business work can improve productivity, morale and ultimately save money within your business. For more information on Office Well-Being and to take the online workstation assessment, visit www.ergo.fellowes.com
Employers and employees alike underestimate the time and money wasted by an uncomfortable workspace. Today almost everyone in the office environment works with a computer. Without realising it, our desks are becoming a danger zone – constant working with poor posture can lead to painful ailments and injuries. When poor posture is combined with sitting for long periods without a break, muskoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are often experienced. These include trigger finger, tendonitis, carpal-tunnel syndrome, shoulder and neck problems and more. Office Well-Being involves designing a work environment to fit the individual’s specific needs. You should never have to adapt to your workstation ... your workstation should adapt to you!
Did you know? 7 out of 10 people will suffer from pain linked to the way they work at their desks.* To ensure you’re not one of them, visit: www.ergo.fellowes.com *Source: Dynamic Markets Research 2010.
Wrist Supports
Back Supports
Monitor Risers
Laptop Risers
Foot Supports
ForOffice trade enquiries, pleaseSupplier contact Beswick Officewww.fellowes.co.za Products on (011) 433 2686 Available from your favourite Products or visit
www.bop.co.za
13
BUSINESS PRODUCT Review
Urban Brew covers world’s toughest endurance race When Urban Brew Studios secured the global television rights to the world’s toughest endurance race, the 2011/12 Scott-Amundsen Centenary Race to the South Pole, CEO Danie Ferreira opted for Sony cameras from Jasco Broadcast Solutions. The experience was mind blowing – so was the performance of the Sony PMW-EX3 XDCAM EX cameras.
S
eventeen extreme endurance athletes from six countries, were flown to the start, 704km from the South Pole, from where they raced to the finish unsupported, on foot and with cross country skis, hauling gear and provisions. “The Urban Brew team had a dual focus – to document the entire event, complete with daily updates, and to capture the experience of the South African competitors,” says Ferreira. “With a small team of four and three Sony PMW-EX3 XDCAM EX camera kits we spent 6 weeks on the ice – often at temperatures of -40°C, in katabatic (downward moving) winds of up to 80mph, in a landscape of white on glaring white.”
Where most TV series end, this race starts Two Urban Brew crew members covered the leading competitors while the other two captured the dramas unfolding at the back of the pack. While exhilarating, the cold and pace of work were fatiguing. Says Ferreira: “In summer the sun never sets at these latitudes, it just moves around your head. We found ourselves working two or three days at a stretch to capture the action before taking a break. This made the performance of the cameras and related equipment a vital part of our success. The challenges we prepared for were not the challenges we faced, however.” Ferreira, a self-confessed Antarctic junkie who had visited the area four times, knows
the environment well. “The Antarctic is the coldest, highest, driest desert on the planet,” says Ferreira. “Where most TV series end, this race starts. There is amazing coastal and marine life but the minute you move onto the plateau you are 3000 meters above the sea and must battle low levels of oxygen. And there is no landscape definition, no mountains or
“There is no landscape definition, no mountains or other features – it’s like a white sea of ice.”
14
BUSINESS PRODUCT
Seventeen extreme endurance athletes from six countries, were flown to the start, 704km from the South Pole, from where they raced to the finish unsupported, on foot and with cross country skis, hauling gear and provisions.
other features – it’s like a white sea of ice. At -30°C to -40°C, its 60° colder than what we are used to in South Africa. We were unsure how the equipment would function in this environment.
Performance batteries, tripods, cameras “We thought the Sony BP-U60 batteries would be our greatest challenge, as their staying power in cold environments is typically low. To ensure we had sufficient battery power, we had ported inverters. To our surprise and delight, instead of lasting only a couple of hours each, they lasted 15-20 hours each. The tripods, which we had not given much thought to, seized at -40°C, which meant we could not use the pan and tilt functionality. We had to resort to shooting off the ice surface. As any colour darker than white melts the ice, and we didn’t want the cameras getting wet, we worked fast.” The cameras themselves gave not a single
The experience was mind blowing – so was the performance of the Sony PMW-EX3 XDCAM EX cameras.
Review
problem. “The cameras started every time and functioned fully to performance spec without trouble, which is almost unprecedented in my experience. I did impose some very strict rules on how and where they were used and stored, however. As our most important tools, we were careful to keep them in the dry cold of the external environment, never bringing them into the moist heat of the tents.”
“In summer the sun never sets at these latitudes, it just moves around your head.” Other challenges were keeping frost bite at bay and dealing with glare. “To work the camera we had to take off our heavy outer gloves which left fingers vulnerable. We also had to shoot with a wide aperture to overcome the challenges of ice build-up on the lens. With 24 hours of daylight and a white on white on white environment with no landscape definition, we needed a lot of neutral density filters to bring light levels down.”
The winners The event was won by the Norwegian team in a record breaking 15 days. The Welsh team followed, making it to the finish in 22 days. The South African team of Braam Malherbe and Peter van Kets came in third at 24 days, having assisted Team British Green to carry
15
the load of an injured team mate. It was quite a feat for the two who had never used skis before this event but who had, respectively, ran the Great Wall of China and rowed solo across the Atlantic Ocean. “Braam and Peter are truly remarkable athletes,” says Ferreira. “To have achieved what they did is outstanding. Brave Hearts, the 90-minute feature which captures Team SA’s journey, tells the story well – the psychological and physical challenges.” Cold Sweat is currently being screened locally on SABC 3, a three-part feature covering the whole event. Both the documentary feature and the documentary series will flight internationally in the coming months. Concludes Ferreira: “For me this has been a dream come true – I love the Antarctic and I love to work with a camera – I got to do both with great equipment and an event that few will ever personally witness.” Says Rupert Dalton, Sales Executive at Jasco Broadcast Solutions: “We were pleased to have been able to advise on the purchase of the Sony PMW-EX3 cameras used for this event. It’s an awesome achievement by some pretty amazing South Africans – the Urban Brew team and the athletes. These documentaries are a showcase for South Africa’s talent and much as the capabilities of Sony’s cameras.” Duplicated, kind courtesy of AV Specialist.
BUSINESS PRODUCT Review
Digital signage: the right information in all the right places
T
he global advertising landscape has seen a dramatic transformation over the past decade. While traditional print advertisements in newspapers and magazines have witnessed a decline that threatens the existence of some print news media outlets, market share and interest in interactive advertisement on web, mobile and other innovative media has skyrocketed. The advent of affordable, interconnected, high-definition flat digital displays has enabled content providers, including advertisers, to replace static screens by timely targeted content delivered to the audience. According to a new report published by the ITU (International Telecommunications Union) digital signage “is a network of digital displays that are centrally managed and addressable for targeted information, enter tainment, merchandising and advertisement�. While digital signage is now found in many different scenarios the highest revenue comes from, and hence the major focus of the industry is on, digital out-of-home
(DOOH) advertising. Digital signage is not to be confused with television, broadcasting or a PC running a PowerPoint presentation in an infinite loop. The content either follows a pre-arranged linear playlist with clearly defined time slots for different content elements, or a dynamic playlist evolving according to many criteria including user inter-action. Content changes can also be triggered by location information or environmental sensors. Digital signage incorporates different technologies relying on a set of standards: displays, network infrastructure for content delivery, communication protocols, and software and hardware for management and playback of content. Propelled by advances in the field of display technologies (such as touch-screen technology), radiofrequency identif ication (RFID) and near-f ield communication (NFC), personalisation of content and user interaction has become increasingly relevant. O ther trends include customised application programming interfaces (APIs) and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) models
18
that allow digital signage network operators to set up their networks and control and monitor campaigns via a remote location or the web. The fact that most digital signage solutions are proprietary systems impedes the integration of various applications across different networks or vendors. As long as products from different vendors do not interoperate, it will remain challenging and costly to build and expand large-scale digital signage networks.
US$ 4.5 billion industry According to the ITU, spending on digital signage systems, including displays, media players, software and installation/ maintenance costs, will more than triple from close to USD 1.3 billion (2010) to almost USD 4.5 billion (2016). This rapid growth is associated with falling costs and increasing market penetration in the post-recession period. Furthermore, advances in areas such as LED and touch technologies provide businesses with unique and cost-effective ways of displaying
BUSINESS PRODUCT Review
information more impressively and more efficiently than ever.
Content is key While the United States represents the largest regional market, developing economies in Asia, Latin America and the Middle East are seen as major contributors to the predicted uptake of digital signage. Many cities in countries including Brazil, China, India, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the UAE are witnessing a retail boom spurred by economic growth, increasing incomes and rising standards of living. Digital signage installations in the areas of retail, financial systems, hospitality and transportation could accompany and fuel this transition. With the technology now mature and increasingly widespread, design and selection of the content displayed is a key factor in achieving the desired effects. Crafting and conveying an appealing and appropriate message that engages the consumer, far from being a trivial task, is a skill involving aspects of market research, psychology, aesthetics and business. In many digital signage applications, it is essential that content is regularly updated and adapted to the market environment. While the playback of audio messages is an option, the predominant media used in digital signage networks are visual, as sound may be perceived as noise by consumers and staff present in the vicinity of the audio sources. The presentation of content with audio requires more bandwidth, more processing power and higher-quality end terminals. This can overload the communications
infrastructure and limits responsiveness in content delivery. The content reproduced with digital signage can be as diverse as its source. It is typically produced by marketing and sales professionals, professional audiovisual/ web advertising agencies and freelancers, based on aggregator services (RSS feeds or feeds developed by ICT service providers) or generated by the user.
on digital signage if it succeeds in the consumer electronics market. Remote management of displays can be advantageous, in particular to manage on-off behaviour, colour settings, and audio volume. It can be observed that an increasing amount of functionality is being added to displays and this means that the implementation of digital signage terminals is now easier than it used to be.
Technology overview
Evolution of Media players
Over the past decade, display technologies have seen major advances in resolution and drastic cost reductions. Heavyweight, cumbersome and power-hungry CRT screens have essentially vanished from the scene and made way for ultra-flat LED, LCD and plasma panels in all sizes and resolutions, which can be deployed in any of the scenarios described earlier. Other application-specific parameters include casing, mounting and layout. Outdoor settings may make brightness control and dust, heat and water resistance indispensable. But development does not stop here: scientists and display engineers keep pushing the limits to further reduce cost and increase performance, quality of experience and energy efficiency. Displays based on organic LEDs (OLEDs) are becoming increasingly dominant in the small to medium screen size device segment (smartphones, portable digital media players and laptops), and will make their way to larger indoor and outdoor panels once manufacturing is profitable.
Recent developments in 3D Recent developments in 3D are also interesting and it appears reasonable to assume that “glasses-free 3D� screen technology will have a significant impact
19
As one might imagine, the role of the media player is not limited to presenting the right content on the right display at the right time. Media players used in digital signage also offer interfaces for remote monitoring and configuration services. They are responsible for managing proof-of-display log files and implement audience measurement or user interaction capabilities. Finally, they have to be capable of providing support for the most common multimedia formats, unicast as well as multicast protocols. The offline characteristics of media players enable scheduled caching and downloading of media content and related resources based on a set of rules. Media player behaviour and performance can be managed by the headend equipment using a pre-established communication protocol.
Content management Management and delivery of content to the media player is organised in the head-end through dedicated systems that have the ability to create, change and delete play schedules and to transfer these lists and the associated content. Content is stored internally or externally and described through metadata. The systems are capable of meeting the requirements of different application scenarios and appear for the
BUSINESS PRODUCT Review
most part in the form of robust and featurerich “thick clients”. More complex systems can assign and manage roles to different classes of user (e.g. editors, contributors, freelancers) and allow for compositions combining remote and local content. In addition to content-related features, content management systems also implement tools for statistical analysis, audience profiling and log file auditing.
Trends in digital signage Falling hardware costs mean that largescale public display networks are becoming commonplace in many settings. However, the full potential of digital signage as an innovative interactive medium, as compared to traditional static media, has to some extent remained untapped. Some argue that the advantages need to be exploited in order to achieve the commercial breakthrough of digital signage technologies. One way of increasing interactivity is via the consumer’s mobile device: with almost six billion mobile cellular subscriptions
worldwide, many of them including access to high-speed 3G services, mobile devices are virtually ubiquitous. All handsets feature at least some basic interfaces, including SMS, and short-range radio technologies such as Bluetooth and NFC. If the display point is equipped with the same interface, an SMS or the proximity of a consumer and handset can start a video clip or issue a coupon on the display or handset. Integration of information from the consumer’s social network application (Facebook) running on a smartphone could customise the information presented on the digital sign, and enable, for instance, targeted promotion. Many products in supermarkets and department stores now carry RFID tags for logistical purposes. Nutritional data on a food item and the item’s expiry date can easily be displayed on digital signage installations with RFID tag reader features, making such installations a part of the socalled Internet of Things.
20
Biometric recognition of consumers Biometric recognition and its incorporation in digital signage is another hot topic. Under discussion is technology that can track heat paths to show a consumer’s movement around a retail environment while gaze tracking can be used to identify the area of a sign, which the consumer spends most time looking at. Biometrics can help identifying and distinguishing between frequent customers (previously enrolled) and first-time customers – priceless information for marketers. More controversial are biometric recognition technologies capable of determining the age, gender and ethnicity of passers-by. Microsoft Surface is an example combining some of these features and it gives a hint to what the future of digital signage could look like. Five infrared cameras embedded in the housing of a flat panel display are capable of recognising and locating the fingertips of users touching and interacting with the
BUSINESS PRODUCT Review
display. Natural user interfaces (NUIs) like these enable users not only to passively consume but to actively participate and engage with the medium.
An experience for all senses? NTT Japan has taken the idea of engagement somewhat further and launched digital signs equipped with aroma-emitting devices in order to strengthen the impact of marketing communications. Branded as Kaoru Signage (aroma signage), the product combines digital signage and NTT’s Kaori Tsushin (fragrance communication) online service, which instructs specified web-connected devices to emit mood-heightening aromas. The strength of the fragrance can be adjusted to meet the requirements of the scenario. A broadband connection enables video, sound and fragrance settings to be transmitted to multiple locations. NTT believes that aromas increase the chances of passers-by seeing the sign, remembering the product being advertised and eventually buying it.
Cloud-based digital signage The cloud computing paradigm has been seeing a breakthrough in a wide area of
applications over the last couple of years. Many digital signage service providers are following the trend and offering digital signage Software as a metered and managed Service (SaaS model), payable per hour of use or number of operations. SaaS has emerged as a popular solution because it is reliable and cost efficient and can be deployed rapidly on digital signage networks of any size.
Conclusion No longer limited to New York’s Times Square, the London Stock Exchange or the commercial areas of Shinjuku, Tokyo, digital displays are becoming increasingly omnipresent at Points of Wait, Sale and Transit. Many of them are part of extensive networks of connected displays that are managed centrally and addressable for targeted information, entertainment, merchandising and advertising – an emerging medium described as digital signage. While the number of service providers and manufacturers of digital signage components and solutions is increasing, the associated
21
standards ecosystem appears to be rather incomplete. Some groups and initiatives are calling for interoperability to facilitate the rollout of large-scale digital signage networks, foster innovative applications and avoid vendor lock-in. These groups include advertising industry associations, technical suppliers, national interest groups and a number of formal standards development bodies, such as ITU-T. ITU-T Study Group 16 has taken an important first step by starting work on a “Framework for Digital Signage Services”. Recognising that a useful foundation has been laid for the similar IPTV application space of IPTV, much work remains to be done in order to achieve an all-embracing digital signage suite of standards. This suite would also include screenmedia formats and associated advertising units, network requirements, security and privacy enhancing solutions and test cases. Extensive collaboration with the digital signage industry and its interest groups should contribute to taking the next steps without duplication of effort. Duplicated, kind courtesy of AV Specialist.
BUSINESS PRODUCT Review
Nashua provides a solution that all products and services in one ...with our solutions we meet all business needs.
N
ashua provides a clear value to customers looking for best-in-class applications and infrastructure that can support their business flows and that are, at the same time, affordable and easily deployed and managed. In today’s business scenario, organisations that have yet to modernise and update their business infrastructure are finding wide inefficiencies between what exists and what is possible. Often obsolete software and hardware is left to manage key aspects of an organisation’s operations with little or no collaboration between the different back end systems and data capturing hardware.
The consequence is lost time, lost money, and putting you last through weak performance. As organisations grow, total automation of its business operations would ultimately be required. When that happens, a Total Business Solution (TBS) would need to be put in place. An effective Total Business Solution (TBS) reduces costs, saves money, and drives performance. Streamline the way you work and enhance your organisation’s performance. Work more efficiently by bringing team members, tools and information together in collaborative workplaces. See how companies are solving critical business problems with Nashua Solutions, unique model to deliver best-inclass business solutions.
Key Benefits: Complete solution. By combining Nashua Office Automation with Nashua Mobile’s infrastructure offerings, this alliance is bringing specific, end-to-end hardware, software, and services solutions to mid size customers. This saves mid size companies the effort of piecing together a solution themselves while providing a solution with the appropriate configuration “sized” for their specific requirements. Benefits of product breadth and scope. The extensiveness of the Nashua product portfolio, with its reusable building blocks for sustainable business process improvement, along with reference configurations for different classes of hardware, provides a robust platform for companies to pursue
22
system standardisation and best-practice replication. Scalable. With Nashua, businesses can implement the same business applications that are run by the largest enterprises, meaning they will not need to change their applications as their businesses grow. Highly configurable. Leveraging the capabilities of Nashua, solutions are adapted to companies’ specific business flow needs based on granular industry specifications as well as geography, without the cost, timeline, or “lock-in” associated with custom code. With our solutions we are targeting a variety of different business needs and vertical market requirements. Reduced time to value. Nashua enable applications to be quickly configured and deployed, and the availability of reference configurations means the entire hardware plus software solution can be implemented rapidly.
BUSINESS PRODUCT Review
contains delivery
Ease of purchase. Nashua allows mid size customers to access these solutions through the channel they already know and/ or who is within their geographic region or locality. Reduced risk. With reference configurations consisting of setup guides to lead franchises through setups that are appropriately “sized” for the needs of customers, solutions can be implemented more quickly and with less risk. Focus on higher value-added offerings. With this initiative, Nashua can spend less time and effort on the core installation. This benefits customers because franchisers can spend more attention focusing on higher value-added services.
Some industries that have benefitted from Nashua’s total solution offerings Direct Marketing: • Assists in maintaining accurate customer data. • Better Customer service by way of prompt response and follow up. Logistic Industry: • Helps in conveying vital information to all stakeholders and others, dealing with the company. • Facilitate connectivity and integration in all the associated areas. Medical Practitioner: • Integrating clinics at your different locations. • Easy & fast access to patient data from your different clinics. • Maintaining accurate health records of the patients. Non-Governmental Organisations: • Help NGOs with better and more efficient management of their accounts and finances. • Increases the efficiency, lowers cost, generates more timely reports. • Facilitates better control over the organisation’s operations. Education Institute: • Maintain database of students, employees, trustees, etc. • Maintain records of student fees, staff salary, institute expenses, etc. • Keep track of student academic performance cultural festivals, events, seminars, etc.
Real Estate: • Proper project scheduling in stages with costs and allocation of resources. • Remote project monitoring with generation of various timely reports from multiple work sites and head office. Insurance agent: • Maintain complete customer database along with their policy details. • Maintain database of insurance policies. • Track premium due dates and send reminders to clients. Courier Service: • Track when and who signed for goods received. • Track receipt of payments from customers along with payment reminders.
What We Do: Nashua delivers an easy to pick-whatyou-need service, accessible for all sizes of companies to centrally manage their business processes no matter wherever you are you can be in constant touch with your business. Nashua Solutions integrates the information used by an organisation’s many different departmental functions into an Electronic Document Management System (EDMS). Nashua Solutions is designed to model and automate many of the basic processes of a business organisation beginning from customer inquiry stage to manufacturing management, with a goal of integrating information across the company.
The design of Nashua Solutions facilitates clear integration of modules thus providing flow of information between all functions within an organisation.
CONTACT INFO
Nashua
Contact : Ben Sheppard Tel : +27 11 232 8190 Fax : +27 87 944 6939 Email : bens@nashua.co.za Website : www.nashua.co.za
It uses multiple platforms to bring customers, dealers, suppliers, manufacturers and employees together.
23
BUSINESS PRODUCT Review
SBMS is an approved Service & Repair agent for SONY.
Your space deserves a projector that fits Recent trends towards brighter business projectors are accelerating demands for the use of even brighter light sources as well as smaller projector sizes. Whatever your projection needs, Sony offers a model to suit your application, from 3LCD entry-level, basic installation to high-end installation models.
VPL-FH500L versatile installation WUXGA projector Ultimate picture quality and dramatic brightness in WUXGA projection Packing the most advanced projector technologies into a low-profile design, the VPL-FH500L delivers a dramatic brightness of 7,000 lumens and ultra high-quality images with WUXGA resolution. The VPL-FH500L offers peace-of-mind operation with a twin-lamp system that provides both a redundant lamp and economical operation. Alternating the two lamps gives replacement time of up to 8,000 hours, saving maintenance time and cost. It also delivers amazing installation flexibility and hassle-free maintenance in a stylish design that blends into any decor. This projector has a very wide lens shift range for excellent flexibility when installing the unit and adjusting the image. Lamp and air filter maintenance cycles are synchronised and exceptionally long compared to singlelamp and other dual-lamp systems, cutting maintenance time and cost.
Ultra-high wuxga resolution with full-HD compatibility The VPL-FH500 delivers an amazing resolution of WUXGA (1920 x 1200), which exceeds Full-HD resolution (1920 x 1080). It also allows projection in a wider display range: more information can be displayed on the screen, so the user can see the whole page without scrolling. Extremely clear and detailed high-quality images are projected, even on a large screen, and native Full-HD images can be projected full screen. The VPL-FH500L is the ultimate tool for projecting images in a range of applications requiring exceptional detail. Brilliant colour performance By combining a new-generation optical system that uses Sony’s BrightEra™ with Long Lasting Optics technology and a 3LCD
24
projection system, the VPL-FH500L offers a high brightness of 7,000 lumens and presents bright and natural images. Lens shift function Controlled from either the projector control panel or the supplied Remote Commander™ unit, the position of the projected image can be moved vertically by -113% to +113% and horizontally by -63% to +63%. Images can be easily adjusted to the desired settings during installation. With this exceptional shift range, the VPL-FH500L can be installed in a way to maximise performance even in the most difficult environments.
BUSINESS PRODUCT Review
VPL-FX30 | FX35 advanced installation (XGA) projectors High brightness and low maintenance The VPL-FX30 and VPL-FX35 offer amazing installation flexibility and hassle-free maintenance, along with stylish yet inconspicuous design that blends into any decor. Packing the most advanced projector technologies into a low-profile design, the VPL-FX30 is an excellent choice, delivering a dramatic brightness of 4200 lumens and high-quality images with XGA resolution. Designed to fit into almost any situation that needs a high-quality projector, The VPL-FX35 is perfect for new installations and for updating older equipment using existing mounts and fittings. Versatile image adjustability and lens options allow installers to place The VPLFX35 in locations where other projectors would struggle to work – even in high ambient light.
Excellent image capabilities and a long lifespan Sony’s BrightEra technology improves and maintains colour purity throughout the life of these systems by protecting the LCD panels against harmful ultra violet light. Simple to use and maintain, extremely functional and with a low cost-of-ownership, these are an obvious choice for venues that demand quality and practicality. The VPL-FX30 incorporates a high-resolution lens known as the All Range Crisp Focus (ARC-F) lens, whose large diameter and fine pitch ensure crisp pictures. It also incorporates 12-bit 3D Gamma Correction circuitry to perform highly accurate gamma correction, achieving smoother gradations and richer grey-scale.
Wide Zoom and Wide Lens Shift Range The standard lens has wide zoom capability for more flexible positioning, closer to or further back from the screen. Wide lens shift range means it can be positioned closer to the ceiling or horizontally offset to avoid ceiling obstacles. Lenses are also interchangeable for increased flexibility. Less maintenance Longer lamp life and synchronised lamp and filter replacement halve the maintenance needed to keep the projector in peak operating condition.
VPL-CW255 | CX235 basic installation (WXGA | XGA) projectors Installation flexibility, eco-friendly and good TCO with a stylish design The VPL-CW255 and VPL-CX235 deliver installation flexibility, eco-friendly features, and a low total cost ownership in a stylish design that blends into any decor. Their image correction features and lens shift/zoom capability easily allow users to fit any image onto the screen, even from an offset projection angle. These projectors are economically designed for optimum energy efficiency, thanks to their auto power saving function, picture muting function with lamp control technology, long-lasting lamp, and low power consumption. The VPL-CW255 offers 4,500 lumens brightness and wide screen projection with WXGA resolution, while the VPL-CX235 provides 4,100 lumens brightness and high image quality with XGA resolution. Vertical/horizontal keystone distortion With these projectors, vertical keystone distortion up to +/- 30 degrees and horizontal distortion up to +/- 20 degrees can be digitally corrected via the on-screen operation menu and/or the Remote Commander™ unit.
This enables detailed images to be projected with their correct geometry, even when installation space is limited. Advanced geometric correction Each corner can be grabbed and fitted squarely to the desired position. This feature is useful when an offset projection is necessary. Fine lens shift The lens shift function allows image position to be easily fine tuned vertically or horizontally. Convenient, simple projector replacement The standard 1.5x zoom lens enables installation flexibility when replacing an existing projector with the VPL-CW255 or VPL-CX235 – there’s no need to change ceiling mount positions. “Blend-in”design The VPL-CW255 and VPL-CX235 showcase a new low-profile chassis, so these projectors appear to blend into the ceiling or wall on which they are mounted.
25
Cost- and energy-efficient By incorporating a high-performance lamp and advanced lamp-control technology, the VPL-CW255 and VPL-CX235 deliver an extremely long lamp replacement time of 5,000 hours as well as offering remarkably low power consumption, allowing users to make significant electricity savings.
SBMS
CONTACT INFO
Contact : Domingos Nunes Tel : 0861 101 341 Email : domingos@sbms.co.za
BUSINESS PRODUCT Review
German-engineered Renz binding machines add the perfect finishing touch to your documents and presentation material
Document binding systems with punch
SRW/Eco S 360
Combi E
Punch 500
Combi S
DTP 340 M
Ringwire Binding in 3:1 and 2:1 pitch - the international standard.
Heavy duty electric plastic comb binder
Electric high capacity punch for binding
Electric, heavy duty, binding punch for all formats.
• Punches up to 30 sheets • Binds up to 450 sheets • 340mm binding width
• Punches up to 40 sheets • Punching width: 500mm • Interchangeable dies
Durable plastic comb binding machine • Punches up to 25 sheets • Fully adjustable
• Punches up to 25 sheets • Binds up to 300 sheets • Binding width 340mm
R
years.
enz, a range of efficient punch/ binding machines, made in Germany to last. Proudly marketed in South Africa by W. Vos & Co for over 25
Machines to suit your budget For small binding requirements to huge volume applications, Renz’s large range of punching and binding equipment has the solution.
Ringwire binding Is Renz’s speciality, making documents easy to bind with this very popular binding method.
Plastic comb binding Renz plastic comb punching and binding machines are of an all-metal, robust construction, to withstand rigorous use. Their user-friendly, efficient design speeds up the binding operation and boosts productivity.
• Interchangeable dies • Punch width: 340mm • For 3:1/2:1 ringwire, plastic comb and spiral binding holes
And each with interchangeable punching dies for all binding methods.
All your binding requirements Why use inferior supplies with your sophisticated binding machines? The Renz range of machines and consumables from W Vos & Co are of the best quality and are competitively priced to enhance your presentations and protect your documents.
Spiral binding
Punches 100 000 sheets/ hour!
The Renz AP360 fully automatic punching system
Renz’s spiral binding machines punch unique oval holes that make it very easy to wind in the spiral element. And the super robust construction ensures maximum punching throughput.
Punching machines Copy shops and binderies need efficient punching systems to cope with very high volumes – and Renz has a range of versatile machines that meet these stringent demands.
26
CONTACT INFO
W. Vos & Co
Contact : Ayleen Tel : 011 493 7139 Distributors : CT : 021 424 3140 Dbn : 031 312 9325 PE : 041 586 1146 Email : info@wvos.co.za Website : www.wvos.co.za
The South African Communications Industries Association is a not-for-profit Trade Association committed to promoting the adoption of professional standards in the audiovisual industry throughout Africa.
An informed business choice Question: When selecting a vendor for your next AV installation, which of these items is the LEAST important item you should consider? a. b. c. d.
Answer: (a) In today’s tough economic climate it’s obviously important to consider price as an important factor in choosing a supplier for your next AV installation. But choosing a supplier based on price alone is a surefire path to failure and an ineffective AV solution. Chose a vendor based on their ability to provide an AV solution that meets your requirements and make sure you’re buying from a reputable organization with certified staff and the resources to back-up your installation on a longterm basis.
Price quoted for the project Installation quality of the installations dept Company reputation in the marketplace Financial stability of the supplier
SACIA is the leading trade association for the professional AV industry in Southern Africa. We promote the adoption of professional standards in the local market and our members commit to truth, honesty and the pursuit of excellence in all aspects of the audiovisual profession. When you’re looking for a reputable supplier with a proven track record in the professional AV market, our members are a good place to start. For more information on SACIA and a full list of members, please visit www.sacia.org.za
27
BUSINESS PRODUCT Review
Sony's PCS Series – a new generation of visual communication
V
isual communication systems continue to evolve to meet various needs of demanding users, making the best use of cuttingedge technologies. Sony has a long history of developing state-of-the-art visual communication systems that make it possible for users to communicate more effectively regardless of location or distance. And now, using the very latest technologies, Sony is redefining business communications. From the powerful and compact highdefinition (HD) model to the basic SD model, Sony's PCS Series offers superb video quality across the line. The incredible video combined with the sophisticated MPEG-4 AAC audio that is available on all models takes your visual communication experience to a new level.
PCS-XG55/ PCS-XA55
From
Powerful, affordable, and R45000. excl. VAT compact, the PCS-XG55 achieves 720p HD video quality with a maximum frame rate of 60 fps, making your style of everyday business communication more effective, productive, and comfortable. With Sony’s unique BrightFace technology, the brightness of each pixel is optimised to 00
highlight shadows, while subduing areas of the image that are too bright – providing clear images in less-than-ideal lighting conditions. With excellent HD video quality in a stylish and compact design, the PCS-XG55 takes your visual communications to the next level.
PCS-XL55 The PCS-XL55 is an all-in- R52000.00 excl. VAT one visual communication system that combines a built-in high-quality camera, 16:9 widescreen 21.6-inch Buy one, WXGA LCD, speakers, and a get one free! microphone in one compact (while current and sleek body that can even stocks last) double as a PC display. Includes data sharing software and three site MCU.
new infrastructure products PCS-VCS Sony PCS-VCS is a HD multipoint connection unit (MCU) which is in compliance with the H.323 protocol. It offers amongst others: • Multiple screen layout- up to 16 continuance presence split screen • Easy expansion - up to 500 sites • HD quality video • Continuous-presence mode with Voice Activated Switching • Supports mixed HD/SD environments.
PCS-EP Series
PCS-EP Series are designed to be installed on a PC.
These products in conjunction with PCS-VCS allow users to join virtual meetings from any remote locations where a broadband IP network is available.
PCS-XG80/ PCS-XA80
From
The new 1080 HD PCS-XG80 R54000.00 Visual Communication excl. VAT system delivers four times the detail of standard definition at up to 30fps, bringing astounding clarity to videoconferencing. Dual screen functionality lets you enjoy a live camera view on one screen at the same time as sharing live data from your laptop.
PCS-G60D/ PCS-G60DP
R46000.00
Powerful, compact, and excl. VAT affordable, this system achieves high picture quality at a low bandwidth rate and at 30fps. Includes data sharing software. Call Sony today for more info.
PCS-RS PCS-RS series server software enables concurrent recording of HD-quality video (at 720p in the H.264 compression format) and PC presentation data, thanks to its H.239 dual-streaming capability.
PCS-FT Firewall Traversal server: Easy and secure H.323 data tunnelling between Firewall Traversal server and clients.
28
CONTACT INFO
Sony
Contact : Will Klopper Tel : 011 690 3200 (ext 3312) Email : will.klopper@ap.sony.com Website : http://pro.sony-asia.com
BUSINESS PRODUCT
Simplicity at your fingertips.
Review
The information organizer that won’t take up your whole desk.
ScanMate i940 Scanner ScanMate
Or your whole day.
i920 Scanner
The information organiser that won't take up your whole desk. Or your whole day.
K
odak announces the new Kodak Seven great things you can do ScanMate i940 Scanner. With the with the Kodak ScanMate i940 same great features as the i920, the Scanner to get ahead: i940 also allows scanning without mains power supply, using only the USb 2.0 • Save space: Compact, highly portable connection. design takes up less desk space This compact scanner saves desk space • Save time: Kodak’s Smart Touch with its small footprint, and saves time by performs multiple-step scanning and automating repetitive tasks. Plus, it creates organising operations automatically. crisp, clearThe images and easily readable text i920 Scanner When A/C powered, colour are compact Kodak ScanMate saves desk space withpages its small on the first scan so you can make quick scanned at up to 15ppm (200dpi) and footprint, and saves time automatingblack repetitive tasks. Plus, it creates work of your scanning tasks. And get by back and white at up to 20ppm. Via to business. USB, black and white and colour pages crisp, clear images and easily readable text on the first scan. So you can are scanned at up to 8ppm (200dpi). With Kodak’s Smart Touch functionality, the work of your scanning tasks. And get back to business. ScanMatemake i940 quick gets important business • Make great images: Kodak’s Perfect documents into your information network Page document imaging is built in — With Kodak’s Touch functionality, the i920 gets important in an instant. That’s Smart because Smart just ScanMate press the button and get great Touch automates multiple-step scanning images with bright crisp business documents into your information network in an colours instant.and That’s operations by capturing, processing, and text sending information for you. because Smart Touch automates multiple-step scanning operations by • Scan it all: Reliably handles a wide At the touch of a button, Smart Touch helps range of documents 20-sheet capturing, processing, and sending information for you. Atwith thethe touch of a you make e-mail attachments, picture files, automatic document feeder, including button, Touch helps you make e-mail attachments, picture files, searchable PDFs, Smart and more. Plus it files extra-long documents, business cards, documents or sends them to “the cloud.” ID cards, andor embossed hardto cards searchable PDFs, and more. Plus it files documents sends them “the For example, if a business configured its cloud.” For example, if a business configured its ID card scanning process ID card scanning process as Option 2, an employee could simply select “2” on the Service & Support as Option 2, an employee could simply select “2” on the scanner display. scanner display. The ID card would beprocessed, scanned, processed, and its image sent to the proper The ID card would be scanned, and its image sent to the proper destination destination — automatically. — automatically. The Kodak ScanMate i940 scanner. The The Kodak ScanMate i920 Scanner. The small, but powerful, way to clear small, but powerful way to clear your desk and get ahead of your day.
Know what it feels like to get ahead.
30
• Stay in contact: Bundled software helps you easily edit and synchronise business card info with your contact applications • Integrate easily: TWAIN and ISIS drivers allow quick compatibility with most scanning software great Kodak thingsCapture you canPro doSoftware with the • Eight Do more: lets you quickly scan, Kodak ScanMate i920 process, Scannerutilise, to get ahead. and manage documents — no thirdSave space C ompact, highly por table des ign party software to buy takes up less desk space
CSX service andKsupport Save time odak’s Smar t Touch per for ms
multiple-step scanning CSX provides a free one year maintenance and organizing agreement with every unit sold inoperations South automatically Africa. Make great images Kodak’s Perfect Page document Call CSX today for more info.
imaging is built in — just press the button and get great image with bright colors and crisp text
Scan it all
CSX
Reliably handles a wide range o documents with the 20-sheet automatic document feeder, including extra-long documents business cards, ID cards, and CONTACT embossed hard INFO cards
Stay in contact
Bundled s oftware helps you
Do more
Kodak Capture Pro Software lets you quickly scan, process, utilize and manage documents — no third-party software to buy
easily edit and synchronize Contact : Kirsty Ashley business Helpline : 0860 670 000 card info with your contact applications Tel : +27 11 663 9322 Fax : +27 11 663 9319 Integrate easily TWAIN and ISIS drivers allow quick compatibility with most Email : kirstya@csx.co.za scanning software Website : www.csx.co.za Branches country wide
We are closed on Public Holidays
ORDERS Mon-Fri 8:30am - 12pm COLLECTIONS Mon-Thurs 8:30am - 4:30pm Fri 8:30am - 3:00pm
TRADING HOURS
N
316
Hill
Vale
MacDonalds
Malibongwe Drive
Hill
Brightwater Commons
Republic Road
FERNDALE
Harley
R 349 R 179
R 299 R 149
R 369 R 189
R 509 R 259
R 259 R 129
R 319 R 159
R 439 R 219
FRONT 200 Cards REVERSE
FRONT Cards REVERSE
R 419 R 149 R 649 R 189 R 919 R 259
R 379 R 129
R 599 R 159
R 839 R 219
R 999 R 289
R 709 R 209
R 489 R 179
R 339 R 139
3/Full Col. R 279 R 99
R 1349 R 219
R 759 R 159
R 509 R 129
R 329 R 99
A3 PRINTS / COPIES B&W COLOUR R 6.50 R 1.50 R 1.00 R 6.00
FLYERS
A6 148mm x 105mm Price / Flyer Colour Front Only R 2.00 Min. 200 R 3.50 Min. 200 Colour Front and Reverse R 2.40 Min. 200 Colour Front B&W Reverse B&W Front Only R 0.90 Min. 200 R 1.20 Min. 200 B&W Front and Reverse
Price / Flyer R 1.00 Min. 400 R 1.75 Min. 400 R 1.20 Min. 400 R 0.45 Min. 400 R 0.60 Min. 400
180gsm Gloss - R3.00 per sheet 160gsm Eltoro (Certificates) - R3.00 per sheet 300gsm Matt / Gloss - R6.00 per sheet 280gsm Ivory Smooth / Linen - R8.00 per sheet
Alternative Papers / Boards - Additional charges
Orders must be in before 12pm for collection NEXT WORKING DAY at 4:30 pm B&W COLOUR 101-250 B&W COLOUR 251-500 B&W COLOUR 500 + R 8.50 R 4.00 R 11.50 R 3.50 R 10.50 R 2.5 Front Front Front R 3.50 R 11.00 Reverse R 3.00 R 10.00 Reverse R 2.00 R 8.00 Reverse
A setup labour charge of R25 inc Vat applies to all Print / Copy orders
128gsm Gloss - R2.00 per sheet 200gsm Gloss - R4.00 per sheet
B&W COLOUR R 3.25 R 0.75 R 0.50 R 3.00
R 1489 R 289
R 859 R 209
R 599 R 179
R 399 R 139
3/Full Col. R 299 R 99
180gsm Gloss - R1.50 per sheet 160gsm Eltoro (Certificates) - R1.50 per sheet 300gsm Matt / Gloss - R3.00 per sheet 280gsm Ivory Smooth / Linen - R4.00 per sheet
Alternative Papers / Boards - Additional charges
Orders must be in before 12pm for collection NEXT WORKING DAY at 4:30 pm B&W COLOUR 101-250 B&W COLOUR 251-500 B&W COLOUR 500 + R 5.75 R 5.25 R 4.25 R 2.00 R 1.75 R 1.25 Front Front Front R 5.50 R 1.75 R 5.00 R 4.00 Reverse R 1.50 Reverse R 1.00 Reverse
R 1419 R 259
R 809 R 189
R 549 R 149
R 359 R 109
2 Colour R 269 R 79
EXECUTIVE BOARD
1 Colour R 239 R 69
324gsm Environement Wove - Ultra Bright White 300gsm Conqueror Text Contour - Diamond White
COURIER
A5 210mm x 148mm Price / Flyer Colour Front Only R 4.00 Min. 100 R 7.00 Min. 100 Colour Front and Reverse R 4.80 Min. 100 Colour Front B&W Reverse B&W Front Only R 1.80 Min. 100 R 2.40 Min. 100 B&W Front and Reverse
Sent Next Day, excluding weekends
PLEASE NOTE: In order to offer the XPRESS SERVICES that we do, we are unable to assist Walk in Customers after 12pm as we have to process all the orders that have come in during the morning. You are welcome to email us your request to sales@tbcc.co.za, which we will attend to the following working day. We thank you in advance for your understanding.
We do not offer a design service. We will refer graphic designers on request. For our existing customers who’s original artwork we already have, we will still do name/tel/address changes, but will not do new layouts/designs. Complete, print ready artwork is to be supplied as a Coreldraw file (.cdr), .pdf or 300dpi .jpg. If supplying a pdf, please save it as an open file. Convert all fonts to curves or paths. All artwork is to include 2mm bleed all the way around for double cuts. For business card quantities, prices are per set of cards (ie.500), cannot be split between 2 or more people (ie.250) A colour proof of exactly how the job will look when printed will be made available at our reception for your approval. On acceptance of the proof, we require payment in full. We accept Cash, Credit Card and EFT payments. No Cheques. EFT payments can be done from our offices if required.
DESIGN / ARTWORK / TERMS & CONDITIONS
Gauteng - R70 inc Vat. Other Major Cities in SA - R100 inc Vat.
A4 210mm x 227mm Colour Front Only Colour Front and Reverse Colour Front B&W Reverse B&W Front Only B&W Front and Reverse
A setup labour charge of R25 inc Vat applies to all Print / Copy orders Printed on 128gsm Gloss Orders must be in before 12pm for collection NEXT WORKING DAY at 4:30 pm
Papers Boards
R 299 R 109
R 259 R 99
A4 PRINTS / COPIES
R 579 R 289
2 Colour R 239 R 79
1 Colour R 209 R 69
A setup labour charge of R25 inc Vat applies to all Print / Copy orders
128gsm Gloss - R1.00 per sheet 200gsm Gloss - R2.00 per sheet
PAPER 1-100 80 gsm Front Bond Reverse
Papers Boards
PAPER 1-100 80 gsm Front Bond Reverse
FRONT 1000 Cards REVERSE
500
R 419 R 209
R 269 R 139
R 229 R 109
R 199 R 99
FRONT 100 Cards REVERSE
FRONT Cards REVERSE
50
3/Full Col. R 229 R 99
2 Colour R 199 R 79
PREMIUM BOARD 280 gsm Ivory Smooth / Linen
BUSINESS CARD PRICES
STANDARD BOARD 300 gsm Matt / Gloss
1 Colour R 169 R 69
PLEASE NOTE ALL OUR PRICES ARE VAT INCLUSIVE!
Xpress Digital Print Bureau
Fax: +27 (0)86 274 2923 • E-mail: sales@tbcc.co.za • Web: www.bcards.co.za 316 Vine Avenue, Extension of Harley Street • Ferndale • Randburg • South Africa
Tel: +27 (0)87 151 1186 / +27 (0)11 886 0676
GPS Coordinates S26º 05' 29.6" E27º 59' 28.6" Vine
Vine
The Business Card Centre
York York
Main Main
You need cards when!!
COMB & DOCUMENT MEASURE
100% VERTICAL DOCUMENT LOADING
EFFORTLESS ELECTRIC OPERATION
ENSURES Accurate Punch Alignment
Get Professionally Bound Reports At The TOUCH OF A BUTTON
SELECT Correct Size Comb NEAT STORAGE Of Accessories
Innovation isn’t just about designing a product that looks good. It’s about delivering technology that helps make life easier. That’s why Fellowes® binding machines are designed to make binding effortless and error-free, so you can create a finished professional document in just minutes. For more information, visit www.fellowes.co.za
Comb Binders
Pulsar 300 Regular Use
Quasar
Frequent Use
Wire Binders
Galaxy
Heavy Use
Quasar
Frequent Use
www.fellowes.co.za
Galaxy
Heavy Use
Thermal Binders
Helios 30 Regular Use