uniFLOW

Bring more control and added efficiency to your print environment. Incorporating uniFLOW Output Manager into your document production process will lead to real improvements in the control and efficiency of print devices. This powerful software is both modular and configurable, so it can be adapted to fit the specific needs of different businesses: large corporations, small offices, education establishments, local government, copyshops and print rooms.

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Product Information

Further Information 
 

What is uniFLOW Output Manager?
uniFLOW Output Manager is designed to save you time and money by providing effective controls over your entire print and Multi-Function Printer (MFP) fleet.

The uniFLOW Output Manager solution can be built from several different components depending on your needs. The server based software and modules provide the functionality while optional hardware provides access control to the devices. uniFLOW Output Manager software can also be integrated directly into the Canon MEAP (Multi-functional Embedded Application Platform) device to allow interaction with the user.

Scalable to any size
uniFLOW Output Manager fits perfectly with any size organisation. It is available in 10, 50, 100 and unlimited user versions to provide scalability and flexibility regardless of your business type.

Its web-based architecture allows the software to be run over multiple buildings, locations or sites with all the knowledge stored in a central SQL Server database.

Modular Architecture
The core functionality of uniFLOW Output Manager can be extended with various additional modules. Each module provides exciting new features to the system that allow the benefits of uniFLOW Output Manager to be extended into other parts of your business.

From providing secure printing features to help manage your in-house print room more efficiently, uniFLOW Output Manager really is an end-to-end output management system

Each module is licensed on a “per install” basis meaning that even on very large installs of hundreds of servers or devices, uniFLOW Output Manager provides a clear return on investment

Printer accounting and auditing
All printing and copying, together with the associated costs can be tracked and stored. The built in reporting system allows the administrator or finance department to see how much each printer and user is costing the company.

This information can be used as part of a print audit to help decide future printer purchases or to identify where cost savings can be made.

Universal Secure Printing
Confidential jobs can be held centrally on a print server and are only released when the user identifies themselves. The user can go to any device in any location with the knowledge that their job will be printed securely.

Waste is also eliminated as documents are automatically deleted if they have not been released, rather than gathering dust on the printers output tray.

URouting jobs to the cheapest device
Laser printers close to the users are convenient but expensive to run. uniFLOW Output Manager allows the user to print small jobs on the laser printer but will ask to move the job to the cheaper Canon MFP once it is over a certain size.

Jobs can also be routed automatically without asking to ensure the cheapest device is always selected.

Enhanced device security
By integrating tightly with the Canon MFP hardware, uniFLOW Output Manager can stop unauthorised use of the devices. Where access is granted, all usage of the device is recorded for later reporting.

Users can also be granted different access rights to use various functions of the device depending on their job role. For example, certain users may only be allowed to copy in black and white where others can copy in colour.

Managing the print room
In print production environments, the system can be configured to enhance a specific part of your document workflow, or the entire “end-to-end” process, from job submission to document finishing, saving time and money.

Whatever your needs are, the flexibility and modularity of uniFLOW Output Manager ensure that the system can be set up to meet them, bringing tangible improvements to efficiency, document workflow, cost control and information security.

Print and copy accounting for better cost management
uniFLOW Output Manager helps you track and assess your current printing costs, allowing you to charge back internal costs and audit your current usage.

Local printers, network laser printers, large format printers and multi-functional printers (MFPs) can all be tracked. For Canon MFPs, copy, fax and scan usage can also be recorded along with any printing activity. Regardless how large or small your organisation, uniFLOW OM can handle it all: from small companies with one device to large global international organisations with hundreds of different sites and clustered servers.

Each printer can be assigned multiple price structures, allowing the tracking of charges to the user as well as what the internal printing costs. Budgets can be set to stop users printing more than they are entitled to. Managers’ authorisation can be required before printing large or expensive jobs. Cost codes can be assigned to print and copy jobs making sure the correct budget is charged for the work.

Users can be identified in a number of different ways including their proximity card, fingerprint or username with password. With cards, the problem often is how to match the user to the card. uniFLOW Output Manager fixes this by “self-learning” the card information by prompting the user to enter their username and password or unique PIN code the first time their card is used.

Easy, simple reporting
The administrator can view all device usage across the organisation and access reports by user, device and groups or cost code. Standard reports include all the information required, such as which device is being most utilised and who is spending the most. Customised reports can also be simply added if other information is required.

A savings report can be generated showing any savings that have been made from having uniFLOW OM installed, for example by routing a job to a cheaper printer or deleting a secure print job that has not been collected.

Universal Secure Printing
Local printers can be replaced with the universal secure printing system, allowing users to get high quality, fast output while keeping the document confidential.

uniFLOW OM stores all secure jobs on the print server ready for the user to walk up to any device and identify themselves with a proximity card, fingerprint, username and password or magnetic swipe card. At a Canon MFP, the user can view a list of his secure jobs, wherever they where printed. They can also change how the document should be printed (for example, double sided) before releasing the job.

The “universal” nature of the system means that the user can release their secure print jobs to almost any printer on the network, regardless of model, and have the job printed correctly.

Routing Jobs
A small laser printer near the user’s desk may be convenient but can be expensive to run compared to an MFP. uniFLOW OM can either prompt the user or automatically route the job to a cheaper device based on certain conditions, such as the number of pages, the cost, whether it contains colour or the application used to print the job. If the user accepts the suggestion, or if it is routed automatically, the job is printed directly on the cheaper device.

The routing of jobs can also be automatic in a “failover” situation when, for example, the device is out of paper or toner. In this case, uniFLOW OM will automatically move the job to the next closest available printer and inform the user where to collect the output.

Device Management
The IT department or service provider can be emailed when a problem such as “paper out” occurs and MFP counter readings can be automatically collected, removing the need to visit each device individually.

uniFLOW OM can integrate with Canon’s Universal Send technology to make scanning to email and fax severs as simple as one button press. Users can authenticate to eCopy™ ShareScan® systems with their proximity cards or fingerprints.

With the Canon Access Management System (AMS), the administrator can control access to MFP functions. For example, some users may only be allowed to copy in black and white except on a device in the marketing department, while managers can copy in colour everywhere.