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also offers a similar tool we have an address book “... If you want to capture called KM-Net Viewer, a management plug-in that meters on the last day standalone PC-based appliallows for the management of every month at 2 a.m., cation, ideal for companies of address books on imagewhere there may only be one RUNNER devices. We also you can create a task IT administrator monitoring have a printer plug-in, which to do so. Again, the the devices. Other Kyocera allows an administrator to objective here is to help device management soluvery easily push printer customers more easily tions include such tools as drivers to user desktops. facilitate device deployment ...” KM-Net for Accounting, an Finally, we have a meter — Dennis Amorosano administrative product that capture plug-in that autoCanon U.S.A. Inc. tracks device usage by asmates the process of capsigned department accounts turing meters on devices. for all applicable Kyocera printers and MFPs, and KM“All these plug-ins can be scheduled using the tasks that can be created within the Enterprise Management Console NET@ServiceGateway, which provides automated meter read itself,” he adds. “For example, if you want to capture meters reporting and the capability to import data into software on the last day of every month at 2 a.m., you can create a packages from such companies as OMD and e-Automate. task to do so. Again, the objective here is to help customers KM-Net for Accounting, along with a Print Job Manager, more easily facilitate device deployment and, more impor- which allows for the storage and management of print jobs, are available as plug-in consults in KM-NET Admin. tantly, the management of those devices.” Ricoh Corp. — Its PC-based SmartDeviceMonitor allows Kyocera Mita America Inc. — A Web-based administrausers of Ricoh devices “to print successfully the first time in tive console, Kyocera Mita America describes its KM-Net Admin Device Manager as a solution that “allows you to less time,” the OEM promotes. “The software lets you know organize your devices into logical groups, view their status when printers are available, how they’re configured, at a glance, set up automatic e-mail alerts, upgrade Kyocera toner/paper levels and other useful information right at your device firmware and run comprehensive reports.” Those desktop PC.” Ricoh also offers a Web-based version of the reports include such things as usage totals, errors, error tool — Web SmartDeviceMonitor II, described as making it “easier to configure, organize, diagnose and update all your rates and device properties. “These provide a ‘value add’ to the MFPs and printers we networked devices.” And, because it is Web-based, “you can sell to dealers and market to customers,” says Bill Cassidy, perform all these tasks at anytime, anywhere.” Of particular note is Ricoh’s Intelligent Remote Device associate director of product marketing at Kyocera Mita America. He explains their value from the end-user’s per- Management System, known as @Remote. The product, as spective: “‘We have these printers and MFPs in our office promoted by Ricoh, “collects data on a company’s fleet of and we really love them, but how much are we actually using multifunctionals and printers to automate the meter them? What if there is an issue? The paper is out. The toner reading process and gives IT managers the data needed to is out. There’s a paper jam. There is a call required. Our optimize device usage and reduce TCO.” The product, which printers and MFPs are spread out over four floors. How do I is available as an embedded function or through a hardware appliance, automatically transmits data, including meter know when these things are happening?’” KM-Net provides the answer, says Cassidy. Otherwise, by reads, to the secure @Remote service. Reporting through the the time an end-user experiences a problem with a printer service includes fleet population, utilization and trending. It or MFP and tells anyone else “it is too late, because it has collects print, copy and fax output usage data. Starting in April, Ricoh is introducing “true device manalready caused a problem for someone else using the device,” he explains. “How can you be proactive in moni- agement functionality,” says John Carlomano, senior martoring and managing the devices on the network? The keting manager for @Remote. “That will include the ability to send automated service alerts and toner alerts to the answer is device management.” Because it is Web-based, KM-Net Admin allows for mul- dealer, if the customer desires. The dealer will also now be tiple administrators to monitor network devices. Kyocera able to do things like remote firmware upgrades.” 12 | w w w . o f f i c e t e c h n o l o g y m a g . c o m | M a r c h 2 0 0 7