The use of multi-function devices has changed dramatically over the past few years. Today everything is about printing and computer generated content (printing emails, Word documents, internet pages and PDFs). Off-the-glass volumes may have reduced to as little 20% in many organisations, however many organisations wish to also track this content. The in-built PIN feature that is now standard in all multi-function devices is often enough for most of our users, however sites with adequate IT budgets may wish to look at consolidating their tracking within PaperCut itself. We have recently released a special edition of PaperCut specifically designed to meet this need.

PaperCut MF extends the print, capture, billing and charge capabilities of PaperCut, enabling organizations to manage all copying and printing produced across their entire multi-functional copier and printer fleets using a single low cost software application. It does this in two ways:

Copier Hardware Terminals

PaperCut MF integrates with a number of hardware based copier terminals. These terminals directly integrate with the copiers to manage user authentication and enable/disable the devices. Once installed, PaperCut will detect the terminals and allow the organization to manage off-the-glass costs the same way as they do for printers. Terminals work at the hardware level and are compatible with almost all multi-function devices and copiers available on the market today.

Embedded Software

A new and emerging area is in the space of embedded software. PaperCut is working directly with copier manufacturers to allow PaperCut to run directly on devices themselves. This allows PaperCut to control off-the-glass use directly in software without the need for any additional hardware. High-end models for six major brands are currently implemented with more in development. As multi-function devices become “smarter”, and this technology more prevalent, the aim is to have this functionality available in PaperCut NG itself as a core feature. Today however setup can be complex so it’s supported for PaperCut MF – an edition of PaperCut supported by trained resellers.

For more information please visit the PaperCut MF pages.