Epson Finds Success By Bringing Channel Minds Together
Recently I attended an Epson ISV (Independent Software Vendor) workshop, it was their third annual event. The three day gathering in Nashville was limited to a small group of CEOs and product managers who are at various levels of the channel, all focused on developing solutions utilizing cutting edge technology to achieve quantum improvements that could be offered to end-users. When Epson created it’s intelligent printer, it was difficult to know what markets it might flourish in. But over the years the practice of bringing together minds from various corners of the industry has proven to be conducive to generating new ideas. Napoleon Hill, author of the best-selling Think and Grow Rich book noted that anytime two or minds are brought together, another mind is created. For technical geeks like myself, an event like this is paradise.
The group included Greg Buzek of IHL Services, who began the workshop with an overview of the current retail environment and shared forecasts of what was coming with a number of fascinating (and sometimes scary) slides on retail trends.
To facilitate and expedite bringing the products to market, Epson brought a staff of dozens including engineers and developers for seminar participants to get help/advice/feedback instantly. Much of the time was given to allow the attendees an opportunity to share what they are developing and how it is creating value add, and also rub elbows with the Epson team.
One of the exciting applications that I witnessed was a program that coordinated the sales of a dozen different online ordering/food delivery apps (like Grubhub) through ONE Epson printer and produced a simple consolidated report and order printing system. A much better approach than having 12 printers in the back of the house. Another unique and treating application that I witnessed was for coupon tracking and creation.
The Epson Omnilink printer, which is been on the market since 2012, can directly receive instructions through a secure Epson cloud as well as upload to the cloud in real time. The Omnilink printer with its intelligent CPU offers features beyond what any POS printer has ever had including:
- Beacon support enables proximity printing
- Functioning as a printer hub
- Data parsing
- Web content updating
- POS device control
- Bluetooth pairing and printer selection
- Routes and drives kitchen display / food order stations and devices
- Intelligent, real-time variable coupon printing
- Label printing
- Device data notification
- Integration with loyalty programs
- Support for food delivery ordering systems
Of course, no gathering would be complete without some break time and attendees were treated to tours of the Ryman Auditorium, the famous RCA Studio where Elvis recorded many of his hits and where our group actually made a recording, and a dinner at the Country Music Hall of Fame. It was a terrific and productive time for all participants! Key facts about Epson:
* Seiko Epson Corporation has 72,000 employees worldwide
* 10 head quarters locations and 88 company locations
* Epson has over 50,000 global patents
* Seiko Epson global revenue was over $9 billion dollars
* #1 with 42% market share in point-of-sale printers
* # 1 in projectors - 51% market share
* #1 Photo scanners - 71% market share
* #1 Photo printers - 62% market share
* #1 Supertank printers - 95% market share
* # 1 SCARA Robots - 30% market share
About Epson America, Inc.
Founded in 1975 and headquartered in Long Beach, CA, Epson America, Inc. is the U.S. affiliate of Japan-based Seiko Epson Corporation, a global manufacturer and supplier of high-quality technology products that meet customer demands for increased functionality, compactness, systems integration and energy efficiency. For over 40 years, Epson’s advanced technology has been at work in millions of POS systems around the world. Today Epson’s Business Systems Division continues to bring industry-leading, open architecture, smart technologies to the point of service.
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