Brother as a solution partner for commercial, industrial, and home office
Whether digital documents and printouts are of the highest quality or labels and other labeling solutions for the precise identification of goods: Brother is a globally operating group for printing and scanning systems with a total of more than 36,000 employees and annual group sales of around 5 billion US dollars.
In the group's own production sites and sales companies in the USA, Europe, Australia and Asia as well as general agencies in over 100 countries, the company ensures a presence in all major markets worldwide. The German sales subsidiary, Brother International GmbH based in Bad Vilbel, is intensively engaged in developing innovative printing and digitization workflows for commercial and industrial applications together with partners and solution providers. Due to the current pandemic, we therefore speak with Thomas Wolter, Product Manager Scanners, about the home office and how printers, scanners and multifunction devices can significantly accelerate process flows in companies.
DIGITAL FUTUREmag: Mr. Wolter, even in times of pandemic, companies still receive plenty of mail. When do you recommend companies to purchase a scanner for employees working in the home office?
Thomas Wolter: There are some areas of a company where there is a high demand for scanning even in the home office. I am thinking particularly of departments such as accounting, purchasing or human resources, where invoices and receipts, incoming mail and personnel files are scanned. In order to ensure smooth processes and the productivity of employees even in the home office, these employees should be provided with suitable document scanners. If necessary, the respective managers can work with their employees to analyze the scanning requirements in order to ensure optimal equipment. Our product advisor (https://www.brother.de/produktberater/scanner) can help with the selection of the right device.
DIGITAL FUTUREmag: Today, documents are still an integral part of everyday life, even in times of sharing and chat. Where does Brother help simplify the digitization of documents?
Thomas Wolter: Our goal is to minimize the time and effort required for digitizing and archiving documents, allowing companies and their employees to focus on core tasks. With our upgrades—Custom UI for simplified, customizable display operation of the scanner/multifunction device and Barcode Utility for automated separation and archiving of large stacks of documents—we offer valuable solutions to relieve employees. So-called One-Touch Favorites allow frequently used scan profiles with specific settings and scan targets to be saved and executed quickly with just one touch on the display. All these features ensure efficient digitization with minimal effort for the user. Additionally, we work with our partners to develop tailored workflows for efficient document management in companies.
DIGITAL FUTUREmag: In numerous comparative tests, Brother document scanners perform exceptionally well. In your opinion, how does Brother differentiate itself from comparable solutions?
Thomas Wolter: In addition to their high reliability and scan quality, our scanners offer the advantage of being able to scan directly from the device to network paths thanks to their versatile interfaces. Combined with extensive drivers and compatible operating systems, Brother document scanners are ideal not only for individual workstations but also for larger teams. Other highlights include ultrasonic sheet detection and optional upgrades for clear display navigation and automated stack archiving. All of this is rounded off by the standard 3-year warranty, providing users with confidence in their purchasing decision.
DIGITAL FUTUREmag: There are areas where, even during the pandemic, a large volume of documents is generated and scanning is extremely important. I’m referring to the healthcare sector. Is your company also involved in this area?
Thomas Wolter: Yes, we also offer solutions for digitizing documents in the healthcare sector. To this end, we have strong software providers on our side and maintain partnerships with numerous compatible KIS/AIS manufacturers. In addition to TR Resiscan, the digital patient record is another example of our collaboration with solution partners. Together with ITR Software GmbH, our network scanners and the Barcode Utility, we have created a holistic workflow to archive medical letters, patient declarations or findings directly in the respective patient’s digital record. Thanks to our broad product portfolio, we not only offer efficient scanning processes but also a wide range of other solutions, which can be found at: https://www.brother.de/business-solutions/gesundheitsloesungen
Digital FUTUREmag: Thank you very much for this industry example. That is very impressive. Often, customers cannot exactly imagine what possibilities their systems offer. How do you go about improving processes in companies with the help of scanners and printing options?
Thomas Wolter: Thanks to our qualified specialist retail partners in Germany and Austria, we are always “at your side” at the customer’s premises to understand the workflows, requirements and needs, analyze the demand and, based on this, offer solutions. Our sales teams and technical support also contribute their expertise in this process.
DIGITAL FUTUREmag: What types of partners are involved here to achieve an overall improved process landscape and infrastructure?
Thomas Wolter: In addition to our specialist retail network for on-site consulting, we also work closely with solution providers. Since last year, we have had Kofax as a strong partner in the field of efficient document management and capture on our side. We also have renowned partners for fleet and print management solutions, secure user authentication at the device, as well as tamper-proof archiving or professional digitization with OCR technology. We also have solutions for an environmentally friendly office climate. However, we are always keeping an eye out for new partnerships to bundle valuable synergies.
DIGITAL FUTUREmag: Process improvement is mainly aimed at medium-sized companies and very large companies. To what extent do you also offer solutions for very small companies up to home offices?
Thomas Wolter: Thanks to our broad product portfolio, we also cover requirements for very small companies and home offices. In addition to suitable printers and multifunction devices – with inkjet or laser technology – we also offer very compact but powerful document scanners that fit even on the smallest surfaces. Interested readers can obtain advice from our specialist retail partners or on our website at www.brother.de.
DIGITAL FUTUREmag: Thank you very much for this exciting interview and your explanations.