Lexmark has announced it has been named a Leader in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Print in the Distributed Workforce 2022 Vendor Assessment.

This IDC MarketScape report assesses the strategies and capabilities of the major office printing vendors to support a distributed global workforce. The authors note that while print usage continues to mature, it remains a "mission-critical function." According to the report, it is "more crucial than ever" that print OEMs support the deployment, use and management of print and document functions, given the needs of an increasingly remote workforce.

"With remote and hybrid workplaces here to stay, cloud and IoT-based print solutions play an even larger role in helping companies maintain normal business operations and ensure future resiliency," said Brock Saladin, senior vice president and chief commercial officer, Lexmark. "This positioning from the IDC MarketScape reflects the value our solutions bring to customers."

The IDC MarketScape Vendor Assessment recognized the following strengths for Lexmark:

• Supports a Flexible Work Environment: According to the report, "Lexmark's hardware line is aimed at supporting a more flexible work environment. The company focuses on a cloud-connected lineup of devices with a small footprint. Other small, but important, flexible workforce features include native firmware connectivity to its Cloud Fleet Management (CFM) solution to enable remote management to ensure security, control and visibility of the fleet. Print release, enabled on all Lexmark devices, allows for secure and convenient printing whenever needed."
• Cloud-Based and IoT Solutions: As cited in the report, "Lexmark is placing its bets on cloud-based solutions and IoT to evolve the delivery of print to its customers. The company's strategy demonstrates a keen reliance on data gained from this approach for its market execution. Through internally developed tools, Lexmark has obtained unique insight into customer needs that shape its product offerings for home and office work locations." One example is Lexmark's Smart Refresh plan for hardware, "in which the refresh is based on usage and performance data to determine hardware end of life versus following time-dependent contract terms that often replace equipment too early or too late."
• Vertical-Specific Expertise: According to the report, Lexmark "has a strong portfolio of verticalized solutions and a deep bench of subject-matter experts to help organizations design and implement programs to meet very specific objectives in areas around print optimization, workflow automation and digital transformation for the distributed workforce. Its cloud-focused strategy for addressing the demands of the distributed workforce is factually supported by its reliance on data and should translate into making the correct calls for its customers."
• Partner and Customer Testimonials: The IDC MarketScape's assessment includes feedback from a Lexmark reseller and customer. As cited in the report, "Both security and the cloud are critical pieces for satisfying the distributed workforce, and this reseller indicated that Lexmark excels in these two categories with specific high praise for Lexmark's cloud management capabilities as a 'game changer.'" Additionally, "in another customer case, the key ingredient that secured Lexmark's role as the primary printing and imaging provider for this large enterprise was Lexmark's ability to support a global organization and to structure the contract in the customer's way ... Lexmark's focus on cloud aligns with this customer's goal to shift many of its IT services to a cloud-based platform."

In other news, Lexmark has announced that it has been recognized as a winner in the 2022 Manufacturing Leadership Awards for its outstanding achievement in three categories: Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Digital Supply Chains and Collaborative Ecosystems. This is the eleventh year in a row that Lexmark has received recognition from the distinguished organization.

"Lexmark continually focuses on creating and delivering best-in-class products and processes. These awards validate our industry leadership," said Tonya Jackson, senior vice president and chief product delivery officer, Lexmark. "We thank the Manufacturing Leadership Council for recognizing the talented Lexmark employees who innovate every day, driving best practices across the organization."

The council developed the Manufacturing Leadership Awards to honor manufacturing companies and leaders that are shaping the future of global manufacturing. For 2022, awards were presented to companies and individuals in 11 categories, honoring world-class manufacturing achievements. Lexmark was recognized in three of the 11 categories in 2022.

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

Lexmark's new product introduction team and ventures teams were recognized for collaborating internally to drive out costs in the Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning category. The teams built and automated a visual inspection system by integrating the Lexmark Optra Edge device with Lexmark's manufacturing system. By using a Lexmark solution, the team achieved a 70% reduction in the cost of comparable automated vision systems for our manufacturing facilities.

Digital Supply Chains

When the COVID-19 pandemic took component shortages to a crisis level, Lexmark had to find a new way to manage them. The Lexmark product delivery team was recognized in the Digital Supply Chains category for creating a solution that enables better visibility across suppliers and components. The team worked collaboratively across the company to identify, collect and consolidate data from multiple sources, including the supply and demand views of key manufacturers, and built a digital twin to improve visibility into the entire system.

Collaborative Ecosystems  

Lexmark was recognized in the Collaborative Ecosystems category for expanding its circular economy opportunities. The collection and reuse or recycling of used toner cartridges is critical to the success of Lexmark's circular economy initiatives. The Lexmark Cartridge Collection Program (LCCP) allows customers to quickly return used cartridges to collection locations in every region worldwide. Still, only a handful of sites are equipped to identify whether the cartridges can be refurbished and reused. The Lexmark team built a cloud solution that evaluates returned cartridges without the need for costly hardware. The new solution is a win-win, providing significant costs savings to the organization and benefiting the environment by allowing Lexmark to reuse more cartridges than ever before.

Lexmark will be recognized at the Manufacturing Leadership Awards Gala on June 29, 2022, at the JW Marriott in Marco Island, Florida. 

In other news,  Lexmark has announced that Keypoint Intelligence-Buyers Lab has selected Lexmark Optra IoT Platform for the Buyers Lab (BLI) Winter 2022 Outstanding Innovation Award from Keypoint Intelligence.

BLI Outstanding Innovation Awards acknowledge newly introduced or publicly announced products, capabilities or technologies that Keypoint Intelligence analysts believe will advance a product category or move the industry forward in a meaningful way. In its report, analysts praised the Lexmark platform's product life-cycle maximization, data-driven insights that can be used to make smart decisions in R&D, manufacturing, marketing and service departments, and enablement of anything-as-a-service business model and predictive service capabilities.

"We're honored to receive this recognition for our recently announced IoT platform offering," said Allen Waugerman, president and CEO, Lexmark. "While we've seen firsthand the transformative impact of using our IoT platform to drive business outcomes within Lexmark, we are positioned to help manufacturers of all types unlock IoT insights in a meaningful way."  

As the first offering in Lexmark Optra IoT Solutions portfolio, the Lexmark Optra IoT Platform is a ready-made IoT solution designed to help customers jump-start their business transformation through predictive services, asset optimization, systemic innovation and as-a-service engagements, enabling them to create better products and more advanced services at lower costs.

"Last year, Lexmark celebrated its 30th anniversary of manufacturing and servicing printers and MFPs — which, remember, are IoT products," said Lee Davis, associate director of software/scanners, Keypoint Intelligence. "The expertise that the company brings to the table will help IoT device makers and service providers make smarter decisions, work more efficiently and reduce costs."