How does a leader in POS printing solutions, Epson, look to maintain success and stay relevant in the ever changing technology industry?
Interview with Mark Wagner, Account Manager, OEM/VAR Team
Epson is a leading supplier of POS technology solutions and has been for many years, how do you think e-receipts and other new online/receipt technology will affect Epson’s leadership?
Mark: We don’t envision paper receipts going away anytime soon. While it’s true digital receipts are becoming more popular, there are drawbacks. Some customers don’t want to provide e-mail information for obvious privacy concerns, and others want something they can hold onto as proof of the transaction. Either way, the safest bet for some time to come will still be for retailers to listen to customers and offer the option of a digital or printed receipt.
Epson was recently named Best Channel Vendor for the Fourth Year in a Row in Business Solutions Magazine’s Annual Survey. What is the key to maintaining great relationships with all your resellers?
Mark: We advocate for resellers and offer a partnership approach, rather than a vendor relationship. At Epson, we roll up our sleeves and work in close collaboration with partners to develop a mutually shared vision of success. Having the breadth and depth of products with reliable, global service and support, along with a strong, solid commitment to the channel keeps Epson top of mind with our loyal resellers.
What has been the leading contributor to Epson’s POS printer success in the past and how do you think Epson will continue to be a leader into the future?
Mark: Retailers want printers that work consistently and dependably above all. Epson prides itself on its strengths in technical engineering and software /driver support. As a result, Epson printers are true working solutions, not just commodity peripherals. In addition, we host “Voice of the Customer” product tours with key OEMs, VARs and end users to gather intelligence for next generation products. We take requirements, ideas and criticisms back to our design teams. This collaborative approach yields products with better, more customer driven features and functionality.
What are some great new products/features Epson has added to its repertoire recently?
Mark: Epson’s new TM-T88V and TM-H6000IV offer significant enhancements to already best in class printers at the same price as previous models, which means more bang for the buck. With 50% faster print speeds, the TM-T88V also has an industry leading, four-year warranty, Energy Star certification, dual interface and significant, cost savings paper reduction features. The paper reduction feature is an innovative firmware utility (no changes needed to POS software application), and enables end users to greatly reduce consumables/paper costs. For example, with the TM-T88V set at full 75% paper reduction mode, paper costs can be reduced by over $300 per printer in five years with a savings of over 200 lbs. of paper. For users with 1000 printers, this could mean a cost savings of over $300K in five years.
