IBM Printing Systems Sponsors Gartner Office Document Management Program at Xplor 2004

Business Wire, June 23, 2004

TORRANCE, Calif. -- Xplor International today announced that IBM Printing Systems is an official sponsor of the Gartner Office Document Management Program at Xplor 2004: The Document Solutions Information Exchange. The Gartner full-day program, titled "Strategies for Smart Office Document Management," will provide attendees with the knowledge and best practices know-how to realize their business goals. Xplor 2004 will be held in Dallas, Texas, on Oct. 24-28.

Today, maximizing return on investment, including lowering the total cost of print, is a critical focus for every organization. However, this task becomes increasingly difficult with the proliferation of seemingly inexpensive personal "desktop" technology devices, such as the inkjet printer, which tend to fall "under the radar" of the IT department. Beyond the challenge of managing these devices, IT departments must also address their insidiously high maintenance and service costs.

The Strategies for Smart Office Document Management will address these and other critical industry issues by focusing on the responsibilities around planning and procurement, integration with IT, management and support of office copiers, printers and multifunction products and office document management systems, helping companies get the most out of their print and document management functions.

The full-day program will feature numerous sessions led by Gartner analysts as well as end-user panel discussions. The vendor panel will include IBM representatives and will provide insight and expertise on the challenges, solutions and best practices in this arena.

"The printing industry has changed significantly over the past few years, and companies are facing several new challenges. The industry is quickly realizing that it's not just `printing as usual' anymore," said Doug Oathout, Vice President and Business Executive, Office Printers, IBM Printing Systems. "We believe the Gartner program on office document management will give attendees the opportunity to dig deeper into the logistic and strategic concerns of these issues. Our sponsorship of this program reaffirms our confidence that Xplor is a fantastic vehicle for providing relevant knowledge to the market place."

The Gartner program, scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2004, will feature numerous sessions, including:

--Managing the Transition to Better Office Document Workflow. Gartner's Office Document Cost Savings model explains the best practices and success stories of some managers who have won the tough battle to make the tough changes to implement their office document management strategy.

--How to Choose the Best Document Output Management Vendor. Gartner's multifunction products (MFP) Magic Quadrant reveals which vendors are leaders or niche players.

--Identifying Smarter Devices for Smarter Document Processes. Understand if your organization would realize a positive ROI with the smart multifunction products today, or how to prepare to make the most of these new, smarter devices.

--Smarter Buying for Better Document Output Fleet Management. Recognize the evaluation and selection process in choosing an external service provider, and review services contracts to negotiate a better and safer outsourcing contract.

For additional details on the Gartner program Strategies for Smart Office Management, go to www.xplor2004.org.

About Xplor 2004

Xplor 2004: The Document Solutions Information Exchange is a vendor-neutral forum for the exchange of information relevant to the document solutions enterprise. In addition to gaining valuable education and networking opportunities, attendees with organizational responsibility for document solutions can give and receive information related to market trends, business drivers, challenging problems, best practices, innovative solutions, and product advancements. Xplor 2004 will take place Oct. 24-28 in Dallas, Texas.

About Xplor International

Xplor International is a worldwide, not-for-profit professional association that consists of thousands of users and suppliers of the products and services that create, modify, and deliver customized information using a wide variety of document technologies. Xplor International has its worldwide headquarters in Torrance, Calif., with affiliated offices around the world. Further information is available at www.xplor.org.