Today, we are very pleased to announce a partnership with HP that makes Fishers the exclusive source in Idaho of just such a watershed technology: HPs new Edgeline products, the CM8050/CM8060 Color MFPs. We dont think its an exaggeration to say that these products, and the technology behind them, will be the most significant event in document production for small and midsize businesses since the introduction of the LaserJet.

When we changed our name to Fishers Document Systems, it was intended to reflect a change in our business model from that of traditional retail to one more focused on IT and business consultancy.  In short, we no longer wanted to sell people boxes.  We wanted to help them change and improve their document workflow.  And just in case you hadnt noticed, over the past few months weve been quietly rolling out a series of business initiatives aimed precisely at this strategy.

Executing on this strategy, however, is not something we can do alone.  To begin with, our business model rests on a technology foundation that comes from partners like Hewlett-Packard.  The day the first HP multifunction printer (MFP) was plugged into a network, our business model changed forever.  We had the choice of either embracing that change or becoming an anachronism.  The key to avoiding the latter is to recognize when a technology ceases to become simply incremental and when it in fact represents a watershed event. 

So whats the big deal?  To quote from HPs announcement, the Edgeline offerings will transform the industry.  Even in a technology sector given to occasional bursts of hyperbole, this is a strong statement from the worlds leading printer manufacturer.  During the rest of this month well be talking at greater length about the Edgeline technology, but for now we recommend that you read our initial take on its significance in a blog by our Vice President of Innovation, Corey Smith.  In the meantime, what you need to know is that the new Edgeline printers essentially combine the best of mono and color copiers in a single device.  The result is professional color at costs, speeds and reliability that are competitive with todays mono copiers.  And why does this matter to business?  Its all about increasing the level of professionalism and impact of documents ranging from basic brochures to product data sheets.  When smaller organizations can incorporate color into their communications, at a price that reaches parity with black and white, they take on an appearance that puts them in the category of much larger businesses.

Which gets us back to the issue of watershed technologies.  We like to think of technology breakthroughs as products or services that deliver Fortune 500 solutions to smaller businesses.  This is what HP has been doing for years with its technology most notably its MFP products.  The fact that HP has chosen Fishers to be the exclusive Idaho supplier of yet another watershed technology means more to us that the business opportunity it creates.  It represents the validation of a trusted partner that our business model and vision align with theirs.  For additional insight on the significance of this partnership, youll want to read the latest blog by our CEO, Chris Taylor.

So, get ready to be amazed by HPs new Edgeline MFPs.  Youll get a chance to see them in action on May 23, when Fishers hosts an event that will demonstrate their capabilities.  Stand by for more information.  In the interim, visit Fishers Edgeline landing page at http://www.fishers-boise.com/edgelinemain  To download a PDF of this article, click here.