Lexmark launches ANZ first with retail publishing solution

Lexmark, a global imaging and IoT solutions leader, launched its Publishing Platform for Retail (PPR) in Australia and New Zealand.

To address evolving consumer behaviours, Lexmark's PPR provides a central solution to help retailers enhance their omnichannel communications and streamline processes for updating printed signs, digital signage and social media or loyalty schemes in order to drive traffic to brick and mortar stores, and ultimately improve the experience for the end customer.

The software designed to auto-create content for print and digital signage, is the first to be launched in the ANZ market by an office equipment manufacturer, Lexmark states.

David Jenkins, director of sales retail signage solutions, Lexmark, says, "We are excited to bring PPR to Australia and New Zealand and offer retailers a platform that provides end-to-end signage solutions, including design, distribution, management and measurement.

"With the COVID-19 pandemic resulting in rapid digital transformation throughout many industries, including retail, now is the perfect time for technology solutions such as PPR to enter the market. The proven success of PPR in the Americas and Europe demonstrates the enormous opportunity the platform could provide to Australian and New Zealand companies.

Jenkins concludes, "There is a growing opportunity for retailers to leverage technology in order to improve business operations and, in turn, improve in-store communications and customer experiences."

The solution can be cloud-based or locally hosted and provides on-demand delivery of sign and label printing, which streamlines every step of the content publishing process, while also allowing stores to cut costs and eliminate unnecessary waste, according to Lexmark.

The company states that the platform will allow retailers to not only cut costs but lift sales, through a wide range of features and benefits including:

• Hyper localisation of printing and publishing: This allows content to be locally tailored and rendered in real-time on a store-by-store basis. This localisation will see signage tasks automated from headquarters and allow individual stores to manage centrally distributed content and local exceptions, with In-Store Publisher from the back office or directly on the shop floor with the In-Aisle Publisher, which runs on any hand-held device.
• Enhanced customer connection: Stores can make changes based on permissions and make local changes within a safe and templated landscape by simply scanning an item and choosing to print or publish a new sign, giving retailers the opportunity to effectively communicate with customers and influence browsers into becoming buyers.
• Full operational control: Retailers can control all print and digital signs from one solution, including the ability to generate press-ready content for central print. Publishing digital signage, electronic shelf labels and digital displays through PPR means both print and digital signage is perfectly synchronised.
• Business intelligence: Insight into sign volumes and usage can be compared to see how the signs are working and to check compliance for each store through the backend reporting tools

Channel partners in Australia and New Zealand can take advantage of the PPR software from now.