Ricoh 2000 Annual Report Download - page 13

Download and view the complete annual report

Please find page 13 of the 2000 Ricoh annual report below. You can navigate through the pages in the report by either clicking on the pages listed below, or by using the keyword search tool below to find specific information within the annual report.

Page out of 60

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • 13
  • 14
  • 15
  • 16
  • 17
  • 18
  • 19
  • 20
  • 21
  • 22
  • 23
  • 24
  • 25
  • 26
  • 27
  • 28
  • 29
  • 30
  • 31
  • 32
  • 33
  • 34
  • 35
  • 36
  • 37
  • 38
  • 39
  • 40
  • 41
  • 42
  • 43
  • 44
  • 45
  • 46
  • 47
  • 48
  • 49
  • 50
  • 51
  • 52
  • 53
  • 54
  • 55
  • 56
  • 57
  • 58
  • 59
  • 60

11
An almost huggable device rolled out by Ricoh Silicon
Valley, Inc., in late 1999 is a stunning embodiment of
Ricoh’s commitment to bring appliance beauty to docu-
ment solutions. It is called eCabinet. This “Network Office
Appliance,” or NOA, connects with all types of office
equipment to automatically capture, file, and retrieve all
electronic and paper documents. It is the first system in
the world to give workgroups access to all their docu-
ments through a single, centralized machine.
One of the key attractions of eCabinet and its future
NOA brethren is its complete stability as a document
management solution. Users never have to open the box
or install additional software. It is pure plug-and-play.
Because it is fully connectable and based on an open
architecture, you can access it with a standard Web browser.
The prime target for eCabinet is medium-sized busi-
nesses and corporate workgroups. These people typically
suffer from overload as they try to analyze and manage
an excess of information. It is almost impossible to expect
such workers to accomplish their core tasks if they have to
waste countless hours keeping their information systems
in running order.
eCabinet combines the strengths of office networks,
the Internet, and advanced thin-server technology to
deliver appliance efficiency. The thin-server approach
used in eCabinet is similar to the technology used in all
Ricoh equipment—performing single or specialized serv-
er functions and running on a reliable, secure operating
architecture.
One of the many attractions of eCabinet is that it
reduces the cost of storage while eliminating the tiresome
loss of key documents so common in office equipment
and media today. It does this by routing all documents
through it for capture and storage on a 30-gigabyte hard
disc. And filing, searching, and retrieving documents
from eCabinet is totally intuitive. Users do not need spe-
cial training. Neither do network administrators—instal-
lation and configuration can be completed in just
minutes.
Since its launch, eCabinet has won industry acco-
lades as a forerunner of a whole new world of document
management. According to Michael Maziarka of CAP
Ventures, a leading market research firm in Massa-
chusetts, “Simplified, dedicated information appliances
like eCabinet will help the small business and corporate
workgroup with its document management operations.”
Michael is director of CAP Ventures’ Dynamic Content
Software Strategies Consulting Service.
In the not-too-distant future, Ricoh will bring out
more models that take the network office appliance con-
cept to greater heights, reconfirming its position as a doc-
ument management solutions provider.
Meeting New Challenges with Innovative Solutions
eCabinet
The World’s First Network Office Appliance
Dr. Peter Hart (right), Chairman of Ricoh Silicon Valley,
Inc., and Steve Weyl, CEO, play central roles in Ricoh’s
effort to make its network office appliance concept a reality.