Originally announced on March 19, 2019, at HP Reinvent: World Partner Forum in Houston, Texas.
If you’ve ever tried to make sense of a big vendor announcement, you’ll know most of it is written for partners, not the people who actually use the printers. So here’s the short version.
At HP Reinvent 2019, HP Inc. announced new office printing solutions and services for its global channel partners. The focus was on growing contractual (managed) printing business, strengthening print security services and extending its managed A3 and A4 printer ranges. It also announced FutureSmart firmware updates, new service optimisation features and energy-efficient LaserJet A4 printers with Original HP EcoSmart black toner.
At QPC Group, we work with HP equipment every day, so we’ve pulled out what matters if you’re running or choosing office printers. Everything below describes HP’s claims as reported in March 2019, not current product availability.
The four big themes at a glance
- Smarter solutions and services: expanded workflow integrations and predictive device maintenance.
- Print security: partner training, certification and tools for finding security gaps.
- Managed printing portfolio: more A3 and A4 LaserJet models and service-focused features.
- Energy efficiency: new LaserJet A4 printers with Original HP EcoSmart black toner.
Smarter printing solutions and services
HP highlighted software and service upgrades meant to help partners streamline workflows, keep printers available and cut service costs.
HP JetAdvantage Apps
JetAdvantage Apps were designed to connect HP multifunction devices (MFDs) with digital platforms, so businesses could simplify document workflows and cut manual tasks. The platform supported pre-built apps, customised solutions and development tools backed by HP cloud services.
At the time, HP reported 35 beta apps and more than 200 development partners working on workflow integrations. It also shared a customer example from Soluciones in Argentina.
If your team still moves paper by hand, our Document Flow solutions are a good place to start.
HP Smart Device Services
HP Smart Device Services (SDS) was built to help service providers reduce maintenance costs, improve uptime and resolve printer problems faster. HP’s 2019 announcement said partners using SDS reported average service cost reductions of 17% or more. The platform supported remote troubleshooting and gave technicians information intended to improve first-visit repair rates.
HP also announced predictive capabilities to flag likely failures in key components before they happen. As a customer example, HP highlighted TT Tecnosistemi in Italy, which reported saving 23% on service costs in 2018.
Those are HP’s reported figures, not a promise for every business. If you’d like to see how monitoring works in practice, our MPS Monitor page explains how we keep an eye on printer fleets.
Why print security got so much attention
Printer security was a major focus. HP cited survey findings that 83% of respondents had secured their PCs and 55% had secured their mobile devices, but only 41% had secured their printers. That’s HP’s 2019 survey, so treat it as a snapshot of the time. The underlying point still holds: printers are networked devices, and they’re easy to overlook.
Built-in security and cyber resilience
HP promoted technologies designed to protect firmware and watch for malware threats:
- HP Sure Start: BIOS protection intended to help detect and recover from certain firmware attacks.
- Malware monitoring: features meant to monitor incoming and outgoing threats.
- Self-healing capabilities: technologies designed to help compatible devices recover from certain security incidents.
HP also described its approach in terms of cyber resilience and referenced its bug bounty programme and alignment with NIST requirements. These are HP’s claims from the announcement, and what’s available depends on your printer model, firmware and security configuration.
Secure software development and certification
HP highlighted SD-PAC certification for firmware and software, along with security practices built into its development process. The announcement named these products in that discussion:
- HP FutureSmart firmware
- HP JetAdvantage Security Manager
- HP Access Control
- HP JetAdvantage SecurePrint
- HP JetAdvantage Insights
Together they formed part of HP’s approach to managing print security across a fleet. If secure release of print jobs matters to your office, our follow-me printing service is worth a look.
Security training for channel partners
HP also launched a training and certification campaign, with tools to help partners assess security gaps, build proposals and offer security services. HP reported more than 700 partners participating at the time.
HP’s managed A3 and A4 portfolio
HP announced additions and improvements to its managed printing range, covering FutureSmart firmware, A4 LaserJet devices, A3 models and toner technology.
FutureSmart firmware enhancements
The FutureSmart updates applied to compatible enterprise and managed devices across the A3 and A4 ranges. One highlight was HP Custom Color Manager, which offered a real-time preview for colour adjustments and the ability to deploy colour profiles across a fleet. The update also covered Expert Copy for advanced copying and serverless job accounting.
HP said compatible existing devices could receive firmware updates to gain supported new features, subject to device compatibility and update requirements.
New features for the HP LaserJet 600 Series
For its LaserJet 600 Series A4 devices, HP highlighted features meant to make managed printing easier to service:
- Cartridge Access Control: secures the cartridge access panel and helps ensure toner is used up before a cartridge is replaced.
- Fixed tray guides: designed to help reduce paper jams, which HP called a common service issue.
- Predictive sensors: combined with Cartridge Access Control and HP Smart Device Services to help spot potential service issues and reduce service costs.
HP said partners using the relevant SDS capabilities could achieve savings of up to 17%. That’s a company-reported figure from 2019, not a guaranteed outcome.
Expanded HP LaserJet A3 portfolio
HP expanded its LaserJet 700 and 800 Series A3 ranges, including new entry-level models, and put its print security technologies at the centre of the offering. For partners, the aim was more choice when matching devices to different business needs through managed service arrangements.
Energy-efficient LaserJet A4 printers
HP introduced new LaserJet A4 printers using Original HP EcoSmart black toner. According to the 2019 announcement, the new LaserJet 400 and 500 series used an average of 21% less energy than previous generations of HP printer systems. That comparison applies to the systems and methodology HP referenced, so check current datasheets for the model you’re considering.
A3 printing with HP JetIntelligence
HP also highlighted an A3 printer with JetIntelligence technology, aimed at businesses producing professional documents, marketing materials, colour images and graphics. For capabilities, supported media and availability, check the documentation for the specific model.
What this meant for businesses
HP’s announcement brought together three priorities: workflow automation, managed print efficiency and stronger printer security. If you’re reviewing your own setup, the useful questions are:
- Workflow efficiency: could software integrations simplify your document-heavy tasks?
- Device management: could remote diagnostics and predictive maintenance reduce downtime?
- Print security: are firmware protection, monitoring and access controls part of your wider security plan?
- Fleet flexibility: do you have the right mix of A3 and A4 devices for how your office works?
- Energy use: do printer specs and comparable energy data help you judge running costs?
Results depend on the devices you choose, the services you deploy and your own environment. This article reflects HP’s plans and claims as reported in March 2019 and shouldn’t be taken as confirmation of what’s available today.
Thinking about HP printers for your office?
If you’d like help choosing between A3 and A4 models, or want to know what a managed arrangement could look like, we’re happy to talk it through. Visit our HP printing and HP products pages for what we offer, or explore our managed print services to see how supplies, support and monitoring can work together.
Contact our team on (08) 9303 3888 or request a quote and tell us what you’re using now. For more practical guides, browse our Technical Resources or download our free ebook for small and medium businesses.
Read the original HP announcement
For the original announcement, product information, datasheets and images, see the HP Reinvent Print 2019 press kit.
About HP Inc.
HP Inc. develops technology products and services, including printers, personal computers, mobile devices and business solutions. For more information, visit the official HP website.