What Does Xerox’s New Operating Model Mean for In-plants?

By Bob Neubauer

The recent news about Xerox’s new operating model and organizational structure left me wondering how this would impact the company’s focus on production printers. After all, many in-plants rely on Xerox Iridesse, Versant, and Baltoro digital presses. And with a targeted 15% workforce reduction in the works, what could this mean for the staff that provide support for Xerox equipment?

I posed these questions to Xerox. Here’s what a spokesperson shared with IPI:

IPI: As you simplify your core products "to align with the needs of economic buyers of today’s hybrid workplace," will Xerox continue to develop and advance toner and inkjet production printers?

Xerox: For more than a century, Xerox has been a technology pioneer, continually redefining the workplace experience, and as the production print market evolves so will Xerox. We prioritize production solutions that best align to our client’s needs, and our ability to serve them. Toner and inkjet advancements are part our innovation agenda. In October, we introduced Xerox FreeFlow Vision which leverages predictive analytics to monitor and manage the production print data that service providers need to improve performance, enhance return on investment, and hit key performance indicators. This offering is now available to clients worldwide. All future announcements related to product development will be made via Xerox's official channels.

IPI: How will plans to reduce the workforce impact Xerox staff that provide service/support for existing equipment?

Xerox: The focus of our new operating model is less about staff reductions in the field and more about the simplification across the company to streamline organizational structure and leverage shared platforms and capabilities for enterprise-wide consistency, simplicity, and efficiency. In doing so, we will make Xerox easier to do business with and within, with a focus on continuing to improve the client and employee experience.

IPI: One of your stated key reinvention priorities is to “simplify our core products to align with the needs of economic buyers of today’s hybrid workplace.” Can you elaborate on what this will mean in the year ahead? What will customers see on the market?

Xerox: Clients and partners should expect offerings that align to the needs of the economic buyer in today’s workplace, leverage scalable and innovative technology to drive digital transformation efforts and increase workplace productivity, all while maximizing cost efficiency. For more than a century, Xerox has been a technology pioneer, continually redefining the workplace experience. As our business evolves, we will continue to prioritize innovation and deliver the best possible solutions for our clients and partners.

Analysis: In a nutshell, Xerox is not simply planning to cut staff, but wants to focus on creating a more effective and streamlined operational environment that is more user-friendly and efficient for customers. As long as those customers continue to need production print solutions, toner and inkjet advancements will remain on its agenda.

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Bob Neubauer Author's page

Bob has served as editor of In-plant Impressions since October of 1994. Prior to that he served for three years as managing editor of Printing Impressions, a commercial printing publication. Mr. Neubauer is very active in the U.S. in-plant industry. He attends all the major in-plant conferences and has visited more than 170 in-plant operations around the world. He has given presentations to numerous in-plant groups in the U.S., Canada and Australia, including the Association of College and University Printers and the In-plant Printing and Mailing Association. He also coordinates the annual In-Print contest, co-sponsored by IPMA and In-plant Impressions.