Sales Positioning Guide: PaperCut MF vs UniFlow 2020
Prepare
What to lead with
1. Peerless brand/device compatibility
PaperCut MF will work with whatever brands and devices the customer uses,
in any combination.
2. Unmatched ease of use and installation
Setting up PaperCut MF is a breeze for resellers, and installing new releases
is easy for customers. Buyers Lab endorses the PaperCut MF admin interface
as the most user-friendly and intuitive of any output management platform.
3. Comprehensive support and resources
Tailored and localized support is available from PaperCut’s global network of
resellers and ASCs, as well as their in-house support team. 700+ Knowledge
Base articles and FAQs also empower customers to make DIY fixes.
4. Easy print enablement with Print Deploy
Print Deploy gets the right driver and right print queue to the right person
in the right location, automatically. It’s essential for customers who want to
cater to users who roam, use BYOD devices, or aren’t on a local domain.
5. PaperCut is partnered for choice
Customers enjoy leading integrations with partners such as Google (for
user sync and authentication directly from G Suite or Cloud Identity) and
Microsoft (for Universal Print). We keep up with our partners’ innovations so
that our customers can make their own choice of solutions and are not tied
to a path that we have dictated.
What to watch out for
1. Free basic print management on Canon MFDs
UniFlow Online Express is built into the firmware of Canon MFDs – including
smaller A4 variants not supported by PaperCut MF – to enable free cloud-
based tracking and reporting. Features like secure print release are available
via paid subscription.
2. Strong (optional) scanning feature set
UniFlow includes zonal OCR, image clean-up and separation, encrypted PDF,
and an extensive list of scanning connectors to solutions like SharePoint,
Salesforce and leading ECM/Document Management systems.
There’s more information to help you combat these points in
‘Defend and counter’ on the reverse of the page.
Strike
UniFlow weakness
Limited support for embedded MFDs
▶ Embedded application doesn’t support all MFD brands.
Server-based setups require extensive upkeep
▶ Configuration and management is both complex and
time-consuming.
▶ May require a fresh server build and/or Canon Professional
Services to come on site at a cost (e.g. adding new
print queues).
Server-based setups require external database
▶ While the MS SQL Express external database is included,
it’s time-consuming to install and requires ongoing
management by a Database Administrator.
▶ Not ideal for smaller companies averse to managing
external databases.
Expensive modular feature model
▶ Customers pay extra for rules and routing (scripting),
reporting, secure print release, scanning, remote print
server, etc.
No support for print driver/queue deployment
▶ Requires purchasing an additional tool like PrinterLogic,
or using an ad-hoc solution.
▶ Ad-hoc solutions can be messy and overly taxing on
IT resources.
Limited platform support
▶ Supports MS SQL and SQL Express databases.
PaperCut MF strength
Embedded integration across the board
▶ Supports all MFD brands/models; more than any
other solution.
▶ Consistent experience across mixed fleets, so customers can
swap brands freely.
Light application with minimal management
▶ Installs on an existing server just fine.
▶ Reduces costs and setup time to free up IT/sysadmins in their
day-to-day.
Ready right out of the box for most customers
▶ A separate external database isn’t required for smaller
businesses,
but still recommended for larger businesses.
▶ Substantially reduces the time, complexity, and risk involved in
most setups.
Transparent pricing that prevents bill shock
▶ Single pricing model based solely on the number of MFDs.
▶ Costs aren’t affected if the customer adds office branches or
changes network architecture.
▶ Add-ons like payment gateways are available for clear flat fees.
Print Deploy is included and easy to use
▶ Single-zone support comes as standard.
▶ Multi-zone support via an Extension Pack; no extra costs to
change/create queues.
▶ Easy in-house solution that saves IT time and hassle, and
prevents ballooning costs.
Extensive platform and database support
▶ Supports Linux, macOS, Windows, and all major databases:
internal database, Microsoft SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MySQL,
and Oracle.
Sales Positioning Guide: PaperCut MF vs UniFlow 2020
Defend and counter
UniFlow tactic
“With built-in print management for Canon
devices, why get PaperCut?”
▶ UniFlow Online Express enables free cloud-based tracking
and reporting on Canon MFDs (smaller A4 variants included).
▶ Secure print release, scanning, and mobile printing are
available via paid subscription.
“Our print driver gets more out of Canon MFDs
and printers”
▶ UniFlow’s universal print driver unlocks more MFD features
than PaperCut MF’s print driver, like stapling, hole punching,
etc.
“PaperCut’s scanning features don’t compare to
ours”
▶ UniFlow enables deeper scanning features than PaperCut MF
on Canon devices.
“We offer a truly all-in-one solution”
▶ UniFlow’s “One Platform” vision aims to comprehensively
cover print, scan, and device management; mobile printing
and print room management are also included.
“If uptime is crucial, you’ll want to go with us”
▶ UniFlow is better for businesses demanding always-on
printing and high availability requirements; PaperCut is more
suited to education customers.
▶ Includes a robust failover solution that maintains printing
in the event of an outage until the main server comes back
online.
Contact us
sales@papercut.com
papercut.com
PaperCut MF counter Quick resources
Unrestricted and future-proof print management Print Deploy
▶ UniFlow Online Express only supports Canon MFDs and Windows OS. papercut.com/solutions/print-deploy
▶ PaperCut MF is compatible with more brands, devices, and operating systems than any
other print management solution. Print Queue and Driver Deployment
papercut.com/discover/easy-printing/network-
▶ Secure long-term investment; no need to worry about macOS users, mixed fleets, etc.
printer-deployment
Mobile and BYOD Printing
Excellent functionality on all MFD brands papercut.com/discover/easy-printing/mobile-
▶ Benefits of UniFlow’s universal print driver are restricted to Canon MFDs. byod-chromebook-printing
▶ PaperCut MF supports essential MFD features across the widest variety of MFD brands;
stapling finishing option supported on selected brands. Product Integrations
papercut.com/discover/integrations-and-addons
Featureful scanning on all MFD brands External System and Integration APIs
▶ UniFlow’s scanning features are generally restricted to Canon MFDs. papercut.com/kb/Main/ExternalDataSourceAPI
▶ Integrated Scanning is extensive, easy to use, and supports a wide variety of MFD
brands in addition to Canon. High Availability
papercut.com/kb/Main/HighAvailability
▶ Includes OCR, scanning to the cloud, batch splitting, blank page removal, and image
enhancements (despeckle and deskew).
High Availability Whitepaper
blog.papercut.com/whitepaper-papercut-and-
Complete management and enablement for print and beyond high-availability
▶ PaperCut MF enables and manages print, copy, scan, BYOD/mobile printing, queue
deployment, 3D printing, and print rooms for more brands than any other solution. Security Whitepaper
▶ Most features come as standard; select features available for an easy one-time fee. papercut.com/kb/Main/SecurityWhitepaper
▶ UniFlow’s “One Platform” vision is costly; each feature is purchased separately.
Print Rooms
▶ UniFlow’s “One Platform” vision typically requires Canon hardware. papercut.com/products/do-more/print-rooms
Proven track record for large-scale resiliency 3D Printing
papercut.com/products/do-more/3d-printing
▶ Flexible, robust architecture that easily caters to complex High Availability (HA)
requirements of organizations big and small.
Case studies
▶ In-built Application Server Failover support to maximise Application Server uptime and papercut.com/customer-stories
provide self-healing in the event of an application level failure.
▶ Compatible with leading HA features like failover clustering and network load balancing.
The information in this Sales Positioning Guide is correct as of October 2020.
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