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Reports

BLI publishes a series of insightful reports on copiers, printers, fax machines and MFPs that are designed to help you:
Gain early insight about new products
Quickly determine a product's noteworthy features, strengths and weaknesses
Improve your proposals and purchasing decisions
Understand actual tested productivity and efficiency
Stay well educated on industry trends
BLI Reports are all available on our web-based tool bliQ. Reports can also be purchased on our order desk. Reports include: First Look, Productivity, Field Test, Lab Test, Software Solutions and Special Reports.

First Look Reports

First Looks save you time by doing your research for you and placing the information in an attractive and concise format. First Looks include:
The model's competitors
The target market
What's new
Noteworthy features that make the product stand out from the competition
Other important considerations such as security, options, running costs, regulatory compliance and how it integrates with software and solutions.

Productivity Reports

Based on extensive tests that simulate a real world environment performed in the field and in our unique lab, Productivity Reports compare tested speeds to advertised speeds of machines. Reports provide a user with valuable test results that allow a user to select the most efficient device regardless of the speed.

LabNotes

LabNotes offers subscribers a "one-page" overview of a broad range of BLI's unique research. It offers instant intelligence, summarizing the results of intensive laboratory testing, as well as other key data, into an invaluable report that is easily digested. Designed in an attractive, easy-to-read format, LabNotes provides a quick perspective on the machine and serves as a gateway to additional product research and BLI tools.
LabNotes includes:
Summary of lab test rankings in an easy to read graph
Strengths and weaknesses
Other products from the same manufacturer to consider
Competitive models
Key lab test data
Security
Accessibility
Options
Available to all bliQ subscribers for an introductory period, these reports are included with Sales Advantage Subscriptions.

Field Test Reports

Product life cycles are getting shorter and shorter in the document imaging world. Buyers, OEMs and dealers need unbiased commentary on new imaging devices earlier than ever before. Answering this need are Buyers Lab (BLI) Field Test Reports. BLI's Field Test Reports are a pre-lab evaluation that provides the marketplace with an independent view on a product's features and functions, along with some preliminary information on the performance of the product.
A general overview of the product, including an evaluation of performance factors such as ease of use, efficiency, image quality and overall value.
An overall “star” rating (up to five stars), as well as individual ratings for each area analyzed by field test technicians.
A comparative and value analysis that measures the product against other products in its class.
An easy to read list of advantages and shortcomings of the product.

Lab Test Reports

Lab Test Reports, which significantly enhance information gathered in the field, are comprehensive laboratory evaluations that concentrate on connectivity issues in detail, including areas such as multitasking, installing a unit on a network, web-based administration, print drivers and administrative utilities, as well as fax and scanning functionality, when applicable. A lab-tested unit is installed by the vendor in BLI's 10,000 square foot test lab, where BLI also conducts extensive durability testing on the product. Only units that have completed BLI's in-house lab testing and have proven to be dependable performers can receive BLI's “Certificate of Reliability”.
Among the critical elements of digital imaging units that can only be accurately evaluated through in-depth, controlled tests in a lab environment are:
Multitasking and network performance, which is more important than ever.
Cost of ownership of the product post-purchase, which includes variables such as the cost/life of consumables, the productivity of the machine and the necessity for human intervention/reliability over time.
Reliability and productivity, which are commonly over-estimated or “assumed”.

Solutions Test Reports

The MFP industry has changed dramatically over the last few years from a collection of standalone devices that didn't integrate with other equipment, to a networked industry of multifunctional devices that combine both hardware and software. Purchasing solutions is very different to buying hardware because organizations are making a long term commitment to a product without knowing its exact benefits or how the application will interact with other software until after it's installed. BLI's Solutions Test Reports provide both dealers and end users with an independent view of OEM and independent third-party solutions to help them evaluate, and buy or sell these unique products.
Solutions Test Reports provide:
A general overview of the product, including an evaluation of performance factors such as ease of use, compatibility, product support, training, security and documentation.
An overall “star” rating (up to five stars), as well as individual ratings for each area.
An in-depth look at the application's features, benefits, system requirements, operating environments and optional extras.
A step-by-step guide to using the solution.
A look at where the product is heading, the overall market and upgrade options.
A case study of a company that uses the solution.

Special Reports

In addition to test reports and newsletter services on digital multifunctional devices, copiers, fax machines and printers, BLI publishes special reports throughout the year on a range of office products other than the primary products it reports on. For example, we may offer reports on phone systems, paper shredders, copy control systems or mailing machines. These reports are written by some of the most respected reporters in the industry and offer keen insight and excellent buying advice on each product category.

Ordering Test Reports

Test Reports are available as part of some bliQ packages. bliQ is a powerful web-based information solution where all the intelligence needed to give you the winning edge is only a mouse click away. To find out more about bliQ click here or call your Account Manager at 201-488-0404.
Special Report
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