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Fujifilm retail strategy for Frontier solutions
Ralf Jurrien : March 16th 2007 - 20:40 CET
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 Fujifilm retail strategy for Frontier solutions : In a keynote address at PMA 2007, Yoshikazu Aoki, corporate vice president, Photo Imaging Products Division, Fujifilm Corporation, shared his perspective on the impact of digitization on the photo imaging industry. He emphasized Fujifilm’s continued commitment to develop imaging products for retailers, and pointed to the penetration and integration of once-separate business sectors as a key factor driving both change and opportunity for Fujifilm and its customers. “We are seeing that digitization is driving the convergence of imaging technologies and products that once resided in distinct business sectors. Today we are experiencing the fusion of copying and printing,” said Aoki.
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 Fujifilm Frontier solutions
Aoki added: “The photo sector, the document sector, and the graphic arts sector have traditionally been independent. Things like ‘on-demand printing’ used to be associated only with the world of documentation, but now it is widely used in the graphic arts and photo arenas. Fujifilm is fortunate to have a strong technology presence in all three of these sectors.” Aoki emphasized that finding new ways to increase the demand for print-at-retail services remains Fujifilm’s priority. He introduced Fujifilm’s strategy, Expanding Frontier Solutions, which builds from the well-established digital printing infrastructure with the Frontier digital minilab and its workflow management software as the hub. Aoki explained Fujifilm’s strategy as being driven by the need to be able to provide retailers with solutions that can give their customers the choice of ordering imaging products in the store, or from home over the Internet for in-store pick-up. And just as important, the need to be flexible in offering a range of output options including dye sublimation, ink jet, and xerography - in addition to silver-halide.
Fujifilm Frontier digital minilab
Fujifilm is the only company that provides retail customers with a complete range of solutions that give their in-store customers the choice of getting pictures in minutes, hours, or days, as well as offering photo specialty items including photo books, calendars, greeting cards and more. In his address, Aoki cited 1996 as a milestone year for Fujifilm and the photo processing industry, when Fujifilm’s Frontier digital minilab established the foundation and quality standard for excellence in onsite digital photo printing. He then offered a look at new technologies introduced and in-development in Japan, that promise a continued future for the creative application of imaging technologies, and the preservation of the culture of photography that Fujifilm continues to nurture. These include advanced technologies that manage image color, detect the human face, combine images with sound, incorporate GPS location data in image files, creative collage and shuffle photo print formats and mobile imaging applications and services.
Fujifilm Frontier retail & Professional printing solutions
Aoki also shared several of the innovations Fujifilm is featuring at the PMA show. Joining the growing family of Fujifilm Frontier retail and professional printing solutions are: Fujifilm’s new dry lab solution, the Fujifilm Frontier Lite; photo-specialty printing solutions featuring Xerox printers coupled with Fujifilm workflow and Image Intelligence; and the Lab$ense portal, which gives retailers the ability to customize and control their photofinishing business for maximum profitability and productivity. In addition, the company’s latest additions to its digital camera line up feature Fujifilm’s Picture Stabilization technology, Dual Shot Mode and a versatile xD/SD Media Compatible Slot that accepts both xD-Picture Cards and Secure Digital (SD) media cards.
About Fujifilm
Fujifilm brings continuous innovation and leading-edge products to a broad spectrum of industries including medical, life sciences, consumer electronic, chemical, graphic arts, information systems, photography and office products based on its vast portfolio of digital, optical, fine chemical and thin film coating technologies. The company provides products and services that contribute to the advancement of culture, science, technology and industry, as well as to improved health and environmental protection. It is the global leader in digital minilabs; Computed Radiography systems; ink dyes, pigments and UV inks for inkjet printers and materials used in the production of flat panel displays. It was ranked number 15 for US patents granted in 2006, employs more than 75,000 people worldwide and in the year ended March 31, 2006, had global revenues of $22.8 billion.
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