Cebu to benefit from printer firm’s shift to tech solutions

CEBU, Philippines- What used to be widely known as a printer company has now evolved into a technology solutions company.

The transformation of Lexmark International Inc., into a solutions provider is seen to benefit its operations in Cebu in terms of growth that eventually will translate into employment.

Lexmark International chairman and chief executive officer Paul Rooke yesterday announced, during his visit at the company’s Research & Development and Shared Services unit, that the printer maker giant is starting its transformation initiative, from an established printer maker to a broader technology solutions firm that will primarily address the pressing concern of connecting the unstructured information to the entire system.

"In today's world, enterprise system is only one part. What's missing is the 80 percent unstructured documents or information. This is what we are going to solve," said Rooke in a press briefing yesterday.

This means that Lexmark will not only provide merely the printing solutions to the market, but its products are embedded with intelligent software technologies to boost efficiency and heighten productivity of industry-specific markets such as banking, education, healthcare,  retail, back-office sectors.

Rooke said the company aims to make printers into a multi-functional device, powered by Lexmark's breakthrough software and technology development, which will further strengthen its commitment in growing its facilities in Cebu, considering that the research and development facility here is becoming one of the primary authors and product managers for the company’s product innovations.

At present, Lexmark’s facilities in Cebu employ a total of 2,100 people. Although Rooke did not divulge if the company will expand its manpower count in the short term, he however assured that Lexmark's transformation move means growth but he stopped short of making specific projections.

Lexmark Cebu designs, develops, and deliver end-to-end software, embedded systems, and hardware for multi-function printers, solutions and services for customers.

Cebu research and development center is the company's global base for research and development, the largest out of its headquarters in Kentucky, USA site.

The company announced the closure of its inkjet printer manufacturing plant at Mactan Export Zone in early 2012.

Lexmark opened its research and development facility in Cebu at the Cebu Business Park in 2001. It later expanded its operations to include the growing the shared services component.

For shared-services operation, Cebu is the hub of global transactions--operating worldwide supply chain, global services, accounting, finance and sales and marketing divisions, for Lexmark stakeholders.  (FREEMAN)