Building Products That Solve Real Problems: Inside PFUE's Product Development Process

The best products don't just respond to market demands, they anticipate them. In this second episode of Digitise This, host Steve Chad is joined by Brian Fortune, who leads PFU's sales organisation, and Tony Lillico, product management leader, for a comprehensive look at how PFUE develops, launches, and evolves products that solve real customer challenges.  From the sixth generation of the FI Series to the launch of PaperStream Capture Pro and Pro Premium as subscription-based software, Brian and Tony reveal how customer pain points shape product roadmaps, why automation and security are central to everything PFUE does, and what makes the engineering team in Japan truly world-leading.  We'll also hear directly from channel partners about what sets PFUE's product launches apart, from the quality of materials to the speed of enablement.  If you're curious about how hardware and software come together to deliver intelligent capture solutions, this is the conversation you need to hear. What you'll learn in this episode >> Why there's a disconnect between market needs and traditional licensing models and how PaperStream Capture Pro and Pro Premium are bridging that gap with affordable, subscription-based access to enterprise-level features. >> How PFUE's global feedback loops work >> What makes PFUE's hardware leadership enduring >> How subscription-based software enables continuous improvement >> What channel partners value most during product launches Meet our guests Brian Fortune leads the sales organisation at PFU (EMEA) Limited taking customers on the journey from second-generation scanners through to today's intelligent capture solutions. Brian is passionate about addressing market pain points, particularly the disconnect between what organisations need and what traditional licensing models deliver, and has been instrumental in shaping PFUE's move into chargeable, subscription-based software that makes enterprise-level features accessible to organisations of all sizes. Tony Lillico is a product management leader at PFU (EMEA) Limited and works closely with PFUE's world-leading engineering team in Japan to translate customer feedback and market demands into product evolution. With deep expertise across hardware and software development from mechanics and optics to OCR, metadata security, and solution integration, Tony ensures that PFUE's products remain market-leading, fit for purpose, and built around real-world business challenges across diverse sectors and geographies. Meet our host Steve Chad brings deep expertise in digital transformation, intelligent capture, and the evolving role of technology in modern business workflows. Throughout the series, Steve connects the dots between hardware innovation, partner enablement, and customer outcomes. Enjoying the Show? Subscribe, leave a review, and share it with colleagues and partners who are passionate about smart capture, workflow automation, and digital transformation. Visit PFU EMEA to discover how intelligent document capture is transforming business operations across EMEA and joining the Channel Partner Programme. To find out more information about PaperStream Capture Pro Solutions visit the website here.  Connect with Steve Chad on LinkedIn for more insights and updates. Connect with Brian Fortune on LinkedIn Connect with Tony Lillico on LinkedIn  Learn more about PFU EMEA on LinkedIn