Xerox App Gallery vs. Ricoh Smart Integration Apps: Which Printer App Platform Delivers More Value?

If you’ve ever tried to streamline office workflows, you know how clunky printers and scanners can feel. Scanning, emailing, uploading, and renaming files are tasks that should take seconds. However, they often eat up way more time than they should. Printer apps are meant to solve this problem, but not all platforms are created equal.

Two prominent platforms are the Xerox App Gallery and Ricoh Smart Integration (RSI). Both platforms promise to turn your multifunction printer (MFP) into a productivity hub, offering apps and workflows that go far beyond “just printing.”

As Xerox Platinum Partners, we work with ConnectKey-enabled Xerox devices and their app ecosystem every day. But we also keep a close eye on competitors like Ricoh so we can give you a clear, unbiased picture. In this article, we’ll break down where Xerox App Gallery and Ricoh Smart Integration overlap, where they differ, and which might be the better fit for your business.

Table of Contents

• Platform Overview
• App Variety & Flexibility
• Security & Compliance
• Industry-Specific Solutions
• Ease of Use & Customization
• Developer Ecosystem
• Which One Should You Choose?

Platform Overview

Both Xerox App Gallery and Ricoh Smart Integration aim to help businesses save time by automating repetitive document tasks. But they approach it in slightly different ways.

Xerox App Gallery

The Xerox App Gallery offers a diverse mix of apps, both free and paid, designed for ConnectKey-enabled printers (VersaLink and AltaLink). These apps, which include both Xerox-developed and third-party options, help meet a wide range of needs like cloud storage, communication, legal, healthcare, education, and general productivity. Think of it like an app store for your printer, with options ranging from “Translate & Print” and “Auto Redaction” to “Connect for Microsoft 365.”

Ricoh Smart Integration (RSI)

The Ricoh Smart Integration solution is more package-based and come in various tiers, including Essentials, Connectors, Workflows, and Advanced Workflows. Each tier adds more apps with enhanced capabilities, starting from simple scan-to-email functions to more sophisticated features like advanced SharePoint integration and automatic data extraction. Optional add-ons are available for healthcare, legal, and device management.

It's worth noting that Ricoh's Smart Integration apps are available only for Ricoh devices equipped with the Smart Operation Panel. Users can choose from both free and paid app options to best suit their needs. 

At a glance: Xerox leans into app variety and customization, while Ricoh organizes features into bundles.

App Variety & Flexibility

The Xerox App Gallery offers 50+ apps across various industries. Businesses can combine these apps, whether it's adding cloud connectors, industry-specific solutions, or general productivity tools. For example:

• Translate & Print: Instantly translate documents into 40+ languages.
• Auto Redaction: Automatically remove sensitive data (great for HIPAA/GDPR compliance).
• Connect for Microsoft 365, Dropbox, Google Drive, Box, OneDrive: Deep cloud integrations.
• Note Converter: Converts handwritten notes into editable text.

Ricoh’s Smart Integration solution packs capabilities or apps into tiered bundles. For example:

• Essentials: Scan-to-email and mobile printing.
• Connectors: Adds basic cloud storage (Google Drive, OneDrive, Box, Dropbox).
• Workflows: Adds multi-destination routing, file naming, and folder creation.
• Advanced Workflows: Adds auto data extraction, SharePoint metadata, and classification.

Verdict: If you want à la carte flexibility, Xerox wins. If you prefer pre-set packages with predictable pricing, Ricoh might feel simpler.

Security & Compliance

Xerox App Gallery is part of the Xerox ConnectKey ecosystem. ConnectKey devices come with layered security that features encryption, user authentication, and secure print. Apps like Auto Redaction and Share Patient Information directly support HIPAA and GDPR compliance. Xerox also partners with Cisco and Trellix (formerly McAfee) to meet international security standards.

Ricoh Smart Integration includes secure authentication (with ID cards), pull print, and device management through its Device Enhancement add-on. It also provides compliance-focused solutions for legal (Bates stamping, court eFiling) and healthcare (DrChrono EHR integration).

Verdict: Both platforms are strong, but Ricoh’s healthcare and legal add-ons stand out for niche integration needs.

Industry-Specific Solutions

The Xerox App Gallery features dedicated apps for healthcare, education, and legal. Examples:

• Share Patient Information (healthcare)
• Book2Go (education)
• Auto Redaction (legal)

Ricoh’s Smart Integration solution offers optional industry add-ons rather than stand-alone apps. These include:

• Healthcare: Patient onboarding + EHR integration.
• Legal: Bates stamping and eFiling prep.

Verdict: Xerox offers more breadth across industries, while Ricoh goes deeper into healthcare/legal compliance.

Ease of Use & Customization

Xerox users can customize their printer’s home screen with frequently used apps, just like on a smartphone. Individual logins allow personal app layouts for each user.

Ricoh offers simplified workflows, but customization is limited to what comes in each package.

Verdict: Xerox takes the lead for user personalization and app-store style flexibility.

Developer Ecosystem

The Xerox Developer Program gives third parties access to SDKs, simulators, and collaboration tools (Slack, Stack Overflow). This means more variety and faster innovation in the App Gallery.

Ricoh’s Smart Integration technology doesn’t emphasize an open developer program as much. Add-ons and packages are more controlled by Ricoh itself.

Verdict: Xerox’s open developer ecosystem offers more long-term innovation potential.

Which One Should You Choose?

Here’s a quick way to think about it:

Choose Xerox App Gallery if you want:

• A broad range of apps across industries.
• The flexibility to add/remove apps as your business grows.
• Strong personalization for different users.
• A thriving developer ecosystem driving new tools.

Choose Ricoh Smart Integration if you want:

• Simple, predictable bundles without needing to choose apps individually.
• Deep compliance features for legal and healthcare.
• Affordable entry-level workflow automation (e.g., scan-to-email + cloud storage).

Which Platform Works Best for Your Workflow?

Both Xerox App Gallery and Ricoh Smart Integration can make your office workflows smoother. Xerox shines with its wide app selection, flexibility, and customization, while Ricoh delivers solid, pre-packaged workflows with niche strengths in healthcare and legal.

The right choice depends on how much flexibility you want versus how much structure you need.

If you’d like to explore Xerox App Gallery apps firsthand, we offer a free trial so you can test productivity apps before making a decision.