Xerox: American document technology company and iconic brand

History and development

The roots of Xerox trace to an early 20th-century firm that later commercialized a new copying process. In the 20th century the transfer and refinement of electrostatic copying — often called xerography — turned the firm into a household name. The business expanded into related supplies and services and over time renamed and reorganized to reflect its focus on document technology. Key leadership milestones and company milestones can be read on its history page.

Products, technology and research

Xerox's product line has included stand-alone photocopiers, laser and ink printers, multifunction devices, printing presses, consumables such as paper and toner, and managed document services. The company has also operated influential research laboratories. Research and development at its Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) is credited with early work on graphical user interfaces, laser printing technologies and local area networking concepts that shaped modern computing.

• Typical product categories: photocopiers and multifunction printers — see photocopiers;
• Supplies: paper, toner and service kits — see paper products;
• Services: managed print services, document workflow and digital transformation.

Uses, importance and examples

Xerox machines and services are used in offices, schools and print shops to reproduce and distribute documents quickly. Beyond hardware, the company provides software and consulting to help organizations handle records, automate workflows and reduce paper use. Its technologies influenced the development of personal computing and modern office automation.

Notable facts and legacy

Several notable facts stand out: the brand's name became a common verb; the company's research center contributed to major computing advances; and in 2009 Ursula Burns became CEO and chair, notable as one of the first Black women to lead a large publicly traded company. For corporate communications and investor resources, visit the corporate site or the product pages for current offerings.