Tag: ricoh

Expectations gap in new technology

Number crunchers at Ricoh Europe have discovered a gap between the perceptions of employers and employees of what technology investments are supporting an improved workplace experience.

Knowledge of a disconnect over digital transformation implementations should allow that selling technology to challenge the narrative and provoke questions about what a successful tech deployment looks like.

Ricoh research found that almost three-quarters of employers claim they put enhancing staff workplace processes at the heart of any design, but only slightly above half of the employees felt that happened.

This risks that the IT will not produce the desired results, with just above a third of those workers quizzed stating that new technology being rolled out across the business would not affect their work.

Ricoh Europe CEO Nicola Downing said: “Businesses are working hard to ensure they invest in the tools and technologies that will futureproof growth and help them remain competitive. But our research suggests they’re failing to connect with employees on the processes and services that will make working easier, more efficient and, in many cases, more enjoyable.”

“Decision-makers can’t afford to delay. Without an optimal working environment, employees may start to look for pastures new,” he added. “People need to be at the centre of any workplace transformation, with their needs and pain points listened to and actively addressed. This is vital to talent attraction and retention, boosting collaboration productivity and ensuring a sense of fulfilment through work across the organisation.”

Ricoh found that a third of European businesses did not use productivity and project management software, automation or hybrid meeting technology.

The slow uptake of those technologies was happening despite calls from staff for them to be deployed, underlining the gap between bosses and workers perceived priorities.

 

Agilico takes over Capital Document Solutions

UK’s independent managed print services business Agilico has closed the sale of Edinburgh-based Capital Document Solutions.

The deal means that the outfit will increase its machines in field to over 40,000 and expand its customer base to over 13,000.

The deal comes just five months after the death of Capital Document Solutions MD Tom Flockhart – who founded the company in 1979.

Agilico’s last filed annual accounts, covering the year to 31 March 2021, showed flat revenues of £41.6 million and 30,000 machines in field.

Ricoh snaps up Pure but it will be business as usual

Ricoh has bought UK integrator Pure AV saying that its workforce will be retained and it will continue to operate under their existing name.

Pure AV was founded in 2003 and has a strong project history in higher education as well as commercial installation. The company has 72 employees operating across the UK, as well as on customer projects globally. Ricoh will take on Pure AV’s existing sites.

Ricoh snaps up Avantage

Printer outfit Ricoh Europe has acquired Dutch reseller Avantage claiming that the buy means that its partners can grow their managed services capabilities.

Ricoh Europe SVP Alberto Mariani said its buy will give European partners access to new offerings, particularly around document management.

“Avantage  complements other areas of our business such as document management solutions, workflow solutions and print services to provide customers with truly dependable extensive service and support.”

Print vendor Ricoh Europe snaps up two VARs

Ricoh Europe has written a cheque for two European VARs as part of its cunning plan to bolster its IT services and transform itself into a “digital services company”.

The outfit has snapped up DataVision and SimplicITy.

The firm works with device vendors including Canon, Epson, Cisco, Microsoft Samsung and Sharp. DataVision was Microsoft’s 2020 Partner of the Year for Surface Hub.

Ricoh claims the acquisition makes it one of Europe’s largest AV and workplace integrators and gives it new skills in modern meeting and workplace solutions and unified communications.

LG and Ricoh make pact for European partnership

LG and Ricoh have formed a  European partnership that will give businesses access to the tech giant’s range of display devices through a single trusted partner.

Effective from 1 April, companies of all sizes and across all sectors will have access to LG technology through Ricoh’s Communications Services portfolio, including market-leading products such as LG’s UHD IPS displays.

Digital transformation will make SMEs unrecognisable

A Ricoh Europe report claims that the SME/SMB arena is undergoing massive changes due to digital transformation.

The research found that a quarter of SMEs expect to be selling different products and services in the next five years and are looking for help innovating their businesses now to make sure they can deliver those sorts of changes.

There might be different degrees of commitment to change, but 91 percent of those quizzed by the printer maker accepted that they would be changing products and services to some extent in the next few years.

3D Printers are healthcare’s disruptive tech

o-OFFICE-3D-PRINTER-facebookA new study commissioned by Ricoh Europe claims that new printing technologies are having on European healthcare.

According to the research, 68 percent of healthcare professionals believe new printing technologies have the potential to fundamentally transform the health sector.

Including advances in customised prosthetics and on-demand drug manufacturing, 74 percent of healthcare experts now use new printing technologies to improve accurate diagnostic rates and lower mortality rates.

In addition, 51 percent say applying new printing technologies to rapidly manufacture customised implants, such as bone and dental grafts, significantly reduces the time patients need to spend in hospital and are crucial for improving recovery times.

David Mills, CEO, Ricoh Europe said: “Tasked to do more with less, making use of innovative printing technologies will prove essential in enabling Europe’s healthcare systems to continue to provide high-quality care. New techniques such as printing aquagel organs means it’s now possible for surgeons to practice suturing and the removal of tumours before real-life operations. Printing medicines layer-by-layer to target specific diseases could soon be commonplace.”

With life expectancies increasing and the prevalence of chronic diseases rising across Europe[1], treatments are becoming more complex in nature as ailments affect patients later into their lives. In response, 65 percent of healthcare providers are using new printing technologies to tailor printed materials to differing needs including those of older and remote patients.

More than 46 percent of healthcare professionals go so far as to say that without investment in 3D-printing they will struggle to meet the needs of patients in the next five years.

Mills added: “It’s not just through cutting-edge developments that healthcare facilities are benefiting from advances in printing technologies. Healthcare is an intensely admin heavy sector. By digitising their systems, providers can reduce paperwork to save time, cut costs and improve security.”

 

AI is hype and will not take jobs

mad-scientistResearch from Ricoh Europe has poured cold water on the belief that AI and automation will take channel jobs.

A survey showed that around a third of staff were not in a position to start working with more automation and AI tools.

Ricoh Europe’s VP of corporate marketing, Javier Diez-Aguirre, said that there was a great deal of hype in Europe around digital empowerment and its impact on productivity.

“While AI and automation will transform the way that we work, a lack of training will drastically reduce ROI. Businesses need to consider the person who will be using the new technology. No amount of infrastructure spending will help a business that isn’t encouraging its staff to develop the right skills”, he said.

Despite headlines about being replaced by robots, Europe’s workers see technology to do higher value work, not something that will replace them, he said.

Improving workers’ confidence to use new technology was not a catch-all situation.

“Successfully empowering digital workplaces requires different skillsets and a variety of needs must be catered for. Engaging with workers at every step is vital”,  Diez-Aguirre added.

If this is the case, resellers trying to pitch AI and automation to corporates do not have to mention that the tech will mean job losses – because it won’t.

Staff do not fear AI

TerminatorDespite all the scare stories, staff are ok with AI and business automation, according to a new study.

Number crunchers at Ricoh found that users are looking forward to exploiting the benefits of AI and are less worried about their jobs.

There have always been some suspicions that resellers pitching ‘digital transformation’ face some resistance from customers working in IT departments fearing for their own futures. IT staff would not be keen on rolling out more automation and sitting back while the machines take over.

Staff quizzed by Ricoh Europe revealed that 65 per cent expected automation technology would help them be more productive and 52 per cent expected artificial intelligence to have a positive impact on their roles.

Ricoh Europe vice-president corporate marketing Javier Diez-Aguirre said that employees were saying much which echoed the macroeconomic productivity concerns troubling governments worldwide.

“Too much of the working day is taken up with tasks and processes that could be automated or streamlined. By freeing up this time, technology empowers employees to work smarter and focus on adding real value to their business,” he said.

Users are hoping that technology will give them quicker access to data, give them the chance to work from home more often and reduce repetitive tasks.

There is a sense that failing to take steps to embrace the latest technology could have damaging repercussions with 36 per cent of those quizzed by Ricoh expressing the fear that a business that does not invest will fail within five years.

“Business decision makers should take a long term, holistic view on the costs of their core processes. Cutting investment may free up short term capital, but the benefits of increased productivity promise to pay great dividends in years to come,” added Diez-Aguirre.

Those fears about failing to invest have also been researched by Ricoh, which released findings last month that indicated that 15% of mid sized firms in the UK felt they had missed out on revenue opportunities because they did not have access to the best technology.

Lack of training, inefficient deployment and IT teams failing to spot interesting products and services were the main reasons things were going wrong.

“Despite the vast range of technology that is available to organisations, it is clear that mid-sized businesses across Europe do not feel like they are getting good value from their choices. Improved efficiencies and better collaboration and communication between staff are crucial constituents of making a successful business,” said Diez-Aguirre.

Europeans will lean on tech

european-commissionGood news for the channel as research from Ricoh Europe suggests that companies want to lean more on technology to improve their fortunes.

While the world is feeling rather uncertain at the moment, many feel that the way the work will change in the near future as a result of digital disruption, economic uncertainty and political turbulence.

More than 95 percent of people thought their business would benefit from the changes.

Most people that were asked for their opinions by Ricoh saw technology as the best way of making sure they could improve the fortunes of their business. On the wish list were using IT to improve customer communications, increased productivity and simpler business processes.

The weak point was that most felt that there will be even more of a scramble for skilled staff.

Ricoh Europe CEO David Mills said: “How people relate to, engage and execute their work is fundamentally changing. In the years ahead we’ll see businesses fall into two distinct camps. Firstly, those with strong fundamental processes which empower employees by enabling them to do their best work, adapt and thrive. Secondly, those businesses which shy away from change and unfortunately set their employees up for failure.”

“As the world feels the impact of unprecedented change, business leaders must ask themselves where they see the most beneficial return on bringing more innovative technology into the company. To enable their business to stay focused on its long-term goals, and remain competitive, often the best place to start is with their employees,” he added.

Resellers are being bombarded with advice from vendors to get more involved in the trend.