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.
The acquisition will give Ricoh Europe more than 1,300 customers, including 15 of the DAX 30 companies in Germany as well as business with some large government entities. Ricoh claims its customers across Europe will benefit from DataVisions’s expertise.
DataVision will continue to operate under its existing name as an individual entity following the acquisition, Ricoh claims.
VP of communication services at Ricoh Europe, Edward Hamilton, said DataVision would provide a springboard for further growth in Europe for its IT services division.
DataVision and SimplicITy will run as independent companies under their own branding.
Ricoh has been acquiring channel businesses over the last few years to grow its own IT services business. In 2019, the firm acquired IPM and TotalStore.
