Konica Minolta hosts second annual partners’ meet in Goa; recognises excellence

Konica Minolta Business Solutions India kicked off its day long – Partners’ Meet, its second annual meet, in Goa’s Cideda de Goa resort on 15 June, showing its commercial partners that it values their partnership and shares their concerns by emphasising its focus on customer services and its path forward through products availability.

18 Jun 2012 | By PrintWeek India

The Konica Minolta (KM) management team, spearheaded by Tadahiko Sumitani, managing director of KM spent time up close with 50 invited partners, made detailed presentations on KM’s 2011 performance, its plans for 2012 and market expectations.

“In the office equipment segment we are pretty much there, particularly doing well with the jobbers, not so much in the corporate though,” said Sumitani. “It’s an area where we need to focus on.”

KM, its print production division had sold 370 colour and B&W units in 2011. It set a sales target of 500 units for the print production division and is giving its target a boost by organising roadshows, training and offering optimised print solutions, which promotes integrating software solutions and energy savings.

“The second largest visitor turnout at Drupa is a pointer that India is a big market,” said Sumitani. "There is a huge print market here in India. The total print volume in 2012 is estimated to be $8.6bn in North India; $7.0bn in South India; $6.7bn in West India; and $2.7bn in East India. With the estimated growth in digital printing market to be around 35%, we see a huge opportunity here."

According to KM, the upgraded KM products launched at Drupa will be available in India early next year.

The team KM also dispelled concerns about supplies which followed the launch of C70HC. “We did not expect the C70HC to be such a big success. The equipment has been a big hit in the photo album segment of the print market,” said Sumitani. “That said, we have met the challenges both in fulfilling the orders as well as supply of consumables.”

He also said that KM has ramped up its operations by inducting more personnel for business support like services. “Service is the key to success in India. We have recognised the importance of service in India. I would also advise our partners to follow the same path.”

During the course of the event, KM also recognised excellence by presenting outstanding performance sales achievement awards to Monotech System and HCL Infosystems in the print production segment.