{"id":4784,"date":"2013-04-18T15:47:13","date_gmt":"2013-04-18T19:47:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.theweekinimaging.com\/?p=4784"},"modified":"2013-04-18T16:22:56","modified_gmt":"2013-04-18T20:22:56","slug":"top-10-highlights-from-last-weeks-kyocera-dealer-meeting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/feature-articles\/2013\/04\/top-10-highlights-from-last-weeks-kyocera-dealer-meeting\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 10 Highlights from Last Week\u2019s Kyocera Dealer Meeting"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Kyocera<\/a><\/span>Last week Kyocera Document Solutions America\u2019s held their annual dealer meeting. I had every intention of attending until I ended up in the hospital the week before and was unable to travel the week of the show. Fortunately, I received a complete package of press releases, speeches, and other meeting-related information from Kyocera earlier this week and Frank Cannata was gracious enough to share with me his impressions of the three-day event. Although I wasn\u2019t physically in attendance, here are my Top 10 highlights and initiatives based on what I gleaned from the information supplied to me by Kyocera and Frank\u2019s comments.<\/p>\n

1. Business in the U.S. and the Americas is up –<\/strong> KDA President Norihiko Ina reported that in a challenging economy Kyocera and Copystar dealers grew their business by 7.4 percent year over year in fiscal 2013. That was positive news, especially when one considers that Kyocera\u2019s Canadian dealers enjoyed 10.9 percent growth, the Latin American Division grew 6.5 percent, Mexico grew by 10 percent, and Brazil grew by 2.4 percent year-over-year.<\/p>\n

2. A focus on building stronger relationships with their dealer channel –<\/strong> Because the dealer channel remains vitally important to Kyocera, the company has expanded its resources and people in the field to drive their dealer\u2019s growth. Staff was increased by more than 10 percent across the entire KDA Group. In addition KDA grew its portfolio of business applications to create more value and better document workflows for their dealer\u2019s customers while also expanding their third-party solutions portfolio to create more sales opportunities with new customers. The company also improved their Kyocera Sales Excellence program, enhancing their focus on total document solutions. \u201cAll of these developments point to one thing,\u201d said Ina. \u201cWe are 100% committed to being a dealer-centric company.\u201d<\/p>\n

3. A Total Document Solutions strategy \u2013<\/strong> The meeting\u2019s theme was Resolution 360, with the focus on growth initiatives designed to help Kyocera\u2019s independent dealer channel better compete and strategically expand their businesses, leveraging Kyocera\u2019s document imaging technology, business applications, and customized services. The goal, according to Peter Hendrick, vice president of Marketing at KYOCERA Document Solutions America, is to offer customers more than just solutions.\u00a0 \u201cWe need to offer resolution to their challenging document workflow issues. Ultimately, we need to find a complimentary set of hardware and software that eliminates a customer\u2019s critical business challenges, and allows them to grow their business.\u201d<\/p>\n

This strategy on total document solutions isn\u2019t limited to the U.S. market, but all countries across the Americas. One of the ways Kyocera will communicate its commitment to \u201cTotal Document Solutions\u201d is through a strategic brand campaign that they\u2019re rolling out across the Americas. \u201cWith solution in the word of resolution being the tie,\u201d explains Frank Cannata. \u201cIt means uniqueness and making the dealers customers more successful while making the dealers more valuable to their customers.\u201d<\/p>\n

4. A continued investment in R&D – <\/strong>KDA\u2019s parent company, KDC, continues to heavily invest in R&D efforts and manufacturing capabilities, including a new factory in Vietnam. \u201cThis strengthens our global ability to offer a balanced deployment of devices,\u201d noted Ina. And to strengthen product reliability, KDA has established a mandatory dealer beta-test process before launching any new product at the request of their Dealer Advisory Council. For anyone doubting the long-term viability of Kyocera as a player in the industry, this ought to temper those thoughts for the time being.<\/p>\n

5. A healthy array of new products – <\/strong>Expect to see 18 new products from Kyocera, including 14 new A3 MFPs, ranging from 25-70 ppm color and from 30-80 ppm black & white. Also on the docket are four MFPs, including a 62-ppm model. Key new features on these devices include tab printing, the addition of OCR for searchable PDF, wireless options, and a fresh look and feel to the TSi Home Screen of the devices. In addition, users now have the ability to print from their Apple iPhone or iPad via AirPrint to the ecosys FS-4300DN series.<\/p>\n

6. Expanded HyPAS business applications. <\/strong>According to Ina this will give dealers the added flexibility to customize solutions for document workflow, mobility, security, compliance, and color management. Powered by Kyocera\u2019s HyPAS technology, the newest releases will include:<\/p>\n