Copier Industry Predictions

Copier Industry Predictions Imaging Industry Predictions

Top Ten Copier & Imaging Industry Predictions for 2022

Art Post · 1/8/229:30 AM

Please keep in mind that predictions are just that. In most cases I'm having fun with coming up with some extreme predictions that will never come to fruition. However they do offer up some interesting "what ifs".

So 2021 was a year we would all like to forget again. The global pandemic continued for another year and as I write this we are the throws of dealing with Omicron and hopefully the last variant we'll see. Hoping that 2022 will be prosperous and ripe with change. I mention change because in most cases change brings opportunities!

I posted the paragraph below in last years blog.

Last year I made one of my predictions that Aliens would make first contact in the 2021.

Thank goodness the Aliens did not join us for our worldwide COVID19 event. Now all we have to worry about is the Doomsday Glacier.

Top Ten Copier & Imaging Industry Predictions for 2021

1. For my good buddy Ray S. Dubai ditches the paperless office initiative because of complaints from workers about excessive eye strain from the countless hours of staring at multiple display screens. End result is they may not have to worry if Doomsday Glacier prediction comes true .

2. Buzzwords for 2022 are Post-Digital Age and Rapid Business Transformation.

3. Speed & Color Licensing will be the new normal as we enter the last quarter of 2021 for copiers with at least one of our manufacturers. They will see the light and reduce the office style A3 devices to two MFPs. One device will will be capable of speeds from 20-60 pages per minute and the other will offer 65 to 100 pages per minute. The dealer can them configure any speed that the client desires and then offer a subscription service if the client needs color.

4. Ricoh to rebrand as a Global Professional Services Company

5. Xerox who is in need of an OEM copier manufacturer will make a purchase to acquire either Toshiba Tec, Sharp from Foxconn or KonicaMinolta.

6. One OEM Copier manufacturer will to only offering color MFPs

7. One of the top four (Canon, Xerox, KonicaMinolta of Ricoh) will make a play for the purchase of Crowdstrike.

8. Diversification from the print industry will see Ricoh, Canon, KonicaMinolta, or Kyocera will start purchasing large regional MSP providers.

9. The FBI will finally enter the USA market place to take on the likes of Xerox, Canon, Ricoh and KonicaMinolta. Fuji Business Innovation could also make a strategic partnership with one of two mega dealers in the US.

10. After almost 6 years with no refreshes it seems Ricoh will divest themselves from the AEC wide format business.

I enjoy writing these and please keep in mind that these predictions are intended to be more entertaining than factual. But, you never know what tomorrow will bring. Would love to hear comments!

-=Good Selling=-

Copier Industry Predictions Imaging Industry Predictions

Top Ten Copier & Imaging Industry Predictions for 2021

Art Post · 1/15/2111:00 AM

So 2020 was a year we would all like to forget! The global pandemic has changed the way we sell and we've all lost some great people along the way. Our great industry depression is one we will never forget.

I posted the paragraph below in last years blog.

I'm sure there will be at least two or three bombshells with one of them happening in late January 2020 and then another in late March to early April 2020.

There was no bombshell in January for our industry but could the "late March to early April 2020" bombshell reference the COVID19 pandemic? The time frame was right on track and yes our industry was lobbed a bombshell that we're still struggling with to this day.

Top Ten Copier & Imaging Industry Predictions for 2021

1. I'll go out on a limb and predict this merger or acquisitions to take place. Canon & Ricoh will merge or Canon will acquire Ricoh. Currently they are working together in Japan for MFP distribution logistics

2. Ricoh, Canon, KonicaMinolta, or Kyocera will start purchasing large regional MSP providers

4. The new Fuji Film copier manufacturer, originally was Fuji-Xerox until Xerox sold their equity last year. Fuji will partner with a mega dealer in the US for private labeling of those copiers and software solutions. Names that I keep seeing are Dex Imaging, Marco, Flex Print and RJ Young

5. Look for the top four copier manufacturers also turn their acquisition attention to cyber security companies (mssp). Konica Minolta did an acquisition in 2020 with Depth Security

6. Xerox who is in need of an OEM copier manufacturer will make a purchase to acquire either Toshiba Tec, Sharp from Foxconn or KonicaMinolta

7. The year of wide format. More dealers will make the move to offering wide format AEC and wide format color devices this year

8. Ricoh will exit the AEC wide format market place just as they did with duplicators and projectors in 2020

9. 2021 is the year that copier manufacturers finally get it and start manufacturing more A4 devices with the advanced functionality of A3 MFPs.

10. Our industry will bounce back by the start of Q3, however print volumes from the global pandemic will have reduced page volumes by 15%

I threw this one in for fun since 2020 was such a messed up year!

11. Aliens will make first contact during the 3rd quarter of 2021, just when we were starting to bounce back! lol

I enjoy writing these and please keep in mind that these predictions are intended to be more entertaining than factual. But, you never know what tomorrow will bring. Would love to hear comments!

-=Good Selling=-

Copier Industry Predictions

Top Ten Copier & Imaging Industry Predictions for 2018

Art Post · 1/3/185:00 PM

2016-12-28_0-07-40 What a year! Ricoh sells most of their SMB accounts to dealers (not including education, legal and production) and proves that they are dedicated to their dealers.

Toshiba might has probably staved off from selling the kitchen sink with the sale of their chip unit to a consortium that is led by Bain Capital.

Epson delivers two color A3 ink MFP's with speeds of 75 & 100 pages per minute. Proving that disruption of our coveted A3 toner based is well underway.

Last years Top Ten MFP Copier Industry Predictions for 2017, had some prognostications come to fruition. However, most of the predictions did not pan out, because many of them are intended to be entertaining or a "what might happen scenario". I enjoy writing these and please keep in mind that these predictions are intended to be more entertaining than factual. But, you never know what tomorrow will bring.

1. With recent Canon dealers crying foul about Canon Direct low balling Canon Dealer accounts. I'm going out on a limb and predicting Canon will soon follow Ricoh US with the sale of SMB accounts to their dealers.

2. Color Wide Format is here with a vengeance, and I'm not referring to the CAD ink wide format systems. We're talking industrial color ink wide format systems from the likes of EFI, Mimaki, and Oki to name a few. Dealers are still in need of additional revenue streams and Industrial Color Wide Format consumables are huge!

3. With the recent KonicaMinolta acquisition of Muratec America. KonicaMinolta offers their C71cf label press which comes with a hefty price tag. A recent GAP Intelligence blog stated that the label business only has a digitization rate of four percent. The addition of Muratec America label presses will provide dealers access to this lucrative market. I expect 2018 to be a huge year for KonicaMinolta & Muratec America in the Label Industry.

4. Look for the Mega Dealers to now turn their acquisition attention to cyber security companies. Current forecasts project cyber security to top $221 Billion US by 2022.

5. Consolidation in a mature market will continue. Merger is the name of the game, and it could come from the likes of Ricoh, Canon, Kyocera or KonicaMinolta. Konica and Minolta merged many years ago, and maybe it's time for another merger.

6. Toshiba emerges from ashes of financial ruin, sells off Toshiba Tec to Okidata and continues it's focus in mini-nuclear reactors.

7. In an effort to continue "moving boxes" and a fear of FOMO, one of the major copier companies will start offer their devices through Amazon.

8. One of the Big Four Copier Manufacturers (Canon, KonicaMinolta, Xerox or Ricoh) will cease to offer black/monochrome MFP's for the office. Color is the name of the game!

9. HP will cut many Samsung Dealers and those that they don't cut will part ways with HP on their own.

10. Keywords for 2018; Cyber Security, AI, Blockchain, FOMO (Fear of Missing out)

There it is, my predictions for 2018! Remember to have fun with this, maybe even think up a few of your own and post them in the reply section.

-=Good Selling=-

Copier Industry Predictions Imaging Industry Predictions

Top Ten Copier & Imaging Industry Predictions for 2017

Art Post · 12/28/1612:14 AM

Looking back, 2016 was one heck of a year with our industry. Lexmark was purchased by Apex Technology Co., Ltd (People Republic of China). Who would have guessed that?

Sharp Corporation lived to fight another day when Foxconn (Taiwan aka Republic of China) acquired them earlier this year. Then just a few weeks ago Print Audit purchases NeoStream (document management software company). Of course we then have the purchase of Samsung Imaging Division by HP. We can only wonder what's next for our industry and it continues to evolve and condense.

Last years Top Ten MFP Copier Industry Predictions for 2016, had some prognostications come to fruition with Niche Printing Devices, acquisitions of smaller office equipment dealers along with Seat Based Billing for Managed Print Services. However, most of the predictions did not pan out, because many of them are intended to be entertaining or a "what might happen scenario". I enjoy writing these and please keep in mind that these predictions are intended to be more entertaining than factual. But, you never know what tomorrow will bring.

1. With Print Audit leading the charge with the purchase of NeoStream, the market is ripe for the likes of Ricoh, KonicaMinolta, Canon and Kyocera to acquire document management software companies. Own the digital documents.

2. Color Wide Format is here with a vengeance, and I'm not referring to the CAD ink wide format systems. We're talking industrial color ink wide format systems from the likes of EFI, Mimaki, and Roland to name a few. Dealers are still in need of additional revenue streams and Industrial Color Wide Format consumables are huge!

3. 2017 will be a big year from Color Label Presses. Office paper clicks maybe on the decline, however Full Color Labels Presses from the likes of KonicaMinolta and Muratec will be a hot commodity and offer excellent profits for office equipment dealers.

4. Acquisitions of smaller office equipment dealers will continue to expand. Look for some of the larger Mega office equipment dealers to make some strategic purchases.

5. Last year I called for Ricoh, KonicaMinolta or Kyocera to purchase KIP. It didn't happen. But, it's still a good move for any these manufacturers to make the deal happen, since the AEC Market is still paper intensive.

6. Either HP, KIP, Ricoh or OCE will market the first wide format MFP with an automatic document feeder. AEC users still need to scan legacy prints, and the added feature of a document feeder would generate many upgrades of existing devices.

7. MFP manufacturers will continue to add apps to their devices. The apps will be designed to automate scanned paper document workflows. These apps will compete directly with the likes of Nuance, AutoStore and Ecopy.

8. One of the Big Four Copier Manufacturers (Canon, KonicaMinolta, Xerox or Ricoh) will cease to offer black/monochrome MFP's for the office. Color is the name of the game!

9. HP and Samsung Copier Dealers will not be a marriage that was made in heaven. Look for many changes to that channel.

10. Keywords for 2017; Seat Based Billing, Industrial Wide Format, Risk Mitigation, and Automate Processes

There it is, my predictions for 2017! Remember to have fun with this, maybe even think up a few of your own and post them in the reply section.

-=Good Selling=-

Copier Industry Predictions

Top Ten MFP & Imaging Industry Predictions for 2016

Art Post · 12/20/158:05 PM

Looking back, 2015 was not one of my best years in the industry. There were many factors involved but I can only blame myself for a somewhat lack luster performance (but I did have a good year of GP). The good thing is, that January starts a new year and I'm excited about entering my 35th of SMB sales.

Last years Top Ten MFP Copier Industry Predictions for 2015 , some of the predictions from last year came to fruition and some did not. I enjoy prognosticating on future events, and illusions of what I would like to see happen. Please take all of the predictions with a grain of salt, and have some fun with this. Feel free to reply and post your own!

Ricoh, KonicaMinolta and or Kyocera will buy KIP. Paper may be dying, however, the wide format business is not. Canon has OCE, Ricoh has a dying line of wide format technology, Konica Minolta relies on KIP & Kyocera is looking for growth. All would benefit.
Sharp will continue to stay in business, and the saving grace for Sharp Corporation will be the little cute RoboHon (Sharp's walking talking robot). Every kid will just have to have one.
Toshiba will sell Toshiba Tec to Kyocera. Kyo is looking to grow, Toshiba wants to focus on it's core business. It's a no brainer!!
Acquisitions will continue of smaller office equipment dealers by larger office equipment will grow even stronger this year. Those smaller dealerships that have no line of succession will be enticed to give up the ghost.
Niche print devices will expand. Xante's Impressia (dedicated envelope print) has sold very well. Look for additional OEM's to develop niche printers with rips that will focus on specialty media and substrates.
The year of A4 is here, actually I thought it would be last year. We'll see 60,70 & 90 ppm A4 devices with robust finishing capabilities.
Keywords for 2016; paperless process, document lifecycle, business continuity.
Manufacturers Direct Branch operations will come to the realization that they can increase profits by paring down direct operations, and moving that business to dealers. Loss producing Direct Branches will cease to exist.
The Mega Dealers of the industry will continue to expand and move into new geo areas where Direct Operations are weak.
Managed Print Services will see a new billing model emerge. The Seat Based Billing will be attractive to end users over the old per click billing scheme.

Bonus 11. We won't see any more million page testing done with MFP's, seems one manufacturer was sensitive to my blog about how many trees were massacred to produced those one million sheets of paper for a stupid test!

There we have it, my predictions for 2016! Have fun with this, maybe think up a few of your own and post them here.

-=Good Selling-=

Copier Industry Predictions

Top Ten MFP Copier Industry Predictions for 2015

Art Post · 1/28/1510:07 PM

Looking back 2014 was one of my best years in the business. The fourth quarter of 2014 was the best quarter I've ever had! I can only hope that 2015 will be as good as 2014 if not better.

Last years Top Ten MFP Copier Industry Predictions for 2014 had me wondering if we'll ever get back those glorious years of 2000-2007. Thus, I'm pretty optimistic that 2015 will turn out to be one of the best years ever!

Some of my predictions over the years did come to fruition, and for the life of I can't figure out why! I try to have fun with these, some predictions will come from trends that I've seen in the industry and others are predictions that I'd like to see come true and there are some that I just post because I know it will irk someone the wrong way.

Have fun with this and of course if you have some of you own, please comment!

1) Acquisitions of smaller office equipment dealers by larger office equipment will grow even stronger this year. Those smaller dealerships that have no line of succession will be enticed to give up the ghost.

2) The Age of the Mega Dealers continues and we'll see more of these dealers coming to market with their own GEO branding. These Mega Dealers will expand their own geographic territories and also establishing new beach heads hundreds if not a thousand miles away.

3) Dealerships that named their dealerships with "copy, copiers, office solutions, office systems, office technology, print, and office" will be dropped. Dealerships will create their own strategic branding and will no longer be defined as just selling copiers, printers, faxes, etc.

4) It did not happen last year, but maybe this will be the year that one of these three manufacturers throw in the towel. If one does drop, then I'd be betting it will be Sharp, Toshiba or Kyocera.

5) One of the Big 3 (Canon, Ricoh, KonicaMinolta) will buy a Document Management Software company.

6) 2015 will be the year of A4 devices!! I see 70, 80 & 90ppm devices A4 devices coming to market with the cost per model of A3 devices.

7) 2015 will not be the year that Ricoh upgrades the W3601, nor the W5100en & W7140en. Guess we'll have to put that on our Christmas wish for next year! Hey, I'm really hopping this one does come pan out!

8) When it comes to Production Systems, Ricoh will be the force to be reckoned with. No manufacturer stays on top for long, thus the reign of KM at the top spot is coming to a close.

9) Keywords for 2015? Workflow is out, MPS is DOA. BPI is in!!! Business Process Improvement says it all!!

10) I predict 2015 will be a record year of sales for all Print4Pay Hotel members! The reason for that bold prediction? Would be because we share knowledge, inspiration, ideas and our passion for the industry!!

Have fun with this, I did!

-=Good Selling=-

BTW, here's the links for previous predictions: Top Ten MFP & Copier Predictions for 2013, Top Ten MFP & Copier Predictions for 2012, Top Ten MFP Copier Predictions for 2011, Top Ten MFP Copier Predictions for 2010, Top Ten MFP Copier Predictions for 2009

Copier Industry Predictions

Top Ten MFP Copier Industry Predictions for 2014

Art Post · 2/9/143:29 PM

A better year in 2013 for everyone right? I still fee the economy here in the Northeast is not what is was and am wondering if we'll ever get back to where we were in the mid 2000's.

I've been in this crazy business for 33 years and not once was I ever faced with a lay-off. A CEO once told me that he'll invest in technology before he adds to his labor force.

Here's my top ten for 2014

The Big 4 Copier manufacturers (Ricoh, Xerox, KonicaMinolta and Canon) will start buying Document Management Software Companies to enhance their "be everything to everyone mentality".
Just maybe this will be the year when one manufacturer finally calls it quits for manufacturing copiers and getting back to their core business. But, who will it be? Toshiba, Sharp or Kyocera?
The year of Acquisitions for Dealers: Larger dealers will escalate their efforts to acquire smaller dealers in order to maintain and grow market share in their territories.
Document Management software finally hits home for SMB accounts, more dealers will have the talk with their prospects and customers about managing their documents.
Capture software will also be a huge theme for this year. That next generation of dealer owners, sales managers and sales people understand that imaging systems will no longer pay the bills!
Keywords for 2014 will be WORKFLOW, Business Process Management. SMB businesses need to do more with less.
One of the Big 4 will buy a 3D printing manufacturer, to capture the consumable revenue stream that they had with imaging equipment.
Memjet "waterfall" print head finally makes a splash in the MFP market place for SMB's.
Some of the largest copier dealers will acquire VAR's to increase their MNS and BDR business.
The rise of segment 5 A4 MFP's, there's a few on the market now, look for more manufacturers to have offerings in Segment 5. Segment 6? O wouldn't bet against it.