Sydney, 14 February, 2018 - Ricoh, a leading provider of smart workplace technology, has announced the winners of the Ricoh Small Business Competition, a three-month long contest which now see five dynamic business organisations across Australia take home an equal share of $50,000 of Ricoh workplace technology solutions.
In order to win a slice of the overall prize, small businesses were required to simply state in 50 words or less what their digital challenges are and how Ricoh might help them navigate through solutions such as collaboration technologies, automated business processes, information mobility and digitising paper-based documents and processes.
The prize winning organisations are:
Region 1: New South Wales: Australian Marketing Institute 
Region 2: Victoria/Tasmania: Smart Solutions 
Region 3: South Australia/ACT: Campbell and Co 
Region 4: Queensland/Northern Territory: Swanborough Funerals
Region 5: Western Australia: Red Dirt Transport Services
Each prize winner will receive $10,000 worth of Ricoh products, service and solutions, including a Ricoh workplace technology assessment handled by one of Ricoh's team of expert consultants which will empower the business to plan, map and understand their digital transformation needs.
Andy Berry, Managing Director, Ricoh Australia, said, "The standard of submissions in this competition was very high and we congratulate all the winners who are transforming their business to remain competitive in the years ahead. We also look forward to working with these five diverse organisations and seeing the positive impact of Ricoh's feature rich technology on their business."
Erik Bigalk, Founder and Creative Director of Smart Solutions, and one of the competition winners, said, "As a marketing firm we deal with lots of different projects and content collateral, various PR campaigns and relevant materials. As such, we can see great benefit with automation, digitisation of documentation and content management."
Another competition winner is Esther Swanborough, Director at Swanborough Funerals, who said, "We own a funeral home and provide quality service and create life honouring tributes. Printed memorial and digital products are essential. Quality that shows we care assists in the grief journey. Keeping up with technology is a constant challenge."
The Ricoh Small Business Competition took place as part of Ricoh's 50 years in Australia celebrations. The company employs more than 900 staff across every state and territory and works with many IT industry partners and channels to support Australian business.
For further information, please contact:
Melanie Withers
Communications Manager
Ricoh Australia
0466 365 668
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About Ricoh
Ricoh is a global technology company that has been transforming the way people work for more than 80 years. Under its corporate tagline - imagine. change. - Ricoh continues to empower companies and individuals with services and technologies that inspire innovation, enhance sustainability and boost business growth. These include document management systems, IT services, production print solutions, visual communications systems, digital cameras, and industrial systems.
Headquartered in Tokyo, Ricoh Group operates in approximately 200 countries and regions. In the financial year ending March 2017, Ricoh Group had worldwide sales of 2,028 billion yen (approx. 18.2 billion USD).
For further information, please visit www.ricoh.com