Inside Ricoh’s Plans to Provide Collaboration Products to Its Enormous Customer Base

Ricoh is hitting InfoComm 2016 hard with new unified communication system, interactive whiteboard, laser short-throw projectors, compact projectors and more.

Tom LeBlanc
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As a company, Ricoh knows it’s in a position to grab more prominence in the B2B integration market. After all, with over $20 billion in annual sales the global provider of office equipment, including omnipresent printers, has its foot in countless places of business.

“We need to do a better job of taking advantage of that,” acknowledges Paul Foschino, senior manager of Ricoh Americas Corporation’s Visual Communications Group.

There is a plan in place to do so and in many ways it begins at InfoComm 2016 where Ricoh unveils a greatly expanded lineup. “This will be the biggest show we’ve ever had,” Foschino says. And it’s not just because of Maxx, the 9-foot-tall robot that will be roaming around Ricoh’s booth.

“We’re starting to come into our own. At InfoComm a few years ago we had just a small line of projectors. Our line has grown.”

That’s an understatement since at InfoComm2016 Ricoh will talk about the expansion of its projector line with 13 new models since last year’s show including LED and laser models as well as large install projectors; an expanded interactive flat panel display line; all-in-one P3500M Unified Communication System; and D2200 Interactive Whiteboard.

Ricoh is demonstrating its application-based solutions by demonstrating products in simulated environments at its Infocomm 2016 booth (N647). “We’re demoing how we expect these products to be used,” Foschino says.  There are areas dedicated to mobile connectivity (think BYOD and wireless presentation), collaboration-driven classroom and executive conference and huddle room as well as a high-end projection demo room.

Here’s a rundown of some of Ricoh’s fast-growing B2B line which is on display at InfoComm 2016.

As for those plans to take better advantage of Ricoh’s unique presence in the B2B market, “We’re hiring a new team of AV solutions managers,” Foschino says. “I think they’re really going to help take better advantage of Ricoh’s strong position with our huge customer base.”

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About the Author

Tom LeBlanc
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Tom LeBlanc is the executive director of NSCA. Learn more about NSCA and how to become an NSCA member at NSCA.org.

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