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Konica Minolta Dealer Conference Focuses on Dealer Diversification, Managed IT Services, More

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Konica Minolta Business Solutions, U.S.A. headquarters in Ramsey, New Jersey

Konica Minolta Business Solutions, U.S.A. is holding its 2022 dealer conference – its first in-person dealer conference since the start of the pandemic – at its corporate headquarters in Ramsey, New Jersey.

The conference focused on Konica Minolta’s commitment to help its dealer partners focus on growth opportunities and diversification, including Konica Minolta production print, digital transformation (DX) offerings, video security systems, and managed IT services.

New Dealer Performance Program

The company also introduced Konica Minolta’s new dealer performance program, Rev’d Up, which it designed to reward dealers for diversification, increasing rewards and incentives as they move up in levels. The company conducted research both internally and with its dealer partners to design a program that it says rewards dealers for investing in growth and diversification. It says Rev’d Up has clearly defined levels to support dealer partners as they grow their business, combining overall revenue, production and industrial print and DX solutions.

The new program takes into consideration dealers of all sizes that may be selling a varying mix of Konica Minolta products and services. For example, for dealers trying to grow into production and industrial print, the program targets have been built to give dealers a better chance to move forward from one level to the next.

DX solutions now include the company’s new FORXAI: Video Security Solution, as well as Unified Communications and Intelligent Information Management to help dealers diversify.

New Managed IT Services Dealer Program

Konica Minolta noted that dealers are faced with numerous market changes, and need to optimize their business relevancy and safeguard future revenues. The “Full Throttle” agenda is focused on helping dealers determine how best to adopt and augment their dealership’s growth and diversification strategies while rewarding their commitment to Konica Minolta.

Sam Errigo, president and CEO of Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., commented. “With all the disruptions to the marketplace, it’s our job to motivate and reinvigorate our dealers’ business strategies within the MIT (managed IT) space. Through new dealer and MIT programs, we are giving our dealers what they need to succeed and support their DX. It’s now time for them to use these tools to push forward into the future of their dealership post-pandemic.”

The firm noted that with many customers adopting hybrid working, this presents a considerable challenge for print revenue streams. This, coupled with supply-chain issues means dealers must adopt managed IT if they haven’t already, and diversify their offerings.

Accordingly, Konica Minolta announced its Managed Services Provider (MSP) Partner Program, a new managed IT services dealer program representing advancements within Konica Minolta’s IT Services Division, All Covered that will bring the latest technology to its dealers. A key element of this program is Konica Minolta’s investment in dedicated dealer support teams. By integrating All Covered’s  IT services with Konica Minolta’s office-solutions portfolio and consulting services, Konica Minolta says its intelligent connected workplace platform helps businesses achieve true connectivity.

Laura Blackmer, president of Dealer Sales at Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A. commented: “…our new dealer programs …encourage speed, motion and moving forward, which is exactly what we’re doing. We’re not sitting back waiting for challenges like supply-chain issues to get fixed before we start charging ahead – full throttle – to be a better partner to our dealers.

“The programs will help motivate our dealers and get them moving in a great forward direction. Whether that’s to grow more volume, grow more production or advance in their DX journey, we are investing in ways to help them succeed,” Blackmer said.

Dealer Education

Educational sessions at the conference included: digital transformation, Managed IT services, integrating the cloud, production print, and leveraging vertical markets. 

Konica Minolta also provided a “digital twin” of the conference, so that virtual attendees can experience the showroom. The CEC digital twin is a detailed virtual representation of the space. The renderings of the engagement center include the exterior, newly designed lobby and production and industrial print showroom, including video demonstrations of the various products on the showroom floor. The CEC digital twin will also be used to serve as a tool for future sales activities supporting hybrid client engagements.

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