Ricoh has restructured its emerging market operations and the local operation now falls under its emerging market group, at the same time having extended its reach to 22 African countries in total.
Ricoh SA COO Jacques van Wyk says the creation of Ricoh Emerging Markets Group, the groundwork for which was laid as far back as 2008, will enable the group to advance its sales at a time when global printing growth is flat.
"The Ricoh Emerging Markets Group was established as part of our strategy to rapidly expand in the fast-growing emerging markets," says Van Wyk. "We recognise that two-thirds of global growth will stem from these markets." Ricoh includes Russia, Turkey and Middle East alongside Africa in its emerging markets group.
Ricoh SA's portfolio will now include Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Kenya, Mauritius, Madagascar, Seychelles, French R'eunion, Union of the Comoros, Mozambique, and the French department of Mayotte.
David Hallas, director of indirect channel operations at Ricoh SA, will lead Ricoh SA's sub-Sahara African operations as part of his local portfolio. He joined Ricoh SA late last year after acting as MD at Nashua.
Van Wyk adds the countries Ricoh is targeting in Africa, such as Angola, are expected to see growth rates of around 30% in the next three to four years, especially in the printing segment. He says Ricoh SA, which will manage the sub-Saharan region, aims to grow its regional operations 22% year-on-year for the next three years.
As part of the expansion strategy, Ricoh will launch new products specifically targeted at emerging markets, says Van Wyk. He declined to disclose what these products may be, but explains Ricoh does specifically design products for emerging market conditions.
Van Wyk adds the company, which has 422 staff in SA, will be growing its staff complement and boosting its business partner relationships across sub-Saharan Africa. He notes numerous reasons underpin South Africa's choice as a base of sub-Sahara Africa operations, including cultural understanding and compatibility, supply chain optimisation, standardised service delivery mechanisms, and localised as well as bespoke African products and services.
Equipment and inventory will be supplied through the Ricoh SA warehouse established at Meadowdale, in Germiston, in 2012. This facility is locally staffed and handled by Ricoh Europe Supply Chain.
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