Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A. Inc. (Konica Minolta) announced plans to bring a large number of its dealers together with its key executives for the first time since the outbreak of COVID-19. The event theme, “Full Throttle,” represents Konica Minolta’s renewed commitment to help dealer partners focus on growth opportunities amid an evolving business landscape by building and enhancing their digital transformation (DX) offerings. The Dealer Summit will be held Aug. 23-25 at its U.S. headquarters in Ramsey, New Jersey.
“We are excited to be the first manufacturer in our industry to host a hybrid dealer event with both live and remote participants,” said Sam Errigo, COO, Konica Minolta. “As we reunite, we see this as the perfect opportunity to reset and plan for the future together. We look forward to sharing our latest strategies and hearing from our dealers on how we can help them drive success.”
In this new work environment created by the pandemic, dealers are faced with dynamic market changes and need to consider how to optimize their business relevancy and safeguard future revenue. Many businesses are adopting hybrid work models, which presents considerable challenges for print revenue streams. Konica Minolta itself has adapted to a more flexible work style for roles that support mobile work, supporting workplace and technology changes based on industry research and market dynamics. These changes, coupled with supply chain issues – which are expected to continue into early next year – substantiate how imperative it is for dealers to diversify their offerings if they have not already done so.
The Dealer Summit will address these marketplace disruptions and serve to motivate and reinvigorate dealers’ business strategy across multiple areas. Dealers can choose educational breakout sessions designed to help them discover, accelerate and augment new opportunities based on what growth path makes the most sense for their business, their market and their customers. Sessions will include:
- Workflow Solutions
- Production Print
- Managed IT
- Vertical Markets
- Human Resources
- Marketing
Konica Minolta will also take the opportunity to unveil its Client Experience Center (CEC), a brand new 18,000 square foot product showroom which showcases the latest technologies revolutionizing the production print industry. The facility hosted hundreds of live and recorded virtual demos over the last year, which became an important selling model and a trend the company expects to continue. Deals were closed on new units sight unseen, and dealers were able to leverage the opportunities offered by the CEC.
Konica Minolta’s new president and CEO Patrick Banno will welcome attendees to the U.S. headquarters in Ramsey during the general session. Banno will be joined by Sam Errigo, COO and Laura Blackmer, senior vice president, dealer sales who will offer a business update and share strategies with dealer partners.
Special guests from Wayne Taylor Racing, including team owner Wayne Taylor, driver Ricky Taylor and Technical Director Brian Pillar will present inspirational stories from the racetrack. The three will share their unique perspectives and learnings from recent race situations where decision-making in a strategic direction ultimately led to the team’s success. The No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05 show car will also be on-site, its first time on public display.
“We are so excited to reunite in person with our dealers to communicate and share ideas to reset and reinvigorate the channel,” Blackmer said. “This is an epic event for us and a great setting to renew our commitment to their continued success and look to the future together.”
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About Konica Minolta
Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A. Inc. is reshaping and revolutionizing the Workplace of the Future. The company guides and supports its customers’ digital transformation through its expansive office technology portfolio, including IT Services (All Covered), content services, managed print services and industrial and commercial print solutions. Konica Minolta has been included on CRN’s MSP 500 list nine times and The World Technology Awards recently named the company a finalist in the IT Software category. Konica Minolta has been recognized as the #1 Brand for Customer Loyalty in the MFP Office Copier Market by Brand Keys for 14 consecutive years, and received Keypoint Intelligence’s BLI 2021 A3 Line of The Year Award and BLI 2021-2023 Most Color Consistent A3 Brand Award for its bizhub i-Series. Konica Minolta, Inc. has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index for nine consecutive years and has spent four years on the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World list. Konica Minolta partners with its clients to give shape to ideas and works to bring value to our society.
