Panasonic has decided to close down its business communications unit, which includes its document scanners and unified communications businesses, according to an email sent to partners.
The email, from Carlos Osuna, head of the business communications business unit at Panasonic, characterized the future of the business as “untenable and unpredictable,” with a “mismatch” between factory assets and demand levels. The missive added that Panasonic’s research and development efforts “lagged behind” its customers, resulting in the business running a “constant financial deficit.”
On the scanner side, the manufacturer will continue to supply hardware through the end of 2022, and its support/parts function will continue until 2029.
In the note, Osuna lamented the shuttering of its decades-old unit. “In recent years Panasonic has worked hard to find a way to continue the business by making our organization and its relationships with partners as sustainable as possible. However, it has become apparent that this is not possible…given the current business environment based on the limited capability of factory resources.”
Panasonic did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
