Ricoh USA Inc. has announced that it is partnering with BlueCrest, a manufacturer and provider of postal, print and parcel automation solutions. The first phase of this collaboration will add BlueCrest's range of high-speed, high-volume inserters and sorters to Ricoh's production print portfolio in North America, giving print service providers (PSPs) more ways to automate their mail production workflows and expand their market reach with high-quality direct mail and communication materials. In parallel, Ricoh and BlueCrest will integrate their technology platforms through software integrations to co-innovate with customers to deliver operational savings, scalability, automation and flexibility.

This is particularly important for industries with high transactional mail volumes — financial, insurance and utility companies among them — which contain highly compliant, secure and confidential personal data, such as financial statements or explanations of benefits (EOBs). Other factors driving the need for high-volume, high-integrity inserting solutions include the growing use of direct mail marketing and an increase in mail-in ballots as we approach election season.

BlueCrest mail inserters address these market demands, offering high-speed, accurate and user-friendly solutions that ensure integrity by automating the mail production process, minimizing the potential for errors and reducing labor costs typically associated with manual tasks and adjustments that can also slowdown workflows.

"In an era marked by an onslaught of information, businesses are constantly looking for new ways to stand out and effectively reach their consumers," said Gavin Jordan-Smith, senior vice president and general manager, head of Global Sales Strategy Division & RICOH Graphic Communications North America Sales, RICOH Graphic Communications. "More than a partnership, we will strategically bring together our combined proven technologies focusing on customer outcomes. BlueCrest inserter systems and solutions are the go-to choice for enterprises and high-volume mailers with complex production needs and strict accuracy requirements. By strategically partnering with BlueCrest, together we bring a complete offering to streamline operations, enhance precision and deliver exceptional results for our customers."

Ricoh was recently ranked as number one in global market share for high-speed continuous feed inkjet systems. Pairing BlueCrest inserters with Ricoh's printers, including the bestselling RICOH Pro VC40000 and the RICOH Pro VC80000, allows PSPs to run fully integrated end-to-end mail production workflows with higher degrees of integrity and automation to produce high-quality mail pieces, such as vote-by-mail ballots, inline card documents, utility bills and financial statements. 

"As we see the market further consolidate and new strategic partnerships form around technology offerings, Ricoh and BlueCrest will continue to lead the marketing with our combined and integrated offerings," Jordan-Smith adds.

"We look forward to partnering with Ricoh to bring our advanced mail inserting technology to a broader market," said Carl Amacker, chief marketing officer, BlueCrest. "This collaboration allows us to leverage Ricoh's extensive reach and expertise in the print industry, ensuring that more businesses can benefit from our reliable, high-speed inserting solutions."