Ricoh has announced it has been named a Leader in the IDC MarketScape for Worldwide Sustainability Programs and Services Hardcopy 2023 Vendor Assessment (doc #US49892223, Dec 2023). This IDC study assesses sustainability programs and services among global hardcopy vendors and identifies their strengths and challenges.

The IDC MarketScape notes Ricoh's longstanding commitment to environmental sustainability — a priority rooted in Ricoh's Founding Principles established in 1946 by its founder Kiyoshi Ichimura — as a key differentiator determining its Leader position, stating: "Ricoh acknowledged a corporate responsibility to minimize impact on the environment decades ago. In 1976, Ricoh established a company Environmental Promotion Section, and the company remains focused on driving sustainability through its business and operations, while developing innovative technologies to help customers reduce carbon footprint and lessen environmental impact."

IDC evaluated Ricoh across its business operations, products and business model, business services, corporate strategies, and governance/risk/compliance measures in the context of sustainability with strengths identified in Reducing Emissions, Sustainability Across the Portfolio, Reuse and Recycling, and Managed Print & Automation Services.

"Throughout our assessment, Ricoh consistently demonstrated a deep-seated commitment to environmental stewardship, evident in its extensive history of prioritizing sustainability across its operations," said Robert Palmer, research vice president for imaging, printing and document solutions, IDC. "Characterized by an alignment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and a pledge to achieve 100% renewable energy usage by 2050, Ricoh's actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote reuse and recycling among customers, and integrate environmental conservation seamlessly into every facet of its business is notably admirable."

Building on its rich legacy, Ricoh believes its digital services have played a pivotal role in achieving this recognition as a Leader in sustainability. As hybrid and remote workstyles redefine the corporate landscape, Ricoh continues to invest in managed print services as well as digital services and solutions that the company believes support sustainability for businesses. The IDC MarketScape notes: "Ricoh's Managed Print & Automation Services help businesses to optimize print infrastructure to improve efficiency, reduce cost, enhance security and drive sustainability."

The MarketScape also highlights that "every product it builds or service offering [Ricoh] delivers has features or capabilities supporting sustainable business practices." Further, the report states: "Ricoh should also be on the short list of vendors when looking for a partner to better enable a hybrid working model. Ricoh has the tools and expertise to help facilitate collaboration, creativity and productivity for flexible working environments, which can help companies reduce environmental impact."

"More than 45 years ago, we recognized the importance of preserving Earth's natural self-recovery capabilities and made a commitment to put the sustainability of our environment at the heart of every business decision of the entire Ricoh Group," said Mikako Suzuki, corporate officer in charge of ESG and risk management, Ricoh Co. Ltd. "As a global corporate citizen, we believe the actions we're taking within a circular economy to create harmony between business and the environment are leading us toward the fulfillment of a truly sustainable and zero-carbon society. We value our Leader position in this IDC MarketScape as acknowledgement of our efforts."

Ricoh believes the pursuit of success should not come at the expense of the environment, and partners closely with customers and suppliers to align its management activities with sustainable business practices. Examples include group-wide Green Procurement Standards to ensure the responsible sourcing of raw materials and components with minimal environmental impact, and operating takeback programs that allow for sound recycling of imaging equipment, parts and consumables."

In other news, Keypoint Intelligence has announced that Ricoh USA Inc., has won the Buyers Lab (BLI) 2023-2024 Pacesetter Award: Managed IT Services Partner. Based on research conducted in the North American market, this important award recognizes Ricoh as the leader in managed IT services in the areas evaluated.

The complexity of IT system management and upkeep oftentimes requires a specialist, while resources within an organization for lesser activity might not always be readily accessible. For these reasons and more, providers of managed IT services (MITS) become a game changer by working with companies to deliver a comprehensive response to their IT needs. MITS places a high value on consultative relationships with suppliers and clients—and offers the benefit of ongoing services rather than one-time purchases.

"Over the past few years there has been a significant shift in the way work is done," said Anne Valaitis, principal analyst, Workplace Group, Keypoint Intelligence. "As a result, IT departments have realigned service priorities, enhanced team capabilities and diversified due to the growing demand for more digital workflows and, of course, the constant rise in cybersecurity issues. Our analysis proved that Ricoh has the products, services and programs required of the proactive and reactive efforts of IT, and it is also closing the ever-widening gap between delivery and demand by employing MITS."

Keypoint Intelligence conducted a thorough survey of vendor offerings to determine the top managed IT services partners. The study looked at roughly 50 differentiating points in the areas of cybersecurity, IT hardware, market vision, and services and solutions portfolios. According to the assessment, the best MITS partners are adept at offering businesses a wide range of products, services and technologies that solve problems and facilitate results. Keypoint Intelligence analysts then applied a proprietary rating scale to determine which provider stands out as the most complete for the sector.

"Ricoh's approach to ensuring a wholistic approach to managed IT services centers around building and offering platforms and solutions that adapt to changing consumer needs," Valaitis said. "The company's cloud-based Intelligent Business Platform is designed to automate manual operations and move data accurately and efficiently. Compliance and security are further areas that Ricoh puts a premium on. And the company's evolution and growth path directed by a customer-centric approach has led to innovation and ever-increasing value. Ricoh earned this BLI 2024-2025 Pacesetter Award: Managed IT Services Partner from Keypoint Intelligence."

"The need to now enable work from anywhere, on any device, has accelerated a digital workspace fraught with security, privacy and operational gaps," said Bob Lamendola, senior vice president of technology, Ricoh USA Inc. "We are delighted to be recognized by Keypoint Intelligence for our steadfast focus on closing those gaps by helping our customers empower and protect this modern workforce."