Kyocera Document Solutions: Aiming for a £93 Million Turnover
Who’s the Big Player?
Kyocera Document Solutions is a UK-based arm of the Japanese tech powerhouse Kyocera Corporation. From its headquarters in Reading, it also counts London and Manchester on its map.
Current Performance & Growth
Last year, they pulled in £85 million in revenue – a figure that’s nearly tripled since 2017. That’s a lot of printer sales, and it’s not slowing down.
How They’re Planning to Hit the £93 Million Target
- New Product Launches: Expect a fresh lineup of agile office printers that promise speed and smarts.
- Expanding Service Contracts: By upsizing maintenance plans, they’re turning one‑time buyers into loyal, repeat customers.
- Strategic Partnerships: Collaborations with corporate giants mean more bulk orders and bigger market share.
- Digital Transformation: Offering cloud‑enabled, file‑processing utilities keeps the brand ahead of the technology curve.
Why It Matters
With these moves, Kyocera Document Solutions is poised not just to meet, but to smash its £93 million goal—setting the bar higher for all UK printer manufacturers. Keep an eye on their progress: it’s a story worth following!
Q. Tell us a bit about yourself, how did you end up at KYOCERA?
My 29‑Year Odyssey Through the Doc‑Tech World
Picture this: I’ve been juggling printers, copiers, and all the tech that keeps offices humming for almost three decades. A senior role at Ricoh set the stage, but it was the 11‑year stint as Sales Director at KYOCERA Document Solutions UK Ltd that really let me shine.
From Ricoh to KYOCERA – A Click of Fate
Back in the Ricoh era, I was the guy who could explain a multi‑function printer’s quirks over a cup of coffee. Fast forward to 2012, and I swapped that white office for a place that sang “environmental stewardship” louder than any office PA system. I knew instantly: the vibe at KYOCERA was the right mix of tech passion and green ambitions.
Why KYOCERA’s Culture Hit Home
- Eco‑Friendly approach – they treat paper waste like a boss.
- Team Spirit – think of every meeting as a brainstorming party.
- Innovation that doesn’t just satisfy but also wow customers.
Humor in the Boardroom
Yes, I’ve dealt with three‑ways coffee makers, but I’ve also kept sales charts from boring out the entire staff! A simple joke about “ink cartridges defecting early” always lightened the mood and reminded everyone that pushing the envelope should feel like a fun trend, not a mourning chant.
The Takeaway
Across 29 years, the industry has turned from paper to print‑out to digital whispers. Joining KYOCERA felt like stepping into a library of future possibilities, and the culture fit? Simply spot on.
Q. How big is the UK market for KYOCERA compared to the rest of the world?
Kyocera’s B2B Power Play
Where it Stands
Kyocera has carved out a solid reputation—almost a home base—in the B2B arena.
If you’re looking at market share, we’re taking the crown in almost every country, with a few big-name challengers stepping up to the plate.
Country Ranking (in the Kyocera pecking order)
- Germany – The heavy hitter.
- USA – The globe‑traveler.
- Japan – The origin master.
- US2 – Where we beat most other countries by a wide margin.
- Everyone else – We’re looking at you with a friendly grin.
So, in short, while Germany, the US, and Japan are close‑knitting the top tier, we’re clocking the biggest slice of the B2B pie in the rest of the world. That’s the headline—no fluff, just facts (and a little bit of pride).
Q. You offer both professional and personal products, which are more successful and why?
Our Bottom‑Line Reality Check
- Where we’ve been: For the last few years we’ve been all‑about B2B – “manufacturing for businesses” is our bread and butter.
- The Consumer Stretch: Moving into the consumer arena has been a slow‑burn, side‑quest adventure – it’s gone somewhere we’re still finding our feet.
- SOHO Sue: The small‑office/home‑office scene is a niche battlefield. We’ve been a late‑comer, and the beast of price‑cutting there feels more like a marketing gimmick than a genuine value‑add.
- Value vs. Strategy: In SOHO, adding real value is almost impossible – a straight line away from our core strategy of delivering solid, worthwhile solutions.
Bottom Line
All told, the B2B market keeps our cash flow humming, and the consumer tug‑pull is still a work in progress. Stay tuned – we might discover a sweet spot where price cuts become profit, not just brand noise.
Q. Which products are you focussing on this year?
Our Hardware Hangover
Over the last few years, the hardware side of our market has turned into a real nightmare. The government’s cost‑control policies have driven prices down to a depth that’s barely sustainable. It’s like trying to pour a glass of water into a bottomless cup—water keeps coming out, but you’re still empty!
Why the Shift?
Seeing the hardware dip for real, we decided to change tack. The big picture isn’t about chipping, it’s about making a difference around the data‑only world.
What’s New on Our Menu – The Service Lineup
- Software – Smart solutions that do the heavy lifting for you.
- Professional Services – Expert hands to turn your ideas into real projects.
- B2B Cloud Services – Cloud based solutions that let your business sky‑reach.
We’re excited to put the spotlight on these services. It’s a chance for fresh growth and some juicy talking points. Let’s get out there, code something awesome, and turn those service dollars into smiles!
Q. Who are your biggest competitors?
Why We’re the True MVP of the Print Game
Imagine the market as a massive football stadium. On the field, you’ve got:
- Canon – the heavyweight punch
- Ricoh – the slick strategist
- Xerox – the classic copy king
- Konica Minolta – the precision sharpshooter
- HP – the corporate giant
Each of these brands is a formidable contender when it comes to sheer market presence. But when it comes to building real, trusted relationships and doing business the right way, we’re the ones who actually win the game. None of them can challenge our dedication to genuine partnership and integrity.
What Sets Us Apart
- Customer-Centric Approach – We put people first, not just profits.
- Authentic Relationships – We’re the friendly neighbor you can rely on, not the tough, distant giants.
- Responsible Practices – From the office to the press, we play by the rules.
- Humility & Humor – We keep it light but serious in the same breath.
So, while the giants are busy jostling for dominance on the surface, we’re busy building the foundation that keeps everyone coming back. That’s the real difference.
Q. What are your biggest challenges?
KYOCERA UK’s Tripling Triumph
Over the past six years, KYOCERA in the UK has almost tripled its revenue. That’s not just math—it’s a testament to the experience and service we deliver to our partners while scaling fast.
Growth in Numbers
- Revenue +200% compared to 2018.
- Staff count triple‑folded too—more hands on deck, more ideas in play.
Keeping the Culture Alive
With growth comes the challenge of preserving what makes us special: a culture that rocks and a customer experience that’s legend‑status. We’re juggling the fast‑lane speed and the slow‑lane heart.
What’s Next?
We’re staying focused on two things:
- Lifesizing our team spirit—no matter how many more people join.
- Ensuring every client feels the same stellar service that started it all—because that’s what keeps them coming back.
In short, KYOCERA UK is riding the wave of success while holding on tight to the values that made the journey worthwhile.
Q. What goals have you set yourself for 2015?
On the Road to £93 million
First off, we’re aiming to bump our turnover from £85 million to a nice £93 million. It’s not just about the numbers—it’s about putting our brand on the map as a top-tier services provider.
How We’ll Do It
- Boost Our Service Arsenal: Think of our B2B cloud offering as the shiny new gadget you never knew you needed—now it’s time to let the world see it.
- Partner Up with KDDI: Like a superhero duo, our sister company KDDI will help amplify the cloud service rollout, making the whole package irresistibly powerful.
With this combo, we’re not just chasing growth—we’re building a service empire that’s as reliable as your favourite coffee shop’s espresso machine.
Q. Can you list three milestones for KYOCERA in the UK?
From a Bold Shake‑Up to a Dream Workplace
- Six years ago, we turned a new page in management. Since then, the only thing that’s ever happened is a continuous streak of growth – and a workplace that practically feels like a second home.
- We built our own service division. It’s not just about adding more “products” – we’re now a full‑service partner offering a range of solutions that make our Channel partners see the value we bring in the world of services.
- We teamed up with KDDI to launch a killer cloud offering. Bringing real power to the market and proving we’re serious about cloud services has been a game‑changer in our partnership’s success.
Q. Which technology, according to you, has transformed the printers?
How Our Long‑Life Tech Turned the Printing World Upside Down
When we introduced a device that can actually survive for decades, the rest of the industry had to rethink its game plan. Suddenly, everyone had to adjust their prices just to keep up with our high‑performance gear.
Price Wars & Game‑Changing Innovation
- Cheaper for Everyone: Competitors started trimming costs to stay in the race.
- New Standards: Our longevity set a fresh benchmark for what printing hardware should look like.
- Dashboards & Data: Businesses began tracking every print job, from quantity to destination.
Enter Print‑Management Software – The Real Game‑Changer
Fast forward to “Print‑Management 2.0.” With these tools, organizations can actually control what gets printed, where it goes, and who pays for it. It’s like having a spice rack for your office ink, letting you:
- Spot waste before it burns through your budget.
- Identify spot‑printing that’s costing extra.
- Set policies that keep the printer troupe organized.
Emotion & Humor: A Life‑Long Print Journey
Picture this: you’re sipping coffee, scrolling through a report, and suddenly you realize you printed 47 copies of the CEO’s quarterly outlook. Oops! No worries—thanks to print‑management software, you now have a “Print‑Burn‑Buddy” that flags that extra page before your wallet takes a hit.
Brushing away the days of surprise charges and guesswork, the industry’s big shift feels a bit like a family reunion. Everyone’s dressed in discounts, while the new tech is the cool person who brings leftover pizza to dinner.
Bottom Line
Our enduring technology not only set new price expectations but also sparked a revolution in how businesses manage printing. With smart software in place, companies can finally know exactly how much they’re spending, where the money flows, and whether they’re printing the right thing at the right time.
Thanks for your time.
All the Goodies, Courtesy of KYOCERA Document Solutions UK Ltd!
Because every great article deserves a stellar sponsor.
- We’ve partnered with the UK branch of KYOCERA.
- They’re the wizards behind slick documents and smooth printing.
Stay tuned for more awesome content, thanks to our friends at KYOCERA.
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