Will Konica continue in its FORZA aspirations?
There's no secret that I am a supporter of ECI e-automate and they are part of my collaborative. A collaborative of industry leading organizations dedicated to helping our dealer friends during the industry's greatest disruption in its history.
I have no issues asking questions of the channels actors. My intentions are to discuss things no one else will.
Over the last decade we have all witnessed the attempts of FORZA to replace ECI e-automate as the largest ERP in the channel. A decade later ECI e-automate remains the largest ERP in the channel.
With all due respect to Konica Minolta's FORZA aspirations, I ask should dealers have reservations and questions regarding the future of FORZA?
I imagine during cost cutting an ERP system built for dealers in the document imaging channel would be on the shortlist. FORZA is a decade-old product, and I question when will FORZA accomplish all the things it has dreamed over the last decade?
Again, we all must realize that low-hanging fruit is usually at significant risk of being cut during cost-cutting measures, ESPECIALLY in a declining marketplace. Does FORZA generate appropriate bottom-line profits? If not how long will Konica Minolta continuing investing in unprofitable products?
Maybe Konica Minolta can share some successes regarding FORZA. How many dealers have come on the platform since they bought it? Another question is, how many have left and why?
The dealers moving from well-established working ERP systems to alternative ERP systems must question the real capabilities and the stability of the platforms they choose. This is also true of DCA tools. The time and cost in jumping from one ERP to the next must not be considered lightly.
Hoping, dreaming and wanting is not doing. During the industry's most significant decline in its history, dealers must be prepared for all possibilities.
If FORZA had a massive customer base, these worries would be less worrisome.
I will conclude that if Konica is selling off direct operations, I do not see any reason they would not sell off FORZA or even All Covered. Afterall in 2020 no one thought they would be selling direct operations. Oh, I did.
Ray Stasieczko
Leave a comment
Comments will be approved before showing up.
Also in Ray's Hot Topics
The End Of The Day With Ray! Recapping The Sharp NEXT 2025 Dealer Meeting Held Last Week In Orlando
In my recap I dive deeper into the needed product diversification message! The industry’s actors must build out business models to include more robust product offerings for the end-users they support. Sharp has great opportunities and dealers need to get all in!
The End Of The Day With Ray! TD SYNNEX 3rd Qtr & The MSP Channel Disruption Coming!
TD SYNNEX is so poised to completely disrupt the reseller services channel! My warning to those MSP who focus on low end contracts and have zero abilities to sell intellect are about to become reality! End-users don't need an MSP business model from 2009. Those who refuse to imagine how they can be defeated will fall to the mercy of those who plan and execute their defeat.
ray stasieczko
Author