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! Let's Discuss FUJIFILM, The Xerox Relationship, The Spin Off & More
As Fujifilm announces the spinning off of Business Innovation will the decisions regarding Fujifilm attempting to replace Xerox their largest distribution to end-users prove to be a case of arrogance over common sense? In this episode I share some number realities as a comparison in the industrial print space and business printing. I still see RICOH/ETRIA as the best scenario for absorbing Fujifilm Business Innovation. As Printing United Begins Next Week, I wanted to look at the the industrial print numbers regarding Konica Minolta, Brother, Ricoh, and KODAK also cause a question, what is the industrial print business revenues at Fujifilm? Interesting times take boldness and action. I believe Fujifilm OVER-estimated their abilities to circumvent the Xerox end user distribution as over the last few years it sure seemed a very slow and clumsy attempt . Spinning Off Business Innovation Is The Right Decision. Now it is just a matter of how they do it.
ray stasieczko
Author