The OEM is hoping to sign up more resellers to push its document management and visual display products as it moves away from the mass low profit consumer market it has struggled to thrive in.
It recently held its first Inspire Expo since 2012 in Malta, with Ted Kawamura, President of Sharp Europe, informing journalists at the event that 90 percent of its goods in Europe are aimed at the business market, Channel Biz reported. He also said that distribution is to be a major focus of the company, while 13 MFPs were unveiled at the event for the 30 to 60ppm market.
Version 2.0 of the SaaS-based Cloud Portal Office was also launched, aimed at supporting collaboration and improving document management. Kawamura said that business solutions was an area showing improving sales and profits, while its direct sales have increased since 2012.
Sharp says it prefers bespoke solutions to off-the-shelf ones, which will maximise sales for its partners if they embrace the OEM’s vision. It is investing in business software solutions, as its own research found that 35 percent of organisations prefer to buy from a “recognised provider”, a position it hopes to establish for itself.
The group admitted that print volumes have decreased overall, but it believes it can widen its own document consultancy enterprise with new software offerings, creating new services and business for opportunities for its printer reseller partners.