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Konica Minolta, a global technology innovator, has launched a Virtual Showroom platform to create a new immersive experience for customers and prospects as part its holistic approach in the “new normal”.
Finding new ways of engaging with prospects and clients to help them rethink what’s possible has never been more important than in Covid-19 times. Replacing elements of interaction that have been face-to-face until now with virtual environments may sound challenging. However, Konica Minolta recognises that delivering successful online platforms to deliver impact and value in print, often alongside other media channels, is key to the future.
The Virtual Showroom will be initially available for prospects of three of Konica Minolta’s mainstay products within commercial and industrial printing. They are the toner-based AccurioLabel 230 label press and AccurioPress C14000 high-volume production printer, as well as the AccurioJet KM-1e UV inkjet production press. More product lines will be added in the future.
Customers and prospects sign up to the Virtual Showroom via a dedicated landing page on Konica Minolta websites. Accompanied by a Konica Minolta representative, they are given a 3D virtual tour of an industrial or commercial print showroom, complete with appropriate ambient sounds in the background.
They view galleries of print samples, are being presented video content and are given detailed presentations on the specific production press. Interactive elements provide live virtual running of the machines, including animated paper flow demonstrations, the different ink colours and paper loading and product post-print stacking.
Specialist functions can also be explored in detail during the tour. These cover areas such as inline finishing, IQ-501 auto inspection technology in the intelligent quality care system and Konica Minolta’s unique Dot Freeze™ Technology (DFT) for the AccurioJet KM-1e.
“However, we recognise that people are not going to buy these products just from an online presentation. We still believe in the power of personal relationships and of seeing our portfolio and touching the print products in person. Our ultimate goal will always be to help shape ideas for our customers in a partnership approach – no matter which communication channel, whether face to face or virtually.”
The coronavirus pandemic has given everybody opportunities to re-evaluate business working practices – not least here at Konica Minolta Europe. And the rules have changed, many possibly forever. The Virtual Showroom has been developed in line with our rethinking what’s possible for customers, and the initial reaction has been extremely positive. This new online way of presenting products will further evolve and continue to expand over time.
Ole Maaz
Manager Marketing & Corporate Communications Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe
About Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe
Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe GmbH, based in Langenhagen, Germany, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Konica Minolta Inc., Tokyo, Japan. With its unique expertise in imaging, data processing and data-based decision making, Konica Minolta creates relevant solutions for its customers - small and medium-sized businesses, large enterprises and public sector - and solves issues faced by society.
As a digital workplace solution provider, Konica Minolta helps its clients to identify and unlock the potential digitalisation holds and reach the next level in the digital maturity of their organisation by rethinking the workplace. In support of an ‘Intelligent connected workplace’, Konica Minolta offers cloud, IT, managed print and video solution services for remote working, collaboration, workflow management and automation and security. The company’s success in driving transformation is also confirmed by IDC, since the ‘IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Print Transformation 2023 Vendor Assessment’ has named Konica Minolta a “Leader” in print transformation. Konica Minolta has been a Microsoft Global Managed Partner since 2021.
Konica Minolta's Igniting Print Possibilities offering helps printers, converters and brand owners maximise workflow automation to increase efficiency. The company delivers consultancy in all communication matters as well as top-of-the-line production, packaging as well as label printers. Its finishing devices create print products that stand out and create added value. Konica Minolta has established itself as the production printing market leader for more than a decade in Europe (InfoSource).
For an increasing number of organisations, success today is more than the narrow definition of financial prosperity – it also includes protecting the environment and having a positive impact on their workforce as well as the societies they are embedded in. With its commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Konica Minolta has pledged to consistently pursue its sustainability and social responsibility goals.
The company has been repeatedly recognised for its rich history of social contribution as well as for working towards achieving the SDGs throughout its business and supply chain. Konica Minolta received a GOLD Level Recognition Medal in the EcoVadis sustainability ratings for 2024.
For its remote services, Konica Minolta was awarded the prestigious ‘Buyers Lab (BLI) 2023-2024 Pacesetter Award in Remote Service for the Western European market’ from Keypoint Intelligence.
Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe is represented by subsidiaries and distributors in more than 80 countries in Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa. With more than 8,800 employees (as of April 2024), Konica Minolta Europe earned net sales of over EUR 2.13 billion in financial year 2023/2024.
Worldwide, the company has over 40,000 employees and is operating in over 150 countries.
For more information, please visit https://www.konicaminolta.eu/eu-en/news and follow Konica Minolta on LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.
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