The company thinks outside the box as it looks to remain a presence in an ever-changing workplace.
Ikuo Nakagawa, senior executive officer of Konica Minolta, Inc., who is responsible for the company’s digital workplace business, DX branding, and IT, recently revealed Konica Minolta’s DX (digital transformation) strategy. Based on its Intelligent Connected Workplace vision, Konica Minolta will help customers increase their productivity in offices by providing IT services, Workplace Hub, and multifunction devices, as well as consultative services.
Reflecting on the transformation where everything is connected to the network, Konica Minolta is working on a three step approach—Connect IT, Connect Work, and Connect People. Each of those corresponds to a maturity level. This first step supports activities that create a work environment where people can work anytime without being bound by paper. The second step creates a work environment where people can work from anywhere. The third step represents the creation of an environment where people can work with anyone, according to the maturity level of a customer’s work style.
Konica Minolta will measure the capability level of a customer’s work style and propose a comfortable and efficient work style at the next level by providing the appropriate technology and services.
“By stepping up the maturity level of the workplace for customers, we aim to make Konica Minolta indispensable for customers by improving the customer experience,” said Mr. Nakagawa.
In 2019, Konica Minolta surveyed 10,000 companies with more than 100 employees in the Japanese market to determine work style maturity. It then organized the results into four maturity levels.
Konica Minolta has identified four levels of customer maturity. “Maturity Level 0” is where work revolves around paper and forms and is tied to a physical workplace. That level accounts for 18% of all surveyed companies. “Maturity Level 1” is where processes are connected by IT and digitalization has begun, allowing employees to work at any time, representing 54% of companies surveyed. “Maturity Level 2” is where worksites can be connected digitally, and employees can work from anywhere, which comprises 22% of all companies surveyed. The highest level, “Maturity Level 3,” represents the scenario where essential employees and knowledge can be connected, and value can be created with anyone, anytime, anywhere.
This is the level of maturity goal for the Intelligent Connected Workplace.
This survey reflects trends in the Japanese market, but according to Mr. Nakagawa, similar trends are taking place in the European and U.S. markets.
To implement the Intelligent Connected Workplace, Konica Minolta has created initiatives to bring customers to the next level based on each customer’s maturity data. This includes applications that automate business processes, support security, and leverage Workplace Hub.
A variety of tools and strategies are used, depending on the customer’s maturity level and type of business.
● Maturity Level 0-1, Connect IT: This creates an environment where employees can work anytime without being bound by paper. This environment encompasses paper reduction, business process optimization and automation, and aims for an all-in-one IT offering.
● Maturity level 1-2, Connect Work: This concept creates an environment where people can work anywhere. It encompasses office space design, mobile IT infrastructure, and data analysis services.
● Maturity Level 2-3, Connect People: This level enables an environment where people can work with anyone. The tools for this environment allow for enhanced internal and external collaboration, knowledge management, and decision support.
The goal of Konica Minolta’s DX strategy is to create stronger ties with its customers and help those businesses be more successful. Ultimately, the DX strategy supports not only Konica Minolta’s MFP business but also the overall business activities of its customers.
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