WEST CALDWELL, N.J., May 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Ricoh Americas Corporation, a leading provider of digital office equipment and advanced document management solutions and services, today announced the company's selection by research firm IDC as a leading managed print services (MPS) provider in its 2010 MarketScape MPS report (1). Ricoh and IKON Office Solutions, a Ricoh company, received high scores for their successful Managed Document Services (MDS) offerings and combined strengths in the MPS market. The report represents IDC's assessment of which vendors are well positioned today through current capabilities, and which have strategies best positioned to gain market share over the next few years.

"Together, Ricoh and IKON bring an overall strategic road map and current functional capabilities that reflect a deep understanding and well thought out set of offerings to help position Ricoh and IKON for success now and into the future," said Michael Orasin, research manager at IDC. "Additionally, Ricoh's formalized change management component of its MPS services is a unique differentiator for the company."

Ricoh and IKON have developed a Managed Document Services platform that brings together industry-leading expertise, technology and tools to optimize enterprise-wide document output and business processes, with a focus on change management, environmental sustainability and continuous improvement. The program is comprised of a highly customizable suite of services designed to streamline printing and document processes and empower customers to concentrate their efforts on their most critical priorities. Ricoh's unique "Outservicing" approach gives customers a competitive edge by enabling them to operate as greener corporate citizens with engaged employees, optimized processes and greater profitability.

Ricoh's change management strategy, toolkit and process allow the company to learn about its customers' businesses and then design a solution focusing on their most critical asset - the employees. Understanding that office cultures cannot be changed overnight, members of Ricoh's MDS Teams apply Prosci's change management methodology. Prosci has become the leading provider of change management tools and benchmarking reports, working with more than 2,000 companies from 65 countries on research projects in change management. Prosci's popular ADKAR® model is used worldwide.

"Ricoh and IKON are proud of this industry recognition as a leader in delivering managed print services. Our proven expertise, unique management tools, and commitment to change management allow us to remain at the forefront of the MPS market and set ourselves apart from the competition," said Mark Boelhouwer, Vice President Ricoh U.S. Strategic Marketing, Ricoh Americas Corporation.

About Ricoh Americas Corporation

Ricoh Americas Corporation, headquartered in West Caldwell, N.J., is a subsidiary of Ricoh Company, Ltd., the 74-year-old leading provider of advanced office technology and innovative document imaging products, services and software, with fiscal year 2009 sales in excess of $21 billion.

Ricoh's fully integrated hardware and customizable services and software help businesses share information efficiently and effectively by enabling customers to control the input, management and output of documents.

Ricoh Americas Corporation, directly or through its network of authorized dealers, markets and distributes products in North, Central and South America.

Information about Ricoh's complete range of offerings can be found at www.ricoh-usa.com.

About IDC MarketScape

IDC MarketScape vendor analysis model is designed to provide an overview of the competitive fitness of ICT (information and communications technology) suppliers in a given market. The research methodology utilizes a rigorous scoring methodology based on both qualitative and quantitative criteria that results in a single graphical illustration of each vendor's position within a given market. IDC MarketScape provides a clear framework in which the product and service offerings, capabilities and strategies, and current and future market success factors of IT and telecommunications vendors can be meaningfully compared. The framework also provides technology buyers with a 360-degree assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of current and prospective vendors.

(1) IDC "IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Managed Print Services 2010 Hardcopy Vendor Analysis". Doc # 222872, April 2010.

All referenced product names are the trademarks of their respective companies.

    CONTACT:       Linda Montefusco                     Alicia Wells
                   Ricoh Americas Corporation           Peppercom
                   973-882-2172                         212-931-6149
                   linda.montefusco@ricoh-usa.com       awells@peppercom.com

SOURCE Ricoh Americas Corporation