Kyocera enhances UK channel offering with landmark acquisition of Annodata

Kyocera Document Solutions UK has announced the acquisition of Annodata, one of the UK's largest independent providers of managed print and ICT services.

The acquisition, which was led by Kyocera Corporation in Japan, significantly increases the capabilities of Kyocera Document Solutions UK, adding further value to its already extensive product offering with the addition of ICT services.

Hironao Katsukura, Managing Director of Kyocera Document Solutions UK said: "The UK has been a major success story for Kyocera over the past seven years and this acquisition gives us a great platform to further grow throughout the region in the coming years. Annodata is a well-established, influential national player with similar business ideals to our own, as well as having important vendors, technologies and a very strong value-adding culture in common."

Annodata will remain a completely separate business entity to Kyocera Document Solutions UK with its own independent strategy and management team. Co-founders Andrew and Tim Harman will continue to support the Annodata management team, bringing a wealth of knowledge and customer relationships gained from almost 30 years at the helm of the business.

"This marks a significant opportunity for our partners, customers and people as we become part of the global Kyocera family and continue the journey we started back in 1988," said Andrew Harman, Co-founder of Annodata. "With the significant resources and support of Kyocera Document Solutions UK we can remain committed to our principles, innovate new solutions and services tailored to rapidly changing market needs, and ensure we are well placed to meet customer demands."

"In the current market, Imaging vendors need to extend their capabilities beyond managed print to incorporate ICT services. Such enhanced offerings will allow them and their channel partners to secure a stronger foothold in existing accounts and to win new business", says Mick Heys, VP Printing Imaging & Document Solutions IDC.

Kyocera Document Solutions UK will be drawing on the expertise of Annodata to strengthen the offering of its Channel Partner Programme for the UK & Ireland with the addition of ICT services. "The contribution of the channel in supporting our growth is crucial and we remain committed to this as our primary route to market," added Hironao Katsukura. This acquisition adds significant capabilities to our overall proposition for the channel, and maintains our commitment to support resellers of all sizes to increase expertise and leverage our solutions to better align their services with the rapidly evolving needs of customers, which ultimately boosts value."