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acquisitions
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Stuart Sykes, Managing Director,
Sharp Business Systems, said that
Sharp’s strategy Europe-wide is to
grow its business. Despite planning
to stimulate direct sales growth,
predominantly through acquisition,
the company remains committed to
the channel. Currently around 65%
of total sales are through dealers
and Sykes said that Sharp’s goal is to
increase market share across both its
direct and dealer divisions.
Sharp has changed its European
structure from a decentralised, country-
based model to a centralised pan-European
organisation, creating a shared services
platform across Europe to effectively and
efficiently support its product domains.
The pan-European operating model is
designed to achieve sustainable, profitable
growth through a simpler structure, greater
market focus and faster decision-making.
Converting MIF
“Sharp is excited to build upon its
leadership position in the document
management solutions market with this
recent acquisition,” said Sykes.
“The fastest way to grow our direct
business is through acquisition and we will
be developing further relationships over the
next few years. We’re looking to increase
our market share and it makes sense to
talk to dealerships with an installed MIF of
competitive vendors’ products. Converting
those to Sharp devices will enable us to
meet this objective.”
The transaction is based on an
undisclosed fee. Under the terms of the
agreement, which has been agreed by
the board of directors of both companies,
Copifax will continue to trade under its
original name, as part of Sharp’s document
management solution portfolio.
Established in 1979, the Copifax
business specialises in providing business
equipment and document management
solutions to customers primarily within the
North of England. It has an installed MIF of
around 1,500.
“Copifax has a strong heritage and
customer base, one which we feel can
only strengthen our proposition and
service to our customers. We will retain the
Copifax premises and name, as well as its
engineers and sales personnel to ensure
customer continuity,” said Sykes.
Commenting on the acquisition,
Keith Collinge, Managing Director of
Copifax who is exiting the business, said:
“I’m delighted to be part of this latest
development in the companies’ 30-year
history. The business is going from strength
to strength in the UK and this can only
continue as it becomes part of Sharp’s
activity in this market.”
Copifax Service Director Mike Duckworth
and Sales Director Kevin Moore will remain
with the business.
The Copifax acquisition is Sharp’s
second in the UK and follows its purchase
of IOT Plc in 2011. Acquiring IOT provided
Sharp with the ability to rapidly increase
its presence nationwide and Sykes said it
Sharp acquisition supports
growth plans
Sharp Business Systems recently announced the
acquisition of Burnley-based Copifax, a move that forms
part of its ongoing strategy to acquire targeted document
management businesses across Europe in a bid to increase
market share, turnover and serviced volume in the
document management and services business.
...a new
suite of
hardware
and
software
products
and services
including
ground-
breaking
cloud-based
services ...
has been good for IOT too. “It’s the best
of both worlds; combining the dealer
mentality and customer focus with the
manufacturer’s strength has enabled us to
bring even more to customers,” said Sykes.
Following the acquisition, the firm
continued to trade as IOT and was run
independently until it rebranded as Sharp
Business Systems in April this year.
Cloud-based services
In the autumn Sharp will unveil a new suite
of hardware and software products and
services including groundbreaking cloud-
based services that they say will change
the way people do business. New hardware
launches include A4 MFPs and a high-end
colour production machine with a range of
productivity and ease of use features.
The first licensed cloud application
from Sharp is a document management
system which allows content management
and collaboration between work teams,
supported by shared project folders and
virtual meeting room functions, with
integration of MFPs with other everyday
office platforms such as digital white boards,
laptops, smart phones and tablet PC.
The Sharpdesk Mobile App, which is
available free of charge from Apple’s App
Store, wirelessly connects Smartphones and
Tablet PCs with the printing and scanning
capabilities of Sharp’s MFPs and reinforces
the manufacturer’s campaign to create
a wide portfolio of tools with one aim in
mind – to make life easier for people who
have to work on the move.
www.sharp.co.uk
Sharp HQ,
Stockley Park
Stuart Sykes, Managing Director,
Sharp Business Systems