A changed world changes business

In an increasingly digital world, use of business printing has changed drastically. Historically a global market leader in this area, Ricoh understood that a transformed landscape meant their business must change, too.

The aim was to transform Ricoh from a traditional office printing business into an IT services company. The direction was set and what needed to happen was clear at a high level. Ricoh then brought in Ivory Partners to help drive execution.

IT services is a huge, fast-changing market. We knew Ricoh were entering an arena with new barriers to entry, and a completely different set of conditions for profitability, investment and development.

Ivory Partners were the outside counsel Ricoh needed to map the road ahead, and our aim was to create a growth plan that would let them turn strategy into action.

To do this, we used an exclusive planning methodology developed ‘in the field’ over the course of a three-year growth strategy for another world-leading enterprise technology brand. The resulting plan helped Ricoh translate strategy into informed decision-making and conscious action.

Here are four key aspects of the growth plan we delivered:

• A broad initial scope considering all potential gaps and opportunities, which were then condensed into a focused set of recommendations
• A fact-based outside-in analysis designed to confront and counter internal biases and suppositions
• Development of this analysis in consultation with a range of voices from across Ricoh’s functions, business units and geographies
• An execution plan with clear metrics and milestones to drive communication, buy-in and action across the organisation