Ricoh and IBM Enhance Document Solutions for Enterprise Customers

Ricoh Co. Ltd. announced a global strategic alliance with IBM. The alliance will provide customers with comprehensive document solutions leveraging Ricoh and IBM's vast capabilities to address customers' complex business problems.

As part of the alliance, the companies will first launch a new Ricoh offering, Document Security and Management Services (DSMS) in the U.S. This solution builds upon Ricoh's expertise in helping customers improve their document workflow, security, and compliance, while reducing the total cost of ownership of office equipment investment and advancing environmental sustainability practices.

The DSMS offering includes Assessment & Deployment, End User Services, Managed Services, Security, Green Office, and Enterprise Content Management services, which will be delivered by Ricoh Document Solutions and Services Division and IBM's Global Technology Services. In addition, Ricoh has an agreement to resell IBM's Managed Server offering and collaborate on the sale and delivery of IBM software, hardware and services, such as End User Services, Internet Security Systems (ISS) Services, Business Continuity & Resiliency Services, and Storage & Data Services.

Understanding that the importance of providing technologies based on open standards continually increases, Ricoh and IBM have signed an agreement to demonstrate Multi-Function Product (MFP) -based solutions that fully integrate with a corporation's IT applications and infrastructure and are based on the principles of service oriented architecture (SOA).

"We are very excited to combine Ricoh's leadership in digital office equipment with IBM's expansive technology portfolio," said Hede Nonaka, general manager, Document Solutions and Services Division, Ricoh Co. Ltd. "Enterprises are requiring more integrated technologies to create rapid return on investment and this Global Strategic Alliance allows Ricoh and IBM to provide innovative solutions that meet these demands."