Just a few days left for OKI Data as it gears up to exit the Americas’ printer hardware market.
In September (2020) the company announced that it would no longer distribute printer hardware under the OKI brand to the North, Central and South American markets, effective 31 March 2021. OKI’s domestic (Japan) and other overseas markets will maintain their current business course and strategy.
OKI Data Corporation in Japan will directly manage global OEM arrangements and distribute specific value-added product lines that impact the Americas. Included in this change are all LED-based single and multifunction, dot-matrix (SIDM), printer hardware.
OKI Data said that it and, or selected partners, will continue to provide consumables, parts, and warranty services to the Americas markets as required by relevant countries and states to support our current installation base effectively. OKI will continue to work with OKI Data Americas’ distribution partners to forecast, purchase and fulfil shipments to maintain inventory levels that meet on-going market demand.
The decision followed on from OKI’s 2020 three-year plan to reposition the company for sustained growth and long-term profitability by shifting the focus away from transactional selling to value-added sales and service delivery.
Sergio Horikawa, President & CEO, OKI Data Americas, Inc. said at the time of the announcement: “Considerable shifts in printer market demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic forced us to re-evaluate our ability to achieve the mid-term plan.”
“I want to reassure our resellers, partners and end customers that OKI is committed to continuing to provide the necessary consumables, parts and service to keep our printers operational for years to come,” said Horikawa.
