Press Release
PROKOM setting its sights on going global after US launch success Langenhagen, Germany, October 2016 PROKOM, the independent community of Konica Minolta production printing users, is setting its sights on becoming a global organisation following a successful launch in the USA and Europe. PROKOM had its official debut in the US at Graph Expo last month. The response was ‘fantastic’, according to organisers, who are now actively recruiting membership through www.prokom.org. Companies across Europe and USA are joining the community of Konica Minolta production printing users, which was first launched in February 2014. Members can connect, learn and grow their business approaches through a mixture of online support and training. These initiatives include market insights from Infotrends, as well as a host of independent consultants. The aim is to lead business transformation, providing practical business advice and learning to individuals across a print business through its knowledge platform. Easy to use, the web-portal targets content and practical advice to key departments within a print business. These include key functions such as pre-press departments, production, HR, business strategy for owners as well as sales and marketing functions. Every key function within a print business covered with practical tools, insight and plans to help them transform their approaches. A series of major initiatives, including an inaugural annual conference next year in Vienna from May 10-12, are being planned by the PROKOM team. They will be fully backed and supported by Konica Minolta as part of its commitment to the community that has an independent board of directors. PROKOM developments will also be spotlighted at The UK Print Show, at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Birmingham, from 1113 October, where Konica Minolta is a major exhibitor. Mark Hinder, Head of Market Development, Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe, said: “Following successful activities we ran at drupa 2016 and now the launch of PROKOM USA, the team focus now shifts to demonstrating the value of PROKOM as a community that is being built to enable members to connect, learn and grow their businesses. It is important that we help lead business transformation through our commitment to the PROKOM community so that our customers can adapt to the change taking place in the print industry. PROKOM is a strategic initiative from Konica Minolta that provides a proactive platform for customers to shape their ideas in the production printing industry to which we are fully committed.
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We have been listening to our customers’ needs to help empower them to transform and adapt.” Customers can register online for free as a blue member which provides all users insight and content to grow their approaches. The aim is they will then upgrade to Elite for the full range of benefits from e-learning and access to webinars, podcast and business tools. Andy Barber, Chairman of PROKOM, said: “For Elite membership we wanted to ensure that every company could easily gain access to gain the most out PROKOM, not putting learning out of reach by having expensively priced courses. We felt by having just one flat fee, which is less than 34 Euros per month, we can demonstrate the strong proposition and value of PROKOM to deliver effective programmes, which are within the reach of all print companies.” The PROKOM board members are Chairman Andy Barber, Director of imail, UK Mail PLC; Andy Fry, Managing Director of Nova Direct, UK; Arndt Eschenlohr, Managing Director of OvernightPrints Europe GmbH; Thierry Paquit, Managing Director of Identic, Belgium; and Christian Kopocz, Founder of prindoz.com, Germany. More details from www.PROKOM.org
About Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe GmbH, based in Langenhagen, Germany, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Konica Minolta Inc., Tokyo, Japan, forming part of its Business Technologies business area. As a leading global services provider in the field of IT- and document processes as well as digital production printing solutions the company excels in services-led business consulting, implementation and management and provides a range of world-leading printing systems and solutions. In this context, Konica Minolta’s Optimized Print Services concept (OPS) combines consultancy, hardware, software implementation, and operation in order to enhance business process efficiency and cost-effectiveness. To support customers optimally with powerful and sustainable solutions, technology leader Konica Minolta continuously invests in research and development work and regularly sets new standards. Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe is represented by subsidiaries and distributors in more than 80 countries in Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa. With over 35,000 employees around the world (as of March 2016), Konica Minolta’s Business Technologies business area earned net sales of over EUR 6.2 billion in financial year 2015/16. For further information about the company, please visit: www.konicaminolta.eu. Product images are available at: www.konicaminolta-images.eu. Terms and product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders and are hereby acknowledged.
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Contact Frauke FlĂźthmann Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe GmbH Phone: +49 (0)511 7404-5233 frauke.fluethmann@konicaminolta.eu
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