Tokyo-based OEM Ricoh has acquired Avanti Computer Systems, a leading Toronto-based provider of Print MIS (Management Information Systems) for the production print market. The total cost of the investment was not disclosed. Since 1984, Avanti has provided award-winning solutions that help print shops and marketing communication organizations automate all facets of their business. Avanti’s solutions are the most open in the industry, are JDF-certified, fully integrated, and extend from web-to-print through to production and billing. For example, Avanti’s award-winning Slingshot solution is one of the most advanced JDF-certified Print MIS available today. JDF is the industry standard for process automation in pre-press, press and post-press. The acquisition will enable Ricoh to further expand the value that its production print workflow delivers to customers. It will also help the company to improve management efficiency and productivity of customers in the production printing market. In July of 2013, we reported that Ricoh made a strategic investment in Avanti, which established the foundation for this acquisition.
“We’re committed to continual portfolio advancements aimed at helping our customers grow their businesses and improve their efficiency,” said Jeff Paterra, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Technology & Solutions Development at Ricoh. “We know that in order to achieve this, they need complete solutions which address their business needs. While our Ricoh Pro Series continues to grow market share globally thanks to its high quality and high productivity, customers look to Ricoh to resolve wider issues surrounding upstream and downstream systems. Our acquisition of Avanti helps us more effectively to do just that.”
Ricoh added that this latest acquisition reflects its dedication to providing customers with an unmatched, best-of-breed portfolio that addresses the needs of the production print market today and into the future. Ricoh previously acquired MarcomCentral (formerly PTI Marketing Technologies), in December of 2014. That acquisition successfully enhanced the value of Ricoh’s web-to-print, marketing asset management and variable-data print offerings. With the addition of Avanti, the Ricoh portfolio is now able to cover the entire production workflow – including Print MIS. Ricoh is aiming to link the Avanti system not only with the Ricoh Pro Series, but also with other company products, thus providing customers with a wider range of solutions. “Ricoh’s initial strategic investment in Avanti three years ago gave us an unparalleled opportunity to advance product development and further deliver innovative Print MIS solutions,” said Patrick Bolan, President of Avanti. “The acquisition by Ricoh sets the stage for Avanti to accelerate growth into the global marketplace.”
The OEM went on to say that, in addition to production workflow, Ricoh has started to offer marketing workflow services to further a print shop’s value proposition to their end customers. By collaborating with its partner companies, Ricoh added that its eventual goal is to form an industry-leading ecosystem that will continuously provide customers with increased value-added services.
Ricoh acquires Canadian print MIS leader Avanti Computer Systems
