By Andy Slawetsky – On the heels of recent Konica Minolta earnings, Sam Errigo, CEO of Konica Minolta US provided an overview of the company’s current financial health and direction during a media update. Despite challenges, their Q3 results were on par with the previous year. KM saw a slight increase in gross profit and operating profit; although slightly down from the previous year, it remains strong on a nine-month basis, highlighting improvements in revenue, gross profit, and a nice jump in operating profit by 163%, according to Errigo.

In the immediate future, Sam talked about reducing inventory, improving free cash flow, and maintaining a stable buying pattern as the company moves into 2024. A detailed analysis of KM’s financial management was presented, highlighting efforts to reduce production and personnel expenses, alongside investments in key growth areas.

In the U.S., Errigo detailed Konica Minolta’s commitment to growth, market share expansion, and enhancing dealer relationships. KM’s IT business is up by 24% year to date and the solutions portfolio is up by 15%.

Selling Branches?

Sam addressed the rumors regarding Konica Minolta potentially selling its branches; “we are not selling our direct branches,” he told those on the call. He went on, to emphasize that these branches are highly profitable and integral to Konica Minolta’s overall strategy.

Dealer Business Update

He also provided an update on Konica Minolta’s dealer business. Here are key highlights:

1. Strong Growth: Konica Minolta’s dealer network has seen serious growth, with top dealers experiencing over 100% year-over-year growth.
2. Investment in Dealer Support: Konica Minolta has invested in various programs to support its dealers, including sales incentives, loyalty programs such as “Rev’d Up ” and “Konica Minolta Rewards” and extensive training and support initiatives.
3. Focus on Digital Transformation and IT Services: Konica Minolta is focusing on digital transformation and expanding its IT services offerings through the dealer channel. This includes support for dealers in adopting new technologies and integrating IT solutions into their portfolios to meet customer demands.
4. Dealer Success and Mutual Growth: Errigo’s update conveyed a clear message that the success of Konica Minolta’s dealers is integral to the company’s success.

This vendor update summarizes what Sam discussed on today’s analyst/media call and what we can expect to see from Konica Minolta going forward. The update was provided to shed light on how the recent Konica Minolta earnings affect the US market.

SOURCE Industry Analysts Inc.