In a recent media thanksgiving event held in Boracay, Aklan, Epson Philippines (EPC) shared its vision and plans to build on new businesses, minimize dependence on mainstream product segments, and optimize its B2B operations.
Moving into this new future also comes with a bittersweet tinge as EPC president and country manager Toshimitsu Tanaka steps down from his seven-year post and will be returning to a senior role under Seiko Epson Corporation’s (SEC) Sales Planning and Marketing Communications department. Succeeding him is Ando Munenori, former head of SEC’s Sales & Marketing Division.
Shifting towards a B2B approach
In the fiscal year of 2018, EPC posted an overall positive sales growth of 23%, exceeding the previous year’s growth by 9%. Majority of this growth came from inkjet printers and scanners, contributing to 70% of Epson’s revenue pie.
As it enters a new fiscal year, the company plans to move out of their comfort zone and build the foundation for the next generation of business. Tapping commercial and industrial markets, Epson will continue to do what they do best—bring high quality solutions to its consumers—and reinventing it to fit their needs.
“For Epson to become an indispensable company, we have to continue to move outside of our comfort zone and into a more progressive mindset—with obsession to details still deeply embedded in our DNA,” shares Eduardo Bonoan, EPC’s General Manager for Marketing, “To add to our exceptional performance for inkjet printers and scanners, the FY18 performance for POS and dot matrix printers, visual instruments and commercial & industrial products tells us that this is the perfect opportunity to build the new foundation for Epson here in the Philippines.”
Capturing other segments
Printers command a huge part of Epson’s repertoire—with its inkjet printers dominating with a 46% market share and contributing to 3% of their total sales—and now, they are moving into the laser printer market. Recently launching their new mono eco-tank models, they hope to bring additional value to their customers by addressing the pain point of low capacity ink tanks that other printers come with.
Another industry Epson hopes to conquer is the medical and industrial field
— headed by the Moverio. And while the Moverio isn’t a new product, Epson is going beyond the usual applications. The smart eyewear connects to any device via bluetooth and can be used for gaming and viewing media but it is also used in medical practice, commercial drones, and industrial purposes. Already used in Singapore in the medical field, the Moverio can soon be an indispensable tool in many other professions beyond those already mentioned.
The projected future
With technology constantly growing and evolving, so do consumers expect more from businesses. Advancements allow for more personalized and real-time experiences, which is why it is doubly important to focus on the details and deliver exceptional value to users. Capitalizing on the government’s build initiative, EPC hopes to grow their market share even more this year by focusing on Replaceable Ink Pack System (RIPS), LIJ printers, scanners, label printers, mobile POS, CAD, signage and textile printers, as well as its high brightness projectors. Holding firm to its core strengths—printers and projectors—it continues to explore and innovate as well as bring in new products into the mix.
