Epson’s innovative Ink Tank System (ITS) printers support business growth in East Africa

Epson, a global leader in printing, visual communications and manufacturing, has announced a steady year-on-year growth in the sale of its innovative Ink Tank System printers in East Africa, as more businesses in the region enjoy the benefits of implementing ITS technology in their workplace. The 15 million global cumulative sales of the Ink Tank System announced by Epson in June this year show a significant impression of ITS on the market, where customers no longer need to use ink cartridges and can save 90%[1] on printing costs and receive two years[2] of ink with each printer.

Having established its East African operations in 2011, Epson is focused on providing businesses with cost-effective printing solutions that help to cut down expenditures on maintenance, repair and replacement, while limiting the environmental impact of office printAs a result, sales of the Epson ITS in East Africa increased in the first quarter of 2016 by more than eight times the number sold since the first quarter of 2014, and in the same two year period, sales of the ITS in Kenya increased by an outstanding 268%.

Among Epson’s wide ranging product offering in East Africa is the ITS, which provides solutions that suit the needs of home-users and businesses of all sizes. The growth of ITS in Kenya, Ethiopia and Tanzania is built largely on the industry shift from laser to business inkjet printing which Epson is proud to be supporting in these markets and across the world.

Eco and cost-efficient features such as high-capacity ink tanks to prevent ink wastage and constant refills and the ultra-low-cost per page are appealing for businesses keeping a close eye on the bottom line. Furthermore, SMEs appreciate the easy-to-use functionality as well as the printers’ Wi-Fi capability, which allows them to conduct business on the go.

“We’ve seen considerable uptake in the adoption of ITS printers among small businesses in the last three years,” says Mukesh Bector, Regional Sales Manager for Epson East Africa. “Epson has offered a consistent guarantee of the lowest cost of printing in the market without compromising on quality or reliability and the results are evident in our growth.”

Epson’s go-to-market strategy focuses on building the channel by educating dealers about its products, running regular and impactful promotions through its dealers, and providing demonstration units as well as comprehensive point-of-sale material and in-store branding. With this approach, Epson has managed to maintain its market share over the years and solidify its position as the practical and cost-effective printing solution for business.

Bector adds that, while Kenya in particular has experienced such immense growth over the years, Epson is also pleased with the growth of ITS printer sales in other East African countries. “This confirms that our business strategy in the region is on the right track, and shows that businesses in this region are becoming increasingly aware of the benefits of ITS technology.”

About Epson
Epson is a global technology leader dedicated to connecting people, things and information with its original efficient, compact and precision technologies. With a line-up that ranges from inkjet printers and digital printing systems to 3LCD projectors, smart glasses, sensing systems and industrial robots, the company is focused on driving innovations and exceeding customer expectations in inkjet, visual communications, wearables and robotics.
Led by the Japan-based Seiko Epson Corporation, the Epson Group comprises more than 73,000 employees in 91 companies around the world, and is proud of its contributions to the communities in which it operates and its ongoing efforts to reduce environmental impacts.
http://global.epson.com/

About Epson sub-Saharan Africa

Epson’s operations in sub-Saharan Africa were established in 1997 with headquarters based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Since then, Epson has established a panel of distributors and resellers throughout sub-Saharan Africa who are dedicated to serving Epson’s end-consumers with the highest quality products and levels of support. Epson now manages sales and support in 21 sub-Saharan African countries including South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Lesotho, Zambia, Malawi, Angola, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Southern Sudan, Eritrea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. www.epson.co.za 

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http://eco.epson.com/