OKI looks to lure VARs for services and MFPs

Print vendor wants to add VARs and ramp up channel revenues from consultancy, maintenance and consumables

Growth market: OKI predicts MFP sales will increase this year

Print vendor OKI is hoping to entice new reseller partners with lucrative opportunities in wraparound services and multi-function products (MFPs).

Marketing director Graham Lowes claimed his firm was scouting for VARs, but remained focused on providing value for its existing channel.

“We are looking to recruit new partners and want to reward resellers that are looking for stability,” he said.

Lowes claimed OKI would help partners expand on selling standalone products to offer a full suite of wraparound services, including consultancy, maintenance and consumables.

“We will introduce programmes that allow VARs to increase revenue by selling print solutions,” he said. “A printer is a piece of capital equipment and people want to get more from their capital equipment; there will be more MFPs sold.”

OKI continues to invest “a huge amount of money” in research and development, claimed Lowes. OKI recently launched Flatrate, an SME package providing a three-year contract covering all print consumables and support.

James Kight, managing director of VAR Printerland, said Flatrate had already sparked interest.

“We have just had our best two quarters with OKI,” he said. “Its three-year warranty across all products is key and it provides reliability.”