Kyocera Document Solutions Deutschland GmbH, the German branch of one of the world’s leading document solutions companies, announced today that it has acquired AKI GmbH, an expert in software-based printing management solutions. This acquisition continues Kyocera’s plan to expand its expertise in the area of advisory and solution services. AKI’s current operations will continue to be oriented to their client’s current requirements and the present market situation. AKI’s sales operations will remain independent and continue to employ the proven approach that has produced successful results in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
In April 2012 Kyocera Mita changed its name to Kyocera Document Solutions. As part of the accompanying strategic reorientation, the company began to expand its business with managed document services and solutions, as well as forming new country-specific or global partnerships with various software providers. The acquisition of AKI is an important component in this strategic reorientation.
To mark the occasion of the German branch’s 25th anniversary last year, the company announced ambitious growth targets, including the aim of increasing sales to 500 million euros over the next five years. AKI represents an important milestone in this growth strategy. Not only does AKI’s independent business model complement Kyocera’s existing business, AKI’s product range augments Kyocera’s portfolio of third-party solutions and will be available to all Kyocera distributors in the future. Both companies expect positive synergy from the partnership, as they have a shared main focus of developing economical, customer-oriented solutions.
Based in Würzburg, Germany, AKI GmbH has been providing advisory and software services covering the entire output management spectrum, including printing distribution, print-out editing, template management and document archiving, since 1986. The company’s main product is AKI PrinTaurus, a modular, cross-platform and manufacturer-neutral solution, which is also certified for SAP systems.
“Acquiring AKI will support the ambitious growth targets of Kyocera Document Solutions Deutschland over the coming years. In line with our corporate philosophy, AKI will remain an independently-operating company that complements our portfolio of third-party solutions,” explains Reinhold Schlierkamp, Managing Director of Kyocera Document Solutions Deutschland GmbH.
“We’re looking forward to leveraging synergies in collaboration with Kyocera Document Solutions Deutschland GmbH. At the same time, we will continue to consistently pursue AKI’s 26-year tradition of supplying our customers with manufacturer-neutral solutions for their increasingly multi-vendor environments. Providing customer-oriented, independent advisory services is a key component of our business’s success and company’s mission,” adds Martin Kellner, Managing Director of AKI GmbH.
