Quality and Creative Commitment go hand in hand for Ramprasad : By - S. M. Ramprasad National Business Manager – Consumer Products, Epson India

Epson, a part of Seiko Epson Corporation, Japan, is a Total Digital Imaging Solutions company. It manufactures the entire range of input and output imaging devices like inkjet printers, dot matrix printers, lasers, scanners and LCD projectors. Today, Epson’s product portfolio includes Systems & Crystal Devices, Integrated Circuits, optical products, factory automation systems, and even watches. It has developed a reputation as a visionary company with a commitment of updating the products with technological endeavour.

Meeting the demands of a fast-growing market is always challenging and, to be in the front row, it needs dedication and devotion along with hard work. Epson’s success in India is a measure of not just ground-breaking technology, but also its understanding the Indian consumer. The main idea is to basically penetrate into the mindset of the consumers and the effort is to provide all-round imaging solutions to those who need it – whether it is for the home, office or studio. 

Today, with the advent of globalization, the trend and the lifestyle of the people are also changing. Now, the people are more fashion and technological conscious. They want to keep up with their Joneses in the world. And, when it comes to digital imagining, Epson does cross our minds. The company’s strategy of innovation comes in handy to all the techno lovers.

Epson is constantly trying to improve on the natural methods of imaging and reproduction. It has the distinction of having an impressive client portfolio for its imaging products. These include leading ad agencies, graphic artists, architects, top photographers, film producers, directors, large studios and corporates.

Helping the attempt of VARIndia team to delve deep inside the company regarding its most popular products, S. M. Ramprasad, National Business Manager – Consumer Products, Epson India, says, “What sets Epson apart is the spirit of Creativity and Challenge at the heart of its corporate ethos. Epson is putting aside its old image and transforming itself into a“‘digital imaging company’.” Today, the company has the most-wanted products in its kitty. Ramprasad, the man behind the successful running of the products like scanners, printers, All-in-Ones, Large format printers, says, “We provide cutting-edge solutions, focussing on the fields of imaging on paper, imaging on screen and imaging on glass. Our new medium to long-term corporate vision, known as SE07, introduces the concept of ‘Digital Image Innovation: Targeting the Convergence of Imaging Domains’. In this era of revolutionary advances in broadcasting and telecommunications, Epson will provide cutting-edge imaging solutions that create a symbiosis of still and moving images, supporting richer communications and bringing colour to the lives of people around the world.”

According to Ramprasad, Imaging solutions demonstrate the strength. The latest in the run is the Epson’s implementation of “3i” strategy to achieve the concept of Digital Image Innovation.““i1” for paper (developments in printers and other imaging products), “i2” for screen (developments in projectors) and “i3” for imaging on glass (developments in mobile displays).

“i1” Printers: Developments in Printers and Other Imaging Products

Epson will create platforms that enable uniform connections for exchanging digital images, including the interfaces between Internet connection equipments and printers. The company will encourage the shift to colour formats and electronic formats for office documents and will provide new ideas for improving business workflow and printing solutions.

“i2” Projectors: Developments in Projectors

Office and Home Projectors as well as New Visual Imagining Equipments: Epson plans to introduce products that incorporate world’s-leading technology for easier and more comfortable presentations.

“i3” Displays: Developments in Mobile Displays

Through the development of next-generation display technology and a greater concentration of business resources, Epson will aggressively develop new applications and new fields such as organic electro luminescent display (OLED) technologies to create the displays of the future. Inkjet Printers Popular both at home and at work for their high-quality printouts and ease-of-use “Photo” is the keyword of the new digital photo lifestyle Epson is proposing. From home to business use, it offers advanced imaging solutions. The latest inkjet printers can automatically distinguish human faces, and feature new image-processing technology that not only compensates for backlighting but also corrects colour spill and exposure mistakes. With its ease of use, clarity and reliability, the printers offer a quality photo print finish, achieved through a combination of the strengths in technology, ink and paper.

It is the spirit that has allowed Epson to create the unique technologies and skills in moving imaging. It has also helped to create the global production and marketing networks that keep the company closely in touch with changes in the market, in technology and in society, as well as with other trends that affect the customers.

Though geographically present everywhere, the company is now trying to penetrate further into B- and C-class cities. For this, it is coming up with lots of innovative programmes like road shows, promotion, etc. Ramprasad feels that, today, it is more important to teach the channel partners about the features of the printers, which are the USPs of the company and make the channel partners even aware of the utility or the value that printers can add to the life of the consumers.

Last year, the company came up with its hugely popular

“Scratch-n-Snatch” offer, which was launched in February to drive the sales of its entry-level Inkjet model Stylus C45. As a result of an overwhelming response, the scheme which was initially valid only till 31st March was extended to 31st September, 2006.

Under the scheme, any end-consumer who buys the model will get a scratch card within the box. The scratch card will reveal the gift that the consumer has won. The gifts options include a gold coin, black ink cartridge worth Rs.490/-, Epson print media, Philips headphone, and many more exciting prizes.

Ramprasad recalls, “The response to the Scratch-n-Snatch Offer has been tremendous. Consumers have responded very enthusiastically and this has helped drive our sales. The Epson Stylus C45 is an excellent entry-level inkjet printer. We are confident that this extended consumer promotion in which everyone stands to gain a gift on purchase will drive even more potential customers to purchase the same.”

Another programme that took off for the company was the training programme for service partners, with the objective of empowering them with information on the changing needs of today’s growing service industry. The emphasis during the programme was to stay abreast with the issues that one might face in the changing scenario of a constantly evolving world, where the importance of growth and development eludes most.

Finally….

As the philosophy of the company says, “Epson is a progressive company, trusted throughout the world because of our commitment to customer satisfaction, environmental conservation, individuality and teamwork. We are confident of our collective skills and meeting challenges with innovative and creative solutions.” So does Ramprasad for whom the quality and creative commitment go hand in hand.