By embracing the concept of a people-first approach, we are offering a combination of technology with the human experience.
— Katsuhiro Matsufuji, VP and GM, BICG, Canon U.S.A., Inc
With over 30 years of experience, Katsuhiro Matsufuji, vice president and general manager, business information communications group (BICG), Canon U.S.A., Inc. is leading the digital transformation of business. Matsufuji believes that Canon’s journey into the cloud happened in parallel with their customers. Today, many of Canon’s enterprise solutions have cloud capabilities, which have been quite imperative in the company’s digital transformation story.
In this edition of Toolbox’s Tech Talk with Neha Pradhan, Matsufuji talks about Canon’s key strategies to reduce costs, improve fuel efficiencies, and generate sustainable solutions. He also shares why a people-first approach is crucial to accelerate the digital transformation of business. Matsufuji further discusses emerging technologies and trends that will shape the future of cloud solutions and the company’s plans to accelerate their investment in cloud.
Key Takeaways on Accelerating the Digital Transformation of Business:
- Understand that it is all about people, wherever you look in a business, people are the center of the process.
- Move to a hybrid or multi-cloud environment to work closely with other organizations that use different platforms.
- Make security a heightened concern and make it a large part of training.
Here are the edited excerpts from our exclusive interview with Katsuhiro Matsufuji:
1. From analog to digital, tell us about Canon’s journey into cloud. What were the key milestones in Canon’s story?
In many ways, Canon’s journey into the cloud happened in parallel with our customers. As cloud began to penetrate our personal and professional lives a decade ago, we began to integrate cloud applications carefully and swiftly within our own IT. Through collective experience, research, and development, we were able to bring the space, time, and security benefits of the cloud to our customers through our imaging solutions, from printers to cameras.
Today, many of our enterprise solutions have cloud capabilities. For instance, our uniFLOW online solution, compatible with our popular imageRUNNER ADVANCE and supported imageCLASS multifunction printers, offers a variety of benefits such as mobile printing from virtually anywhere, various security features, and the ability to track and measure print costs. We also offer solutions like Therefore, an online software, aiming to further enhance workflows by letting you store, manage, and process a variety of business information. Continuing our determination to be on the cutting edge of technology, these solutions are regularly updated with additional cloud capabilities.
2. At Canon, what ‘true’ digital transformation of business means and why people are imperative in this journey?
True, digital transformation of the business has no end. It means constantly innovating, pushing boundaries, questioning processes, all in the name of finding ways to be a better partner, employer, industry leader, and societal contributor. We bring this thinking into all our business and development processes. In a way, the digital transformation of the business is a way of life and to embrace ‘true’ digital transformation, we must understand that it is all about people. Wherever you look in a business, people are the center of the process.
Many organizations and individuals wrongly approach the digital transformation of their business with a focus on technology first and often blindly implement new and shiny technology without first considering their employees. Because of this, it is no surprise that over 70% of digital transformation of the business failsOpens a new window .
— Katsuhiro Matsufuji, VP and GM, BICG, Canon U.S.A., Inc
Take a thoughtful people-first approach and prioritize education and culture, which then guides customers on their own journeys. By embracing the concept of a people-first approach, we are offering a combination of technology with the human experience.
Also read: Build a Cybersecurity Risk Management Strategy, Infosys CISO Urges Tech Brands
3. Which key strategies are you focusing on to reduce costs, improve fuel efficiencies, and generate sustainable solutions while maintaining a growth momentum in a difficult economy?
Since our beginning, the primary philosophy we have lived by is Kyosei, which stresses harmony among people and our environment. We have thoughtfully implemented this approach throughout our work and business including our sustainability measures. Our commitment and contribution to the environment and the world community overall are an integral part of our management structure, product design, manufacturing, and corporate culture. This commitment has inspired a variety of corporate sustainability programs at many levels and keeps us committed to finding new solutions to decrease our footprint including:
- A robust toner recycling program, first launched in 1990, that encourages and facilitates the return and recycling of used toner cartridges. Through this system, Canon has collected more than 378,000 tons around the world.
- A close working relationship with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that has resulted in over 200 Canon products being recognized as ENERGY STAR certified.
- Collaboration with customers on their own environmentally focused programming, including supporting the University of Miami’s coral reef restoration program in which we have played an active role in the regeneration of dying coral off the coast of Florida.
4. Recent reports suggest that 90% of companies are doing business in the cloud. As a digital imaging solutions company, how do you plan to accelerate your investment in cloud solutions?
It’s no surprise that more companies have migrated to the cloud considering the unique work environment many of us find ourselves in. In 2020, like many of our customers and partners, we entered a remote work situation that made seamless collaboration more important than ever. Through our own experiences and by continuing to work closely and listen to our customers and their own changing needs, we became acutely aware of the value of the cloud and its usefulness in streamlining workflows while providing security features and easy ways to collaborate.
Last year, as we pivoted our business priorities during the height of the pandemic, we created solutions like Check In Online, a SaaS solution that leverages Microsoft Azure. It is a cloud environment with various security features available, to help customers navigate the public health crisis with increased confidence.
— Katsuhiro Matsufuji, VP and GM, BICG, Canon U.S.A., Inc
Check In Online offers additional peace of mind to business management and their employees by providing an easy check-in solution for public spaces. It allows management to quickly collect information to help them decide if it is reasonably safe to allow someone to enter the premises. Therefore
As we look to the rest of 2021 and beyond, we plan on continuing our investment and dedication to providing advanced workflow solutions, including cloud solutions.
5. Could you elaborate for our readers, how is cloud unlocking enterprise content management challenges from collaboration and compliance viewpoint in the pre and post pandemic era?
Content management has long been one of the primary frustrations for any officer manager. Employees are given the gift of time and ease of use with cloud solutions into various Canon technology solutions.
Our cloud capabilities allow users easy ways to not only store and upload documents while using security features but also track a variety of data. It provides them an easy way to work collaboratively, meet deadlines and improve efficiencies.
— Katsuhiro Matsufuji, VP and GM, BICG, Canon U.S.A., Inc
Additional solutions, like the email management software we offer, mxHero, work alongside these cloud applications and further enhance efficiencies. With a variety of document management features, the email management software can save time such as linking established email accounts to cloud storage and enabling automatic document transfers.
6. Three emerging technology trends that you think will shape the future of cloud solutions and digital transformation of the business in the post-pandemic era.
The widespread adoption of cloud services by businesses and organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrates how this technology is multifaceted with an evolving set of uses. Three trends that we are closely watching include:
- A multi-cloud world: Looking ahead, we see a general move to a hybrid or multi-cloud environment. Here users will utilize more than one provider, meaning greater collaboration and more bridging between platforms. This benefits not just individuals but also organizations who need to share data or work closely with other organizations that use different platforms.
- AI in the cloud: We expect the overall efficiency and speed of cloud computing to increase as AI continues to be the enabler of technological adaptation. Many cloud platforms already offer users access to machine learning capabilities for use with things like image recognition and language processing.
- Increased adoption of remote and trainings: We are seeing businesses continue to adapt to a hybrid or remote workplace, and therefore we can expect an increase in the amount of money and energy spent on training employees on the cloud and its uses. As cloud becomes adopted by businesses of all sizes, security will also become a heightened concern and will be a large part of training.
About Katsuhiro MatsufujiOpens a new window :
Katsuhiro “Jerry†Matsufuji is vice president and general manager for the Business Information Communications Group of Canon U.S.A., Inc.  In his role, Matsufuji helps enterprises leverage the solutions and technology needed to thrive in today’s competitive business climate. During his 33-year career working at Canon, Matsufuji has worked at offices both inside and outside of the U.S. showcasing the strength of his leadership.
About Canon U.S.AOpens a new window .:
Canon U.S.A., Inc., is a leading provider of consumer, business-to-business, and industrial digital imaging solutions to the United States and to Latin America and the Caribbean markets. With approximately $30.4 billion in global revenue, its parent company, Canon Inc. ranks third overall in U.S. patents granted in 2020† and is one of Fortune Magazine’s World’s Most Admired Companies in 2020. Canon U.S.A. is dedicated to its Kyosei philosophy of social and environmental responsibility.
About Tech Talk
Tech Talk is an interview series that features notable CTOs and senior technology executives from around the world. Join us as we talk to these technology and IT leaders who share their insights and research on data, analytics, and emerging technologies. If you are a tech expert and wish to share your thoughts, write to [email protected]Opens a new window .
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