Fairfield, N.J. – Keypoint Intelligence - Buyers Lab (BLI), the world’s leading independent evaluator of document imaging and smart workplace business products, today announced the winners of BLI PaceSetter awards in two smart workplace categories. The award in the area of Collaboration Systems recognizes the participating OEMs that have the most comprehensive hardware, software, and services offerings for enabling collaboration in the office and beyond. The award for Conferencing Systems honors the vendor that has the most complete portfolio of solutions to enable seamless audio and video communications among groups of employees.

The winners for 2020–2021, based on research conducted for the North American market in early 2020, are:

RICOH USA, INC.

BLI PACESETTER IN SMART WORKPLACE: COLLABORATION SYSTEMS 2020–2021

SHARP IMAGING AND INFORMATION COMPANY OF AMERICA

BLI PACESETTER IN SMART WORKPLACE: COLLABORATION SYSTEMS 2020–2021

POLY

BLI PACESETTER IN SMART WORKPLACE: CONFERENCING SYSTEMS 2020–2021

To determine which vendors lead the market, analysts at Keypoint Intelligence conducted an in-depth evaluation of the offerings of OEMs that agreed to participate in this first-of-its-kind study. The analysis drilled into two dozen points of potential differentiation spread across key categories: company vision, current offerings (in hardware, software, services, and platforms), channel approach, go-to-market strategy, and industry partnerships. Keypoint Intelligence analysts then applied a proprietary scoring rubric to determine the winners.

“Collaboration and conferencing systems are at the heart of the evolving smart workplace. Interactive displays, AV communications platforms, and the services to make them work seamlessly help to enable more productive communication and support more flexible work environments,” said Jamie Bsales, Director of Solutions/Security Analysis at Keypoint Intelligence. “The companies recognized today are at the vanguard of making disparate technologies work together, so end users can focus on communicating with clients and colleagues rather than on the mechanics of holding a meeting.”

RICOH EMPOWERS DIGITAL WORKPLACES

In the study, Ricoh stood out in several areas. The company’s focus on digital transformation in the office includes developing workplace collaboration technology and solutions targeting conference rooms, training rooms, and remote offices. Ricoh is looking to move beyond the departmental workspace and into the workgroups and conference rooms where the work is actually getting done, through its extensive line of interactive whiteboards, digital projectors, and cloud-based video conferencing offerings.

SHARP ENVISIONS A SMARTER OFFICE

Sharp’s focus in the office collaboration arena is on accelerating communications and increasing information security, all while improving efficiency and reducing cost. The company earned points in this study thanks to its world-class display hardware (including the versatile Aquos family of interactive smart panel), unique Synappx software applications, cloud-integration capabilities, and deep expertise delivering end-to-end solutions via the AV channel.

POLY CONNECTS WITH THE HUMAN TOUCH

Formed by the merger of industry stalwarts Polycom and Plantronics, Poly offers an expansive portfolio of smart workplace unified communications solutions that span from the cubicle to the huddle room to the conference room and beyond. Its headset, phone, and video-conferencing endpoints, along with its class-leading services and analytics, aim to replicate the simplicity of face-to-face interactions, break down walls, and span distances.