Remember Ikon?
“IKON uses copiers, printers and multifunction printer technologies from leading manufacturers and document management software and systems from companies like Captaris, Kofax, and EFI” (from Wikipedia).
Once the world's largest independent provider of document management systems and copiers, they were acquired by Ricoh in 2008 for $1.62 billion. Then a giant, now a memory.
Both companies expanded their services beyond traditional office equipment, getting into document management and digital solutions. They didn't manufacture anything, they just resold third-party equipment and software... exactly what Xerox does right now.
Fast forward to today, and Xerox's recent strategies seem to mirror IKON's trajectory.
Adding to the mix the acquisition of Lexmark: a move that feels less like a strategic masterstroke and more like a survival tactic. Let’s face it: the A4 segment is one of the fastest-growing markets, and without Lexmark, Xerox risked losing what little ground it had left. Sometimes, a "big move" is less about winning and more about not losing completely.
But seriously, what’s the endgame here? Are we looking at a bold reinvention, or just another name on a growing list of corporate cautionary tales?