Over more than 60 years, Kyocera has developed a culture in which every business decision and new product is built on a foundation of past experience, a commitment to quality and, most importantly, the Kyocera innovative mindset at the heart of the company.
Innovation has been part of the Kyocera tradition since the company was founded in 1959, and it continues to be the driving force behind the continued development of new products and technologies across an increasingly vast range of industries.
Kyocera innovation is driven by the unique philosophy adopted by the company's founder, Kazuo Inamori. Distilled into one sentence, the philosophy is: “Do what is right as a human being.” It is this commitment to the good of humanity that has made the Kyocera Group a leader in global innovation and sustainable business.
From small beginnings as a ceramics company in Kyoto, Japan, the Kyocera Group has grown to encompass a wide range of products and industries, including automotive, mobile phone, renewable energy, medical device and document solutions technologies. And as a world-leading manufacturer, we know we have the ability to revolutionise society and change people’s lives for the better.
“It’s always been our goal to contribute to the advancement of society and humankind,” says Mark Vella, Head of Marketing & Strategy at Kyocera Document Solutions Australasia. “Whatever the technology, Kyocera aims to put people at the forefront of what we do.”
“That’s what’s led us to create everything from prosthetic limbs and dental implants to improve people’s quality of life, to chip technology for cars and mobiles that make them safer, more sophisticated and better connected.”
“And of course, we innovate to protect our planet,” he adds. “Sustainability is a part of everything we do, and if there’s a greener way of doing or making something, then we intend to find it.”
Kyocera introduced its world-first cartridge-free ECOSYS printers back in 1992, reducing the number of printer consumables that end up in landfill. The company is also the largest manufacturer of solar panels in the world.
It’s not just in developing new technology that Kyocera fosters innovation, but also in their business operations and leadership style. Kazuo Inamori designed the Amoeba Management System which enables small teams within the organisation to operate independently, while enabling the company’s ‘Management By All’ approach to flourish. Additionally, Kyocera’s motto, ‘Respect the Divine and Love People’, encourages the company to act fairly, wisely and for the good of society.
This commitment to sustainable and ethical growth was recognised in 2020 when Kyocera was ranked in the Wall Street Journal’s Top 100 Most Sustainably Managed Companies. More than 5,500 publicly traded businesses were assessed on criteria such as the sustainability of their business model and innovation, employee and workplace issues, and efforts to preserve the environment.
“Kyocera’s inclusion in the Top 100 reflects the strong commitment we’ve had to sustainable growth over many decades,” says Mark. “We were incredibly proud when we heard the announcement as this recognition speaks so clearly to the core of our motto and philosophy.”
As part of the Kyocera Group, Kyocera Document Solutions (KDS) is built on the same foundations of innovation as the larger corporation. This enables us to grow with our customers, using our local and global resources to foster new innovative solutions that drive business growth.
“One of the benefits of being a global company is the cross-collaboration that comes with it,” says Mark. “Different teams around the world are facing different challenges and opportunities, and we’re able to leverage and adapt learnings from Europe, the USA and Asia to drive innovative new solutions here in Australia and New Zealand.
As a specialist in business hardware and software, KDS offers cutting edge content services platforms, enterprise content management, multifunction printers and devices, and managed print and document services.
“At KDS, we have a big focus on bringing things together by linking different technologies,” explains Mark. “We want to create seamless connectivity between all the mediums in a typical business environment - multifunction printers, mobiles, content services platforms and 5G, to name just a few.”
“We’re also very passionate about helping businesses manage their environmental impact more effectively,” he adds. “That could mean reducing their reliance on paper, minimising resource wastage or providing them with devices that have a low environmental footprint.”
For our customers, this makes KDS a valued partner in their journeys towards improved productivity, efficiency, cost-savings and sustainability.
“We’ve always been a forward-thinking company,” says Mark. “We never stop looking for ways to improve our technology and ourselves. And I think our customers can see that difference.”