Konica Minolta Australia has been named an ACT Leader in Quocirca's ACT Print Industry Ecosystem Report 2026, placing it among the top vendors assessed under a new framework for print and workplace technology.
The report examines suppliers across three areas: Automation and AI, Cloud, and Technology Ecosystems. It reflects a broader shift in how organisations buy and manage print, with infrastructure increasingly expected to work alongside cloud platforms, identity systems, security tools and workflow software rather than operate as a separate function.
The framework is designed to measure how well vendors meet those expectations today and how they can adapt as customer requirements change. In Konica Minolta's case, Quocirca said the company had built a "strong proposition around automation, cloud and technology ecosystems" as it develops its portfolio globally.
It also described the vendor as having "a clear cloud-first and analytics-driven strategy" and as "positioning itself as a credible long-term partner for organisations pursuing digital workplace transformation".
AI focus
The report's first pillar examines the role of automation and artificial intelligence in managing print fleets and document-heavy workflows. It covers fleet optimisation, predictive maintenance, intelligent document processing, workflow automation, security and sustainability.
Research released with the study found that 32 per cent of organisations see reducing the environmental impact of print infrastructure as the main use for AI in this area. Another 31 per cent pointed to automating printing workflows, while 28 per cent cited optimising toner and ink use.
A further 27 per cent said copilots or assistants that recommend document layouts or summarise documents were an important application. Improving print quality was named by 26 per cent, and 25 per cent highlighted predicting and preventing maintenance issues.
Quocirca said that at Konica Minolta, "AI plays a central role in enhancing data processing, automating workflows, and enabling predictive and intelligent services across digital workplace, professional print, industrial, and imaging solutions."
It said AI is embedded in the company's multifunction devices for real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance. The report also cited support for AI-based workflow automation, document capture and processing, as well as security tools designed to prevent, detect and respond to anomalies and threats.
Beyond print hardware, the company offers analysis, reporting and forecasting tools for functions including sales, finance, logistics and environmental, social and governance work. Quocirca also highlighted environmental analysis tools that track energy and consumables use and identify potential savings in cost and carbon emissions.
Cloud shift
The second part of the ACT framework covers the move to cloud-based operating models, including the ability for employees to print, scan and access documents from different locations. The findings suggest hybrid deployment remains the dominant approach.
According to Quocirca, 35 per cent of organisations already run a fully cloud-based print management infrastructure. Another 43 per cent use hybrid models, chiefly because of data sovereignty and compliance requirements.
The report highlighted Konica Minolta's cloud-native print, scan and workflow platforms, saying they integrate with Microsoft 365 and other large-scale cloud ecosystems. It added that this approach can reduce infrastructure complexity while supporting hybrid work arrangements.
Partner networks
The third pillar assesses whether vendors can build and use a reliable technology partner network. The issue is becoming more prominent as print services are judged less on devices alone and more on how well they fit into wider IT environments.
Quocirca's research found that organisations now rank IT service providers first when choosing who should deliver print services, at 28 per cent. Traditional print providers were second at 22 per cent.
Against that backdrop, Quocirca said Konica Minolta has "a broad network of strategic technology partnerships that collectively drive its innovation agenda by expanding AI capabilities, strengthening cloud ecosystems, and enabling secure, scalable digital workplace solutions".
The partner list in the report includes OpenText, Box, ABBYY, Kodak Alaris, PaperCut and YSoft.
Melissa Dempsey, Chief Marketing Officer at Konica Minolta Australia, said the ranking reflected the company's global innovation and continued investment in automation, cloud and AI-enabled solutions for the digital workplace.
"Konica Minolta is proud to be recognised as a leader in Quocirca's inaugural ACT Print Industry Ecosystem Report," Dempsey said. "This acknowledgement reflects the strength of Konica Minolta's global innovation and continued investment in automation, cloud and AI-enabled solutions for the digital workplace.
"Here in Australia, organisations are rapidly evolving how they connect print, data and workflows within broader IT environments. This recognition reinforces our commitment to supporting customers locally with solutions that are secure, scalable and aligned to their transformation goals. We're focused on helping Australian organisations unlock greater efficiency, insight and value as they navigate their digital workplace journey."