Motswako shifts office tech focus to automation and outcomes
Motswako Office Solutions, one of Ricoh South Africa’s largest and most established Business Partners, says the role of office technology is changing, with businesses placing less emphasis on devices and more on automation, data, and measurable outcomes.
The company, a Ricoh Platinum Partner, recently acquired selected Enterprise, Global, and Commercial customer portfolios from Ricoh South Africa, in alignment with Ricoh’s transition to a Business Partner-only distribution model.
Motswako has regional offices across South Africa, providing sales, service, and technical support to enterprise, commercial, and public sector clients. The acquisition has grown its market presence and reinforces the business’s commitment to delivering seamless service, innovative print solutions and lasting value to businesses across the region.
According to Motswako, organisations are increasingly looking for ways to reduce manual processes, gain better visibility over costs, and modernise operations without disrupting day-to-day work.
Three priorities are shaping its strategy this year: improving operational efficiency through automation and data-led decision-making, deepening customer value through managed services, and scaling the business through people, systems, and partnerships.
“We are seeing a clear shift away from once-off hardware purchases toward managed services that focus on outcomes rather than equipment,” said Jaco de Jager, CEO of Motswako Office Solutions.
From hardware to managed services
Motswako said one of the biggest shifts it is seeing is a move away from once-off hardware sales toward long-term, outcome-based contracts. These typically combine devices, software, cloud services, security, and analytics into a single managed environment.
This approach is also being driven by growing compliance and data security requirements, which are pushing companies to take a more structured view of their document and device environments.
Rather than replacing existing systems, de Jager said many organisations are opting for incremental changes that improve return on investment while limiting operational risk.
Cost reduction through automation
The company pointed to customer projects where document workflows and printing environments were consolidated and automated.
In one example, the number of multi-function printers in a large environment was reduced from around 14,000 devices to fewer than 4,000, without affecting productivity. In another case, monthly printing costs were cut from about R1,25 million to R250,000 through secure printing policies and usage controls.
“In some environments, consolidating devices and applying secure print policies has reduced monthly printing costs by hundreds of thousands of rand,” de Jager said.
Beyond printing, Motswako said clients are using workflow automation to streamline finance, HR, and compliance processes, while analytics tools are being used to forecast costs and identify operational risks earlier.
Motswako expects further convergence between print, IT, cloud, and automation services, with fewer standalone solutions and more end-to-end platforms.
Over the next three to five years, the company aims to position itself as a managed services provider focused on digital workplace platforms, with an emphasis on reliability, scale, and measurable business impact.
Businesses looking to transition from device-led office environments to managed, outcome-driven workplace solutions can learn more by contacting Motswako Office Solutions.
Loading ...