Canon Urges European Organisations to Look Beyond Cost Savings From Business & Technology Suppliers

Key to Growth is Through Industry Partnerships and a More Collaborative Approach Between Suppliers and Customers

LONDON, September 17, 2010 - The global recession has changed the game for European businesses with
cost savings top of the boardroom agenda. However, a combined article
(bit.ly/cSIWMJ) and video from Canon Europe (
www.canon-europe.com/) and IDC (www.canon-europe.com/) released
today, argues that organisations are short-changing themselves if they see
suppliers of business and technology solutions just as a way to reduce costs.

To view the Multimedia News Release, please click:

multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/prne/canoneurope/44218/

IDC insight shows that businesses across Europe are focused on growth,
but at the same time are drowning in all the issues surrounding their
business, costing them time and money.

IDC explains that the solution lies in working with trusted suppliers to
take over the management of business-critical and business-specific systems
and solutions. In the short video, (
www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9_q_PWRd8E) IDC discusses that in order to
maintain growth, it is possible to cut costs and improve business processes
and that this is made possible by industry partnerships, which are adding
real value to the customer experience.

Phil Sargeant, Research Manager at IDC said, "Technological challenges
have moved on from simply hardware and software. Just merging the two
together doesn't always provide the best outcome. The partnership of two or
more parties is an essential third element for customer growth and
prosperity. It involves bringing their individual but complementary strengths
together to deliver both a tailored solution and quality of service. IT
organisations or consultancies that ignore this route to market will
ultimately fail."

A second article (bit.ly/dbrKbm) from IDC also goes on to explain
that partnerships can manifest themselves in many forms, from collaborative
agreements to accreditation programmes and beyond. They can involve a wide
range of providers including consultants, manufacturers, software developers
and ultimately the customers themselves.

Gary Horsfall, Head of Consultancy Services at Canon Europe, said, "It is
essential that supplier-customer relationships are built on trust and focused
on delivering outcomes as opposed to simple, off the shelf solutions. The
value is in the specific problems that technology can solve, not trying to
fit existing solutions to match customer needs. Effectively, cost savings
become a healthy by-product of an overall solution designed to improve
performance and productivity whilst solving specific challenges faced by
businesses."

"For Canon, this partnership approach is central to our strategy and we
work closely with customers to ensure that they gain access to a suite of
solutions and propositions that are centrally managed and designed to improve
processes and add to their bottom line."

About Canon Europe

Canon Europe is the regional sales and marketing operation for Canon
Inc., represented in 120 countries and employing over 11,000 people across
Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).

Founded in 1937 with the specific goal of making the best quality camera
available to customers, Canon's tireless passion for the Power of Image has
since extended its technology into many other markets and has established it
as a world leader in both consumer and business imaging solutions. Its
solutions comprise products, ranging from digital compact and SLR cameras,
through broadcast lenses and portable X-ray machines, to multi-function and
production printers, all supported by a range of value added services.

Canon invests heavily in R&D to deliver the richest and most innovative
products and services to satisfy customers' creative needs. From amateur
photographers to professional print companies, Canon enables each customer to
realise their own passion for image.

Canon believes that considering the interests of society and the
environment is an integral part of good business practice. This is embodied
in its corporate philosophy Kyosei - 'To live and work together for the
common good'.

Further information about Canon Europe is available at:

www.canon-europe.com

    Media enquiries, please contact:
    Helen Gough
    Nelson Bostock Communications (on behalf of Canon Europe)
    t. +44(0)20-7792-7424
    e. helen.gough@nelsonbostock.com

Video:
multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/prne/canoneurope/44218/

Media enquiries, please contact: Helen Gough, Nelson Bostock Communications (on behalf of Canon Europe), t. +44(0)20-7792-7424, e. helen.gough at nelsonbostock.com