The two firms will join Relington India which already distributes some of Canon's products.
While Canon has definite strategies for its marketing and distribution, its overall game plan for the country entails driving digital, providing a wider solution basket, enhancing coverage of operations, increasing profitability to sustain growth, and targeting a 30 per cent market share.
S Magesh, marketing manager, channel products and supplies, CIL, said, "The future product road map includes introduction of devices which would free users from current limitations associated with information distribution and management, regardless of its form, content or location".
Magesh was in Bangalore yesterday on the occasion of the company's entry into the realm of "Imaging Across Networks" through an exposition that showcased technologies that would change ways in which offices exchanged information.
The "Imaging Across Networks" exposition premiered new products such as full-colour multi functional fax machine, colour laser copiers and printers.
According to M Lakshmi Narayan Rao, programme manager, colour and digital imaging of the company, the new devices incorporate document management software which allows existing paper documents to be scanned and filed away for future reference.
These high-end multi functional office automation devices, which are expected to record a 300 per cent growth, will be marketed by the 100-plus direct dealers of the company, Canon affiliates, and the company's direct sales force comprising 160 employees.
Godrej Boyce and Salora, the two companies to be roped in recently, have a network of 300 dealers.
Both Rao and Magesh pointed out that, though the new products will free users from several limitations, the demand for the existing products will remain. The company is, hence, putting equal thrust on the existing and new devices. The new devices will be launched in Chennai, Pune, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi.
CIL began its local operations in June 1997. It has over 17 offices and 100 business affiliates across the country. CIL and its business affiliates directly employ over 1000 people while its channel partners employ an equal number for marketing and servicing its products.
