Canon Envisions Boosting Photography Culture in India

Ayanangsha Maitra

Canon arrived India in 1996 and commenced customer interface in the beginning of 1997. Keeping its customer at the center of all its innovations, Canon India marks 2017 as the year of its 20^th anniversary and its entry into the third decade in the country. Unlike the other companies in Asia, Canon started with B2B in India, as it gained a strong foothold, it introduced the range of B2C products to the Indian consumers.

Canon has grown steadily in the country to make its presence felt across the nation. Today, with offices spread across 14 cities in India and an employee strength of over a 1000 people, the brand successfully caters to the imaging requirements of its customers.

The company offers a comprehensive range of solutions in the imaging domain with over 200 sophisticated and contemporary digital imaging products in the country, that includes digital cameras, digital SLR's , lenses , accessories , digital copiers, multi-functional peripherals, fax-machines, inkjet and laser printers, projectors, scanners, All-in-ones, digital cameras, dye sub photo printers and semiconductors, card printers and cable ID printers.

Over the years, the company has attained a leadership positioning in the Indian imaging industry.India forms an imperative market for Canon Inc. as it is the 5^th largest market for Canon DSLR sales globally (as of 2016).Innovation and customer satisfaction have always been priorities for Canon India. One of the primary strength of Canon is that it manufactures its own camera sensor, processor and lenses which makes the brand unique among all camera makers in the market today.

Growth is incomplete without a strong network. Canon has over 500 primary channel partners, 14 National Retail Chain partners, and over 6000 secondary retail points. Its service reach extends to over 5000 towns with 18 Canon camera service centres and 37 printer Canon Care Centres. The company also has 141 authorized service centres for printers and 195 camera collection points.

Canon as a brand is ranked among the top patent holders across the world. Asia is home to 3 of Canon's global network of 9 R&D facilities worldwide, one of which is in India. The company has created new value in the industry with proprietary imaging technologies accumulated over the years. It takes pride in developing next-generation, cutting-edge imaging devices to expand the possibilities of visual expression.

Vision 2020; committed to an innovative and delightful future

A photography driven company, Canon envisions boosting the photography culture in India. To take photography closer to the people, Canon has focused diligently in the Canon Image Square stores. It has penetrated into Tier II, Tier III and Tier IV cities by opening new CIS stores with an endeavour to expose these markets with a complete imaging and printing experience and personalized services where customers can have hands on experience of the products. Currently, it has 216 CIS stores, across 103 cities in the country and envisions to double the strength of these stores by the end of 2020.

With continuous workshops, training modules, photo tours like Canon Photomarathon and EOS Nation Seminars, the brand engages and educates its customers.

For the inkjet division, the company is focusing to build a greater shelf share in the top resellers along with expansion to new vertical markets with SOHO & Pro Products. The Laser segment is looking to strengthen its outreach towards the enterprise and government sector, along with progression towards value products with focus on customer lifetime management. Streamlining office processes and maximizing business efficiency, the Business Imaging Solutions vertical will be expanding its portfolio in 2017, aligned with the Government's vision of 'Smart Cities'. Taking its products and strategies to smaller towns, the Professional Printing domain (PPP) is strengthening its channel partner's outreach to double its presence, across the country. With a commitment to grow at a steady pace year on year, Canon India's vision for 2020 is to touch a revenue figure of INR 3500 core.

Committed to the Community

Social responsibility flows in the fabric of the company, as part of its corporate philosophy 'Kyosei', signifying living and working together for the common good. As a responsible corporate, Canon India continues to actively contribute to the society within the areas of eye care, education, environment and empowerment. With its flagship CSR initiate, 'Adopt a Village' and its collaboration with SOS Children's Villages India, Canon is making its endeavours to ensure holistic development of children.

Four of the company's adopted villages – Ferozepur Namak in Haryana, Maharaja Katte in Bangalore, Karanjoti in Maharashtra and Sol Gohalia in Kolkata, are Canon's extended families and are all undergoing positive transformations.

Canon India looks at social responsibilities beyond their scope of operations.  Under the 'Each one Teach One' program, Canon India employees often visit the villages to interact and engage with the children and support the brand in uplifting the social fabric of the community it operates in.

Behind Canon India's success: The CEO who leads by example

Mr. Kazutada Kobayashi joined Canon in 1980 and has since worked in the company's various overseas operations in Germany, the Netherlands, Hong Kong and India. He is steering the helm at Canon India since January 2012 and under his leadership, Canon has decided to prioritize profitability while continuing to grow in the country. In his journey from a trainee to a CEO, he has always focused on doing his best, and has kept the focus on learning and improving. Mr. Kobayashi believes that "One must keep the child in him alive, learn from his mistakes and continue progressing in life."

Considering his employees the biggest assets, Mr. Kobayashi believes in making the company, a people's company. With its 20 years of intervention in the country, Canon India recently celebrated careers of their employees by awarding them with 5, 10, 15 and 20 years of long service awards.

Mr. Kobayashi believes what it takes to strike the perfect work-life balance is bound to shift and change. This compels one to think what exactly is the work life balance and how can it be achieved. He believes that the concept of 'Kyosei', supports him in the achievement of this perfect balance. He is a keen sportsman who enjoys playing tennis, golf and fishing.  He also likes cooking and is a passionate traveller, having visited more than thirty countries around the world.