Sodexo expands Ricoh tech rollout across Australia

Sodexo has expanded its long-running technology relationship with Ricoh across its Australian operations, deploying print, video conferencing and network equipment at more than 120 locations.

The services company, which supports energy and resources operators, uses more than 300 multifunction printers supplied by Ricoh and has installed 11 video conferencing rooms using Polycom and Yealink systems. The rollout also includes switches, wireless access points and firewalls for offices, regional hubs and remote sites.

Sodexo employs more than 5,400 people in Australia and operates from metropolitan offices to isolated mine camps. That footprint has made dependable workplace technology a practical requirement for daily operations, particularly where access to replacement equipment and consumables is limited.

Greg Schreiber, IS&T Head of Infrastructure and Support Services at Sodexo, said the company had prioritised equipment that could be deployed simply and maintained remotely.

"We need to be sure that items such as printers and video conferencing facilities are easy to deploy and reliable," said Greg Schreiber, IS&T Head of Infrastructure and Support Services at Sodexo.

He added that support arrangements matter as much as the hardware itself when sites are far from major centres.

"We also need to be confident we can fix any problems that might arise and have a dependable supply of consumables," Schreiber said.

Remote operations

Many of Sodexo's locations require technology that can cope with demanding conditions while remaining straightforward for local staff to use. At remote mine sites, workers cannot readily replace devices or buy supplies from nearby retailers, making central support and logistics more important.

That challenge shaped Sodexo's initial selection of Ricoh in 2007. The relationship began with multifunction printers and later expanded to include meeting room systems and parts of the company's network infrastructure.

Schreiber said conditions at remote sites had been a key factor in the decision.

"When staff are working at a remote mine site, it's not as simple as heading to Officeworks to buy consumables or a replacement device," Schreiber said.

"We need a technology partner with high-quality hardware and the capability to support it remotely," he said.

Broader rollout

Under the current setup, printers are preconfigured before being sent to sites so staff can connect them to the local network without extensive technical work. Devices in metropolitan offices are managed through Ricoh's CloudStream print management platform, which provides central oversight and handles updates remotely.

This arrangement has helped simplify deployment across a dispersed estate. Sodexo can also order consumables directly through Ricoh, reducing the steps needed to keep equipment in service.

Its meeting rooms now include 11 Polycom and Yealink systems designed to connect city offices, regional hubs and remote locations. The rooms support internal discussions as well as contact with customers and contractors.

The network component has covered both offices and camps, including refresh projects in Perth and Brisbane and wireless upgrades at remote sites. Predictive surveys were used to determine coverage requirements for some installations.

Schreiber said the print fleet had met the company's needs in difficult environments.

"We were confident the printers could cope with the often harsh conditions at our sites, while delivering the quality and reliability our staff needed," he said.

"The video conferencing assists our dispersed workforce to connect," Schreiber said.

Long relationship

The relationship between the two companies now spans more than 18 years in Australia. Over that time, Ricoh has remained a regular supplier as Sodexo's needs shifted from basic print requirements to a broader mix of communications and connectivity tools.

For companies serving industrial and resources clients, technology choices often hinge less on novelty than on consistency, support coverage and the ability to operate across a wide geography. Sodexo's account reflects that emphasis, with standardised devices and remote management forming the basis of the deployment.

Schreiber said the support team had been central to the arrangement.

"For this reason, Ricoh has been a valuable partner for the past 18 years, and we see no reason to change," he said.

"As well as the high-quality devices that Ricoh provides, it is really the quality of its people and the support they deliver that makes them stand out. During the past 18 years, they have become a true business partner for Sodexo," Schreiber said.