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Ricoh acquires software startup natif.ai with advanced AI technology

Accelerating growth in the Process Automation area by enhancing Intelligent Capture capabilities

April 22, 2024

TOKYO, April 22, 2024 – Ricoh Company, Ltd. today announced the acquisition of natif.ai, a German software startup company offering artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled Intelligent Capture, advanced image recognition and optical character recognition (OCR) technologies. This acquisition enhances data extraction function of Ricoh's Process Automation portfolio from various documents, including paper and handwritten documents, enabling Ricoh to offer customers automation and sophistication in a wide range of business processes.

In the Process Automation business domain, one of Ricoh's growth areas, Ricoh supports customers around the world to improve efficiency and advance their operations with a wide range of end-to-end integrated solutions. This begins with data capture and processing with our portfolio of edge devices (including multifunction printers (MFP) and scanners), as well as the management of document and workflow management applications, outsourcing services, and intelligence process automation and sophistication. Ricoh has been enhancing its value proposition to its customers by not only developing its own products and services but also making strategic investments to acquire various technologies and services. The acquisition of natif.ai is part of that initiative.

natif.ai is a software startup company founded in Germany in 2019. In addition to its strength in Intelligent Capture, leading image recognition and OCR technologies that utilize AI, natif.ai provides a service platform for document classification and data extraction, as well as research and development of high-performance AI models and advanced OCR technology through machine learning. These technologies enable improved accuracy in reading unstructured data and automatic data extraction from a variety of non-standard business documents such as invoices, order forms, and contracts.

The acquisition was made by Ricoh Group company DocuWare (headquartered in Germany) which provides Document and Content Services and workflow automation. By combining DocuWare and natif.ai's Intelligent Indexing technologies, a new level of AI powered capture and automation will be available, which can be applied to a wider range of business areas. Furthermore, natif.ai's technology, expertise, and human resources will support the evolution of Ricoh's various products, services, and solutions to offer further value and a superior customer experience.

Takahiro Irisa, Senior Corporate Officer and President of Ricoh Digital Services Business Unit, Ricoh Company, Ltd., says, “We are delighted to welcome natif.ai to the Ricoh Group. natif.ai's advanced technology is imperative to our growth, and this has been a strategic decision to cater Ricoh solutions to evolving customer needs. As a global workplace services provider, we are dedicated in liberating people from task work by leveraging AI technology, in addition to the document and process technologies we have cultivated over the years. Ricoh will continue to work closely with our customers to provide new value, unleash their creativity, and realize a sustainable society where people feel fulfillment through their work.”

Company data of natif.ai

Company Name
Natif.ai GmbH
Establishment
2019
Location
Saarbrücken, Germany
Business
Provider for document automation, High-performance AI models and a Deep-OCR developed in-house, Automate and classify documents independently via a platform, etc.
Number of employees
46
Date of acquisition of shares
April 2, 2024

| About Ricoh |

Ricoh is a leading provider of integrated digital services and print and imaging solutions designed to support digital transformation of workplaces, workspaces and optimize business performance.

Headquartered in Tokyo, Ricoh's global operation reaches customers in approximately 200 countries and regions, supported by cultivated knowledge, technologies, and organizational capabilities nurtured over its 85-year history. In the financial year ended March 2023, Ricoh Group had worldwide sales of 2,134 billion yen (approx. 16.0 billion USD).

It is Ricoh's mission and vision to empower individuals to find Fulfillment through Work by understanding and transforming how people work so we can unleash their potential and creativity to realize a sustainable future.

For further information, please visit www.ricoh.com

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