Docutech Ghana Limited is a value-driven company that partners with world-class brands like Xerox, Coro and Sedus as a one-stop place for office supplies. With expertise in printing and innovation, Docutech continues to bridge the gap between digital printing products and services by providing innovative solutions to businesses which made Docutech – the first company to provide and deliver a national Managed Print Services contract in Ghana in 2011. Since then, the managed print service portfolio of the company has grown exponentially both with new clients onboard with 100% renewal rate of clients. Docutech clients consistently express their satisfaction in the quality and price of her products and services. It is therefore not surprising that Mr. Jean Louis Feghali led Docutech Ghana Limited aptly deserves the Xerox Partner Award for Middle East and Africa 2019 that capped off 2019 Business Year with a bang.
As a successful business owner and manager across a diverse investment portfolio with over 10 years experience in Africa, WHERE To Print sat down with the indegifatible Docutech boss to find out how his focus on digitalisation across West Africa and building a resourceful team of skilled individuals with the ability to address different verticals challenges in relation to enterprise printing, commercial printing, capturing, enterprise document management and digitization are faring. Read excerpt below:
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR LANDMARK ACHIEVEMENT AS XEROX TOP RESELLER IN AFRICA – SPECIFICALLY GHANA, TELL US HOW YOU FEEL?
We won the Partner Award for Middle East and Africa combined which is a great achievement for our Team. Without the relentless effort, determination and excellence of Docutech Team, it would have been impossible to win this award. It is therefore for me also personally a proud moment to have gained such an international award and recognition and the result of a lot of hard work with my Team.
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE DIFFERENTLY TO ACHIEVE THIS ENVIABLE FEAT?
I believe that there is no limit to the result of what a group of professional individuals can achieve when they act as a real Team. Last year, we prioritized staff training and made team-work a key focus, which in turn led to great results.
BRIEFLY TELL US HOW YOU STARTED BUSINESS?
I am an Engineer Graduate holding a Master in Automotive engineering. I started business in the R&D department of firms like Renault, Volvo & Saab. Soon enough at 24 years old, being a member of a family of entrepreneurs, I was given the opportunity to start business and manage a company. I was lucky to have had the chance to start learning 14 years ago first-hand on how to manage my own company and build my own Team. It is not always an easy road but all my learnings have led to where I am today and I am grateful for that.
LOOKING BACK, WHAT WILL YOU HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY?
I would have listened more and asked more questions.
CAN YOU LET US KNOW XEROX RANGE OF DIGITAL PRINTING MACHINES AVAILABLE IN GHANA?
All the range of Xerox products and software are available in Ghana: Printers and multifunction devices (A4/ A3, Colour/Black and White) for office or individual uses, Digital printing press for commercial printers, Inkjet digital presses for very high-volume applications and finally, software related to graphic art applications and also document management.
WHAT ARE THE KINDS OF SUPPORT ESPECIALLY IN TERMS OF AFTER-SALES SERVICES, CONSUMABLE AND SPARE PARTS BACK-UP ETC DO YOU HAVE FOR YOUR CUSTOMERS?
We offer all our customers a service level agreement that matches the need of their businesses. To be more specific, we can also find solutions to the worst service scenario as when a machine is down by replacing it by another machine, which we call “courtesy“ equipment in our contracts.
IS THERE CREDIT FACILITY TO YOUR CUSTOMERS, IF YES – HOW HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE AND NO DEFAULT IN PAYMENT?
We propose credit facilities. We are a Brand Distributor and Service Provider, financing is the scope of banks so we try as much as we can, not to get involve in financing as it is not our business.
WHAT ARE THE BUSINESS CHALLENGES IN AN ENVIRONMENT AS GHANA, AND HOW HAVE YOU OVERCOME THEM?
The main challenge is that incorrect and unclear information about technology is rife in this market, which leads customers making uninformed or wrong choices in technology. We believe in assessment before proposal and we provide only state-of-the-art technology to our customers. With Xerox being a leader worldwide, our product offering stays state-of-the-art.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE THE RED FLAGS IN PRINTING ESPECIALLY IN ACQUIRING NEW PRINT EQUIPMENT?
As per above, the red flag is not to procure without having done a proper assessment of your needs.
AS ONE OF THE TOP STAKEHOLDERS IN THIS INDUSTRY, WHERE DO YOU THINK THE INDUSTRY IS MOVING TOWARDS?
We believe in the growth of the Digital market in the graphic industry.
ARE YOU DIVERSIFYING INTO THE LINE OF BUSINESS YOU JUST MENTIONED OR ANY OTHER LINES OF BUSINESS – WHY?
Our company is a document management company. We deal with document capture, document management, business process automation, record management, and printing. We have products and software offerings for each of this domain and we offer only worldwide leading brands to our customers.
AS A LEADING FIGURE IN THE INDUSTRY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO HELP SUPPORT THE ASPIRATIONS AND GROWTH OF UPCOMING GENERATION (OF PRINTERS) IN GHANA?
Together with Xerox, we are working on partnerships with educational institutions to be able to share our knowledge with upcoming generations. We also hire fresh graduates.
IN WHICH AREA DO YOU THINK THE GOVERNMENT CAN ASSIST IN HELPING PRINT BUSINESSES GROW IN GHANA?
I personally believe that Government should enforce the compliance to ethical procurement channels by avoiding procurement through unauthorized channels.
BRIEFLY LET US KNOW THE PLANS YOU HAVE FOR YOUR CUSTOMERS THIS 2020 BUSINESS YEAR?
Many events and release of new products and partnerships.
COMING BACK TO THE INDUSTRY, WHAT ADVICE CAN YOU GIVE TO STAKEHOLDERS – MAJORLY INVESTORS – IN ENSURING PROFITABILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY OF THEIR BUSINESSES?
Invest in Digital printing technology, you will save time, do more and make more profit.
WITH YOUR EXPERIENCE; WHAT ARE THE THINGS AN INVESTOR MUST NOTE ESPECIALLY IN TERMS OF STRUCTURE IN SETTING UP A DIGITAL PRINTING PRESS IN GHANA?
The differentiator will always be quality between two different products. Investing in the right digital equipment, investing in Xerox Presses for example will always give you a qualitative advantage. The quality and resolution of the images are the highest available in the market for equivalent type of products.
FINALLY, WE KNOW PRINTING CAN BE HIGHLY DEMANDING AND STRESSFUL BUSINESS, HOW DO YOU RELAX?
Good time management is key as well as work-life-balance; for me that means making time for physical exercise within my work schedule and even prioritising that.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME
You’re welcome.
