Ricoh Business Solutions morphs into IKON 2.0 - GOSSIP HERE!

[Infidel]

I am one of the 1000s of techs going through this transition. I found out this week that the "Service Supervisor" position has been eliminated. (that is what they are saying anyhow) A few of my good friends who were service supervisors in the Atlanta marketplace were giving walking papers this week. The only other service supervisors that I know were promoted to service managers just in time to avoid the axe. Is this truly a nationwide move? Does anyone have any dirt?

We have been doing training for the Edge Devices and should be getting ours soon. I have to say that for all of the drawbacks of IKON's Edge, it does have some cool advantages. I like the idea of having all of my MIF at my fingertips and the tipleading and time reporting has some advantages. It is a shame that we will lose alot of freedom and autonomy with the Edge device. I guess that it is a good thing if it will help separate those that work hard from the dead wood. The RBS Blackberry system was very easy to cheat and probably masked alot of laziness. I still dont like the 24hr "anal probe" that the edge delivers.

Can someone elaborate on the "offer letters" that RBS employees are being given? This is the 1st that I have heard of that.

"You'll never hear one of us repeating gossip, so you better be sure and listen close the first time"

[Shadow1]

...except if you have a manager who is doing what he's supposed to any deadwood will be quickly identified and won't live long.

I'm having a REALLY hard time understanding why RBS would spend 6 times as much on a device that is markedly more inconvenient to carry around, will cost at least 1 call per day in productivity, has VERY pathetic range, has less functionality, and will piss off the loyal techs who have been the backbone of their service department.

This device is a bean counter's wet dream. Period.

I further have a lot of dificulty understanding why RBS (a smaller company) was able to buy IKON (the larger company) and yet RBS seems to be transitioning to IKON systems and policies. There's a reason such a transaction was possible... Might be because RBS systems and policies worked better???

[Infidel]

I feel ya, Shadow. The Edge will definitely cost a few calls a week minimum in productivity and it does seem to be more of a leash than anything. (I still have not touched one, only online training right now) The device turns the tech into a robot. Robots are great at doing what they are programmed to do but ONLY what they are programmed to do. We humans can think outside of the box and use initiative and creativity.

As far a Heirarchy, the tail will certainly wag the dog for a good while. Lanier thought that they bought Ricoh for a while too.

[KenB]

Everybody at IKON was hoping to dump the Edge and get the Blackberries.

Guess that didn't happen...

[msaeger]

The thing driving me nuts is I keep hearing Ikon people saying how bad the edge is but then in meetings no one will complain about it. I think they have all been beaten down already or something.

[KenB]

I keep hearing that it's only being used to about 10% of its potential.

Supposedly, one thing being looked at is GPS driving directions, but I wouldn't hold my breath on that one.

[Infidel]

Are Ikon guys getting email at this point on the Edges?

[KenB]

Are Ikon guys getting email at this point on the Edges?

That would be a "No". Another "possible future expansion".

No aircards, either.

It's a real challenge to get techs to check their email. Some check it every day, others... not so much.

[Ikon Princess]

No E-mail on the hhd. When we first got them we had Huge problems but now not too bad(except when they do an"upgrade" then you can count on not having it work for the day). There is a back-up to the system and work arounds, I am sure any technician worth his/her salt can figure out the work arounds. If you Ricoh guys have questions about the hhd just ask an Ikon tech we are all on the same team now let's try to make the best of it.

[Infidel]

No email... that is going to be a problem. Our entire RBS culture is built around email. (For better or worse) I just checked my Blackberry and I only had 17 emails today. Thursday I had over 70. I dont report to an office, I work from home, closest office is 1.5 hrs away. (and that office is closing, next closest is 2.5 hr drive) They cant expect us to check email without internet access. This is going to be interesting!

[KenB]

The Edge does have messaging capabilites - perhaps that will be used a bit more.

We do get a lot of text messages on our cell phones, but we can't send text messages from them (it's blocked).

I really am looking forward to working with the Ricoh techs, as well. I think it will be a good mix, and hopefully we'll learn from each other!

[Infidel]

I really am looking forward to working with the Ricoh techs, as well. I think it will be a good mix, and hopefully we'll learn from each other!

You are correct, we are all the same on the technical side, work hard, do the best that we can for our peeps.

I just want to get some monocomponent toner under my fingernails again!!! Whaaahaahahahah! (Not really, Canon not my thing... I'd rather go back to liquid Savins) A box is a box though. If they need Canon calls done, I'll do them.

[msaeger]

I further have a lot of dificulty understanding why RBS (a smaller company) was able to buy IKON (the larger company)

RBS is part of Ricoh which is a much larger company than Ikon.

They did not get rid of the supervisor position and far as I know we still have several of them here. I believe they just changed how many techs per supervisor and Ikon has supervisors too so there are bound to be extras. Now is when it's good to be at the bottom management and admin is what will get cut.

The email is supposed to work on the super brick for the Ikon guys when they get put on Lotus Notes. We can use it on there now. I haven't been able to get it to work on mine but haven't tried to hard either because I still have the Black Berry. The email experience on the brick sounds pretty bad so I don't plan on wasting time getting it to work until they force me to.

They have to get all the techs going with mobile email soon. Text messages and broadcast voice mail are a step back like what 10 years.

We were assured several times we would get all the functionality we have with the Black Berry on the brick but like I told them I don't believe it until they show me. My hope at this point is we get to use the Black Berry for phone / everything else and just have to use the brick for call closing but it probably won't happen.

We have also been told several times there is a brick that is a more manageable size coming soon but I will believe it when I see it.

[Shadow1]

If it makes sense, guaranteed it won't be happening.

The IKON techs were really looking forward to going on the blackberry - RBS techs handled about 20% more machines, and most of those running higher clicks because they didn't have to jerk around with the EDGE.

A tech I work with said it best: RBS has screwed up the customer billing and sales department for years, the only thing holding us above water is the service department, so now they're going to take the ax to it.

Another tech nailed everyones opinion of the EDGE: It needs crammed up someone's ass EDGEways.

The other thing Ikon techs were looking forward to is company service vehicles - those are out of the picture (they say just for now, but that probably means perminately) as well. They expect us to go back to Runzreamer. If you want someone to finanace a vehicle for you go to a bank, not your employees.

I have seen very few companies disrespect their customers and employees like this and survive intact, and I've never seen one that didn't lose a significant part of its market share.

Sorry upper management, but I'm just a lowly vacuum jockey, and I've got more brains than that.

[Infidel]

Ok, I heard from a friend of a friend that RBS in TX and other gulf coast areas have also fired "service supervisors". (Just like Atl) I also spoke with a friend at RBS Tampa that no service supervisors (nor anyone else) had been let go from there. Anyone else have any gossip?