Independent Since 1997
Why independent matters
When you buy from a supplier owned by a manufacturer, you’re not getting independent advice — you’re getting a sales pitch.
That’s not a criticism. It’s just how it works. If your supplier is a Sharp company, they’ll recommend Sharp. If they’re a Xerox company, they’ll recommend Xerox. Their engineers are trained on one brand. Their supply chain favours one brand. Their business depends on one brand.
At Digital Office, we’ve been independent since 1997 — and we intend to stay that way.
Manufacturer Accreditations
Independent doesn't mean uncertified
Being independent doesn’t mean we’re a step below the manufacturer-owned suppliers. It means we’ve earned the same recognition they have — without being owned by anyone.
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Ricoh Gold Customer Service Partner Award
Ricoh’s Gold status is awarded following a rigorous independent audit of service quality, engineer competence, customer support processes, and response times. We hold it. Most resellers don’t.
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Canon Advanced Imaging Partner Award
Canon’s Advanced Imaging Partner designation recognises suppliers who meet the highest standards of technical expertise and customer care across Canon’s product range. We hold that too.
Two manufacturers. Two top-tier accreditations. Zero ownership by either.
What It Means For You
What independence means for you
01
You get the right equipment, not the easiest sell.
We work with Ricoh, Canon, and Sharp. When we recommend a product, it’s because it’s the best fit for your requirements — not because it’s the brand our parent company needs us to move.
02
You get an engineer who knows the machine.
Our engineers are trained directly by the manufacturers whose products they service. We don’t outsource. We don’t share engineers across regions. When your machine needs attention, the same team that installed it is the team that fixes it.
03
You get a 4-hour response time — and we mean it.
Our service level agreement commits to a maximum 4-hour response time between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday. That commitment is audited by Ricoh and Canon. It’s not a marketing line.
04
You get a direct line to the people who own the business.
Digital Office was founded in 1997 by Mark and Simon, who between them had spent over a decade at senior level in the industry before going independent. They’re still here. When something matters, you can speak to the people who are accountable for it.
The Market Context
The alternative
A number of well-known suppliers in the Midlands are no longer independent:
Midshire
Now part of
Sharp
Altodigital
Now part of
Xerox
Apogee
Now part of
HP
That’s not bad news for them — they’re excellent businesses. But it does mean that their advice is, by definition, shaped by their parent company’s priorities.
If that’s fine for you, there’s no shortage of options.
If you’d prefer a supplier who has no manufacturer agenda, holds manufacturer-level awards, and has been in the Midlands since before most of today’s competitors existed — we’d like to talk.
Get in touch
Request a quote and one of the team will be in touch within one business day. No obligation, no pressure — just straight advice from people who’ve been in this industry since 1997.
📞 0800 083 1873 (Freephone)
📍 3 Ionic Park, Birmingham New Road, Dudley, DY1 4SJ
Digital Office Ltd holds Ricoh’s Gold Customer Service Partner Award and Canon’s Advanced Imaging Partner Award following independent manufacturer audits. We supply and service Ricoh, Canon, and Sharp equipment across the Midlands and nationwide.