Ricoh Always Current Technology: Keeping multifunction printers updated over time

Ricoh's Always Current Technology platform turns select multifunction printers into upgradable systems, adding features and security enhancements through firmware updates instead of hardware swaps.

Responsible: ad hoc news Software & Services Desk. Reviewed prior to publication on June 11, 2026 at 4:48 PM ET. Details in the imprint.

Ricoh's Always Current Technology, often abbreviated as ACT, is designed to keep compatible Ricoh multifunction printers (MFPs) and smart devices up to date through downloadable feature, security, and usability updates instead of frequent hardware replacements. The platform, which is available on selected models in Ricoh's IM-series of multifunction devices, allows organizations to install new capabilities via firmware packages so their devices can evolve with workflow, compliance, and security needs over time. For U.S. buyers, the concept appeals to IT managers and office administrators who want longer hardware lifecycles, improved security, and more predictable ownership costs.

What Ricoh Always Current Technology does for supported MFPs

Ricoh positions Always Current Technology as a firmware-based platform that delivers new features and enhancements to compatible office devices throughout their service life. Instead of waiting for an entirely new printer generation to introduce capabilities like improved scanning workflows or updated encryption standards, organizations can install ACT packages that extend what their existing MFPs can do. Ricoh describes these packages as upgrades that can include user interface changes, application integrations, and performance refinements, and they are typically delivered through the device's Smart Operation Panel or via IT administration tools.

The platform supports select models of Ricoh IM-series MFPs and smart devices, including A4 and A3 office systems. According to Ricoh, Always Current Technology became a core pillar of its Smart Device portfolio strategy to ensure that devices launched with a base set of features can later be enhanced in areas such as document workflow automation, security options, and cloud connectivity. This approach is intended to help customers scale their printing and scanning capabilities as their document processes change, without necessarily replacing hardware.

Ricoh has used Always Current Technology to distribute updates that refine the Smart Operation Panel interface, add workflow shortcuts, and expand compatibility with cloud services and print management ecosystems. In practice, that can mean new app icons, adjusted menu layouts, or additional connectors that help users send documents directly from the MFP panel to common cloud storage or collaboration platforms, depending on the model and region. While the exact set of optional updates varies by device, the underlying idea is that the same hardware can handle more specialized tasks several years after purchase than it did on day one.

Security is another focus of the Always Current Technology concept. By bundling patches and security-related feature enhancements into firmware releases, Ricoh aims to ensure that supported MFPs can keep up with evolving cybersecurity expectations in corporate and public-sector environments. This may include updates to authentication workflows, logging and auditing options, encryption protocols, and integration with fleet management tools that help IT departments track device status and compliance. Because MFPs are networked endpoints, corporate IT strategies increasingly treat them like other connected devices that require regular updates, and Ricoh uses ACT as a mechanism to deliver those updates in a structured manner.

Ricoh explains that Always Current Technology updates can be scheduled or triggered by administrators to fit into change-management policies. In many offices, firmware updates are coordinated to avoid downtime, so the ability to plan and roll out upgrades across a fleet of MFPs is a practical advantage. Depending on the environment, Ricoh partners and service providers may also manage ACT upgrades as part of a managed print services (MPS) contract, so that customers see a steady flow of new features without having to initiate each update themselves.

From a sustainability perspective, Ricoh frames Always Current Technology as supporting longer device lifecycles, because customers can keep equipment current through firmware instead of replacing it solely to gain new features. For organizations with environmental goals or equipment-refresh policies extending over many years, this can align with efforts to reduce electronic waste and maximize the useful life of office hardware. In that context, ACT becomes part of Ricoh's wider sustainability messaging, alongside initiatives like energy-efficient hardware designs and toner recycling programs.

For U.S. customers, Always Current Technology is relevant wherever Ricoh IM-series MFPs and smart devices are deployed, such as corporate offices, education institutions, healthcare environments, and government agencies. U.S. pricing for the platform itself is not presented as a separate subscription in public materials; instead, ACT is positioned as a built-in capability of supported devices, with specific update packages sometimes offered under service agreements or at no additional charge depending on the contract. Prospective buyers typically work with Ricoh direct sales or authorized dealers to understand which models support ACT and how firmware upgrades are handled over the life of the device.

In Ricoh's overall portfolio, Always Current Technology is a strategic software and services layer that connects hardware to the company's broader ecosystem of workflow solutions, cloud services, and managed print offerings. By enabling feature updates on installed devices, Ricoh can introduce new applications and integrations into the installed base more quickly than with hardware-only cycles, which is relevant when competing with other office-printing vendors that promote similar "as-a-platform" approaches to MFPs. As one component of Ricoh's smart workplace strategy, ACT helps support recurring service revenue and customer retention, because organizations that rely on ongoing firmware updates are more likely to stay with the same vendor when they expand or refresh their fleets.

For now, Always Current Technology remains focused on supporting compatible Ricoh multifunction devices rather than consumer desktop printers. Its visibility tends to be highest in mid-size to large organizations working with managed print services, where firmware-based feature additions can be clearly tracked and integrated with other IT projects. Buyers evaluating Ricoh MFPs alongside competing devices may weigh ACT as part of the total cost of ownership calculation, particularly when factoring in security requirements and the expected lifetime of the hardware. Shares of Ricoh Co. Ltd. (JP3973400009, ticker RICOY) traded over the counter in the U.S. market; for the latest price and detailed listing data, investors typically refer to U.S. financial platforms or the company's investor relations information.

Ricoh Always Current Technology at a glance

• Product: Ricoh Always Current Technology
• Manufacturer: Ricoh Co. Ltd.
• Category: software, service, subscription
• Launch date: Introduced alongside Ricoh IM-series smart MFPs (varies by model and region)
• MSRP / Price: Typically included as a platform capability with supported devices; specific update packages may be tied to service agreements
• Availability: Offered on compatible Ricoh IM-series multifunction devices via Ricoh direct sales and authorized dealers in the U.S. and other markets
• Target audience: Organizations using Ricoh MFP fleets that need ongoing security, workflow, and usability updates without frequent hardware replacement
• Key feature / USP: Enables feature, security, and workflow enhancements to be delivered through firmware updates over the device lifecycle

This article was created with a.i. assistance and editorially reviewed. Product information is provided without warranty; prices and availability may change at any time. Not investment advice, not a buy or sell recommendation. Trading in securities carries risks up to the total loss of capital.