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Ricoh launches ‘The Age of Digital Information video’ as part of The Business of Rugby campaign

December 21, 2017

Global technology company Ricoh has today released their second video ‘The Age of Digital Information’ as part of The Business of Rugby campaign, which investigates the latest business thinking and strategies the 12 Premiership Rugby clubs are utilising as well as the innovations and new technologies they are investing in.

Ricoh’s latest video explores how Premiership Rugby clubs are adapting and indeed thriving in this new era of mass data and how they are leveraging this data and the knowledge it provides to gain competitive advantage on and off the pitch.

To complement ‘The Age of Digital Information’ video Ricoh will also be launching a series of business blogs identifying how businesses can best harness their data and examining the invaluable insights that can be gleaned from it.

Premiership Rugby clubs are clearly embracing data and are recognising its importance in not just winning games but in the development of their players. Data is now defining training strategies and regimes, with the use of drones, GPS, Accelerometers and videos monitoring a player’s every move, coaches can now easily identify areas for improvement and create individual and specific targets for each player.

However, catering to all the players’ data needs, requirements and even requests requires investment and can be time consuming for the clubs. Therefore, this video shows that clubs employ statisticians and analysts to process and interpret the data, now so readily available to them, and illustrates that they must continue to evolve and expand their organisation structure to ensure they are managing their data efficiently.

That being said, it’s not just statistical management and interpretation that clubs investing in but also the platforms and tools used to share and present that data to the players. With rugby clubs consisting of players with variable digital skill sets, clubs are considering the best way to communicate their data to ensure each player understands, engages and remembers it.

Through continual technological advances spurred on by this new thirst for real time and accurate data, the sheer amount of information now available to the coaches and players is almost mind-blowing. But how much data is too much?

Ricoh’s latest video investigates how Premiership Rugby players really feel about the scrutiny they are now under. As Danny Care, Harlequins Captain and England International, put it “there are no hiding places anymore.”

Chas Moloney, Marketing Director for Ricoh UK & Ireland, commented: “Embracing data, and the processes that provide it, is vital for any organisation to stay competitive However, ensuring you have the right people to manage and interpret that data effectively is just as important.

“At Ricoh, we believe that investing in people and ensuring they have the right skill sets and capabilities is key to achieving success. And for me as a rugby fan, it’s been fascinating to see how Premiership Rugby clubs apply and embrace a very similar approach to running their businesses.

“In times of change, when businesses face increasingly complex challenges, data intelligence is one of the most reliable ways to establish a clear strategic direction. Having the right people to analyse, interpret and use this data will remain crucial for achieving success, both in rugby and business.”

Ben Kay, Ricoh ambassador, added “It’s extremely obvious that the game of rugby has moved on dramatically since my day, predominantly due to the influx of data now accessible to clubs, coaches and players. When I was playing, I just knew when I had a good or bad day on the pitch and it was up to me to recognize my mistakes and identity ways to improve.

“However, today it’s very different; as a player’s every move is now monitored and analysed. With this volume of data now available to players, clubs need to ensure they are not bombarding them with stats and figures but rather they need to strike a balance between allowing players to think for themselves and providing them with the relevant data they need in order to develop.”

For further information about the campaign please visit www.rugby.ricoh.co.uk or follow @imaginechangeuk

OTT Premiership Rugby Ricoh Rugby Video