Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A. Inc. has announced it has received first place in Brand Loyalty in the Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Engagement Index (CLEI) for the 19th consecutive year. The win confirms that Konica Minolta best meets — or exceeds — customer expectations among all brands competing in the "MFP Office Copier" category.

Brand Keys, a New York–based client loyalty and engagement consultancy, publishes the annual syndicated study, which recognized Konica Minolta for being the leader in Brand Loyalty among all MFP brands. The Brand Keys' data paints a detailed picture of the category drivers that engage customers, engender loyalty and drive real profits.

"Being recognized by Brand Keys yet again is a powerful affirmation of our enduring commitment to excellence and the trust we've built with our customers over two decades of leadership in the MFP market," said Jason Dizzine, vice president of portfolio management and planning, Konica Minolta. "This continued achievement reflects our unwavering focus on understanding customer needs and delivering solutions and services that consistently exceed expectations. As customer demands evolve year after year, we are deeply grateful for the confidence our customers place in us and remain dedicated to earning that trust every day."

This year's results showed a pivotal shift in the brand landscape as consumer expectations jumped 32% year over year — the largest single-year increase since this survey's inception in 1998. The surge in expectations has transformed the competitive terrain, with 40% of product and service categories identifying new number-one brands in their ability to meet evolving consumer demands.

"Expectations are rising faster than brands are improving," said Robert Passikoff, founder and president, Brand Keys. "Consumers want more from brands across every touchpoint and they reward brands that deliver. Long-time loyalty leaders are being challenged by brands that better anticipate and deliver what matters most to consumers. Despite a significant number of categories recognizing new leaders in our most recent survey, Konica Minolta once again distinguished itself. Its continued performance underscores a consistent ability to understand, anticipate and meet customer expectations at the highest level — and for that, we offer our sincere congratulations."

This year's Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Engagement Index examined customers' relationships with 1119 brands in 106 categories.