technology
reseller.co.uk
19
3D printing
makes the grade
This month sees the soft launch of a
new 3D printing solution developed
specifically for the education sector by
print management specialist YSoft.
The end-to-end solution includes
be3D printers, manufactured by YSoft
itself following its acquisition of 3D
printer company be3D in 2014; the
SafeQ print management solution, which
allows schools to manage and control
3D printing for the first time; and B3D
Academy coursework, developed by YSoft
in conjunction with Telford-based Tablet
Academy and educational organisations in
the Czech Republic.
YSoft senior regional sales manager
Nick Parkes says that the inclusion of
print management software based on the
company’s established SafeQ solution for
2D printers, which combines secure print
release, print job accounting, user controls
and cost recovery, overcomes many of the
obstacles to 3D printing in education.
“Whilst schools are introducing 3D
into their curriculum, many are not really
pushing it as they have no control over
costs, security and productivity,” he said.
“3D printing takes time and schools
don’t want students to send a 3D model
to print and then stand over the printer for
three hours to make sure no one walks up
and takes their model or stops the print
job. With our solution, users send models
to print through YSoft SafeQ 6, the world’s
first 3D print management solution; walk
up to the 3D printer and authenticate
using a card, PIN or password; and then
walk away knowing no one can touch
their model because the 3D printer is fully
enclosed. All the doors are locked, so no
one can break into the 3D printer whilst
it’s printing unless they are the owner of
that job. And, because that job is going
through SafeQ, we can measure its cost in
time and materials.”
Another important element of the
new solution, according to Parkes, is the
creation of specific coursework.
“3D printing is quite novel. A
school may say ‘Let’s have some of
these 3D printers in our school’. But
once the novelty has worn off, they
sit there gathering dust in the corner.
If we can introduce a curriculum into
the school and provide an end-to-
end solution, we can help teachers
get more from those 3D printers,” he said.
YSoft has developed its 3D print
business as part of a strategy to grow by
diversifying its product offering. The solution
is currently being trialled by a select group
of resellers, but if successful, there might
be opportunities for other resellers to get
involved, and not necessarily ones that
YSoft has worked with before.
The same is true of another significant
expansion of YSoft’s portfolio – the
introduction of workflow modules to the
SafeQ print management solution, which
can be used to digitise business processes
and document workflows.
Once again, Parkes is hoping that this
new capability will attract resellers from
outside the print industry, whilst also
expanding its customer base.
“Document workflow is a brand
new market for us, but already, through
our feature set, our platform gives end
customers a genuine all-in-one solution,”
he said.
“A lot of customers will have a print
management solution coupled with
document workflow from a different
supplier. Yes, they are integrated and
have single sign-on. But they have two
different sets of licence agreements and
two different sets of terms and conditions;
quite often you are paying for the same
modules twice; and you have two different
support paths. SafeQ6 really is a genuine
all-in-one solution.”
3D PRINTING
YSoft has launched an end-
to-end 3D printing solution
designed specifically for
organisations in education
or during administration, marking and
planning. If the company you work for is
focused on the education sector, it may
well have expert teachers who can help to
plan and develop training tailored to the
level and requirements of each school.
There are certain aspects that
schools will need you to focus on that
other institutions may not, notably
safeguarding, especially when it comes
to online resources and web-enabled
technology. While schools are giving
more freedom to students (who are often
very tech-proficient themselves), they
have an obligation to protect students
from harm online, whether that’s through
cyberbullying, online grooming and
radicalisation or distressing material. Being
able to answer safeguarding queries from
teachers is essential, especially when it
comes to devices that students will be
using independently, like tablets, laptops
and touch screens.
Integration
When it comes to selling hardware, it’s
important you understand the programmes
the school uses. Being able to show
teachers how their software works on the
new platform will facilitate a seamless
transition to the technology, while also
giving them scope to achieve far more
from the solution.
The inverse is also true; if you’re
providing a software solution, think about
the hardware devices the school and its
teachers will be using and consider how
the programme will integrate with them.
Some teachers use desktops and laptops
and others tablets, so you will need to
provide training on all these formats.
Some schools we work with request
multiple training sessions per year, due to
the natural churn of staff members. Having
the ability to provide this is a fantastic
pitch for additional business.
Training is the ultimate value-add
for schools, where time and money are
equally precious. Being able to incorporate
effective training that really addresses the
needs of teachers will make you a prime
candidate for their business, both initially
and in the long-term.
For more information about selling into
schools, visit:
.
Nick Parkes,
Senior Regional
Sales Manager,
YSoft
EDITOR’S CHOICE AWARD
YSoft :
SafeQ
