continued... 55 .UK 10 years · I00 issues 10 years · I00 issues recent and unrelated. Whatever the triggers, the ripples run through device manufacturers through to software suppliers and, of course, the channel that does such a good job supporting its customers. “I think we’ll see the print and IT sector unite even more closely in order to really listen to the challenges their customers are facing over the next six months or so. Never before has it been more imperative to develop and sell customer-led solutions, as every investment has to be justified given that growth is expected to be minimal over the next few quarters. We’re also likely to see more consolidation during this period, which will help smaller firms that may have struggled otherwise; there certainly is strength in numbers, and sometimes consolidation protects customers and their investments, while opening the door to future growth and development thanks to access to greater resources. Equally, it’s important that we don’t let the economic backdrop obscure the other challenges that we face, like climate change. Amid all that we do, we should still be thinking about sustainability and efficiency as those are long-term, ongoing objectives. “2023 will be a challenging time for sure, but I believe the innovation that we often see from the print and IT sector – as well as the channel – will help us weather this storm.” www.mpsmonitor.com, https://euroform.com Stuart Sykes, Managing Director, Sharp UK: “The workplace has undergone somewhat of a revolution in recent years. In the past 12 months alone, businesses have had to navigate the challenges of a long-term mobile workforce, supply chain issues and rising operating costs. As businesses seek to streamline their offerings and optimise efficiencies, in 2023 we see an important evolution of the trends that have been gaining traction of late. “Expanding and enhancing IT services. As technology becomes more complex and sophisticated, we are seeing small and medium businesses realising that IT isn’t a necessary evil, but a tool to harness their efficiencies, protect their business and deliver a competitive advantage. At Sharp, we found that the pandemic accelerated the diversification of the services offered by some of our partners. We expect to continue to see this change in attitude towards IT services and solutions continuing well into 2023. As a result, we see more businesses conducting open and honest audits to roadmap plans that enable them to better navigate future challenges. “Targeted cybersecurity threat prevention. However, this evolution of working has also seen an evolution of the threat landscape. Businesses are increasingly employing a wide range of internet-connected smart office devices that cybercriminals have, unfortunately, learned to compromise. Cybercriminals are, in fact, increasingly targeting endpoint devices – including printers – to plant malware, steal intellectual property, and launch espionage campaigns. “MFPs can be used as an entry the comprehensive support our partners need in 2023 and beyond. The channel is, and will continue to be, an essential part of Konica Minolta’s business and we are dedicated to ensuring our partners continue to succeed and grow as markets continue to evolve. “From a product/services perspective, we have an exciting pipeline of new offerings to share in 2023 including cloud print and data/document handling solutions, further enhancements to our IT offering, new professional/industrial print solutions, and an expanded home/ hybrid office range that will open up new opportunities for us and our partners. “Additionally, to continue enhancing our rapidly expanding managed IT services offering in 2023 and beyond, we have invested in growing our team and recently appointed our new Head of IT Services, Russell Palmer, to oversee this exciting expansion. This will see fresh development in our cloud solutions, information management, and managed IT services, along with an additional focus on our intelligent video solutions offering, which is a key ingredient in the increasing digitalisation and convergence of workplace technologies. “There will be big opportunities in 2023 but also challenges. For instance, the global chip supply issues will still need time to be resolved and the broader economic and cost of living challenges will continue to affect us all, in both our business and personal lives. However, we know our expert partners in the channel are highly robust and resourceful, and along with our unwavering commitment to delivering the best partner support, products, and services, we are excited to be supporting this vital part of the UK economy as it develops in 2023.” www.konicaminolta.co.uk Nicola De Blasi, CEO, MPS Monitor and Euroform: “The print and IT sector is nimble, dynamic and fast on its feet, so it will be interesting to observe how it adapts to the pressures we’re all facing from the global energy crisis, the chip and supply chain problems and of course the state of the global economy. Some of those challenges are a legacy of the pandemic, but of course some are more Never before has it been more imperative to develop and sell customerled solutions, as every investment has to be justified given that growth is expected to be minimal over the next few quarters Nicola De Blasi Stuart Sykes VOX POP
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