A key pain point for us all is energy costs, which snowball to more medium-term concerns over climate change 57 VOX POP continued... .UK 10 years · I00 issues 10 years · I00 issues “I believe we will see more businesses implementing SaaS solutions instead of self-hosted systems, as this can have a significant impact on running costs. Not only does physical hardware, such as an on-site server, require labour and resources to manage, update and maintain, the initial cost of purchase can be significant. Physical hardware must also be regularly checked to ensure it remains adequate to support the systems it hosts. Rapid business growth often creates issues and leads to unexpected additional investment – a cost that many simply cannot afford in this current climate. “Many companies are already implementing print management systems to help reduce waste and the costs associated with printer and copier usage, and I expect this will continue next year “With data security such a hot topic, I believe we will see more and more businesses investing in technology that can protect their network and keep their information secure.” www.ecisolutions.com Martin Fairman, Group Sales & Marketing Director, KYOCERA Document Solutions UK: “I’ve forecast and have already witnessed a mass migration to cloud-based solutions around the hardware. Cloud-native platforms such as Kyocera Cloud Print Scan (KCPS) showcase the advantages for resellers and end-users alike. “We cannot ignore the more macro issues we face as a nation and an industry. A key pain point for us all is energy costs, which snowball to more medium-term concerns over climate change. Therefore, I predict a real shift in buyer behaviour towards energyconscious and sustainable purchasing, which often go hand in hand. Deloitte research has shown that 31 per cent of adults are pursuing reducing their carbon footprint by reducing their electric equipment usage and output, and this mindset is present in the workplace too. “Fortunately, at Kyocera we are a carbon-neutral operation that delivers energy efficiency savings up to 70 per cent more than competitors with our TASKalfa 15000c devices. We are in a great position, and we know our partners feel the same. “As a leader in the office device industry, I stand by the following statement: staff will migrate back to the office in 2023. Personally, I love being around people, conversing with colleagues, and visiting our customers. It’s why I entered the world of sales. “As we leave the pandemic behind, I hear and feel the desire of our staff and customers alike to go back to the office. As more and more staff return, we predict the print/copy/scan/store/ retrieve world will kick back into action and allow us to come back future-ready.” kyoceradocumentsolutions.co.uk Phil Jones, Managing Director, Brother UK: “The future is undoubtedly hybrid. We need to be ready to support a business ecosystem that is becoming increasingly virtual and fundamentally cloud-first, subscription everything, and zero trust everywhere. “Some IT infrastructure will remain on office premises for good reason. But cloud adoption, especially for print, is growing fast. Research from IDC shows that almost two-thirds of large businesses will have cloud tech in place for their print fleets next year. “Demand will grow for multifunction colour models connected to the cloud. This is where the market is heading and we all, vendors and resellers, need to be ready to deliver it. “More businesses will want these devices on subscription. We know it’s what people prefer as individuals, and the trend for subscription, regardless of company size, will continue to transform how companies equip their employees. “There has been a huge jump in the number of UK firms that want a managed print services contract. It’s a mature market now, and I expect to see more targeted products for small enterprise, like our PrintSmart Professional solution, in the year ahead. “Employers’ responsibility for security has become even more complex. They need to consider the attack surface layer for their people at home, in co-working spaces, in offices, on their commute, and in the coffee shop where they’re working. They need to create a zero trust environment everywhere, and workflow and document capture will play a vital role in keeping information safe. “But within all this movement, vendors and channel resellers must retain a clear focus on sustainability. Tech buyers now see supplier sustainability policies as a major factor in who they choose. Right across the value chain, we all need to be able to credibly stand forward and show that we’re doing the right thing, from our modern slavery Martin Fairman Phil Jones
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