01732 759725 30 SUSTANABILITY Quocirca’s Print Sustainability Leaders 2023 Study finds that manufacturers are setting ambitious net-zero targets, accelerating circularity initiatives, and pursuing energy efficiency innovations as they strive to reduce the impact of their business on the planet and meet customer demand for more sustainable products and services Accelerating sustainability strategy content, and product life extension all feature in vendor activities. Several manufacturers reported new or improved remanufacturing initiatives and published targets to increase the recycled content of devices. Product life extension is also a focus, with vendors announcing initiatives including extensions to parts and warranties and designing products for longer lifespans. n Sustainability customer-focused services. While these are less advanced, focus is growing. All of the manufacturers surveyed offer some level of customer sustainability service, but these range from basic product The second edition of the study shows that the industry is maturing beyond the initial stages of identifying impacts and setting targets; it is now starting to refine and revise those targets and develop a stronger strategic and tactical approach. Key findings include: n Strong vision and commitment to net-zero. Vendors have set clear targets for net-zero, and several have provided interim updates on progress towards key goals such as adopting renewable energy. n Circularity is an area of strength. Remanufacturing, recycled device Quocirca predicts ten key trends for 2024 q AI takes centre stage. Print suppliers will need to carefully evaluate how they can embed AI into existing products and services that help augment workplace productivity. IDP is a key area where vendors can draw on existing expertise and build out AI solutions. w The office is redefined. While return-to-office policies will help print volumes recover in some sectors, the opportunity for print suppliers will be around delivering workplace technology that supports hybrid workers. e Digitisation continues to erode print resilience. Only 11 per cent of organisations currently operate a paperless environment, but 75 per cent are accelerating paper digitisation initiatives. This will create new opportunities for integrated digital workflow automation and tailored digitisation solutions that correspond to the customer’s digital maturity. r The cybersecurity battleground intensifies. With organisations struggling to keep on top of print security challenges, suppliers will need to deepen security service offerings, embrace AI-enabled security to help customers better detect, protect and monitor the print environment. t MPS transformation boosts modernisation strategies. 2024 will see organisations continue to refresh and redesign their print environment to better support the hybrid workplace. Addressing cost challenges around hardware, consumables along with a need to reduce wasteful printing will create more demand for next generation MPS. y Sustainability transparency drives progress. 70 per cent of organisations say it is important their print supplier provides a range of sustainable products and services and 69 per cent say it is important print suppliers show they are reducing their own environmental impact. This will create opportunities for suppliers to deliver more value-led sustainability focused assessments, products and services. u A break in the clouds impacts cloud print adoption. Despite a shift to cloud print management, organisations will continue to experience print server sprawl. This along with a fragmented market with many players will hinder cloud print adoption. i Industry leaders embrace data innovation. Data will be key to competitive advantage in the mature print market, and we can expect to see leading vendors enhancing AIdriven analytics capabilities. o MPS and managed IT convergence gains momentum. 2024 will see more managed IT providers moving into print and vice versa. 1) Marketplaces unlock new opportunities. Marketplaces provide an opportunity to create added value for customers and channel businesses should explore diversifying their sales models to capitalise. Louella Fernandes Sustainability is becoming both a regulatory issue and a customer priority comparison calculators and carbon calculators to more sophisticated full consultancy-style approaches. As customer demands become more focused, we are likely to see vendors refine and develop the services they offer in response. n Channel programmes are evolving. Performance on channel-focused sustainability programmes varies, with some vendors offering comprehensive resources and training while others still have room for more activity to support partners to develop sustainability-led revenue streams.
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