01732 759725 42 VOX POP As more technologies become available powered by artificial intelligence, the increased accessibility will make adoption much easier to increasing expectations regarding onboarding. At First Copy, we’ll be approaching our 33rd birthday in 2024, ready to embrace another round of new technologies and build on our existing relationships. Let’s go! https://firstcopy.co.uk Andy Ratcliffe, Managing Director, Key Digital: In 2024 we expect to see a stronger emphasis on cybersecurity measures and the adoption of advanced technologies to protect data integrity and privacy. The number of cybersecurity concerns will carry on rising as the real-world threats continue to be publicly exposed. The long, hard truths are hitting home as the C-suite come to realise it stands on their shoulders. The world has seen its fair number of ‘shake ups’ over the last few years, so the push to guarantee stability is ultimately the driving force. An increased investment in cybersecurity will be twinned with a consolidation of suppliers as more organisations look to bring all of their managed services under one roof. For Key Digital, that is where we find our strength as a nimble, responsive reseller with no ties to one specific manufacturer or vendor. We work with customers’ specific needs and provide agile solutions – that flexibility brings with it scalability. With access to a wide array of managed IT services, Key Digital can offer a seamless and efficient experience for customers, providing them with greater agility and wider capabilities to support modern working practices. Though some may be fearful, the value of AI will continue to grow in 2024 and become intrinsic to areas of business. As more technologies become available powered by artificial intelligence, the increased accessibility will make adoption much easier. We have already embraced some form of AI across both our sales and our support teams with real success and we have plans in place for further developments. From a customer services point of view, the value of AI is almost endless. I am excited to see where and how other organisations can use artificial intelligence to strengthen their business. Being in the print and IT sector, technology can make us more responsive to clients’ needs, as well as strengthening their own business into the future. As problem solvers, it is our job to address global demands while acting as agile facilitators. I am positive that 2024 will bring opportunity to these sectors. https://key-digital.co.uk Stuart Sykes, Managing Director, Sharp UK: As we predicted last year, hybrid working is here to stay. However, the broadened threat landscape that hybrid working presents continues to expand and create very real challenges, from securing network connections to educating against human error. We recently commissioned a pan-European study which surveyed 5,770 professionals responsible for purchasing IT in their SMEs, on confidence in IT security capabilities and barriers to IT security investment over the next 12 months. It found that hybrid working was the highest reason (38%) for increased IT security concerns amongst UK’s SMEs. Nearly a quarter (24%) were also worried by the lack of IT security understanding shown by employees. Despite these concerns, only two out of five (41%) cover hybrid working as part of their current IT security training and less than a quarter of SMEs educate their employees about scanner (23%) and printer (23%) IT security. The research also revealed that almost one in five (16%) of UK’s SMEs admit to being impacted by a printer security breach. One third had been impacted by data loss (30%), malware (30%), phishing (31%) and a quarter impacted by computer virus attacks (25%). When it comes to cyber security breaches in the news, those enabled by complex security technology seem to earn the most media attention. Yet more often than not, it’s underestimating day-to-day security essentials and overlooking employee training which can result in human error, that ends up being the root cause of most breaches. Our research has highlighted the importance of training both internal and external in 2024 and how many businesses should look to invest in security-related training for employees to ensure that IT security risks are minimised and that confidence around IT and print within firms are boosted. But it isn’t all doom and gloom. With the advent of AI, understanding and awareness of risks to business is growing. With the rapid evolution of technology, we expect that more SMEs will seek expert, external advice to ensure the right IT security decisions are being made, a holistic security view is being taken, and that solutions are always up to date. www.sharp.co.uk Roger Stocker, CEO, Intuitive Business Intelligence: There are a few insights I have into the future of print and IT in 2024 based on key trends and developments that I believe will help shape the print landscape going forward. We’re seeing a lot of customers struggling with the shortages in the labour market which has been driving higher wages and increasing the competition for use of contractors. As businesses are also competing for staff, their profitability has been taking a hit. Andy Ratcliffe Stuart Sykes continued...
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