www.printitreseller.uk PRINT, MFP, SOFTWARE, SERVICES, DOCUMENT & CLOUD NEWS & INFORMATION FOR VARS, CONVERGED RESELLERS & MFP DEALERS Entries Close 5pm July 19 2024 AI Revolution in Document Management Unlocking Efficiency with PFU RICOH Scanners See page 32 PRINT IT RESELLER MAGAZINE IN PRINT & ONLINE SINCE 2011 ISSUE 118 · 2024
The Convergent Technology Event for IT Resellers & Providers Cloud Services | MPS Workflow | Voice | Mobile | Software | Storage | Finance Security | Sustainability | UC | Mobility | Distribution | AV | SaaS | Ai | Comms Billing Services | MSP | Document | ICT | UPS Uptime Live is co-locating with Tech Live 2024. Uptime Live, which is a stand-alone exhibition with seminars, will add a whole new dynamic to Tech Live 2024 as it will bring visiting MSPs from both the traditional and new-breed segments. It will attract a very different and broader audience to the two-show event. All attendees will be encouraged to move freely between both exhibition floors giving exhibitors the ability to meet the maximum number of attendees. We already have an excellent mix of exhibitors offering a range of different propositions with even more in the pipeline PLUS we are putting together an informative and thought-provoking seminar programme for the event. We look forward to welcoming you on 17th September 2024. www.tech-live.co.uk Tech Live 2023 TO BOOK YOUR STAND – Call Ethan, Neil or Jeff on 01732 759 725 or Paul on 07887 944 433 or email [email protected] Business Design Centre · London · 17 September 2024 ICT · MANAGED IT · MOBILE · PRINT 24 in partnership with Exhibitors include:
PRINTITRESELLER.UK 3 Don’t let the opportunity to enter the PrintIT Awards 2024 pass you by – the deadline to submit your entries is fast approaching – 5pm on July 19. For a reminder of the 2024 categories and an overview of the key entry criteria for each award, please see page 22. It’s definitely event season. The first of four Golf Society meetings this year took place at the Cheshire Course, Carden Park Golf Resort on May 9 and the second round at Olton Golf Club on June 27. Paul Johnson reports on the inaugural outing – page 40. Vision held its annual conference last month and announced bold plans to double revenue in five years. Sales and Marketing Director Martin Randall explains more on page 29. Also this month, PrintIT Reseller attended the Vantage Online User Conference which came hot on the heels of a wide-ranging reorganisation across Asolvi which saw the company move away from regional operating companies to product focused business units, a series of internal promotions, and the news that Tony Milford was returning as Managing Director of Vantage Online – page 39. Also in this issue, Liz Budd, Head of Marketing at First Copy, picks the work tools she uses every day and couldn’t do her job without (page 18). This month’s Q&A is with George Baker, Managing Director, KRL Group Ltd, and PITR spent 60 seconds with Andrew Paczy-Smith, Product Manager, Exertis IT. If you’ve got any news about your business to share, would like to be included on our monthly VOX POP panel, have a compelling business success story or simply wish to comment on any industry issues, please get in touch with me at: [email protected] Michelle Ryder, Editor PRINT.IT Reseller is published by Kingswood Media Ltd., 7 Amherst House, 22 London Road, Sevenoaks TN13 2BT • Tel: 01732 759725 Email: [email protected] www.printitreseller.uk No part of PRINT.IT Reseller can be reproduced without prior written permission of the publisher. ©2024 Kingswood Media Ltd. Design: Sandtiger Media www.sandtiger.co.uk 04 Bulletin Where do you take yours? 06 Bulletin What’s new in printers and printing 16 People A round-up of new hires 18 I couldn’t do my job without... Liz Budd picks her favourite work tools 20 A decade in print Adam Northcut shares his print experiences over the past decade 22 PrintIT Awards The clock is ticking, get your entries in 26 Focus on: What’s New A round-up of recent product launches 29 Conference Vision sets out five-year plan 32 Cover Story AI Revolution in Document Management 34 Cloud Cloud print services adoption accelerates 36 Interview Sustainable solutions from PCL Direct 39 Events Vantage Online user conference and golf society update 42 VOX POP Navigating the pace of tech evolution – part one 48 View from the Channel George Baker, Managing Director, KRL Group Ltd 50 60 seconds with... Andrew Paczy-Smith, Product Manager, Exertis IT 2024 ISSUE 118 printitreseller.uk Comment Register online To receive your regular FREE printed copy of PrintIT Reseller Magazine simply fill in our online registration form at www.printitreseller.uk/register If you no longer wish to receive PrintIT Reseller magazine please email your details to [email protected] Read PrintIT Reseller online at: www.printitreseller.uk Join us : Follow us @print-it-reseller-magazine Issue 118 ISSN 2055-3110 (Print) ISSN 2055-3129 (Online) Group Editor: James Goulding 07803 087228 · [email protected] Editor: Michelle Ryder 01732 759725 · [email protected] Publishing Director, Social Media and Web Editor: Neil Trim 01732 759725 · [email protected] Advertising Director: Ethan White 01732 759725 · [email protected] Account Manager: Jeff Root 07976 950285 · [email protected] Art Director: Nick Pledge 07767 615983 · [email protected] COMMENT Lexmark MPS Express Our turnkey cloud solution frees your customers and their teams from day-today printer management Scan the QR code to contact us now 20 24 Royal Lancaster · December 3 Entries close 5pm 19 July PRINT IT RESELLER MAGAZINE IN PRINT & ONLINE SINCE 2011
BULLETIN 01732 759725 4 Where do you take yours? We’re all about championing print at PrintIT Reseller, and over the past few months, we’ve loved finding out where our magazine travels with YOU. Earlier this month, the team were at the Home Grown Club in Mayfair, filming the next series of Director’s Cuts videos. We’re delighted that so many of our readers are taking on the challenge and sending us pix of them reading PrintIT Reseller in unusual settings. Keep them coming!! Please send your pix to me at [email protected] David Hamblen, Sales Director UK&I at Altkin checked out our top tips to write a winning entry article relating to the PrintIT Awards. While waiting for us to perfect the lighting and conduct the final sound checks, Philippe du Fou, EMEA Sales Director at Intermedia Cloud Communications spent a few minutes getting up to date with the latest industry developments. As the UK partner for Circular Planet, naturally, sustainability champion James O’Connor, Director at WBM, was interested to read the latest Vox Pop which focused on the need to step up climate action. After spending time sharing info about ECS’s Greener Side recycling service, Managing Director Chris Fink and Associate Director Lauren Rabbitte, took time out to catch up on the latest news. While her colleague Robbie Trower was in front of the camera, Carla Barker, Marketing Manager at Kodak Alaris relaxed reading the latest issue, which coincidentally included a one-to-one industry insight article with Robbie. Our expert cameraman Tom Daly from Deansgate Media found a few minutes in between sessions to check out the latest news.
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BULLETIN A hole lot of money IT Document Solutions sponsored The Starr Trust’s 13th Annual Golf Day which took place at Mannings Heath Golf Club on June 6. 23 teams (92 golfers) took part, with the winning team on the day being Pavilion Heating. 2nd place was taken by the IT Document Solutions team which included CEO Jermaine Weeden, CFO Steven Hallissey FCA, Managing Director at L&M Carpentry Scott Lyons and George Hiller-Jones ACA FMAAT, Director at Watsons Accountants. 3rd place was secured by Zachary Starr and friends. After the tournament, players gave generously to a raffle and silent auction and raised over £7,000 to help young people in Sussex. IT Document Solutions CEO Jermaine Weeden said: “It was a great day and thankfully the weather treated us well. As always, the Sussex business community came together in support of the Starr Trust, and to enjoy a challenging round of golf. This year’s event didn’t disappoint, a great venue, great company and a wonderful BBQ to put a smile on everyone’s face. “All the team at IT Document Solutions Ltd value our relationship with the Starr Trust. It has been a pleasure getting to learn more about the success stories of the beneficiaries, and the difference the charity’s help can make to young people’s lives.” www.itdocumentsolutions.com 01732 759725 6 Workflo Solutions acquires MacD IT Workflo Solutions has acquired MacD IT. The company says the strategic merger marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for both companies, poised to deliver even greater value to their clients. In a seamless transition designed to ensure continuity of service, Alastair MacDonald owner of MacD IT, has joined Workflo Solutions as Head of IT Sales. He will remain the primary point of contact for all account matters, guaranteeing that clients continue to receive the exceptional service they have come to expect. With the integration of Workflo Solutions’ robust helpdesk infrastructure, clients will now enjoy access to an expanded range of services. These include proactive technical support, advanced digital workflow solutions, and comprehensive IT infrastructure support. The objective is to provide unparalleled service that streamlines operations, increases productivity and reduces costs. Clients will also benefit from Workflo Solutions' suite of managed print services, cloud computing, and unified communication solutions. Michael Field, Managing Director of Workflo Solutions said: “We are thrilled to welcome Ally to the Workflo Solutions family. This acquisition represents a strategic step forward in our mission to deliver innovative and comprehensive solutions to our clients. We are confident that this will lead to even greater success for our clients.” www.workflo-solutions.co.uk Golf tournament raises over £5k Lancashire businesses raised £5,571 for Rainbow Hub at the fifth annual Charity Golf Day held at Ashton and Lea Golf Club last month. The event, organised by Evolve Document Solutions and Stone Create, featured over 70 golfers who enjoyed breakfast, lunch, and a prize draw for golf fashion wear. An auction was held for prizes including former WBC cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew's signed boxing glove and other sporting memorabilia. Daniel Maddox, Managing Director of Evolve Document Solutions, said: "We’re proud to have hosted another successful Charity Golf Day. It’s fantastic to see our business community come together to support Rainbow Hub. “The camaraderie on the course was incredible. Knowing that our efforts contribute to such a worthy cause made the day even more special. Everyone had a brilliant time, and we're already looking forward to next year's event." Ormskirk-based Rainbow Hub provides rehabilitation services for children with brain injuries, enhancing the well-being of up to 85 families weekly. National sporting figures have supported the event in previous years, highlighting the business community's commitment to charitable causes. Over the five years, the Charity Golf Day has raised more than £25,000 for various local charities. www.evolvedocumentsolutions.co.uk (l-r) Donna Crook Evolve Document Solutions, Emma Parish Corporate Relations and Event Manager at Rainbow Hub, Shane Friend managing director Stone Create, Daniel Maddox managing director Evolve Document Solutions, Vicki Cunningham, Rainbow Hub. A local provider Mottram Financial Services, chartered financial planners based in Manchester, has kept things local by choosing Stockport’s Woodbank Office Solutions as its new print management provider. When reviewing its existing print solution, Peter Rogan, Chartered Financial Planner at Mottram Financial Services, searched for a supplier close to home. Before reaching out directly to Woodbank, he contacted an existing customer, Chafes Hague Lambert Solicitors, who were very complimentary of the support they receive. “It’s very important for us to support local businesses, so it’s natural for us to find a local supplier whenever there’s an opportunity,” Rogan said. “After speaking to Chafes, I knew I had to give Woodbank a call. Woodbank has now helped us get the right machines for our requirements and the installation was like lightning.” Woodbank has upgraded Mottram’s Konica Minolta printer to fit with its existing system and will now be the company’s onestop shop for office print equipment. As part of the service, Mottram will get direct, local support from Account Manager, Josh Kinder, and Woodbank’s experienced in-house customer service and technical support team. www.woodbankoffice.co.uk
BULLETIN Supporting sport Bradford City AFC has signed central defender Aden Baldwin until the summer of 2026, following the expiry of his contract at Notts County. Commerce Business Systems will sponsor Baldwin for the 2024/25 campaign. https://commercebusinesssystems.co.uk PRINTITRESELLER.UK 7 First Copy partners with EntrySign First Copy, a Xerox partner based in Cambridge has announced a new partnership with EntrySign, by Osborne Technologies. The collaboration allows First Copy to bring EntrySign, an innovative visitor management and sign in system, to a wide array of schools, healthcare settings, businesses, and other organisations. First Copy will support customers in the East of England, London, and beyond with advanced visitor management. The partnership represents a strategic alignment of visions. Both companies are committed to leveraging technology to create safer, more secure environments. “Partnering with Osborne Technologies is a great step for us,” said Mark Mills, Senior Analyst at First Copy. “We’ve been so impressed with EntrySign and the associated team and it’s clear that our customers will benefit from this technology. We know our clients are looking to improve their information security – now we can supply secure visitor access as well as secure print and document management.” David Whitwam, EntrySign Product Specialist added: “We’re thrilled to collaborate with a company that shares our commitment to innovation and passion for excellence. This partnership is a fantastic opportunity to expand EntrySign’s reach, ensuring that more organisations can benefit from the highest visitor sign in and entry management standards.” https://firstcopy.co.uk Two reasons to celebrate XBM is celebrating a ten year partnership with Sandal Rugby Union Football Club that includes sponsorship and family involvement at both committee and junior player levels. Over that time XBM has sponsored the club’s 1st XV team, the 2nd XV team, the inaugural Ladies team, the junior teams, the scoreboard, and pitch boards. And the company has been named Epson UK Ltd Reseller of the Year for 2023/2024. Managing Director Richard Taylor received the award on behalf of XBM. www.xbmltd.com Wavenet strengthens partnership with Canon Wavenet, a managed services provider offering businesses cybersecurity, communications, and connectivity, has onboarded a range of MFPs as part of its next phase of growth as a Canon partner. By widening its portfolio, the business will be able to expand its customer base and build new revenue streams. Founded in 2000, Wavenet provides businesses with technology solutions to ensure they are fit for the future. Currently the power behind Canon’s IT services proposition, this two-way partnership and the synergy between the companies has grown stronger, with both working together to identify opportunities that’ll maximise growth. There has been a natural progression for Wavenet to move into the print space and this next phase will see the business thrive as a trusted Canon partner. By integrating print into its value proposition, it closes the loop and provide its customers – from small and medium-sized businesses to large enterprises - with a complete end-to-end service. The next stage of the partnership will see the business move into software solutions such as uniFLOW Online. For Wavenet, success is growth in its customer base and an increase in revenue. As part of the consultative approach to the partnership, Canon will be on hand to offer expert counsel and advice while the business develops its own in-house specialist sales team to achieve its long-term goals. Antony Black, Director of Wholesale Wavenet said: “We are at a pivotal stage in the market, whereby IT vendors are starting to include print in their offering. We can’t wait to strengthen our strategic alliance with Canon to widen our portfolio, meet customer needs and accelerate business growth.” Stuart Miller, Director, Channel Partners, Canon UK & Ireland added: “We are delighted to be taking our long-standing relationship with Wavenet to the next level as a trusted partner while reaffirming our position also as a Wavenet IT partner. We’re working closely with the team to support them throughout this learning process, so that they can expand their capabilities for existing and new customers.” www.wavenet.co.uk, www.canon.co.uk (l-r) Nick Taylor, Epson, Richard Taylor and Paul Harland, Epson. tech-live.co.uk
BULLETIN 01732 759725 8 Object First partners with Exertis Cybersecurity has announced a collaboration with Object First, the developer of Ootbi (Out-of-the-Box-Immutability), the ransomware-proof backup storage appliance purpose-built for Veeam. This partnership marks a significant milestone in the distributor’s commitment to delivering cuttingedge cybersecurity solutions to organisations across Europe. Designed around zero trust and data security principles, Ootbi helps customers drastically reduce their risk of ransomware affecting backup data with no security expertise required to operate. Ootbi’s object storage has been engineered to explicitly ingest and secure Veeam data at the default block encryption size, meaning no additional optimisation or configuration is required, and offers lightning fast supercharged instant recovery of up to 4Gbps. "We understand how crucial immutable backups are in today's cybersecurity environment," said Matthew Swindail, Commercial Manager at Exertis Cybersecurity. "Partnering with Object First enables us to provide channel partners with the necessary tools to safeguard their customers’ data and ensure business continuity. We believe Ootbi will offer tangible benefits, including improved data security, regulatory compliance and peace of mind." "Teaming up with Exertis as our distributor was an obvious choice,” said Mark Haddleton, EMEA Channel Sales Director at Object First. "The UK market is a significant one for Veeam, and virtually every Veeam customer can benefit from secure, simple and powerful backup storage to reduce their risk of ransomware and data loss. We are delighted to partner with Exertis Cybersecurity and look forward to a strong first year of growth together.” www.exertis.co.uk New distribution agreement Arrow Electronics has signed a new distribution agreement with Scality, a global player in cyber-resilient storage software for the AI era, to drive further adoption of ARTESCA, Scality’s secure, easy-to-use object storage software for immutable, cyber-resilient backups in focused markets across EMEA. “We are excited to have the opportunity to address our customers’ pressing demand for cyber-resilient storage solutions,” said Mike Worby, Head of Strategic Alliances for Arrow’s enterprise computing solutions business in EMEA. “Scality’s solutions precisely target the intersection of three pivotal customer priorities: cyber resiliency, data management, and preparing for the modern AI data centre. ARTESCA in particular is especially appealing for customers and channel partners alike with its low cost of entry, easy deployment models and integration with large backup vendors like Veeam.” www.arrow.com Re-qualification for TD SYNNEX TD SYNNEX has re-qualified for the Chartered Institute of Credit Management Quality Accreditation (CICMQ), which provides a formal recognition of its commitment to delivering high quality services, continuous improvement and best practice in every aspect of its credit and collections services. The accreditation qualifies TD SYNNEX UK to participate in the CICM Best Practice Network, through which organisations share knowledge, experiences and ideas. The company also plays an active role in the CICM’s Centre of Excellence programme and makes use of its professional development resources to enhance the expertise of its teams. Nick Tiltman, Credit Services Director, UK, TD SYNNEX said: “The CICMQ re-accreditation is a wonderful achievement and deserved recognition of our team’s commitment to delivering high quality services and continuing to improve on what we offer. I am truly proud to be part of such an exceptional team.” TD SYNNEX offers a wide range of financial solutions that provide partners with different ways to meet the needs of their end-user customers. These include the Credit Elevator, which allows SMB resellers to increase their credit at regular intervals without having to reapply; the Tech as a Service (TaaS) programme, which enables customers to pay for hardware, software, and services on a subscription basis; and Flexscription, which provides an assured residual value at the end of a lease term. https://uk.tdsynnex.com Westcon-Comstor extends Juniper Networks partnership Westcon-Comstor has expanded its partnership with Juniper Networks, a leader in secure, AInative networking solutions, into the UK & Ireland and France. The distribution agreement will see Westcon drive adoption of Juniper’s full portfolio of AInative networking products and solutions across the new markets, recruiting new channel partners through awareness and marketing campaigns and enabling existing partners to achieve growth, for example through support with financing and implementation. Westcon is a strategic distribution partner for Juniper Networks, driving partner education and enablement and providing a suite of value-added services and technology insights, powered by a dedicated team of in-house Juniper specialists. The expansion into the UK & Ireland and France represents a further strengthening of the two companies’ partnership in EMEA, with distribution agreements already in place in Benelux, Cyprus, DACH, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Spain, Sub-Saharan Africa and UAE. Marianne Nickenig, VP Networking EMEA & VP Revenue Operations EU, Westcon Europe at Westcon-Comstor said: “This expansion of our strategic relationship is testament to the success we have achieved together within the EMEA region, and we are thrilled to now bring Juniper’s innovative products and services, wrapped in Westcon’s value-added services, to partners in the UK & Ireland and France.” www.westconcomstor.com The clock is ticking p22 2024 Nick Tiltman
FREE RECYCLING SOLUTION for your end-user customers For the collection & recycling of all non-OEM consumables, we have a separate solution. Discover information and details of trade discounts at: www.print-recycle.com In Partnership with What is Circular Planet? A FREE collection and recycling service for printer consumables. End-Users can put all genuine OEM brands of printer consumables into ONE Circular Planet recycling box. The Circular Planet ‘One-Box’ solution is a better environmental option that also saves space and waste costs. Reusable products are supplied back to OE Manufacturers with the rest being recycled through a raw-material recovery process. WBM Ltd is a Circular Planet partner for this unique European-wide industry initiative, responsible for delivering and collecting recycling boxes from customers across the UK & Ireland. • Simple online portal to book recycling services directly. • Order FREE recycling boxes to hold 25-35 items • All genuine OE Manufactured printer consumables accepted for recycling • All printer consumables accepted (toners, drums, fusers, waste toner boxes etc.) • Request FREE box collections • Download Waste Transfer Notes and Certificates of Recycling • All products re-used or recycled • Zero Landfill Benefits for your end users www.circular-planet.co.uk Call: 0161 338 5208
01732 759725 BULLETIN 10 Approved by SBTi TD SYNNEX’s near and long-term sciencebased emissions reduction targets have been approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). TD SYNNEX commits to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions across the value chain by FY2045; to reduce absolute scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions 42% by FY2030 from a FY2022 base year and to reduce absolute scope 1, 2 and 3 GHG emissions 90% by FY2045 from a FY2022 base year. Additionally, the company also commits that 90% of its suppliers by spend covering purchased goods and services, will have science-based targets by FY2028 and that 58% of its customers by revenue covering use of sold products, will have science-based targets by FY2028. “I was privileged to sign our commitment to the SBTi Business Ambition Pledge as one of my first acts as CEO of TD SYNNEX following the merger that created our company in September 2021, so it’s safe to say sustainability has been a priority for our business from day 1,” said Rich Hume, CEO, TD SYNNEX. “I thank all the co-workers involved in building our roadmap to achieving these goals. The approval by SBTi is a testament to their hard work and commitment.” www.tdsynnex.com New partnership Climb Channel Solutions, an international specialty technology distributor and wholly owned subsidiary of Climb Global Solutions, Inc. has announced a new partnership with Flashpoint, a leader in threat data and intelligence. The global partnership will enable more partners to access Flashpoint’s comprehensive threat intelligence platform, Flashpoint Ignite, which integrates human-powered data collection and intelligence with intuitive technology to help organisations protect people, places, and assets. “We are excited to join forces with Climb Channel Solutions to amplify our reach and impact,” said Ryan Bauernschmidt, Senior Director of Partnerships at Flashpoint. “This strategic alliance aligns with our mission to deliver the most relevant, timely, and actionable threat intelligence that empowers enterprises to make mission-critical decisions that keep people and assets safe. “By leveraging Climb’s extensive distribution network, we can expand the reach of our industry-leading threat intelligence to a broader audience. This partnership will not only drive significant growth but also provide unparalleled value to our mutual customers by enhancing their ability to proactively safeguard critical assets and reduce risk.” www.climbcs.com Value in the meeting room Maverick, the specialist audio visual division of TD SYNNEX, has signed a distribution agreement with Pexip, a leading provider of secure, enterprise-grade video and collaboration solutions that improve meeting room experiences and drive higher ROI for customers. Mark Glasspool, Business Development Director said: “Pexip’s innovative video conferencing platform gives partners the opportunity to enhance user experiences for their customers and get even better return on all their collaboration and meeting room investments. We are committed to providing cutting-edge solutions for our partners and Pexip is a significant addition to our portfolio – one that enables partners to deliver truly seamless and effective communication experiences to their customers. “As well as solving a dilemma for users looking to create a full native experience on a variety of host video conferencing platforms, Pexip can help organisations looking to migrate from on-prem’ to cloud by bridging the gap between legacy systems and modern collaboration solutions.” Pexip’s solutions build on the vendor’s trusted, scalable, and interoperable platform to provide high quality video experiences that can be securely accessed from anywhere. They are the latest addition to an extensive portfolio that provides TD SYNNEX Maverick’s partners with an unrivalled choice of options with which they can meet all their customers’ collaboration and UC requirements. https://uk.tdsynnex.com/portfolios/maverickav-solutions Integra expands supplier portfolio Integra has added The Cheeky Panda to its supplier portfolio, bringing an innovative, ecofriendly product range to members. Founded in 2016 by Chris Forbes and Julie Chen, The Cheeky Panda has rapidly grown into a globally recognised, B Corp certified brand, dedicated to sustainability and quality. The company's products are made from FSC certified bamboo, providing a natural and sustainable alternative to traditional paper products. Integra’s Purchasing Director, Allison Fishlock said: “This is an exciting product range that provides members with additional sales opportunities in a growing category where sustainability is becoming a bigger part of the conversation. We are looking forward to working with the team at The Cheeky Panda.” www.integra-business.co.uk www.totalitglobal.com tech-live.co.uk Business Design Centre · London · 17 September 2024 ICT · MANAGED IT · MOBILE · PRINT 24 in partnership with Rich Hume Mark Glasspool
746 channel partners £550M + customer spend under management 84% of customers renew with Fidelity Energy Regular webinars Annual roadshows Incentives Golf, poker and spa day What sets Fidelity Energy apart? • Unlock a recurring revenue stream • All your customers use gas and electric • Enhance your customer relationships • Lower customer costs and reduce carbon emissions • Help customers achieve their CSR/ESG targets • Offer EV Charging, Solar Panels and Voltage Optimisation Selling energy is a low-touch product, all you need is a bill to be able quote and the Fidelity Energy team manages the switch. You can also benefit from our digital switching integration for a quick and easy self-service process for you and your customers. Elevate your Print IT business today with the perfect cross-sell opportunity. Suitable for everyone, from your small business customers to those from the larger energy-intensive industries. Discover the multitude of benefits of a Fidelity Energy partnership and get in touch with our Partnership Development Manager, Paul Callow, today: [email protected] 01491 520111 Business Energy Partnership Unlock new Potential with a Fidelity Energy Partnership Join over 700 partners who have achieved success selling energy through Fidelity Energy over the last 10 years.
01732 759725 12 BULLETIN Konica Minolta opens client engagement centre Konica Minolta has opened its new stateof-the-art client engagement centre (CEC), which provides customers and partners with hands-on experience of its innovative print solutions. Located in Houghton Regis near Luton in Bedfordshire, the CEC provides the perfect central location for product sales demonstrations, training, and events centred around solutions from Konica Minolta and its technology partners including Fiery, eProductivity Software (ePS), Solimar Systems, Flex4 OPS, Morgana, Premier Paper and Foilco. Rob Ferris, Chief Executive Officer of Konica Minolta Business Solutions (UK) Ltd said: “We are immensely proud to open our new client engagement centre. By working closely with our technology partners, we have developed a comprehensive end-to-end workflow experience, that enables our customers to see first-hand what can be possible within their organisations. This new facility firmly demonstrates our ongoing commitment and dedication to the UK print market, as well as supporting the business needs of our customers and channel partners.” www.konicaminolta.co.uk 2024 partner summit Flexible pricing options and their benefits to the channel were the main themes discussed at PaperCut’s 2024 Partner Summit which was hosted virtually. PaperCut’s popular channel event provided a platform to introduce its new subscription licencing model. It will be offered alongside its existing perpetual licensing options for PaperCut MF, its powerful, all-in-one print management solution for printers and multifunction devices. The introduction of the subscription pricing model unifies subscription pricing with PaperCut Hive and enables channel partners to offer customers more choice with respect to the pricing model best suited to their current and future print needs. Steve Holmes, Head of Global Sales & Channels/EMEA GM, said: “Our 2024 Partner Summit is an excellent opportunity to outline how the expansion of our licencing model offerings enables our partners to build even better long-term, value-add, relationships with their customers, while also helping to boost the margin they make on our solutions. “The channel will play a vital role in communicating the flexibility and benefits of our perpetual and subscription pricing models, and we’re excited about sharing details with them during this year’s partner summit.” www.papercut.com HP partners with Canva HP Inc. has announced a strategic multi-year global partnership with Canva, the world’s only all-in-one visual communication platform. The collaboration aims to benefit both HP print service providers and the Canva community worldwide, enabling anyone creating visual content on the Canva platform to seamlessly design and print within a fully integrated system. This deal will enable Canva users to design anything and print anywhere without compromising quality and authenticity. “This partnership will deliver huge strategic value and fuel customer growth across both organisations,” said Cliff Obrecht, Canva cofounder and Chief Operating Officer. "We're excited to partner with HP to accelerate the expansion of Canva Print. HP’s innovations in cloud software, quality management, and digital print have been at the centre of our Canva Print expansion,” said Jim Towle, Head of Print and Partnerships, Canva. “With our teams working closely on new products and additional PSP locations, we can expand our world-class print capabilities and make it easier than ever for our global community to bring their designs to life.” www.hp.com • www.canva.com GLL Sport Foundation confirms Kyocera Annodata as sponsor Leisure and cultural charitable social enterprise GLL has welcomed Kyocera Annodata as one of its sponsors of the GLL Sport Foundation Awards 2024/25. The UK’s largest independent athlete support programme, now in its 16th year, has provided an essential boost by providing 28,000 young athletes awards as recipients train and compete in national and international competition – including Olympics, Paralympics and Commonwealth Games. Since 2008, £15m of support – covering 117 different sports – has been given, including cash awards, use of gym facilities and access to professional services including physiotherapy, alongside athlete wellbeing support provided by Switch the Play Foundation. In 2024/25, over £1m will be awarded to 2,200 athletes across 50 UK partnerships operated by GLL, some competing at the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Rod Tonna-Barthet, Chief Executive Officer at Kyocera Annodata and partner to GLL, said: “We began our sponsorship with the GLL Sports Foundation back in 2015, and are delighted to have renewed for another year. One thing that has remained a constant since we started sponsoring is our shared vision for committing to grassroots investment and ensuring the needs of local athletes and communities are always met. As a result, the programme has grown considerably in the last few years, helping athletes who have struggled to chase their sporting dreams due to lack of funding. “I would like to extend our best wishes to the young athletes who are part of the GSF Awards Programme this year and wish them the very best of luck with their training and in their future competitions.” www.kyoceradocumentsolutions.co.uk Rod Tonna-Barthet Rob Ferris
01732 759725 14 BULLETIN Strong FY23 results DocuWare experienced a 17% global revenue growth in FY23. This was driven by significant demand for cloud-based solutions, reflected in a 31% growth in cloud revenue. The company continues to offer feature parity between cloud and on-premise versions, and it continues to see a small and steady revenue growth here too. The company has reported a surge in new customer adoption, with 3,000 new customers worldwide over the past financial year. Of these, 85% opted for cloud solutions, indicating a growing demand for the accessibility, flexibility and scalability of a cloud-based ECM that meets best-inclass security and compliance standards. The company now serves a global customer base of 19,000 customers who use cloud, on-premise or hybrid deployments.” https://start.docuware.com Joining forces MPS Monitor and Nexera have joined forces under Valsoft Corporation's managed print vertical to deliver added value to dealers and managed print providers. The companies say this collaboration signifies a pivotal moment in MPS software evolution, integrating remote management and service analytics capabilities under a unified leadership team, a cohesive go-to-market strategy, and a distinctive value proposition. At the heart of the partnership is MPS Monitor and Nexera’s commitment to redefine managed print services by integrating their strengths into a unified, comprehensive solution for print and imaging dealers and managed print providers. By leveraging synergies, integrations and skills across both platforms, dealers can expect unique functionalities, streamlined workflows, and optimised print fleet management capabilities tailored to their business needs. www.mpsmonitor.com • www.nexera.net Nebula makes FEBE Growth 100 list Sustainable technology services firm Nebula Global Services has made the prestigious FEBE Growth 100 list at number 9. The FEBE Growth 100 looks to celebrate the true spirit of entrepreneurism by recognising Britain’s fastest-growing, founder-led private companies with the list ranking companies based on their compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in sales over the last three financial years. Ross Teague, CEO and founder of Nebula Global Services said: “As a serial entrepreneur, I formed the idea of Nebula during the pandemic back in 2020 following the successful sale of my previous business. My concept was simple, to create a sustainable global technology community for the benefit of future generations through an obsession to source-local, sourceresponsible and source-ethical. The journey we have been on since Nebula’s inception has been nothing short of incredible, and to be listed alongside this fantastic cohort of UK businesses is very humbling.” www.nebulaglobalservices.com Three-year warranty TSC Auto ID is issuing a three-year warranty, instead of the usual two, on all its desktop printer models purchased in the EMEA region. “Providing an extra year’s warranty will enhance peace of mind and assurance to our customers,” said Bob Vines, UK, Ireland & Nordics country manager for TSC Auto ID. “We are additionally offering complimentary repair services or product replacements for any complications arising from manufacturing flaws during the warranty term.” The three-year warranty is available across the whole range of TSC Auto ID desktop printers including the new TH/DH Series launched last autumn. https://emea.tscprinters.com Public sector deal Circular Computing has been awarded a new contract worth up to €30M, with Ireland’s Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to supply remanufactured notebooks to the Irish public sector. This contract can potentially provide in the region of 60,000 remanufactured notebooks over the four-year term of the agreement. The Government of Ireland, through its “Buying Greener” Green Public Procurement Strategy and Action Plan, has set a target that by 2025 a minimum of 80% of newly procured ICT end-user products will meet the highest environmental standards including that they will have been remanufactured, certified to EPEAT Gold or TCO certified. Green IT will be the sole reseller partner to provide Irish public sector customers with remanufactured notebooks, helping Circular Computing to gain a significant share of the Irish public sector notebook market. www.circularcomputing.com Champion ranking Zyxel Networks’ firewall solutions have been awarded Champion status in the latest Professional User Ratings (PUR) survey covering security solutions from independent German research and analysis organisation techconsult. More than 3,500 security experts from user organisations took part in techconsult’s Professional User Rating: Security Solutions 2024 survey. They were asked to rate products and services in a number of areas, with vendors subsequently ranked on the basis of their solution/technology excellence and company excellence. Zyxel Networks was one of only eight vendors to achieve the top status, having received the highest overall solution/ technology excellence rating and the fourth highest company excellence ranking. Kevin Drinkall, Director, Marketing and GTM Strategy, EMEA, Zyxel Networks, said: “The latest PUR Security Solutions 2024 survey puts Zyxel Networks and its firewall solutions amongst the very best. It’s a powerful endorsement of Zyxel Networks’ ability to innovate and deliver enterprise performance and features at SMB prices.” www.techconsult.de 2024 CATEGORIES & ENTRY CRITERA – Page 22 Ross Teague Kevin Drinkall
01732 759725 16 BULLETIN : PEOPLE Workflo appoints new public sector head Workflo Solutions has appointed Paul Evans as its new Head of Public Sector. Evans joins with an impressive 16-year career in the public sector, having worked with councils, universities, colleges, the NHS, blue light agencies, and various public sector bodies. His tenure with companies such as Ricoh, Konica Minolta, and HP Apogee as regional manager for Scotland has equipped him with extensive expertise in delivering managed print solutions that emphasise sustainability, environmental responsibility, and value for money. His client-centric approach ensures tailored solutions that meet the unique needs of each organisation. www.workflo-solutions.co.uk Management changes Following the joining of MPS Monitor and Nexera under Valsoft Corporation's managed print vertical, Sarah Henderson has been named Regional Director for North America for both businesses. Henderson brings almost two decades of expertise in the MPS arena, having spearheaded strategic initiatives and driven substantial revenue growth with several market leaders. Her background includes leading sales and operations, cultivating strategic partnerships, and developing innovative and successful goto-market programs that have shaped industry trends and channel behaviours. Nicola De Blasi, former CEO of MPS Monitor and Euroform, has assumed the role of Chief Strategy Officer for both companies. "By joining forces with Nexera under Sarah’s leadership, MPS Monitor is now entering a new and more dynamic phase of growth and innovation," he said. "By aligning and sharing common strategies and resources, the two companies are poised to deliver unparalleled value and achieve sustainable growth in the managed print services market." www.mpsmonitor.com • www.nexera.net Leadership promotions at Vantage Online Following recent organisational changes at Asolvi, Vantage Online has announced several internal promotions. Having joined the Vantage helpdesk team in 2018, Chris Wright has been promoted from Senior Support Technician to Technical Support Manager. He brings a welcome fresh perspective and renewed focus on customer service excellence. With over 14 years of service and having been personally responsible for the onboarding of many of Vantage’s key clients Neil Woodward steps into the role of Professional Services Team Leader. He leads a team of highly experienced implementation and consultancy colleagues with over 60 years of combined experience in deploying and consulting on Vantage Online and its predecessor solutions. Additionally, in its recently reconstituted development and engineering function, Kundan Kishore becomes Engineering Team Leader, having joined the business in 2019. Last, but far from least, Vantage Online is thrilled to welcome back Matt Houlden to his former role as Operations Director. Since 2003 Matt’s strategic vision has propelled Vantage forward, not least amongst his achievements being the initial genesis of Vantage Online itself. Managing Director Tony Milford said: “Anyone who has led a business, or a team knows that there is nothing that gives you more pleasure than seeing committed, long-serving staff fulfilling their potential. Chris, Neil, Kundan and Matt are the finest of Vantage Online and are singularly committed to delivering for their customers and their colleagues. I take my hat off to them and am proud to call them friends as well as trusted colleagues.” www.asolvi.com Cohesity hires new Chief Technology Officer Cohesity has announced the appointment of Dr Craig Martell as Chief Technology Officer. In this role, Dr Martell will bring his deep industry expertise to shape the company's technical vision, incorporating current and evolving industry and customer trends to define and execute a strategic and impactful roadmap for the company’s future. “The speed and scale Cohesity has achieved over the last several years is a testament to the incredible technology platform the company has built at the junction of multi-cloud, security and AI for the future of data protection. My role will be to accelerate the innovation internally and the advocacy externally of Cohesity’s AIpowered innovations that are second to none,” he said. “I’m honoured to join Sanjay and the talented team he has put together as we accelerate the company’s course to advance AI and machine learning capabilities critical to addressing key challenges to enterprise data.” www.cohesity.com Christian Burton to judge at PrintIT Awards We’re delighted to announce that Christian Burton, Founder & CEO of Pipeline Upgrade has joined the 2024 PrintIT Awards judging panel. Christian is a renowned business development specialist and entrepreneur. After climbing the ranks at Kyocera Document Solutions UK to lead their new business development team, he founded Pipeline Upgrade Ltd in 2017. www.printitawards.co.uk Christian Burton Chris Wright Kundan Kishore Neil Woodward Matt Houlden Sarah Henderson Paul Evans Dr Craig Martell
01732 759725 18 WORKPLACE Liz Budd, Head of Marketing at First Copy, picks the tools she uses every day and couldn’t do her job without I couldn’t do my job without... of my job, building out an annual plan and creating quarterly content buckets. Trello makes it possible to map everything out for each three-month period with dates for completion and our team's initials. Simple collaboration means that if I was unexpectedly off work, everyone would still know what was going on. e AI Yes, I know. A year ago, I wouldn't have said this, but generative AI is everywhere now, and it's not going away. We can either face it, learn about it, and use it as a tool in our toolbox, or we can pretend it's not happening. I've made a conscious choice to see what it can do and improve my prompt engineering these last few months. I can tell you that in the last week, it's excelled in two areas: a) creating a CustomGPT that will revolutionise our internal sales processes and b) tapping q Coffee The dog needs feeding, the kids need getting ready, the washing needs to go on, and the shopping needs to be ordered. Like so many people, there’s a long list of life admin tasks – not to mention the school run – before I can even think about switching on my laptop or jumping in the car to head to HQ. None of this would be possible without my morning coffee. Nothing particularly fancy, but a pod in the machine jump-starts my day. I relish those few quieter minutes in the morning when I can mentally prepare for the family and work onslaught. w Trello What is life without checking boxes to celebrate a job well done? I am one of those people with lists of lists, but running a team and feeding back to the directors means I can't keep those lists to myself. I love the strategy part out a practically perfect packing list for my next girls' holiday. I just wish AI could free me up for creative things by cleaning my house and cooking meals my kids don't moan about. r Strength training At the risk of jumping on a Millennial Mums’ bandwagon, I've taken up strength training at my local gym. And it's not just because using battle ropes makes me feel like a ninja. I've never been much of an athlete, but I'm fitter and stronger than perhaps I've ever been. I'm sleeping better, and my boss says I am full of energy and enthusiasm lately. (But hey, maybe that was the coffee?) t Flexibility I definitely couldn't do my job without flexibility. The ability to rearrange and reprioritise tasks, working hours and locations is essential if someone is ill, there's a special event, or an unexpected calamity strikes. Working in technology, this level of adaptability should be a given in 2024, but I'm grateful that First Copy has embraced it for a very long time. It means I can juggle many plates and break few of them: from managing family commitments and childcare conundrums to speaking at external events and leading a Beaver troop. Flexibility is important for everyone, but I’m particularly passionate about bringing more women into tech (and keeping them there) and in our experience, flexibility means keeping a lot of talented Mums and carers in the workforce. https://firstcopy.co.uk/ Liz Budd
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