01732 759725 40 EVENTS continued... In her address, she also shared five key trends that present opportunities for the channel. These include: the AI-enabled workplace, how cloud maturity will influence strategies around print and digitisation, intensifying cybersecurity risks, MPS transformation and sustainability. Panel discussion and poll The closing session was an interactive panel discussion, facilitated by Louella Fernandes and featuring Tony Milford, Phil Madders from Print Audit Europe, Tom Mills from Field Solutions Group, and Dave Thompson from Tungsten Automation. The session included a series of questions and polls to the audience – key findings include: 42% of respondents cited the need to diversify revenue sources and 28% said declining unit placements and click volumes, as the trend that will have the biggest impact in the next five years. Surprisingly just 4% selected staff retention and recruitment. The majority (61%) said recruitment, upskilling and retention of staff was one of many challenges, just 17% said it was a top three challenge and almost the same number (15%) said it was currently not a challenge. Business process optimisation/ workflow automation and IT services were identified as most viable new revenue streams with both achieving a 48% response rate, while 35% of respondents selected software licencing and adjacent workplace technology solutions such as AV and telecoms. On the topic of sustainability, interestingly just 16% of respondents said this was very important to their customers When asked what percentage of revenues come from print and click today, almost half of respondents said this was ≥76%. 32% said between 51-75%. Those numbers dramatically shifted when the audience was asked what they think it will be in five years’ time – just 15% said ≥76%, the majority (49%) said they believed revenues would be between 26-50%. The final question of the day asked what percentage of this change in revenue would come from SaaS/subscription sources and again the results were surprising, with the majority 35% saying 1-25% and almost the same number (32%) saying 26-50%. www.asolvi.com/vantage-online The first of four Golf Society meetings this year took place at the Cheshire Course, Carden Park Golf Resort on May 9. The main topic of discussion the night before, over a few beers and a curry, was the weather. In the end, it held up remarkably well and remained sunny! The 47 players who joined us could not have asked for better conditions. The course was fantastic, the sun shone all day and the staff looked after us well. The winners Many congratulations to the day’s winners. n Longest Drive – Jake Rigby of IP Netix. n Nearest the Pin – Mike Anderson of Brother. n Nearest the Pin in Two on a Par 4 – Chris Hodges of Sol Distribution. n Nearest the Pimms on a Par 3 (a new prize) – Dudley Southern of 40fi. n Team Prize – Team 11 IPNetix. n Overall Winner – Ryan Batchelor of Knight Corporate Finance. Two players came in with 40 points, but Ryan’s back 9 count was the clincher. I would like to thank our sponsors for their support, without which we would not be able to offer free food and drinks at the halfway house and drinks in the 19th hole. A big thank you to CF Corporate Flexscription, GetCrisp, Nimans, PrintIT Reseller and Technology Reseller Golf Society 2024 By Paul Johnson 2 0 24 PEAC Solutions, Vantage Online and Merchandise Sponsor 2Connect. Upcoming events If you would like to join us and network with around 48 people from different parts of the ICT sector, we are playing Hearsall Golf Club on July 25 and Redditch Golf Club, our final outing of the year, on October 3. If you would like to join us at any of the above events, please email [email protected] or call the office on 01732 759725 and speak to Neil, Ethan or Jeff. Louella Fernandes
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