01732 759725 44 VOX POP continued... The impact of price increases, on hardware, software and consumables, is becoming more challenging to maintain in terms of costeffectiveness for us and our customers However, we have always maintained good relationships with all of our partners, for managed print as well as IT and telecoms and rely on them for updates and any additional training our team may need, especially the new recruits. The OEMs offer a wide range of support, from training to marketing, which we find extremely useful. As we are an independent reseller and IT provider, we are able to incorporate the support, provided by our OEM partners, into our own activities to strengthen our messages and provide a deeper insight for our customers. John Green: Although we are an independent reseller of managed print, comprehensive IT services and telecoms solutions, we work closely with our chosen partners in these areas. We really appreciate the support our partners provide, particularly in training and account management. However, the impact of price increases, on hardware, software and consumables, is becoming more challenging to maintain in terms of costeffectiveness for us and our customers. We feel our OEM suppliers could do more to help bring a balance that supports the success of all parties involved. Daniel Gilbert: The best thing our partners can do is give us the tools we need to identify opportunities, then leverage their expertise to see the project through. A few signs to look out for, a couple of key questions to ask, and then get a partner involved if we find some potential. Our sales team having some knowledge of these additional services is great, as long as they don’t become a distraction. That’s why having our partners be the experts on our behalf is so useful. Daniel Maddox: Our partners have played an essential role in helping Evolve upskill and expand into new areas. They provide comprehensive training and certification programmes, ensuring our team is proficient in the latest technologies and services, covering areas like cloud solutions, cybersecurity, and advanced print management. We also receive ongoing technical support and resources, including product documentation and dedicated support teams, enabling us to offer top-tier service to our clients. There are always new areas for us to work together. Rachel Pollard: We work very closely with well-known partners in the various fields we offer services in. For managed print services we have an excellent relationship with Develop, who work closely with us and provide us with tremendous support. We recently attended a conference at which they provided their dealers with updates and insights about new products and services that we can provide to our own customers. We are regularly trained, and their account management is second to none when it comes to knowledge and experience. Our audio branding business, although an evolving field, is built on the experience we have with our audio branding partners, and also within the WDS team, with access to knowledgeable script writers and recording studios and experience in the audio-visual industry. This enables us to offer an added value service, which is surprisingly affordable, to our customers. into emerging markets and customer preferences would enable us to make more informed strategic decisions. Janet Bowden: Having an established partnership of over 29 years with Konica Minolta, a two-year partnership with Sharp, and a 13-year partnership with Kyocera, means that we have access to the very best these partnerships can provide. They actively work with us, providing advance information and knowledge of new products, technology updates, and are instrumental in ensuring that our staff are kept up-todate and ahead on new products and trends in our industry. Both our account management and In-house engineering teams regularly receive and have access to the very latest training on new products, which helps us upskill and expand our offering to customers. Within our industry, there is a feeling that some manufacturers have been focusing on their own survival rather than innovating and addressing supply chain issues, which sometimes leads to delays in receiving machines and slows growth for both resellers and OEMs. If I had any criticism of OEMs and distribution partners, it would be that if manufacturers were more transparent about their future plans and investments, this would be more beneficial for everyone. By sharing their long-term vision, OEMs would definitely build greater confidence amongst resellers and prevent the perception that they’re being held back because of lack of transparency. Improving communication helps us all adapt proactively to the rapid changes in our industry. Jon Palin: We have invested in a solid team here at Elmdale Maintenance and Elmdale IT Services, so we are very experienced and largely self-sufficient. Daniel Gilbert Rachel Pollard Jon Palin
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