www.printitreseller.uk PRINT, MFP, SOFTWARE, SERVICES, DOCUMENT & CLOUD NEWS & INFORMATION FOR VARS, CONVERGED RESELLERS & MFP DEALERS ISSUE 122 · 2024 PRINT IT RESELLER MAGAZINE IN PRINT & ONLINE SINCE 2011 20 24 Royal Lancaster · December 3 Winners will be revealed Tuesday December 3 Last chance to book your place!
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PRINTITRESELLER.UK 3 COMMENT The countdown is on, it’s just a few short weeks until THE event of the year. I’m delighted to announce that Jimmy McGhie will host and compere the 2024 PrintIT Awards which will take place on Tuesday December 3 at the Royal Lancaster, London. Congratulations to everyone who made the shortlists. See page 22 for another look at the companies and individuals up for an award, and I look forward to revealing the winners and celebrating your successes on the night. Tickets are selling fast, but there’s still time to book your place – call Ethan, Neil or Jeff on 01732 759725, download the booking form at www.printitawards. co.uk or email [email protected] Also in this issue, Sarah Kochli, Head of Marketing at Toshiba Tec UK Imaging Systems, picks the work tools she uses every day and couldn’t do her job without (page 18). This month’s Q&A is with Sam Elphick, Director, Lex Business Equipment, and PITR spent 60 seconds with George Lightfoot, Sales Executive, Commerce Business Systems. 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 Editor’s 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 Read PrintIT Reseller online at: www.printitreseller.uk Join us : Follow us @print-it-reseller-magazine PrintIT 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 PrintIT Reseller can be reproduced without prior written permission of the publisher. ©2024 Kingswood Media Ltd. 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... Sarah Kochli picks her favourite work tools 20 A decade in print Andy Bryant shares his print experiences over the past decade 22 PrintIT Awards Jimmy McGhie announced as this year’s compere 26 Focus on: What’s New A round-up of recent product launches 29 Q&A Stuart Miller, UK & I Director of Channel Partners at Canon 34 MFPs Katun introduces Arivia, its first line of MFPs 36 Interview A conversation with Fujifilm 39 Distribution Distribution with a difference 40 VOX POP The state of the channel – part two 46 Industry Insight Tim Muckart, Director Channel Sales EMEA, Vasion 48 View from the Channel Sam Elphick, Director, Lex Business Equipment 50 60 seconds with… George Lightfoot, Sales Executive, Commerce Business Systems 2024 ISSUE 122 printitreseller.uk If you no longer wish to receive PrintIT Reseller magazine please email your details to [email protected] 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] Designer: Brian Cloke 07484 288189 PRINT IT RESELLER MAGAZINE IN PRINT & ONLINE SINCE 2011 Issue 122 ISSN 2055-3110 (Print) ISSN 2055-3129 (Online) 20 24 Royal Lancaster · December 3
01732 759725 4 BULLETIN 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. It was our very own Neil Trim’s birthday at the end of last month and he was down in sunny Brighton celebrating with Eve his wife and friends. It just so happened I was there too, so we all met up and enjoyed an impromptu get together at the beach. Naturally, I made sure everyone got a chance to catch up on the news in our favourite magazine! 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] PITR Account Manager Jeff Root and Darren Wicks from IBS Phillipa and Steve Morris from ODM Neil Trim and Michelle Ryder The fourth round of this year’s PrintIT Reseller and Technology Reseller Golf Society took place on October 3 at Redditch Golf Club and in between shots, some of players spent time checking out the latest in print. Andrew Edwards, Print Logic Andrew Hendry, Ricoh Archie Whitworth, DSales James Hosking, DSales Jonathan Whitworth, DSales
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01732 759725 6 BULLETIN Racing for charity A team of employees from Oyster entered and completed the Equinox24 Challenge, a 24 hour running event in the grounds of Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire. Entrants can choose to run solo, or in a relay team of two to eight and/or in the day or night 10k events. Team Oyster completed 23 laps with a team of seven - an excellent result and great effort which raised £1,305 for Epilepsy Research Institute. www.oystermps.co.uk Proud sponsors Carbon is supporting the young athletes of Dundee East Football Club U12, providing them with brand new waterproof jackets just in time for the winter season. www.carbon-group.co.uk Espria launches security solution Espria has launched a new enhanced network security solution. Espria Security Service Edge (SSE) has been designed and developed for any organisation currently using legacy VPN solutions or Always On VPN. Based on zero trust principles, Espria SSE replaces traditional connections to applications, delivering enhanced network security and a seamless user experience that does not compromise on performance or security. Brian Sibley, Virtual CTO at Espria said: “Espria SSE replaces legacy VPNs with ZTNA to minimise the risk of implicit trust and lateral movement and has been designed to reduce the complexity of your existing security estate, as well as cost. With fewer security tools to manage it means organisations will experience increased efficiency and reduced OpEx. “Furthermore, by leveraging existing conditional access policies organisations will be able to maximise their existing investment in Microsoft tools, while enhancing their security position.” Espria SSE is offered in a number of packages dependent on the individual requirement of an organisation. www.espria.com CBS acquires Sastech Bradford-based Commerce Business Systems Ltd (CBS) has announced the acquisition of Sastech’s contracts and customer base, a move that expands its managed print and IT services scope in the northwest of England and north Wales. Sastech provides smart office solutions and managed services to customers across the northwest of England and north Wales, from its offices in Ellesmere Port and Conwy, respectively. The acquisition is an asset purchase and, while CBS has taken on the contracts and customer base of Sastech, the two companies will be working closely together and will operate under the CBS brand. The partnership enables CBS to expand its operations and provide Sastech’s customers with an even wider range of products and services to choose from, and the same high standards of support. CBS Managing Director John Green said: “Sastech and CBS are both like-minded, service-led companies, with the same values. We provide similar products and solutions and most importantly, we are both dedicated to excellence in customer service. I would like to personally welcome all our new customers on board and give my personal assurance that my team are working closely with Sastech’s Scott McNicol and his team, to ensure a smooth transition to the CBS brand.” www.commercebusinesssystems.co.uk (l-r) John Green and Scott McNichol Celebrating a partnership On September 19, industry leaders gathered at the Voco Belfast Hotel to celebrate the partnership between Brother Ireland and Burke Systems and Solutions. This collaboration aims to enhance document and workplace technology solutions, benefiting the community through the charity Business Beats Cancer Belfast. The event featured insights from Michael Burke, Managing Director of Burke Systems, who brings over 40 years of experience in managed print services. His company specialises in innovative print solutions, offering products ranging from multifunctional printers to document workflow software. Under Burke’s leadership, the firm has established itself as a key strategic partner for Brother Ireland. David Thompson of Tungsten Automation also contributed to the discussion, showcasing Printix, a cloud-based print infrastructure that revolutionises office printing. Printix allows seamless, secure printing from any device, significantly reducing IT burdens while enhancing data security and cost efficiency. The event was a resounding success, with engaging discussions and an inspiring presentation from Carley Shields of Business Beats Cancer Belfast, who received funds raised during the event. As Brother Ireland and Burke Systems and Solutions move forward, this partnership is poised to drive innovation in the print and document management sectors, creating new opportunities for businesses in Northern Ireland. www.burkesystems.co.uk
PRINTITRESELLER.UK 7 Copiers for causes Lancashire-based Evolve Document Solutions has donated five photocopiers to Rainbow Hub as part of its ‘Copiers for Causes’ initiative, supporting the charity’s new purpose-built school in Mawdesley. Rainbow Hub, a non-profit organisation providing education and therapy services for children with physical and neurological disabilities, will benefit from the in-house printing capabilities to support its operations. The photocopiers will be used to produce essential documents and educational materials, helping the charity to reduce costs and allocate more resources to their core services. Daniel Maddox, Owner of Evolve Document Solutions, said: “Rainbow Hub is such an important local charity. It is wonderful to see the new premises that their inspiring educational community and hard work deserve. The team at Evolve are proud to donate the photocopiers and join other local benefactors supporting this worthy cause.” Emma Parish, Rainbow Hub Corporate Relations and Event Manager, added: “We are grateful to Evolve Document Solutions for their generous donation of five photocopiers. This will make a huge difference to our charity, allowing us to produce important documents, promotional materials, and fundraising materials in-house. “The new photocopiers will help us save time and money, enabling us to focus on supporting our cause and making a positive impact on our community. Thank you so much for your support!” Since starting back in 2016, the ‘Copiers for Causes’ initiative has now installed over 50 photocopiers for community projects and charities across the Northwest. The campaign was launched to provide reconditioned machines to organisations that could not afford the expense of new equipment but required low running costs and greater features and functionality. Maddox added: “‘Copiers for Causes’ is a simple idea. We hope charities like Rainbow Hub will benefit from a more efficient, cost-effective printing solution. Better still, we are using office machines that, in some cases, may otherwise have been unused and recycled. This way, we keep a business asset generating value for organisations that need it most.” Evolve Document Solutions aims to continue the initiative by offering more refurbished photocopiers to eligible charities in the future. Interested organisations can apply for support through the company’s website. www. evolvedocumentsolutions.co.uk BULLETIN Aurora’s 10k challenge Last month, Aurora Managed Services took part in the Scotty’s Little Soldiers 10k. Sixteen team members joined forces to support this amazing cause, raising money for children who have lost a parent serving in the Armed Forces. Ross Matthews was the first from the Scotty’s Little Soldiers group to finish, he came third overall in the men’s category, crossing the finish line in just 55 minutes. Aside from the physical achievement, Aurora reached its goal of raising £2,000 for Scotty’s Little Soldiers. www.aurora.co.uk TripleComm adds Darkscope to its solutions roster Specialist solutions provider TripleComm has added Darkscope’s cyber threat intelligence solutions to its long-standing roster of network-focused solutions. Darkscope’s portfolio adds specific cybersecurity capabilities to TripleComm’s services for the first time. Chris Plastiras, Director at TripleComm, said: “We’re very selective about the solutions we choose for our clients, so it’s a measure of how impressive Darkscope is that we’ve added its solutions to our portfolio so quickly. The detailed cyber threat intelligence that Darkscope provides means we will be able to help our customers apply defensive resources where they are most needed.” Darkscope announced its formal channel program for managed security service providers to distribute its AI-powered portfolio of cyber threat intelligence solutions in August. www.triplecomm.co.uk GRC advances growth strategy The GRC Group, a provider of software and services to manage business risks and regulatory compliance, is advancing its strategy to build market-leading positions in select areas of governance, risk and compliance with the acquisition of Pentest People. Pentest People will join the provider of cyber security, information security and data protection services, trading as Bulletproof in the UK and Target Defense in the USA, in GRC’s newly formed cyber division. Headquartered in Leeds, Pentest People provides penetration-testing-as-a-service and continuous vulnerability scanning to more than 1,200 UK clients, directly and through channel partnerships. In addition to pen testing and cyber consultancy, it offers CHECK-accredited testing and has a rapidly growing incident response service. This is the GRC Group’s second acquisition this year and follows that of Bulletproof Cyber in June. Alex Dacre, Chief Executive of The GRC Group, said: “The addition of Pentest People following our acquisition of Bulletproof in June demonstrates our commitment to become an international leader in the governance, risk and compliance market, delivering tech‑led compliance to SMEs alongside leading enterprise SaaS point solutions.’’ www.thegrcgroup.co.uk A new chapter Planet Intelligent Technology Group has acquired IT Support Desk Limited (ITSD), a provider of outsourced IT helpdesk and support services. ITSD’s senior management team, led by Founder Neil McCracken, will remain with the business going forward. He said: “This acquisition represents an exciting new chapter for ITSD. Over the years, we’ve built something truly special, an innovative company that has continually strived for excellence and sought to make a positive impact in our industry. I am confident that the combination of our strengths with Planet Intelligent Technology Group’s vision and resources will open even more opportunities for growth, innovation, and success, for both the team and our customers.” https://planet-intec.com
01732 759725 8 Best workplaces in tech BULLETIN Vivitek signs Solstice AV as UK distributor Vivitek a brand of Delta, the visual display brand for all meeting spaces has appointed technical value-added AV distributor Solstice Distribution (Solstice AV), as its UK distribution partner. Under the terms of the partnership, Solstice AV will distribute Vivitek’s solutions, ranging from its digital projection to interactive products, and collaboration solutions. Offering pre- and post-sale end-to-end services – from conducting demonstrations to helping specify, install and support solutions – onboading Vivitek will enable Solstice AV to realise its ambitions to increase its customer base across sectors ranging from education to retail. https://solsticeav.com Right-size your renewal service TD SYNNEX has launched a dedicated software store for RSA secure identity solutions. The new Software Store will make it easier for partners to track and capture renewals on product licences, support services and the physical tokens that many organisations continue to use. It will also make it easier for partners to transition RSA customers to the vendor’s new subscription model, which is being used to unify all the different contracts and renewal options that have previously been available. In addition to alerting partners to renewals, TD SYNNEX can provide a free audit service for RSA partners that enables them to assess whether or not the customer has the appropriate number of licences and (if applicable) tokens. The ‘right-size your renewal’ assessment will identify if more or fewer licences are needed and provides RSA partners with a unique way to add extra value for their customers. The service has a 100% success rate. https://uk.tdsynnex.com Antalis to acquire Xerox paper business Antalis has signed a binding agreement to acquire the assets of Xerox’s EMEA paper business. The deal includes exclusive marketing and distribution rights for Xerox-branded paper and digital printing media in Eastern Europe, the Balkans, the Middle East, India and Africa. After the 2013 acquisition of the Xerox Western Europe Paper business, Antalis becomes the sole distributor of Xerox-branded paper in EMEA. The acquisition will enable Antalis to strengthen its position in the office paper market and in the fast-growing digital printing market, expand its customer base, offer customers a broader range of complementary products, strengthen its strategic partnerships with suppliers and improve its operational efficiency and profitability. www.antalis.co.uk FluidOne expands footprint FluidOne is expanding its managed services capabilities, gaining a specialism in professional services and growing its presence in the northwest with the acquisition of Lancashire-based MSP Orca IT. With more than 20 years’ experience working with professional services organisations, Orca IT, co-founded by Managing Director Mark Tunstall and Technical Director Alex Pimperton, specialises in delivering end-toend managed IT services, support, hosted desktop, cloud solutions and strategic guidance. The acquisitions of Orca IT and SureCloud Cyber Services (in March) have increased FluidOne revenues to more than £113m, increased the proportion generated by IT and cyber to more than 50% and grown its headcount to 540 people. www.fluidone.com Solstice AV’s sales team (l-r) Helen Fellows Office Manager, George Caines, Mason Rawbone, Ollie Dean and Izzie Dayas The 2024 UK’s Best Workplaces in Tech list launched by Great Place To Work UK, has recognised TD SYNNEX UK Limited among the list of organisations in the super large category for the second year in a row. Earlier this year, the company was re-accredited for Great Place to Work for 2024, after more than 65% of its co-workers provided feedback about the culture, programmes and practices that make its workplace unique. Being included on Best Workplaces in Tech list demonstrates that TD SYNNEX UK continues to be recognised for providing an outstanding experience for its co-workers. A range of policies and activities – closely aligned to the company’s core values of inclusion, collaboration, integrity, and excellence - are in place to ensure that co-workers feel empowered to act in the best interests of customers and to ensure other co-workers always feel supported, valued, and comfortable in the workplace. David Watts, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, UK and Ireland, TD SYNNEX, said: “We work extremely hard at TD SYNNEX to be welcoming, open, fair, and inclusive for everyone and we are both humbled and proud to once again be listed as a UK Best Workplaces in Tech organisation. We know that the best way to look after our customers is to ensure our co‑workers feel empowered, motivated and fully supported. In this way we foster a positive and progressive spirit that sustains our long-term success.” https://uk.tdsynnex.com David Watts
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01732 759725 10 MPS Monitor earns top marks MPS Monitor has achieved a Platinum rating from Keypoint Intelligence. Based on testing conducted in Keypoint’s UK lab, the evaluation includes a score of 5-out-of-5 across all report categories: features and productivity, usability, IT administration and security, support and training, and value. Thanks to this outstanding performance, MPS Monitor claimed its second Pick Award after also winning one in 2021. “MPS Monitor excels in delivering a comprehensive solution to meet the varied needs of office equipment dealers and managed print service providers,” said Lee Davis, Senior Analyst in Keypoint Intelligence’s Workplace Group. “The real strength of MPS Monitor lies in its ability to streamline the management of device fleets across multiple sites, thanks to its cloud architecture, all while providing reliable, trustworthy security. It empowers dealers and MPS providers to enhance efficiency and improve overall service quality.” “MPS Monitor is currently the only cloud managed print services platform to earn scores of 5-out-of-5 in every category we evaluate in our hands-on testing,” Anthony Sci, President & CEO of Keypoint Intelligence added. “Our cybersecurity testing, along with our analysis of third-party results provided by the company, show that the platform meets or exceeds best practices for a SaaS solution entrusted with customer information.” Nicola De Blasi, Chief Strategy Officer at MPS Monitor, said: “We are proud for the excellent rating achieved in the testing, and also deeply honoured to receive the prestigious Pick Award from Keypoint Intelligence. This recognition is a testament to our unwavering commitment to innovation and excellence. It validates our efforts to provide best-in-class solutions for managed print services providers worldwide. We will continue to enhance our platform, empowering our partners to exceed customer expectations while ensuring the highest security and compliance to global standards and best practices in their service delivery. This award reinforces our dedication to driving the future of managed print services through innovation and reliability.” www.mpsmonitor.com Nicola De Blasi BULLETIN Konica Minolta awards first accreditation Konica Minolta has awarded Production Print Direct its first formal Production Print Accreditation in the UK. The accreditation recognises the company’s significant commitment, dedication and investment in selling, servicing, and supporting the vendor’s production print solutions in close partnership. Cameron Mitchell, Channel Leader at Konica Minolta said: “This accreditation reflects Production Print Direct’s significant effort and investment in knowledge training and support services and has taken a year to complete. This is also genuinely a bi-directional partnership – we also receive invaluable feedback from the Production Print Direct team whilst providing them with full manufacturer support.” Mike Ashforth, Managing Director at Production Print Direct, added: “We are thrilled to have attained Konica Minolta Production Print Accreditation, which perfectly cements our already close partnership. This accreditation is a key part of our next growth phase as we expand to cater for new customers and an evolving print market.” www.konicaminolta.co.uk, www.ppdirect.co.uk Xerox publishes 2024 CSR report Xerox has published its latest global corporate social responsibility (CSR) report, Leading Responsibly, highlighting the company’s 2023 accomplishments in workplace sustainability, community support and operational efficiency. “This report underscores our advancements and accomplishments in environmental sustainability, societal responsibility, governance and innovation, and how we continue addressing ongoing clients’ challenges,” said Steve Bandrowczak, Chief Executive Officer at Xerox. “It is also a reflection of the work across our dedicated teams and partners to ensure that Xerox positively impacts the individuals, companies and communities we serve while contributing to a more sustainable future.” The company continues to deliver on its net zero by 2040 roadmap. It is on track to meet 2030 greenhouse gas emission goals of 60% reductions in scopes 1 and 2 and a 35% reduction in scope 3 over the 2016 baseline and to meet its 2040 net zero goal. Xerox continues to innovate with reliable print technologies and digital solutions that support clients’ sustainability goals. Over the past three years, CareAR has enabled remote issue resolution, improved uptime and reduced carbon emissions. In 2023, the company avoided 93,400 engineer site visits and over 850 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions through CareAR and AI-driven remote support. The company was named a leader in the 2023 Quocirca Sustainability Report and received the ENERGY STAR 2024 Partner of the Year Award. It also earned the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Equality 100 for the 21st consecutive year, highlighting its commitment to diversity and inclusion. In 2023, Xerox invested over $2.4 million in the nonprofit sector, with employees volunteering more than 42,000 hours globally. The company’s annual two-month campaign, from Earth Day to June 30, encourages employees to support causes aligned with its focus areas: education, sustainability and building strong communities. www.xerox.com
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01732 759725 12 Epson achieves EcoVadis platinum rating Epson has earned a platinum rating for sustainability from EcoVadis. The platinum rating places the company in the top 1% of all companies and industries assessed. In the recent evaluation, Epson increased its overall score from 77 to 83 points out of 100, despite EcoVadis implementing stricter evaluation criteria. The vendor achieved outstanding rankings within its industry, placing it in the top 1% for both environment and labour & human rights, and in the top 2% for sustainable procurement. Additionally, it ranks in the top 30% for ethics. Boris Manev, Sustainability Director at Epson Europe B.V., said: “We have a clear vision: to pioneer sustainable innovation and set new standards in environmental responsibility. This platinum accreditation is the result of hard work and highlights the steadfast commitment from the entire Epson team as we strive for a sustainable future. Our rating not only reflects our leadership in product excellence and innovation but also our dedication to making our industry more sustainable.” www.epson.co.uk BULLETIN Industry-first for Brother Brother has become the first print vendor to remanufacture its inkjet cartridges, as part of a new free service to help users contribute to circular economies. The vendor has launched a new inkjet cartridge remanufacturing line at its Recycling Technology Centre in Wrexham, North Wales, and expects to remanufacture over two million inkjet cartridges a year once fully operational. Its investment in the new service will create 20 new jobs. Business and home users can return used ink cartridges free of charge. All consumables are then inspected, taken apart, cleaned and put together again, including any new parts required. The cartridges are then refilled with Brother original ink, ensuring they are exactly the same quality as ‘new’ products. The new service adds to its existing capability to remanufacture toner cartridges from laser printers. The company has remanufactured more than 40 million toner cartridges globally since it began the service from Ruabon, near Wrexham, in 2004. In the two decades since, its specialist in-house engineering team has optimised the process, being accredited with the Blue Angel sustainability certification last year for its TN-3512 RE toner consisting of more than 75% of reused parts (by weight). A sister site in Slovakia makes the vendor the leading remanufacturer of used toners. Brother currently saves approximately 5,300 tonnes of CO2 every year by remanufacturing in this way, and it expects this to increase once its ink remanufacturing operation is at capacity. The process ensures that even damaged cartridges are repurposed or fully recycled with full traceability of parts to track how many times a cartridge has been remanufactured, with users encouraged to return inkjet cartridges over the last year to build stock ready for the line to begin operation. Craig McCubbin, Managing Director at Brother Industries UK, said: “Remanufacturing is going to play a pivotal role in helping the print industry significantly reduce its emissions and positively contribute to meeting net zero. Our investment in expanding our operations shows how committed we are to driving this change, with our specialist R&D team in North Wales pioneering how the print sector and its users can benefit from circular economies.” www.brother.co.uk Xerox introduces verified carbon neutrality service Xerox has introduced a new MPS offering with the introduction of its Verified Carbon Neutrality Service. Developed to the ISO 14068 carbon neutrality standard and verified by an independent third-party, this easyto-use capability leverages global data and an intuitive dashboard, empowering clients to reduce, offset, and report their environmental impact. By providing a comprehensive assessment across a broad range of print devices, the new service enables organisations to gain better insights of the environmental impact across their print infrastructure life cycle – from raw materials and manufacturing to delivery, use, maintenance, and end-of-life management. The service also includes a carbon reduction plan utilising initiatives such as print management, recycling and remote service. “Embracing carbon neutrality helps organisations contribute to global efforts to combat climate change, while also offering tangible benefits in terms of regulatory compliance, cost savings and market opportunities,” said Steve Bandrowczak, Chief Executive Officer at Xerox. “We continue to make strides in our net zero by 2040 roadmap and are dedicated to building a more sustainable business for our employees and clients. We’re proud to bring this first‑of-its-kind service to our clients as we support them in meeting their business and sustainability goals.” Xerox has also developed new sustainability dashboards under its Xerox MPS Advanced Analytics offering to provide clients insights into their carbon footprint allowing them to take meaningful action to reduce emissions. These dashboards show clients how reductions in carbon emissions from their print infrastructure can contribute to their broader sustainability goals. www.xerox.com
For more details please contact us: [email protected] +44 (0)161 338 5208 SCAN TO DOWNLOAD OUR FULL BROCHURE www.circular-planet.co.uk www.print-recycle.com www.wbmlimited.co.uk OUR SERVICE Simple on-line portal for end-users and trade One-box solution for ALL printer consumables A complete recycling solution for all makes and models of printer consumables wbm www.print-recycle.com Print-Recycle is our chargeable service, that can be used for the recycling of all consumables, compatibles as well as OEM. This can be used separately or alongside the Circular Planet service. Circular Planet www.circular-planet.co.uk WBM are proud to partner and service Circular Planet in the UK & Ireland. This FREE service is for collection and recycling of genuine OEM printer consumables. www.ownbrand.recycle.com For an additional cost and small monthly fee, you can have your own branded portal to provide your customers with a value-added service and promote it as your own. Professional couriers & bespoke collection Declaration of Recycling & WTN Re-use or raw material recovery Supply of replacement boxes Zero Landfill Genuine ‘Open Door’ recycling
01732 759725 14 BULLETIN Tech Industry Forum acquires Cloud Industry Forum Tech Industry Forum (TIF), a newly formed, not for profit, membership-driven tech trade body, has announced the acquisition of the Cloud Industry Forum (CIF) from the Federation Against Software Theft (FAST). CIF will continue as the core of the new Tech Industry Forum, expanding the trade body’s vision to promote the interests of the whole of the sector for the good of tech vendors, IT providers, customers, and professionals across the UK digital economy. David Terrar, the Founder of TIF, continues as CEO of the combined Forum. Terrar will be joined on the Tech Industry Forum Board by Ian Jeffs, ISG Country Manager at Lenovo UK and Ireland, Steph MacLeod, Director and co-owner of Kaizo PR, Frank Jennings, Partner at HCR Law, who blogs as the AI and Cloud Lawyer and Kate Bennett, CEO of Disruptive Live Brands. Terrar said: “We are very excited to be broadening our remit to include all the areas of technology vital for growth in today’s economy; from security and AI to cloud and storage. While we will continue to serve medium and large companies, we want to support smaller companies that make up the vast majority of the businesses in the UK tech sector. We feel there’s a gap there and we aim to fill it.” https://cloudindustryforum.org ServiceNow to double-down on commitment to UK ServiceNow, the AI platform for business transformation, has announced plans to invest $1.5bn (£1.15bn) into its UK business over the next five years. The company plans to expand with new office space, as it significantly grows its employee base beyond its current headcount of 1,000 employees. In addition, ServiceNow will invest in the future of AI in the UK by expanding its London and Newport data centres with Nvidia GPUs for local processing of LLM data and offering new skills programmes to reach 240,000 UK learners. www.servicenow.com A leader in MPS Konica Minolta has been named a leader in managed print services by Quocirca for a fourth consecutive year. In its survey, the industry analyst concludes that cyber security, AI and the environmental impact of printing are the most important factors for businesses. It considers Konica Minolta to be “well positioned to meet the diverse needs of both SMB and enterprise customers.” Olaf Lorenz, Head of International Marketing Division, Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe, said: “We are proud to retain our position as a Leader in the MPS sector. The findings of Quocirca’s research echo our experiences with our customers. They want us to help them take advantage of new innovations, in support of their workplace transformation and wider business requirements.” www.konicaminolta.co.uk NEXERA adds new capabilities to SaaS platform The new NEXERA Sales Atlas tool, the latest addition to the NEXERA SaaS platform offers a range of powerful features designed to enhance the effectiveness of sales territory management, market share analysis and targeted sales efforts. Dealers will have the ability to customise settings within NEXERA Sales Atlas to help with planning of sales regions, provide comparative analysis, aid in decision-making for marketing and even in new sales talent recruitment. Current NEXERA subscribers can add NEXERA Sales Atlas to their subscription at no cost, by contacting the NEXERA Analyst team and requesting activation. “NEXERA has always been the leader in providing office equipment dealers and OEMs the data that drives decisions for service, parts and accurately shows costs with world stats,” said Sarah Henderson, Regional Director. “NEXERA Sales Atlas is the next step in offering analytics supported by market stats to measure market penetration and sales territory demand for sales and executive leadership within office equipment dealers and OEMs.” www.nexera.net Girls in tech Konica Minolta has welcomed the next generation of technology specialists to its Girls in Tech event at the company’s Client Engagement Centre (CEC) in Houghton Regis in Bedfordshire. Held in partnership with TechGirls, Year 8 students from local schools marked Ada Lovelace Day, an international celebration of the achievements of women in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM). As part of the TechGirls community, Konica Minolta has delivered workshops to girls across the UK and this event aimed to support students who are about to decide their GCSE options and encourage them to think about career paths towards STEM sectors. Gillian Nuttall, People and Culture ESG Partner at Konica Minolta said: “The tech industry continues to face challenges with female representation, and this event is one way we can address this by showcasing the vibrant and dynamic opportunities within the sector.” Utilising Konica Minolta’s rich heritage in print technology at its recently opened state-of-the-art CEC, students were tasked with creating a poster that promotes and inspires women to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and maths. The posters were then designed and printed using Konica Minolta’s devices. www.wearetechgirls.com, www.konicaminolta.co.uk Olaf Lorenz
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01732 759725 16 BULLETIN : PEOPLE BCN announces new chief people officer Cloud IT managed service provider and digital transformation specialist BCN, has hired Victoria Jackson as its new Chief People Officer. Jackson, who has vast experience in HR and has formally held senior leadership positions in the TV, technology, retail and hospitality sectors will assist the company in ensuring that its culture, working environment and leadership strategies make BCN stand out in the tech industry, attracting new talent while also nurturing existing relationships with employees. BCN has experienced exponential growth in the past three years, both organically and through the acquisition of Cloud2, Reach Consult, Evo-soft and NewCMI. As a result, the business now has over 400 employees across Manchester, Leeds, Reading and Belfast. Jackson’s role is crucial in keeping up with BCN’s expanding workforce and ensuring that it continues to be a best-in-class employer in the tech space. https://bcn.co.uk New addition to the SYNAXON team SYNAXON has bolstered its UK team with the addition of Matt Meadows as New Business Account Executive. The new arrival will be tasked with enticing more reseller businesses to make use of the SYNAXON Hub distribution service and its managed services offerings. Having spent more than 13 years working in account management and sales roles at IT vendors and within the distribution sector, Meadows brings extensive channel experience to this key position. He will be responsible for identifying potential new partners, getting them engaged with and making use of SYNAXON’s services, and supporting their growth. Mike Barron, UK Managing Director, SYNAXON, said: “It’s great to have Matt on the UK team. With his long experience, energy and enthusiasm, he has both the professional and personal qualities to cultivate new relationships, help more partners make use of our services, and bring renewed growth to their business.” https://synaxon-services.com Avaya has appointed Alison Hastings as European Channel Lead. In this new, expanded role, she will be responsible for maintaining and growing Avaya’s channel partner ecosystem through the European, UK and Israeli markets, helping partners to deliver best-in-class customer experience solutions that drive business growth. Hastings was previously Avaya’s Senior Channel Director for the UK and Ireland, successfully spearheading new business initiatives, fostering collaborations, and driving partner growth for over six years. She will report to Cameron Thomson, Group Vice President for the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) theatre, including Turkey and Pakistan. www.avaya.com Evolve bolsters leadership team Managed network solutions and IT services provider Evolve, has announced the appointment of Martyn Yih as its new Head of IT Services. As well as streamlining Evolve’s IT offering, Yih will work alongside first and second line teams to manage high volume tickets and further increase the efficiency of the process. He joins Evolve from ANS, where he was Director of Security Operations. Prior to this he spent nine years at UKFast. Net Ltd, the last three years as Director of Support. Commenting on the announcement, Yih said: “I am absolutely thrilled to join Evolve at such an exciting time of growth and innovation. Technology is at the core of today’s business landscape, and I look forward to leading our IT services to support the company’s vision, enhance operational efficiency, and drive transformative solutions for our customers. There’s a talented and dedicated team here already delivering best-in-class services, my aim is to help ensure we remain at the forefront of digital excellence.” www.evolvebg.co.uk Hexa Finance has appointed Mark Broad as a consultant. Broad will focus on supporting suppliers in the managed print services and technology sectors, with the aim of expanding Hexa’s presence in these fast‑growing markets. Broad joins Hexa with over 25 years of experience in the print sector. He has spent the last 18 years working in leasing and finance at BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions, where he specialised in helping businesses access funding for print services. His deep industry knowledge will be instrumental in broadening Hexa’s portfolio of services. Stuart Mason, Co-Founder, Hexa Finance, said: “We are delighted to welcome Mark to the team. His vast experience in the print sector, combined with his expertise in leasing and finance, makes him the perfect fit for Hexa. “His appointment aligns with our strategic goal to strengthen our presence in the print and technology sectors. Mark’s insights will be invaluable as we continue to develop bespoke finance solutions that address the evolving needs of our clients.” Broad added: “I was really impressed with Hexa’s entrepreneurial mind-set and commitment to helping businesses stay agile in an ever-changing market. In today’s economic climate, businesses need to pivot quickly, and access to finance is crucial. “Hexa’s comprehensive range of commercial finance solutions will offer significant benefits to our clients, particularly in sectors like print and technology, where equipment leasing is a key growth driver.” www.hexafinance.co.uk Hexa Finance appoints new consultant Hastings to lead Avaya channel business Alison Hastings
3RD MAR 6TH MAR •SKI CLUB NETWORK• Oh no...Not again!! Make sure you grab one of the Coolest tickets in town! 3rd to 6th March 2025 If like us, you have a love for the Channel and the Mountains, then this European Event could be for you. Held in the legendary Italian resort and party town of Sauze d’Oulx, for its second outing, will host 50 Channel Movers and Shakers from across the Vendor, Reseller and Distribution Community in the stunning surroundings of the Via Lattea ski area. It is often described as a dream come true for snow lovers offering fantastic Alpine skiing. Extensive state of the art snow making capability also makes Sauze a pretty snow-sure bet. On top of the skiing, this 4-day event will allow you to network and socialise with colleagues, customers and prospects. There is nothing like helping someone down a mountain to create a great bonding experience making colleagues or customers friends for life! Trip includes l Transfer to and from Turin Airport l 3 nights B&B accommodation l 2 Day ski pass l All ski hire (boots-skis-helmet) l Ski and boot storage at Clotes ski lift l 2 x Italian evening meals in traditional trattoria l Après ski refreshments budget £950 + VAT per person (twin or double room occupancy) £1250 + VAT per person (single room occupancy) This is a first come first served event so contact Ethan, Neil or Paul to book your place or ask any questions. Tel: 01732 759 725 or email: [email protected]. [email protected] or [email protected]
01732 759725 18 to spark inspiration, but I don’t ever see it taking over any aspects of our jobs completely! Am I using it to its fullest potential? No, but I only see it becoming more and more useful as time goes on. 5 Music Sometimes, just a little bit of background music helps with productivity and to keep spirits high. But it can’t be just any music – my colleague often opts for the sort of stuff you’d hear in a hotel lobby, and that’s when my headphones have to go in. For me, a good dance playlist creates the perfect working atmosphere. 6 Whiteboard wall Next to my desk, is a giant whiteboard wall – mainly used when a thought pops into my head, and I have to start scribbling! Being able to offload my ideas onto a giant piece of ‘paper’ helps to visualise and map things out. 2 Coffee I don’t know if I need it to do my job, but it kickstarts my day and can always be relied upon when I need a break – it’s my go-to reset that gets me ready for my next task. 3 Adobe Suite My go-to for any creative moment is generally the Adobe Suite, with InDesign being up there in top spot. Taking an idea for a campaign, a sales tool or marketing asset, and making it come to life in a beautifully designed document is a hugely satisfying part of my job, and InDesign makes it so easy to do it all. 4 AI Let’s admit, we’re all getting to grips with AI now, even if we were a little unsure to start with. For my team and I, it’s a time-saving tool that we mostly leverage as a starting point for email marketing or blog writing. It helps 1 Teammates Where would I be without my team? Having a great bunch of people around me – not just my immediate team, but amazing colleagues across the wider business too – is what makes work, work for me! People are everything, and without them, I wouldn’t enjoy my job as much as I do. WORKPLACE I couldn’t do my job without… Sarah Kochli, Head of Marketing at Toshiba Tec UK Imaging Systems, picks the tools she uses every day and couldn’t do her job without Sarah Kochli Photo: pixabay.com/guvo59 Photo: pixabay.com/ElisaRiva
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01732 759725 20 and adaptability in the industry, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in a digital-first world. PITR: If you could change one thing about the last decade, what would it be? AB: Accelerate the adoption of sustainable practices and technologies in print software and digital transformation. Although there have been advancements in eco-friendly solutions, the industry could have greatly benefited from a faster and more widespread implementation of sustainable development practices, such as optimising print workflows, integrating green data management systems, and utilising energy-efficient cloud services. Embracing these changes sooner would not only have minimised the environmental impact but also positioned the print software and digital transformation sector as a leader in corporate responsibility, driving innovation and attracting eco‑conscious clients. PITR: What has been your proudest moment of the past 10 years? AB: One of my proudest moments over the past decade was leading the successful rollout of numerous managed print projects in both the commercial and public sectors. These projects slashed costs, boosted efficiency, and improved both staff productivity and customer satisfaction. It was incredibly rewarding (and sometimes challenging, especially when it came to rationalising print devices!) to see how our teams’ hard work paid off and how our customers embraced the new technologies. It really highlighted the power of teamwork and innovation, and I’m proud of what we achieved together. PITR: Sum up the decade in three words. AB: Innovative. Evolving. Digital. www.vasion.com team; my main focus was on pre-sales, effectively supporting Account Managers sell software and services. By 2018, my role grew to include the entire team – software engineers, project managers, customer service managers, and trainers. This incredibly talented group not only led the EMEA region in print management software, professional print software, ECM, and related services but also created some lifelong friendships along the way. PITR: And the low point? AB: Technology changes in a global organisation can bring broad benefits, but at a local level, they often hinder efficiency and productivity due to a one‑size-fits-all approach. These changes significantly affected staff morale and productivity, making it extremely challenging to maintain focus and meet demanding targets. This experience led me to move to a company that operates with greater agility, quickly identifying problems and delivering solutions without being bogged down by excessive bureaucracy. PITR: What (or who) has had the greatest impact in the sector in the last 10 years? AB: With a strong focus on software and services, I’ve seen the biggest impact in the industry over the past decade come from advancements in ECM, eForms, workflow automation, and eSignatures, along with the shift toward digital transformation. These technologies have completely transformed the landscape by streamlining processes, cutting operational costs, and enhancing security. ECM and eForms have enabled businesses to move away from paper-based systems, making document management more efficient and accessible. Workflow automation and eSignatures have further driven productivity by speeding up approval processes and reducing bottlenecks. Together, these advancements have set new standards for efficiency, flexibility, PrintIT Reseller (PITR): You’ve been working in the print and IT industry for more than ten years. What led you to enter the sector? Andy Bryant (AB): I started out in electronic and mechanical engineering with Babcock Construction, but I never really felt like I belonged in that field. That changed when I met Chas Moloney, a truly inspiring person who was in charge of Canon’s technical support and training team. Thanks to that encounter, I landed my first job in the industry, working for Chas and using my electrical engineering skills to help with level 3 support and training. PITR: What was your first job? AB: In my first industry job as a Level 3 Technical Support Engineer, I provided advanced technical support, focusing on diagnosing and fixing issues at the component level. I was responsible for supporting over 500 engineers. The landscape has changed a lot since then, with fewer than 20% of engineers now managing the same number of devices in the field. PITR: What has been the high point of the decade? AB: My high point was almost certainly leading Canon UK’s Professional Services INTERVIEW A decade in print Andy Bryant, Director – Customer Success EMEA, Vasion, shares his experiences over the past decade, what he’s learned, and the highs and the lows of our unique and challenging industry Andy Bryant Technology changes in a global organisation can bring broad benefits, but at a local level, they often hinder efficiency and productivity due to a one-sizefits-all approach
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