www.printitreseller.uk PRINT, MFP, SOFTWARE, SERVICES, DOCUMENT & CLOUD NEWS & INFORMATION FOR VARS, CONVERGED RESELLERS & MFP DEALERS ISSUE 123 · 2024 PRINT IT RESELLER MAGAZINE IN PRINT & ONLINE SINCE 2011 A DECADE IN PRINT Ryan Mitchell, Westcoast PAGE 20 VOX POP Print predictions PAGE 40 Q&A James O’Connor, WBM PAGE 36
Get the complete guide to Windows Protected Print Mode We think this is the biggest change to printing in the last 20 years. MATT COAD, HEAD OF SELF-HOSTED SOFTWARE A comprehensive overview of WPP, its timeline, and how your organisation can prepare for (and benefit from) this powerful security feature. SCAN FOR GUIDE
PRINTITRESELLER.UK 3 COMMENT The 2024 PrintIT Awards is almost SOLD OUT. If you’d like to grab one of the last remaining seats call Ethan or Neil on 01732 759725. See page 22 for one final look at the shortlists and I look forward to revealing the winners and celebrating your successes on December 3. This issue features my favourite Vox Pop of the year – Print Predictions. Part one points to a pivotal year for the print industry, as it continues to develop and evolve in response to changing market demands. Commons threads include technological advancements, sustainability concerns, and changing business models, along with the need to engage with customers transparently about print data as a necessary strategy to protect and grow revenues. More to follow in the next two issues. Also in this issue, Angela Stonebridge, Technical Support Analyst 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 Warren Colby, Managing Director, Agilico Workplace Technologies, and PITR spent 60 seconds with Josh Attwood, Junior IT Engineer, Elmdale IT Services (part of the Elmdale Group). 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 14 People A round-up of new hires 18 I couldn’t do my job without... Angela Stonebridge picks her favourite work tools 20 A decade in print Ryan Mitchell shares his print experiences over the past decade 22 PrintIT Awards The event is almost sold out! 26 Focus on: What’s New A round-up of recent product launches 29 Sustainability Quocirca’s print sustainability trends 32 Cover Story Toshiba Tec brings cloud-based intelligence to label and barcode printing 34 Golf A recap of the final two rounds this year 36 Q&A James O’Connor, Director, WBM 39 Energy Fidelity Energy’s John Haw and Paul Callow speak about the opportunity for print channel vendors to secure new revenue 40 VOX POP Print predictions – part one 48 View from the Channel Warren Colby, Managing Director, Agilico Workplace Technologies 50 60 seconds with… Josh Attwood, Junior IT Engineer, Elmdale IT Services (part of the Elmdale Group) 2024 ISSUE 123 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 123 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. This month, Riley Faulkner and Rob Booth from Parallel Office and Document Solutions got creative, traversing the streets of Uxbridge, and sent in this fantastic set of shots! 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] Motorcycles are fun that’s for sure, but not as much fun as reading PrintIT Reseller before heading off on the road! Hey Rob Booth? Riley, however opted for an alternative, much slower mode of transport. Even though it wasn’t raining, Riley took shelter in a classic red phone box to continue reading his issue! Riley even found time to catch up on the latest news while shopping for a new coat! Seems shopping was a thing, someone looking for a new car? After a busy day, and once back in the office, Rob put his feet up to continue reading his favourite magazine. Not sure that’s going to get to its final destination without an address label!
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01732 759725 6 Document Data Group acquires Fife printer business Document Data Group (DDG), the fast-growing Central Scotland-based company supplying photocopiers/printers, document management and IT services, has added another customer rich Scottish business machine company to its portfolio. Bellshill-based DDG has acquired the assets of Fife-based Hire Tech, which specialises in printers and copiers. The deal brings in the region of 100 new customers to DDG, which now has a turnover approaching £5 million, and will expand the geographical reach and customer support capabilities for both enterprises. It is the latest initiative by DDG, which has 35 employees and has experienced steadily increasing sales since it consolidated its operations and moved into a new headquarters at Strathclyde Business Park in 2020. David Forsyth, DDG Managing Director said: “We are delighted to welcome Hire Tech into the DDG family and we expect that this new partnership will bring significant benefits to the operations of both companies. “DDG has been on a steadily upward trajectory since we moved to our new HQ four years ago and morale, which has never been higher, will now be further boosted by this addition to our range and capabilities. Brian Hamilton has built a remarkable business at Hire Tech and will continue in an important role with us with all the support and back-office help that growing businesses need.” Brian Hamilton, Managing Director, Hire Tech added: “I have started, built and sold three companies over the course of my career, but it has been a real privilege to have been brought into alliance with a company and a team as professional as DDG. It has fantastic people and an enormously exciting range of resources and we are very much looking forward to working with the new staff.” https://documentdatagroup.com Parallel partners with Sharp Parallel Office and Document Solutions has joined Sharp UK’s technology partner programme as a certified partner. The partnership will enable Parallel to supply Sharp’s printer range to education and healthcare establishments and further solidifies its commitment to delivering value-driven solutions across the industries it serves, ensuring that its clients always receive the best possible service. Managing Director Gavin Auckland said: “We are excited to partner with Sharp, a brand known for its innovation and quality solutions. This agreement opens up new opportunities for us to provide cost-effective and efficient printing solutions, particularly to the education and healthcare sectors where these services are critical. We look forward to being able to support more organisations in these sectors with the reliable and affordable technology they need to thrive.” https://parallel-group.co.uk 40 years in business On November 5, KRL Group celebrated its fourth decade in business. The Hullheadquartered company marked the milestone with a party at head office where customers from 40 different companies and Paul Macrae and Pam Barnard, from its OEM partners Epson and Konica Minolta respectively, joined them to celebrate. Managing Director George Baker told PrintIT Reseller that it was a really enjoyable day. “We are very proud that our customers choose to stay with KRL Group. We have many that have been with us since the beginning, including Quick & Clarke estate agents who joined us on the day. We were also delighted to welcome Sewell Group and MKM Building Supplies who have both been customers for 18 years.” BULLETIN David Forsyth and Brian Hamilton The business has enjoyed continued growth and has already outgrown the premises it opened in Leeds earlier this year. Baker said that they are moving to new bigger offices that will provide them with showroom facilities and meeting rooms. “We are going from strength to strength and the sustainability benefits we are able to deliver with Epson’s heat-free offering is really helping us win new business. Having marked this significant milestone, we are very much looking forward to the next decade and beyond!” www.krlgroup.net Gavin Auckland George Baker
PRINTITRESELLER.UK 7 Social value key to driving profit growth According to the latest ESG Unwrapped report from technology services company, Nebula, recognising the social value within ESG strategies will enable channel players to unlock profitable revenue opportunities and enhance brand loyalty with customers and key stakeholders. The report, Driving Profitability Through Social Impact includes interviews with several of the channel’s leading sustainable technology activists who are experts in developing social value and creating social impact. They unanimously agreed that integrating social value into an ESG strategy not only strengthens community engagement and ethical supplier practices but also delivers tangible business benefits. The experts stated that embracing social value enhances brand reputation, creates new revenue streams, and entices the next generation of talent, who are eager to work for purpose-driven companies. Richard Eglon, CMO at Nebula said: “Being proactive in driving social value enables companies to work in collaboration with their customers and channel partners on projects that align to both companies’ cultures. This transforms a sales transaction into a strategic partnership, and makes both parties more intrinsic to one another, boosting customer loyalty and driving new revenue opportunities.” One firm that has seen this in action is technology solutions provider, Natilik. Chief People Officer Kelly White said the firm’s social value strategy directly contributes to a deeper emotional connection between the brand and stakeholders. “Clients are increasingly drawn to brands that reflect their personal values and demonstrate commitment to positive societal impact. By supporting meaningful causes and being transparent about our contributions, we build trust and credibility. “People who feel connected to the company’s social mission often become brand ambassadors, sharing their pride in the company’s actions. This creates authentic, word-of-mouth advocacy that further strengthens brand loyalty. This also helps to attract the right people who share the same values in the recruitment process,” he added. Eglon said it’s vital that channel players start measuring their social value efforts which are often siloed, making it difficult to grasp the full collective impact an organisation is achieving. “By measuring and quantifying social value, businesses can build a solid case around the success of their initiatives, so they can be expanded. “Social value measurement brings this crucial topic to the boardroom, which is essential if we want to drive greater focus and investment in these strategies.” www.nebulaglobalservices.com UBDS Group expands cyber security capabilities Technology services incubator UBDS Group, has acquired cyber security specialist 3B Data Security for an undisclosed sum, expanding its security capabilities to become a significant force in the UK cyber security market. UBDS Group has been focused on strengthening its cyber security offerings for the past 18 months, it recently expanded its state-of-the-art Security Operations Centre (SOC) in Manchester which delivers managed detection and response, threat prevention, and threat intelligence 24/7/365 to enhance its capabilities further and can now add 3B Data Security’s expertise into this capacity. Under the terms of the deal, Cambridge-based 3B Data Security will retain its autonomy, including its brand identity. All 23 employees, including the management team, will stay with the company and join the 150-strong team already under the UBDS Group of companies. Diptesh Patel, CEO of UBDS Group, said: “We aim to work with like-minded people who share our vision and ambition. We recognise these attributes in the team at 3B Data Security, and we want to support them with our group capabilities while enhancing our cyber offering to better serve clients across our wider business.” Benn Morris, CEO of 3B Data Security said that although the cyber market is crowded, UBDS Group’s full‑service security portfolio, combined with the expertise of both businesses, will only strengthen their service offering. “We share a similar mindset and we both recognise the growth potential for our businesses while understanding that this partnership is primarily about enabling our teams to grow and develop, all while actively preventing security breaches and protecting our clients.” www.ubdsgroup.com Woodbank helps Blackhurst Budd save big Stockport-based print and document management provider, Woodbank Office Solutions, has implemented a streamlined print management solution for Blackhurst Budd, a leading law firm in Blackpool. Woodbank has streamlined Blackhurst Budd’s solution from seven machines down to four new Konica Minolta devices with a consistent fleet cost-per-copy. It has also given the law firm access to direct support from its in-house engineer and customer service team and dedicated account management from Carl Tomlinson, Woodbank’s Head of Sales. “Our printers were coming out of contract with our current supplier, and we needed to downsize and cut costs,” said Rose Spencer, Finance Director at Blackhurst Budd. “I reached out to Carl, who I’ve worked with on previous projects, and he was fantastic throughout the process. He provided a clear and detailed breakdown of our existing setup, what Woodbank could offer, and how they could help us achieve savings. Thanks to their solution, we’ve reduced our annual print costs by 60%.” Tomlinson added: “I’m delighted to be working with Blackhurst Budd again. We’ve built a strong, honest, and open relationship. It’s fantastic to have achieved such a great result, and we’re excited to continue supporting them moving forward.” www.woodbankoffice.co.uk BULLETIN Richard Eglon Carl Tomlinson
01732 759725 8 BULLETIN UK distribution agreement Zoho Workplace, the cloud-based enterprise collaboration suite of business applications from Zoho, has signed a strategic distribution agreement with Ingram Micro to strengthen its presence and reach in the UK. This new collaboration will combine Zoho’s powerful suite with Ingram Micro’s market reach in the UK through its network of resellers, adding value to their customers across various business segments. It enhances Ingram Micro’s diverse solutions portfolio, which includes XaaS solutions leveraging investments in technical, financial, and marketing resources. Ovidiu Gherghel, Director Cloud & Cyber Security, UK&I at Ingram Micro said: “This partnership shows the growing recognition of Zoho’s value proposition in the UK region. Businesses can now look forward to even greater access and support for Zoho’s Workplace Suite through Ingram Micro’s expansive distribution network.” https://uk.ingrammicro.eu Exclusive Networks addresses channel’s economic challenges Exclusive Networks has announced the launch of XPS, its invoicing and payment solutions service. Designed to help the channel navigate customer cashflow challenges and budgetary constraints, XPS enables partners to adapt to evolving commercial needs by offering structured and deferred payment terms, without compromising vendor supply terms, and without additional contracts or paperwork. Paul Eccleston, SVP EMEA at Exclusive Networks said: “XPS allows partners to reframe the conversation with customers around financial concerns with a commercial proposition that is less reliant on discount and more strategically aligned to their long-term cybersecurity needs and economic challenges. In short, XPS is an antidote to indecision and a catalyst for renewed growth, giving partners a new competitive edge.” XPS has been successfully piloted in the UK market since December 2023 with over 60 partners and 30 vendors taking advantage of the new service, generating significant business revenue that otherwise might not have been achieved. Based on this success, XPS is now generally available across Western Europe. www.exclusive-networks.com Midwich adds drones to product offering Midwich is adding drones to its product offering in the UK and Ireland through a distribution deal with DJI Enterprise. The agreement covers the marketing, distribution and support of DJI’s full range of enterprise drone products, including the recently released DJI Dock 2. Ross Floyd, Commercial Director (UK and Ireland) at Midwich, said: “Drones are revolutionising how businesses and organisations conduct tasks by providing faster and more accurate information, reduced risks for employers and their employees and a more cost-effective alternative to traditional methods – all packaged up in easy-to-use devices. We look forward to talking to our partners about how they can utilise this exciting product range.” www.midwich.com MSP event Zyxel Networks’ Hello Nebula MSP event which took place at the Bletchley Park, Milton Keynes gave current and prospective partners the opportunity to see a handson demonstration of a Nebula platform deployment and an extended Q&A session with the company’s experts and partners. Rachel Rothwell, Senior Regional Director, UK and Ireland at Zyxel Networks said: “We want to show new MSP partners how – with our support – they can use Nebula to get started and build a real and viable managed services business. This is something we’ve done with scores of partners already and we believe there is huge potential for many more to follow in their footsteps and start moving their customers to a subscription model that generates consistent income. “For established MSPs or those looking for a new way forward, we will demonstrate how Nebula can help them deliver better services and scale up rapidly without having to invest in more and more resources. Several of our partners have experienced really strong growth over the past year and the opportunities are expanding all the time.” www.zyxel.com Paul Eccleston Driving growth for Azure partners TD SYNNEX has launched a programme for Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) partners who want to grow their Azure business, offering enablement and technical training as well as strategic business support and potential funding for customer migrations. Darren Dixon, Business Unit Director – Software, UK, TD SYNNEX, said: “In our experience, many SMB partners have the potential to build a significant level of business with Azure, but often hold back due to a lack of understanding or technical capability. We’ve developed this programme to meet the specific needs of those SMB partners. The programme provides all the technical and sales support they will need, not only to get started but also to keep on building and growing their Azure sales. The pilot we ran last year was extremely successful and we are now ready to scale that up and get more Microsoft CSP partners involved.” https://uk.tdsynnex.com Darren Dixon Rachel Rothwell
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01732 759725 10 TD SYNNEX’s third Direction of Technology report reveals that channel partners are accelerating investments in AI and Generative AI technologies, with nearly half of respondents saying they plan to offer AI-driven solutions within the next two years. The report is based on a survey of more than 1,000 technology resellers, systems integrators, service providers and managed service providers from over 60 countries globally. The report also emphasises the critical role of security, as it remains the top offering for partners, underscoring the need to balance innovation with risk mitigation. But when it comes to doing business, resellers prioritise affordability and flexibility, responding to the evolving needs of their customer base. “For the third straight year, the Direction of Technology report provides a clear picture both of the current state of the technology market and areas where businesses say they plan to invest the most,” said Patrick Zammit, CEO of TD SYNNEX. “This year, we’re seeing much more detail on how partners are embracing the power of AI and cloud technologies while making technology more adaptable to the needs of their customers. At the same time, they are balancing the need for robust security and regulatory compliance across all industries.” The report highlights five key global trends influencing the IT market in 2024: 1 Leading with ingenuity and flexibility. Tech leaders know certifications and specialisation are keys to success in the dynamic tech marketplace, especially in cybersecurity and data privacy (both 58%), and artificial intelligence (45%). At the same time, they’re optimising flexible spending solutions to meet the needs of their customer base in today’s shifting economic climate. 2 Driving innovation with a strong foundation. With AI changing the way we do business, channel partners are under mounting pressure to make the case for high-growth Nutanix expands AWS partnership Nutanix has announced an expanded strategic collaboration with Amazon Web Services, (AWS) to accelerate cloud migration and provide options for customers managing workloads across on‑premises and cloud environments. This aims to reduce the friction required for IT modernisation, making it easier for customers to leverage AWS services to drive innovation. www.nutanix.com/aws BULLETIN Westcon-Comstor extends Tech Xpert community Westcon-Comstor is extending its Tech Xpert peer-to-peer learning community to channel partners in APAC, following its success in EMEA, where it now has more than 3,000 members. Daniel Hurel, Senior Vice President, Westcon EMEA Cybersecurity & Next Generation Solutions said: “Tech Xpert members gain exclusive access to our 3D Lab, which lets partners and their customers test multi-vendor cybersecurity solutions and use cases in a secure cloud environment within 48-hours of request. This, coupled with the recent introduction of our interactive Tech ConneX platform, is driving strong Tech Xpert momentum and growth.” www.westconcomstor.com IPIA sets out to foster industry growth The IPIA’s Recognising Excellence event will take place on December 3 at the Crowne Plaza, Stratford-Upon Avon. The day kicks off with an Expo and Networking Lunch, followed by a Gala Dinner and Awards night, giving plenty of opportunity for attendees to make connections, whilst enjoying a fun-filled and educational day. The event will also see current IPIA Chair, Charles Rogers of Portland Media, stepping into the role of President, while Alasdair Browne of Abbot Print, the current Vice Chair, will assume the position of Chair for the next two years. Chair of the IPIA’s Events Subcommittee, John Morley (Worldwide Channel Partner Sales Director at eProductivity Software) said: “The Expo offers attendees an invaluable wealth of information and education, equipping them with essential insights into the latest developments in print and media technology to fuel their growth or expansion goals. Taking time to work on your business – rather than just in it – can be a powerful step forward.” https://ipia.org.uk technologies, including nearly half who plan to offer AI in the next two years. 3 Leveraging essential solutions for a complex world. Respondents identified security as the top profit generator in the ecosystem, while networking, endpoint devices, AI and hyperscale infrastructure round out their top revenue drivers. 4 Prioritising collaboration, coordination and consolidation. The technology ecosystem thrives when leaders embrace the interconnection of the channel. With nearly three-quarters of IT spend (73.2%) driven by partners in 2024, it’s clear that collaboration will be crucial as the channel contends with rising competition and technological transformation. 5 Meeting regulation and mitigating risk. Across all industries, global topics like climate change, human rights and strong corporate governance are changing the regulatory and risk landscape. Respondents are keenly aware of this, identifying ESG standards as one of the top two challenges for their business in the next two years. To stay on top of this shifting landscape, partners plan to offer technology solutions that help customers move toward a more sustainable and equitable society. https://uk.tdsynnex.com/ Channel partners seek balance Daniel Hurel Patrick Zammit
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01732 759725 12 Award win for MPS Monitor MPS Monitor has been recognised as the Best MPS Software Provider in the 2024 MPSA Leadership Awards. The company says the award underscores its unwavering commitment to delivering innovative, secure, and customer-centric solutions within the managed print services sector. The company also earned an Honorable Mention in the Best MPS Innovation category. The MPSA Leadership Awards honour distinguished industry leaders and trailblazers who elevate standards and drive innovation within the MPS community. A rigorous evaluation process led by a panel of judges from the MPSA Executive Committee and its membership ensures the awards maintain their reputation for excellence and impartiality. www.mpsmonitor.com Kodak Alaris integrates GenAI with IDP solution Kodak Alaris has announced the integration of Generative AI with its Intelligent Document Processing (IDP) software, KODAK Info Input Solution. This new capability makes it easy for organisations to delegate more work to trusted AI services to automate complex document processing tasks with improved speed and accuracy. KODAK Info Input Solution is an endto-end IDP platform built around a unique Open Intelligence design, which enables easy integration with AI services from industry giants including AWS, Google, and Microsoft. According to Jim Forger, VP of Business Solutions at Kodak Alaris, the Open Intelligence approach to AI provides a fast and technology‑agnostic path to IDP success, enabling organisations to benefit from the industry’s most trusted document AI services that offer a wide range of options, including machine learning, large language models (LLMs), and Generative AI. With Info Input 7.1, Amazon Textract’s query capabilities are available directly within the software, empowering users to query data within unstructured documents, ask important questions, and make informed decisions, such as prioritisation and workflow routing – before the data even leaves the IDP platform. In addition, users can leverage Microsoft’s OpenAI engine to quickly summarise information within complex unstructured documents and provide context for users to understand the relevance of the data, enabling more informed decision-making. www.alarisworld.com Xerox acquires to grow IT services presence Xerox has agreed to acquire ITsavvy, an Oak Brook, Illinois-based provider of integrated IT products and associated services. The transaction is expected to close during the fourth quarter of 2024 and remains subject to merger clearance control. ITsavvy is a portfolio company of GenNx360 Capital Partners, a New York-based private equity firm. “As part of our reinvention we have created a greater organisational focus on our emerging IT services capabilities to diversify our revenue streams in the geographies we serve,” said John Bruno, President and Chief Operating Officer at Xerox. “ITsavvy’s complementary offerings, aligned with our strong reputation, should accelerate growth in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, while creating new avenues for us to help existing and new clients transform the way they work. They have a proven track record of success, and we look forward to bringing this highly capable and experienced team into the fold.” www.xerox.com BULLETIN M-Files strengthens partner program M-Fileshas announced that Dyanix, a provider of data and information solutions, has joined the M-Files Partner Program to bolster its offerings across the UK, Benelux and Spain. As an M-Files partner, Dyanix will provide cutting-edge solutions utilising the M-Files knowledge work automation platform to its network of resellers and empower businesses throughout their data and information journey. www.m-files.com Konica Minolta cooks for Candlelighters Konica Minolta Channel Partner Marketing Manager, Marie Woodhead and Executive Coordinator, Caroline Marson, helped to raise £6,150 for Candlelighters by competing in a Ready Steady Cook competition organised by the charity at Leeds City College. The money raised will be used by the Yorkshire charity to support families dealing with children’s cancer. The college opened its training kitchens at the Printworks Campus in the city’s Southbank area for the culinary challenge. In total, 12 teams took part to cook a main course and dessert, given to them on the day, using only surplus ingredients donated by The Company Shop Group, which was under the watchful eye of the college’s Catering and Hospitality tutors and former Great British Bake Off semi-finalist, Briony May Williams, as head judge. Woodhead said: “The day was fantastic and one that raised a lot of money to support the amazing work Candlelighters does for our local community. It was also a great experience to compete alongside our partners Intuitive Business Intelligence Business who we work so closely with as a business.” Candlelighters is one of three charities Konica Minolta employees have chosen to support as part of the company’s ESG framework. www.konicaminolta.co.uk
At the heart of consumables recycling for the UK copier and print industry wbm 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.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. 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. About WBM Ltd WBM Ltd provides zero-landfill solutions, collecting, sorting, cleaning, and recycling printer consumables for re-use or raw-material recovery. We manage recycling for major OEMs, distributors, remanufacturers, dealers, and their customers, through our UK-based, cost-eective recycling service. At our 30,000² facility in Oldham, we process over 25 tonnes of consumables monthly, ensuring <5% incineration and zero-landfill. Proud to be short-listed in this year’s Print IT Awards in the categories: “Environmental Excellence” and “Channel Services Provider” SCAN TO DOWNLOAD OUR FULL BROCHURE [email protected] +44 (0)161 338 5208 See you at the Print IT Awards!
01732 759725 14 New hire at Nuvem Solutions Frankie Green has joined Nuvem Solutions as Digital Marketing Executive. He will combine working with the team at Nuvem with studying at Leeds Trinity University where he will complete a degree apprenticeship in digital marketing over the next three years. https://nuvemsolutions.co.uk Evolve appoints new Head of People and Talent Managed network solutions and IT services provider Evolve has announced the appointment of Caroline Oxley in a new Head of People and Talent role. Oxley joins Evolve from Property Hub, where she spent three years as Head of People and Culture after acting as HR manager in businesses across a wide range of sectors. Her new role will go beyond traditional HR functions, with a focus on developing Evolve’s people-first culture, ensuring it aligns with the company’s overall goals and values. This will include executing Evolve’s apprenticeship and graduate schemes and overseeing employee engagement. Alan Stephenson-Brown, CEO at Evolve, said: “Caroline joins the team at an exciting time of growth, and her leadership will be vital for creating an environment where our employees can thrive, ultimately enhancing productivity, retention, and overall company performance. She is a known advocate for people-centric approaches, and shares Evolve’s dedication to enabling individuals to achieve their full potential.” The move follows the appointment of Martyn Yih as Head of IT services and is part of a long-term strategy to strengthen Evolve’s leadership team and reinforce its commitment to being an employer of choice. www.evolvebg.co.uk ABC Managed Solutions has named Alpesh Unalkat as Chairman and appointed Tom Himpe as Non-Exec Director. Industry veteran Unalkat is a seasoned tech entrepreneur who has successfully scaled three businesses, one acquired by a listed UK plc and one of which he founded through private equity investment. He is a people-focused leader who also has experience as a board advisor, mentor and angel investor to a range of businesses from different sectors. Stephen Burgess, Founder of ABC has known Unalkat for over 30 years, first working together in the business that was the forerunner to ABC, and the two of them have a great chemistry. With direct experience of scaling businesses in the print, AV and IT sector, Unalkat understands the market ABC operates in very well and will be key in shaping the future. Himpe has always had a passion for supporting great businesses in achieving their ambitions. As a former co‑founder of London-based innovation consultancy The Upside, working for the global HQs of adidas, Google, Heineken, Tommy Hilfiger, Centrica and Shell among others, he has chosen to redirect his time and energy towards supporting founders writing the next chapter for their business. https://abcmanagedsolutions.co.uk BULLETIN : PEOPLE Hannah Wright joins Zscaler Zscaler has hired channel veteran Hannah Wright as Vice President EMEA Partners & Alliances. Wright has more than 30 years’ experience in partnerdriven go-to-market activities at companies such as Cisco, Palo Alto Networks and, most recently, Netskope. In her new role, she will be responsible for developing partnerships with distributors, service providers, VARs and system integrators at a time of growing interest in the Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange cloud security platform. In addition to hiring Wright, Zscaler recently strengthened its UK team with the appointment of Justin Brooks as AVP UK&I and Jonny Crebbin as Director, UK&I Partner Sales. www.zscaler.com Cohesity appoints seasoned product leader Cohesity has announced the appointment of Vasu Murthy as SVP and Chief Product Officer. Murthy is a veteran with over 25 years of experience building enterprise software at scale. He has successfully led software launches at companies ranging from day-zero startups to large, global brands, with strengths in driving rapid growth and managing complex multi-product scaling efforts. Murthy joins Cohesity from Rubrik, where he was VP of Products and was responsible for the company’s core product, platform, and technology partnerships. He will bring vast experience in data protection, security, and analytics to Cohesity to further its industryleading AI-powered data security portfolio. “Vasu’s strong experience supporting organisations through significant growth and transformational change with a customer-first mindset, as well as his deep domain expertise, made him the perfect fit for Cohesity,” said Cohesity President and CEO Sanjay Poonen. Murthy added: “Cohesity has a differentiated vision and platform that has the potential to transform the industry completely. As we scale our R&D investments and build best-in-class offerings to support global customers, I look forward to partnering with the team to make a bigger impact. I’m thrilled to join Cohesity in their journey as we enter the next growth phase.” www.cohesity.com New faces at ABC Managed Solutions Alpesh Unalkat Vasu Murthy Hannah Wright
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01732 759725 16 BULLETIN : PEOPLE Ricoh announces new CFO Ricoh UK has appointed Jonathan Greaves as the new CFO for the North region. Greaves has global experience in finance within various sectors such as retail, manufacturing, financial services, and distribution, has served in leading financial positions in HSS Hire, RS Components, and Barclays Group among others, and will play a vital role on the UK board. In his new role, he will be directly reporting to Tim Stuart, Ricoh Europe’s CFO. Joel Rolfe, the Head of Commercial Finance for Ricoh UK, along with the UK finance team, will be under his supervision. “I’m looking forward to joining the Ricoh team and I am confident that my financial expertise and strategic mindset will blend seamlessly with the team’s innovative vision and ambition,” he said. “The board and I look forward to collaborating with Jonathan in the weeks and months ahead,” said Glenn Griggs, Ricoh UK CEO. “We are confident that his leadership will help propel the company to new levels of growth and success that meet our evolving needs.” www.ricoh.co.uk Structural changes at Exertis Exertis has launched dedicated business and consumer pillars to streamline operations and focus on specialisms and announced a number of personnel changes. Jonathan Sutherland is now Managing Director of Exertis Consumer, Jamie Brothwell has been named Managing Director of Exertis Business, Paul Jacobs becomes Trading Director, and Lisa Bird takes on the role of Sales Operations and 3PL Director, all reporting into Phill Turner, Chief Commercial Officer. The move will enable the distributor to leverage its expertise in high growth sectors, offering more tailored solutions to better support customers’ businesses. The dedicated business and consumer divisions, with integrated sales and commercial teams, will result in a streamlined approach which simplifies its operations, ensuring a more seamless experience for customers with faster support and enhanced collaboration. Tim Griffin, CEO of Exertis IT said: “These changes are designed to make us more agile and responsive to the market, while fully leveraging our specialist knowledge and optimised services. The integration of sales and commercial functions ensures a simpler, more efficient customer experience. Our fully integrated channels provide unified support tailored to our customers’ specific needs.” Brothwell added: “I am proud to celebrate 10 years working for Exertis which coincides with my appointment as Managing Director of our business division. During my time with the organisation, I have worked with amazing people which has driven a series of successful initiatives including the introduction of our specialist print and OA business, the integration of our accessories business and in recent years the transformation of our AV strategy. These experiences have helped to shape the direction of travel for our new chapter in our B2B journey focusing in on the areas in which we believe we can add value across AV, components, mobile, print and IT solutions. I am hugely excited for what the next decade entails.” www.exertis.co.uk Katun expands team As part of its continued growth and strategic expansion in the EMEA region, Katun has appointed several experienced industry professionals to strengthen its Katun Business Solutions (KBS) division. These new hires bring expert industry knowledge and are poised to play a key role in supporting the roll out and success of the Arivia MFP launch in Europe. New appointments include Giancarlo Soro – EMEA Sales Director, KBS; Stefano Crottini – KBS Regional Sales Manager, Italy; Frank Zerfass – KBS Regional Sales Manager, Germany; Emmanuel Du Rusquec – KBS Regional Sales Manager, France; Christian Nordio – Customer Technical Support, Italy; Leo Yip – Customer Technical Support, UK; Benjamin Astruc – Customer Technical Support, France; Elke Matz – EMEA Channel Marketing Manager, KBS; and Elodie Assmann – EMEA KBS Pricing Analyst & Finance Manager. “These talented professionals in sales, technical support, marketing and finance will be instrumental in building a strong foundation for the Arivia MFP product launch,” said Heidi Boller, General Manager of EMEA at Katun Corporation. “Their expertise ensures that our clients will receive exceptional support as we roll out our Arivia MFP line across Europe.” www.katun.com QBS Software strengthens executive team QBS Software is accelerating its growth plans with the appointment of two industry heavy-hitters to propel it towards its one billion dollar revenue target. Alex Tatham, formerly Managing Director of Westcoast, is joining the QBS Software operational board as Strategic Board Advisor with a focus on driving growth initiatives, strengthening relationships with partners, expanding the company’s distribution portfolio and further embedding QBS Software in hyper scaler marketplaces. Kevin James, Former CCO and UK Managing Director of Computacenter, has joined the QBS supervisory board as an independent Non-Executive Director to raise the company’s standing in the industry and to provide the executive team with guidance on sales and marketing, strategic partnerships and M&A activity. www.qbssoftware.com Alex Tatham Jamie Brothwell Jonathan Greaves
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 helps me to step in and support other departments, so I feel lucky to have had the opportunity to try different things. 4 Customers We all need customers to do our jobs. One of our strengths is having a great relationship with them. Being on the helpdesk means I am the first to offer support and assistance when they have printing issues. Customers can make you feel really appreciated when you are able to solve their problems, although I’ve had the odd swearword from an irate customer! I have learnt, through experience, how to tackle all sorts of calls. 5 The ability to work from home Although we had to do it through the pandemic, it’s helpful to have the opportunity to work from home as and when needed. It’s particularly handy when the school-aged child is poorly and needs to be at home so that I can continue to work and support my colleagues. However, I much prefer working in the office – see points 1 and 2! https://firstcopy.co.uk is also nice to be able to have a general chat whilst in the office. Most of us have worked together for years now and know each other’s lives inside out. My work husband has also been a good support, whether it is work or non-work related. Overall, I’ve never enjoyed working at a place more than this one due to the people I work with (I may have just shocked my colleagues with that statement!) 2 My chair I am probably biased, but my chair is the best! It is mega comfy. I probably don’t get up from my desk as much as I should, but I seriously could sit in it all day. The only irritating thing is when someone comes up behind me and leans on it making me paranoid I am going to fly backwards (colleague – you know who you are!). I hope it never breaks, or I will be heartbroken! 3 The variety of my job I started out in First Copy doing telesales (selling toners and paper), then went on to box sales (making appointments for my colleague to sell printers). I then moved to the admin department and did a mixture of credit control, ordering and invoicing. Now I am a technical support analyst, supporting customers with their printer issues. The variety of roles 1 Colleagues This is definitely my number one choice. Not only can we ask each other for advice on work when we need it, but it WORKPLACE I couldn’t do my job without… Angela Stonebridge, Technical Support Analyst at First Copy, picks the tools she uses every day and couldn’t do her job without Angela Stonebridge Photo: pixabay.com/Buntysmum Photo: pixabay.com/Alexas_Fotos
Brother Genuine Supplies Make the safer choice every time. Toner is a toxic chemical, making leaky, non-genuine supplies a risky proposition. Brother Genuine Supplies are routinely tested, made to ISO standards and come with COSHH guidance, so you can avoid this risk altogether. www.brotherzone.co.uk/worth-it-every-time Worth it every time.
01732 759725 20 Joe Hemani, Duncan Forsyth (ex‑CEO) and Sunil Madhani (CEO), have instilled a culture that encourages everyone in the business to be entrepreneurial irrespective of their position. There are no ceilings (glass or otherwise) for an individual’s personal development. PITR: If you could change one thing about the last decade, what would it be? RM: Drinking a little too much at the PrintIT Awards last year! Mind you, it was after we won Hardware Distributor of the Year, so that’s a great excuse! PITR: What has been your proudest moment of the past 10 years? RM: My wife’s wedding speech! I am privileged to be part of her and my stepson’s life. Three is the magic number. PITR: Sum up the decade in three words. RM: Evolution. Consolidation. Acquisition. I’m taking four, always push for more so I’d also have to add fantastic! www.westcoast.co.uk PITR: What has been the high point of the decade? RM: There’s been too many to mention. But if I had to pick, I would say that it’s the people I’ve met over the years – many whom I now call friends. In the print industry, unlike many other sectors, we still very much driven by relationships and human interaction. Outside of that, being regarded as the leading UK distributor and being part of the team that are proud to serve our customers (both vendors and resellers) is another high point. PITR: And the low point? RM: It’s actually the same as the above answer - the people. But not in a bad way! Print is sometimes perceived as boring, so we’ve struggled to get new people into the industry, it has got a bit better with digital transformation, but I would love to see a more balanced and diverse leadership across the industry. PITR: What (or who) has had the greatest impact in the sector in the last 10 years? RM: The support that the leadership team at Westcoast have given its people to succeed. Our Chairman 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? Ryan Mitchell (RM): As with many readers, my tenure in our industry is pushing past 20 years and I’m proud to say that time has been spent mostly at Westcoast. If I’m being totally honest, it wasn’t by design. I started as an Account Manager and moved around until I was promoted to Print Sales Manager, from there I was able to understand just how diverse and complex the print sector is. PITR: What was your first job? RM: My first job was as Chief T-shirt folder at River Island! And I was really good at it, I actually won the regional internal competition, WTH! INTERVIEW A decade in print Ryan Mitchell, Print & AV Director, Westcoast, shares his experiences over the past decade, what he’s learned, and the highs and the lows of our unique and challenging industry Ryan Mitchell And the winner is... Photo: pixabay.com/ranjatm
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