01732 759725 42 many buyers to be looking for built-in security features. More generally, we expect to see a continued shift towards managed services for core functions such as backup and endpoint security – especially in the smaller business market. I think we will also see some positive update of faster networking and connectivity technologies. Wi-Fi 7 is starting to attract more interest as buyers look to upgrade and protect their investment for the next few years. While 2024 was a year in which uncertainty prevailed for the most part, we’re hopeful that 2025 will see more positive investment right across the board, especially if we see a return to steady economic conditions. There is a latent need for businesses to re-invest in IT and if confidence returns, so should market growth. https://synaxon-services.com/ synaxon-hub capable laptops and that’s going to accelerate as we move towards end-ofsupport for Windows 10 in October 2025. With that, we could also see a lot of shared office and personal desktop and home printer devices being upgraded. One factor that might influence buying decisions here is sustainability – print devices are now expected to be highly efficient in terms of power consumption and many buyers may also be looking for devices with refillable ink tanks to minimise consumables purchases. For 2025 overall, we are expecting to see much healthier demand for hardware products and with that, increased buying activity across the market. The other major continuing trend will be cybersecurity and the need to ensure that all points on the network are safeguarded. That will include print devices and we can expect Miguel Rodriguez, Managing Director, SYNAXON Hub: I expect the major trends in 2025 to be similar to the ones we have seen over the past year. Clearly, AI will continue to be a major theme. We are already seeing high demand for AIVOX POP Warren Colby, Managing Director, Agilico Workplace Technologies: Looking ahead to 2025 and beyond, the print and IT sectors are poised for significant evolution, driven by technological advancements, sustainability concerns, and changing business models. Sustainability and circular thinking. Reducing carbon footprints and minimising waste will be top priorities for both sectors. Print suppliers will increasingly offer environmentally friendly solutions, including ‘used’ products or extending the life of existing assets. Organisations will begin to focus more on the carbon cost of procuring new equipment versus exploring alternatives. Greater Carbon Taxes could be introduced as they are in Scandinavia. Alongside eco-friendly products, more businesses will adopt circular economy principles, offering services like equipment refurbishing and recycling programmes. These will become key selling points for both print and IT suppliers. Cloud. Cloud-based printing solutions will dominate as organisations seek remote and hybrid work capabilities. Printers will increasingly be connected to cloud networks, enabling secure, location-agnostic printing and document management. Document workflows will continue to become more automated, integrating AI to handle routine tasks such as document routing, archiving, and indexing. This trend will reduce manual intervention, making printing and document management more efficient. Security. As print systems become more integrated with IT infrastructure and cloud environments, they will become a bigger target for cyber threats. In 2025, there will be a greater emphasis on print security solutions, including secure document release, user authentication, and data encryption. More organisations will adopt zerotrust security models, which will extend to print environments. Print devices will need to be secured just as rigorously as other IT endpoints, requiring advanced security protocols. As hybrid work continues to be the norm, both the print and IT sectors will focus on providing tools that allow employees to securely print and access documents from anywhere. Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) solutions and cloud printing services will become more mainstream. Integrated collaboration tools that combine print, IT, and digital workflows will be a key focus, enabling employees to access, share, and print documents more seamlessly. Data analysis and reporting. In 2025, print management systems will offer more advanced analytics, helping businesses gain insights into print usage patterns, costs, and inefficiencies. These analytics will empower companies to optimise their print strategies. Power BI is likely to replace many bespoke reporting functions, giving users more control over data manipulation and producing more accurate reports. Likewise, IT systems will increasingly leverage AI to provide insights into infrastructure performance, security vulnerabilities, and user behaviours, helping businesses make data-driven decisions. How we work. The office environment of 2025 will be a blend of physical and virtual spaces. Print and IT sectors will need to provide solutions that work seamlessly across both environments, allowing businesses to adapt to fluctuating workforce dynamics. Businesses are likely to reduce their building and estates, meaning they need to work more efficiently using booking systems, such as Ricoh SPACES for their ‘hot desk’ environments. www.agilico.co.uk Miguel Rodriguez Warren Colby continued... For 2025 overall, we are expecting to see much healthier demand for hardware products
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