PRINTITRESELLER.UK 43 Ryan Mitchell, Print & AV Director, Westcoast: What will 2025 bring? As one of the most established industries in the IT sector I would say probably not a lot of seismic changes. Personally, I feel that this isn’t a bad thing, the last few years have been enough! This year has been more consistent than the last three years, Supply chain has improved, forecasts are more reliable, interest rates have settled. This means that we can focus more on developing more value for our partners and vendors. Distributors do a fantastic job to support the channel, if we have the volume, we can often do this at a cost which is better value than investing yourself. Managed print will continue to look forward into the digitised document and making content richer and connected through the business. With the buzz around AI, I think this will be accelerated greatly but more from developers rather than the hardware itself. We need to focus on refurbished products, there is so much opportunity to do more here but this needs to lead from the vendor and in fact the leasing companies. Many fear this reduces new unit sales, when for some it will accelerate them. Tenders are already demanding a mix of new and refurbished, the challenge for many is how do you tender for this without a supply chain that enables consistency? Transactional print will continue to decline, it’s already an aggressive market and resellers often disengage with low margin opportunities. There is big opportunity vendor led MPS aimed at the SMB market, subscription print plans need to accelerate faster but need to ensure they are rewarding the reseller and us obviously! Market consolidation will continue of course, M&A rolls on. It’s good to see that a new vendor has come through this year, it’s encouraging! With our own news in July this year, Westcoast will join forces with Also (pending clearance) that will give us some fantastic opportunities to support our partners further across all of Europe. www.westcoast.co.uk VOX POP Steve Hawkins, CEO, Xeretec: As we look ahead to 2025, the print industry is poised for a year of significant transformation. Consolidation among manufacturers and dealers/resellers is expected to intensify, driven by the need to streamline operations, reduce costs, and enhance market presence. This consolidation trend will likely see smaller players merging with larger ones, creating more formidable entities that can better compete in an evolving market. In this new landscape, manufacturers will be jostling for position, engaging in fierce competition to defend their market share and attack new opportunities. This dynamic environment will see traditional alliances tested and new battlegrounds emerging as companies seek to outmanoeuvre their rivals. Manufacturers will have to innovate aggressively and expand their offerings to stay ahead of the curve, with a strong focus on enabling comprehensive MPS solutions that meet the evolving needs of businesses. They will need to balance innovation with price competitiveness to remain relevant, and this, for some, will be challenging as unit sales and volumes level out to lower than previous levels. 2025 will be a pivotal year for the print and MPS world, as it continues to develop and evolve in response to changing market demands. Advances in technology will play a crucial role in shaping the future of the industry. With the increasing adoption of cloud-based solutions, the integration of IoT devices, and the emphasis on sustainability, print providers will need to adapt quickly to maintain their relevance and competitiveness. One of the key areas of focus will be on enhancing security features to protect sensitive information, given the rising concerns around data breaches and cyber threats. Moreover, sustainability initiatives will be at the forefront, with manufacturers striving to reduce the environmental impact of their products and operations. This will involve developing more energy-efficient devices, utilising eco-friendly materials, and promoting recycling programs. As the industry navigates these changes, customer-centric strategies will be paramount. Understanding and meeting the unique needs of customers will be critical for building long-term relationships and driving growth. Manufacturers and resellers will need to invest in robust customer support, tailored solutions, and innovative services to stand out in a crowded market. In summary, 2025 is set to be a year of consolidation, competition, and innovation for the print industry. By embracing new technologies, prioritising sustainability, and focusing on customer needs, print providers can position themselves for success in this rapidly evolving landscape. www.xeretec.co.uk continued... Steve Hawkins Ryan Mitchell Managed print will continue to look forward into the digitised document and making content richer and connected through the business
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