www.printitreseller.uk PRINT, MFP, SOFTWARE, SERVICES, DOCUMENT & CLOUD NEWS & INFORMATION FOR VARS, CONVERGED RESELLERS & MFP DEALERS ISSUE 124 · 2024 PRINT IT RESELLER MAGAZINE IN PRINT & ONLINE SINCE 2011 20 24 Royal Lancaster · December 3 Winners Revealed See page 22 MyQ makes personalisation personal See page 32
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PRINTITRESELLER.UK 3 COMMENT Welcome to the final issue of 2024 On December 3, we were delighted to host over 500 guests at the PrintIT Awards evening held at the Royal Lancaster in London (see page 36). You can find out more about the 2024 winners on page 22. Congratulations to all of the nominees, the overall winners, and those who received a highly commended award. We will also find out more about what it feels like to win a PrintIT Award in the winners’ own words, next issue. This month, we feature part two of our annual print predictions feature (page 39), where more of the industry’s leading vendors share their thoughts on what 2025 will hold for the print and IT sectors. Also in this issue, Michelle O’Neill, Channel Marketing Manager at Epson, picks the work tools she uses every day and couldn’t do her job without (page 18). This month’s Q&A is with Martin Randall, Sales & Marketing Director, Vision, and PITR spent 60 seconds with Shannon Dawson, Finance and Customer Service Executive, Parallel Office and Document Solutions. 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... Michelle O’Neill picks her favourite work tools 20 A decade in print Terry Caulfield shares his print experiences over the past decade 22 PrintIT Awards 2024 winners revealed 26 Focus on: What’s New A round-up of recent product launches 29 Digitisation ASL Group transforms document processing 32 Cover Story MYQ reveals exciting improvements to its MyQ X platform 34 Sustainability Remanufacturing, renewable energy, and AI 36 PrintIT Awards A recap of the 2024 event 39 VOX POP Print predictions – part two 46 Industry Insight John Haw, CEO, Fidelity Energy 48 View from the Channel Martin Randall, Sales & Marketing Director, Vision 50 60 seconds with… Shannon Dawson, Finance and Customer Service Executive, Parallel Office and Document Solutions 2024 ISSUE 124 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 124 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. On Tuesday December 3, we celebrated the 2024 PrintIT Awards at the Royal Lancaster, London, and naturally many of our guests were keen to check out the latest issue! 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] This month, Sarah Mackay, Head of Operations at UTAX UK took her copy into the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary in Pattaya, one of the highlights of the recent UTAX partner incentive trip (see page 6 for more details) Tony Lomax, Product Marketing Manager, Lexmark EMEA and Arjan Paulussen, Managing Director, Western Europe, and English‑Speaking Africa at Lexmark Brother UK’s Chief Marketing Officer, Mike Anderson; Lesley Howe, Channel Development Manager (and winner of the Outstanding Team Member of the Year Award) and Managing Director Phil Jones Tim Winstone, Regional Manager & Solutions Specialist, Sharp UK Mark Asbridge, Head of Business Consultancy at My Q Our host Jimmy McGhie was terrific and even took the time to catch up on the latest news before rehearsing the big reveal!
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01732 759725 6 BULLETIN Celebrating 30 years Digital Office Group, a family-owned and operated business is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Founded in 1994 by John McPhillips, the company’s story has been one of hard work, shared values, and a commitment to quality and innovation that runs deep within its family roots. From humble beginnings, as a Xerox photocopier supplier Digital Office Systems has expanded and evolved into a wider group of companies which includes Insite Business Technology and Tetra Communications. Today, it supplies and supports a wide range of business IT and connectivity services including broadband, mobile and telecoms. Managing Director John McPhillips (pictured) said the business has been a testament to the strength of working together, and the pride it takes in supporting its customers has only deepened over three decades. “Generations of our family have worked side by side, and many of our team members have become like family over the years, contributing to the rich legacy we are celebrating today. “As we celebrate 30 years of Digital Office, I extend my sincere thanks to all who have contributed to our success. This milestone reflects our shared dedicated, innovation and commitment to excellence. Something we pride ourselves on. We are excited for the future and remain focused on growth and new opportunities. Thank you for being part of this journey.” www.digital-os.co.uk Partner incentive trip UTAX UK recently hosted another memorable incentive trip for its top performing partners, Copymoore Limited and Document Data Group. The well-deserved reward for achieving annual sales targets was a luxurious getaway to Thailand, along the beautiful coastline of Pattaya. The trip, held in November 2024, showcased UTAX’s commitment to fostering strong partnerships. The chosen venue, Dusit Thani Pattaya, offered guests a luxurious resort getaway, with panoramic views of Pattaya Bay. Over six days, attendees experienced an exciting itinerary highlighting the best of Thailand. Highlights included a traditional welcome dinner, an unforgettable evening at Tiffany’s Cabaret Show, and a visit to the Pattaya Elephant Sanctuary, providing an up-close experience with rescued elephants. A private catamaran cruise added a touch of adventure and luxury with island hopping, snorkelling, and jet-skiing. The trip concluded with a grand farewell dinner at the Horizon Rooftop Bar, an iconic dining destination overlooking Pattaya’s skyline. UTAX Managing Director, Shaun Wilkinson, said: “We are delighted to reward our partners for their continued dedication and success. We hope they enjoyed the trip as much as we did. www.utax.co.uk Leading Resolutions opens new London office Technology consultancy Leading Resolutions, is expanding its UK footprint with the opening of a new office in London’s Aldgate Tower, located at 2 Leman Street, London, E1 8FA. The company says the expansion marks a significant milestone in its continued growth and commitment to supporting clients with an on-theground presence in the heart of one of the world’s leading business hubs. The new office will serve as a central base for the Leading Resolutions team to continue providing exceptional expertise in digital transformation, IT strategy, cyber and risk management, and operational efficiencies. CEO Pete Smyth said: “Our new Aldgate Tower office places us strategically in the city bringing us closer to our clients and partners across sectors, including finance, technology, healthcare, and retail. With its modern facilities and vibrant surroundings, Aldgate Tower offers a dynamic environment for our consultants, enabling us to better support our clients with the high-impact, responsive service they expect from Leading Resolutions. “We’re thrilled to provide our growing team with a space that reflects our focus on collaboration, agility, and forward-thinking consultancy which harnesses the latest innovations, such as tooling and AI, and addresses culture shifts and behavioural change – all of which are key for our clients.” https://leadingresolutions.com Multi-site print upgrade Managed print provider Woodbank Office Solutions has upgraded and streamlined the office print setup for WS Transportation, a leading logistics company based in Runcorn. After a period of growth and acquisitions, WS Transportation faced a complex, fragmented print portfolio and turned to Woodbank for a simpler solution. Stephen Hewertson, IT Manager at WS Transportation said: “We had a mix of print contracts and leases from various suppliers. With support from our new Woodbank Account Manager, we were able to review, absorb viable leases, and consolidate the rest. As a small IT team, it’s essential to have reliable support, and this new setup from Woodbank really simplifies things for us.” Woodbank’s solution included 15 new Konica Minolta printers, placed strategically across eight of WS Transportation’s sites and now centrally managed by their dedicated Account Manager and Woodbank’s in-house team of engineers. www.woodbankoffice.co.uk
PRINTITRESELLER.UK 7 BULLETIN Evolve and Purple partner up Managed network solutions and IT services provider Evolve, has announced a strategic partnership with Purple, a provider of Wi-Fi and place-based analytics solutions. Both Evolve and Purple are part of the BGF portfolio which was established to address the SME funding gap in the UK and Ireland by providing venture capital to businesses. Evolve announced its investment with BGF earlier this year and Purple has already experienced rapid growth under BGF’s guidance since October 2023. As Purple expands into new sectors including hospitality, it will leverage Evolve’s established experience to provide an industry-leading Guest Wi-Fi experience to new and existing customers. The partnership also marks a strategic move for Evolve as it shifts away from its existing in-house Guest Wi-Fi to utilise Purple Wi-Fi for its own Wi-Fi services, offering Evolve’s customers increased functionality from personalised communications and promotions thanks to Purple’s automation tool, to automatic customer surveys with a 97% average response rate. Alan Stephenson-Brown, CEO at Evolve, said: “Purple has an impressive track record when it comes to enhancing visitor experiences, optimising efficiency and increasing cost-effectiveness. I am confident that this partnership, and the change in Wi-Fi provider, will only benefit our customers and their customers with a scalable and modern solution.” Gavin Wheeldon, CEO at Purple, added: “We are delighted to be working with Evolve as they embark on the next chapter of their growth plan. Evolve has an established and respected role in the hospitality industry, among other sectors, and we are confident that our joint offering will provide real added value to those businesses. By working together with Evolve to provide an improved Guest Wi-Fi service, we are creating a unique and best-in-class solution for the market. The joint credibility of Purple and Evolve will ensure that we can help to scale businesses in a robust marketplace.” www.evolve.com Impressive growth in the northwest Cumbria-based office solutions provider MB Digital, a Konica Minolta Elite Partner is celebrating an impressive 26% growth in sales over the last three years. As one of the few independent and family-owned Konica Minolta partners in the northwest, MB Digital’s customers across Cumbria and southern Scotland rely on its supply and expert support for their essential print and office solutions needs. The partnership with Konica Minolta has been a key ingredient in MB Digital’s growth, as Sales Director Danny Askew explained: “The close relationship with Konica Minolta has been instrumental in our growth and development, particularly through brand recognition, product reliability, longerlasting consumables, and the availability of manufacturer support whenever it is required.” The two companies have a long history of close cooperation and customer service. Since its formation in 2011 MB Digital has been a Konica Minolta dealer and was awarded a 5-star accreditation by the manufacturer in 2014. Demonstrating even closer mutual ties MB Digital later became a Konica Minolta Premium Partner in 2019, progressing to become an Elite Partner a year later. Cameron Mitchell, Business Leader for Indirect Channel at Konica Minolta Business Solutions (UK) added: “MB Digital is a standout partner that is achieving impressive growth and customer loyalty by offering exceptional localised service and support in the northwest. Like Konica Minolta, it has a firm commitment to customers’ and its own sustainability, which includes reducing waste, reusing/refurbishing products wherever possible, and recycling. We are proud to work in close partnership and look forward to continuing this outstanding success.” www.mbdigital.co.uk XBM acquires Alba Technology Yorkshire-based XBM Limited has announced the acquisition of Alba Technology’s contracts and assets, a North Wales and Midlands-based reseller of Epson, Sharp and Brother single function and multifunction printers and digital document solutions. XBM is expanding rapidly through a strong focus on new business and targeted acquisitions, with this being its fourth acquisition in the last two years. The company is one of only two Epson Diamond Partners in the UK, an award based on a comprehensive set of criteria including product focus, expertise, sales, and the high level of support it provides for clients. Alba Technology was incorporated in 2021 by current Managing Director, Glyn Tapp, who will join XBM, guaranteeing a smooth transition of the business’s current customer base into the XBM family. Commenting on the acquisition, he said: “I’m excited to be joining the XBM team and it will be a great home for our existing customers as XBM is already both an Epson and Sharp reseller. Our customers will benefit from XBM’s knowledge and expertise, and their great service support team.” XBM Managing Director, Richard Tayor added: “The acquisition of Alba is another step in XBM’s plans to become one of the largest UK managed print service providers. I look forward to collaborating with Glyn and growing that regional base together.” www.xbmltd.com
01732 759725 8 BULLETIN Planting the seeds of sustainability InReach Group is working to make a tangible impact on the environment and local communities, helping the business and its clients meet sustainability targets. In partnership with Treeapp and a local landowner who is reforesting parts of his land to create more space for plants and wildlife to flourish, InReach team members and partners rolled up their sleeves to plant over 300 trees in Little Horwood. In a statement the company said: “This hands-on initiative exemplifies the synergy between our commitment to environmental stewardship and community engagement. By combining the expertise of Treeapp with the enthusiasm of our team, we’re not only offsetting carbon but also cultivating connections – with nature and one another. “For us, it’s not just about offsetting emissions; it’s about fostering a mindset of responsibility and regeneration. Whether it’s enabling a cleaner planet for future generations or empowering local farms to thrive sustainably, this project highlights what’s possible when businesses, communities, and organisations unite for a common goal.” https://inreachgroup.co.uk Dealer group merger proposal Integra Business Solutions and Office Friendly have now concluded their initial voting processes with shareholding members voting in favour of a merger. As a result, they are now in further consultations with their respective tax and legal specialists and, subject to all legal and commercial requirements being met, will move forward with the next stages. This merger presents an exciting opportunity for members and the independent dealer channel, with both groups receiving overwhelmingly positive response since their announcement back in September. www.integra-business.co.uk https://officefriendly.co.uk A shift in strategic direction Donal Murphy, Chief Executive of DCC plc – owner of and parent of Exertis, announced an update on the strategic direction of DCC as part of the DCC Interim Results update to the city. DCC announced a focus on its energy activities, focusing solely on its compelling opportunity in this sector. The business will simplify its portfolio and has begun preparations for the sale of DCC Healthcare. The technology division will focus on delivering its growth and transformation agenda while exploring strategic options for the future. DCC will continue to support the technology business financially and ensure a smooth transition to the right partner. Exertis’ top priority remains serving its specialised vendor partners and ensuring it provides the best technology solutions and added value for its customers. DCC continues to invest in operational improvements, digital advancements and integration programmes across its division. Tim Griffin, CEO of Exertis IT, said: “We’re excited by the opportunities that DCC’s strategic update presents. This is a great opportunity for our technology division as we explore the possibility of new ownership. Our focus remains as ever on delivering for our customers and vendor partners. DCC’s strategic update provides another opportunity for us all to grow and progress, and we’d like to reassure our customers and vendors of our commitment to them, to adding value, to delighting all our partners and enabling their success.” www.exertis.co.uk Extended agreement Maverick, a specialist professional audiovisual and collaboration business of TD SYNNEX, has signed an extended agreement with ViewSonic, a global provider of visual and EdTech solutions, for the company’s leading range of high quality displays. Partners in the UK and Ireland will now be able to purchase the full range of ViewSonic’s interactive flat panel displays (IFPs), along with its extensive LED and LCD screens, in addition to its line of projectors from TD SYNNEX Maverick. This will allow them to take advantage of the specialist pre-sales support, value-added services and expertise of Maverick’s audiovisual technology and market specialists to maximise their opportunities with ViewSonic. Partners will also have access to TD SYNNEX’s unrivalled stockholding, logistics, and financial options. https://uk.tdsynnex.com TD SYNNEX leads by example on AI TD SYNNEX is leading where it hopes and expects partners will follow by rolling out trials of Microsoft 365 Copilot across a number of its UK teams. Following an initial pilot with key members of the Microsoft team in the UK and Europe, a further significant wave of Microsoft 365 Copilot licences have now been rolled out across the UK advanced solutions, sales, marketing, finance, human resources, and IT teams. TD SYNNEX has been using AI for some time to support automation and process improvements and enhance data and targeting. This new initiative will extend the use of the technology right across the organisation. Simon Bennett, Managing Director, Advanced Solutions, UK and Ireland, TD SYNNEX, said: “This is about practicing what we preach and taking the lead where we hope and expect others to follow. Both globally and here in the UK, TD SYNNEX has been investing strongly in helping both our own teams and our partners understand the potential of AI. The best way of demonstrating that is for us to lead by example and make use of AI in our own business.” https://uk.tdsynnex.com Tim Griffin
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01732 759725 10 BULLETIN Rising star award Xerox was awarded the 2024 King’s Trust Partnership Rising Star Award. Darren Cassidy, President, Western Europe at Xerox said: “Being honoured by the Prince’s Trust, as it becomes the King’s Trust, is a testament to our team’s dedication to this partnership. Since we began, we’ve raised well over £100K and engaged in initiatives like the Palace2Palace and the Million Makers challenge, with 400+ employees actively involved.” www.xerox.com Strategic partnership Develop UK has announced a strategic partnership with Tungsten Automation. The alliance marks a significant milestone in its commitment to delivering cutting-edge tools and services to its network of dealers. As part of the collaboration, two of Tungsten’s solutions - Printix and Power PDF, will be seamlessly integrated into the DSolutions portfolio. The company says these additions are set to empower Develop dealers with unparalleled productivity and efficiency tools, reinforcing their ability to offer tailored, high‑performance solutions to clients. www.develop-uk.co.uk Konica Minolta volunteers for charity Konica Minolta joined other organisations, including its partner Intuitive BI, and other volunteers, to kickstart the festive season for around 60 families, at the annual Candlelighters charity Christmas Party. Held in Bradford, the party was packed with games, activities, stalls and entertainment that included Champ the elephant (the Candlelighters official mascot), Super Mario, Mickey Mouse, Anna and Elsa from Frozen, characters from Star Wars and of course a visit to Santa’s grotto. Marie Woodhead, Konica Minolta Partner Marketing Manager, has been volunteering and fundraising for Candlelighters throughout the year, participating in its Ready Steady Cook challenge and coordinating Konica Minolta’s chocolate egg and toy donations. She said: “This was my first time attending the Candlelighters Christmas Party and the team and I found it an afternoon of pure joy. Seeing the children light up meeting Santa, dancing with their favourite characters, and even booing the Grinch was truly heartwarming. It was an honour and a privilege to be part of this beautiful event.” www.candlelighters.org.uk www.konicaminolta.co.uk Carbon offset solutions PrintReleaf is expanding its partnership with Xerox, as the vendor embarks on its innovative and industry leading Verified Carbon Neutrality Service for managed print services. In collaboration with Xerox, PrintReleaf has developed the logistics necessary to drive sustainability in MPS ahead, making it possible for Xerox clients around the world to work towards carbon neutrality for their printer fleets. This is the first of its kind in the print industry — MPS offering third-party verification according to the ISO 14068 Carbon Neutrality standard. PrintReleaf will issue a certified mix of carbon offset types, including reduction and avoidance, and vintages, in compliance with the standard. With this new chapter of the partnership, PrintReleaf will now facilitate Xerox clients in offsetting emissions associated with a more robust accounting of the carbon emissions of a fleet, from manufacturing, to shipping to warehouses, transporting devices to clients, the energy used in running those devices and the recycling and disposal management of the devices at the end of their useful life. https://printreleaf.com 100% renewable electricity Konica Minolta Mechatronics, a production site for digital printing systems in Japan, has attained the goal of procuring 100% of the electricity it uses from renewable sources. Consequently, all of the Konica Minolta Group’s own global production sites that manufacture MFPs and digital printing systems (excluding those of toner) have achieved the goal of procuring 100% of the electricity they use from renewable sources. Konica Minolta Mechatronics installed a solar power generation system at head office in 2021, which provides about 13% of the electricity required. The company attained the goal of procuring 100% of the electricity it uses from renewable sources by purchasing and applying non-fossil certificates with tracking at its four sites in total, including the head office plant, in FY2024. www.konicaminolta.co.uk Sustainability report Epson Europe has released its 2023/24 European Sustainability/ESG Report, outlining the advances it has made in the past year towards realising its 2050 goal of becoming carbon negative and underground resource-free. It also highlights how Epson is harnessing its technology to innovate practical, scalable solutions to address the most pressing environmental challenges the world faces. Key FY23 achievements include business travel emissions reduced by 19%; deliveries from factories in Asia optimised to reduce future CO2 emissions by an estimated 10-50% per container; commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion bolstered through implementing comprehensive manager training and company-wide e-learning initiatives; and 100% plastic-free status achieved for all point-ofsale marketing materials. Boris Manev, Sustainability Director, Epson Europe said: “We have a clear vision to pioneer sustainable innovation and set new standards in environmental responsibility. Our investments in carbon capture and renewable energy, including the development of a new biomass plant, are key milestones on our journey towards a carbon-negative future. These initiatives reflect our deep commitment to protecting the planet for future generations.” www.epson.eu
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01732 759725 12 BULLETIN Intuitive BI announces new partnerships Intuitive has announced three new partnership agreements in France, Italy and the US. NewSoft IT France, an award-winning provider of document management and digital transformation solutions has been named as a new distributor for Intuitive Dashboards. As an Intuitive distributor, NewSoft IT will work with Intuitive to provide dashboards to its large network of resellers. In the US, Metro Sales Inc. is adding Intuitive Business Intelligence (BI) Dashboards to its solutions portfolio. This addition further enhances Metro Sales’ DocuWare offerings, providing customers with powerful tools to optimise document management and streamline workflows. Intuitive has also announced that Glocal Value, its trusted partner in Italy for Intuitive for PaperCut dashboards, has extended its product portfolio to include DocuWare dashboards. https://weareintuitive.com TSC Auto ID acquires Bluebird TSC Auto ID Technology has announced the acquisition of Bluebird Inc, a global enterprise IoT solutions provider. The collaboration marks a strategic move by TSC to advance its global position and broaden its product portfolio. Vincent Chen, President of TSC Auto ID said: “By offering Bluebird’s awardwinning mobile computers and data capture solutions alongside our own robust printing technologies, we shall be able to offer customers more comprehensive solutions. The demand for seamless input and output devices continues to grow and our vision is to deliver integrated, efficient solutions to meet evolving needs and enhance overall customer experience.” Bluebird has a particularly strong presence in retail and healthcare and brings exceptional design and development expertise in mobile computing. The collaboration between TSC and Bluebird holds promise not just for stakeholders of each company but also for their prospects and customers across many sectors. https://emea.tscprinters.com/en Zyxel Networks extends portfolio Zyxel Networks has announced four new Wi-Fi 7 access points (APs), adding further strength to its range and providing customers of all sizes with even more ways to tailor wireless connectivity to meet the needs of their users. The new access points join three existing models, making Zyxel Networks’ Wi-Fi 7 portfolio the most extensive and comprehensive in the industry, providing options to suit every size and type of organisation. “We are seeing real momentum among businesses to adopt Wi-Fi 7 devices, but often the underlying network capabilities are not able to deliver the expected user experience,” said Kell Lin, Senior Associate Vice President, Networking Strategic Business Unit, Zyxel Networks. “By adding four new Wi-Fi 7 access points to our range, we are able to support SMBs to adopt new technologies smoothly, driving continued penetration of Wi-Fi 7 worldwide.” www.zyxel.com Updated TCO Certified criteria IT purchasers, including procurement professionals, IT managers, sustainability leaders and policymakers, are now empowered to raise their sustainability ambitions with the updated criteria of TCO Certified, the global sustainability certification for IT products for over 30 years. The stricter criteria help purchasers to take the lead in social and environmental sustainability and reduce the climate impact of electronics by choosing responsibly designed products, verified by independent experts. The new and updated criteria covers four key areas: Climate – driving improvements in production and product design to reduce the climate impact of IT products. Circularity – setting a new standard for product longevity with a minimum of five years use time. Substances – improving chemical safety, focusing on stabilisers, external cables and next-tier suppliers; and supply chain – criteria are made stricter and extended further into the supply chain. “The focus on measuring product carbon footprints has proven challenging, and also diverts attention from reducing the footprints,” said Sören Enholm, CEO of TCO Development, the organisation behind TCO Certified. “TCO Certified is all about driving real change, and besides pushing for reduced product carbon footprints the updated criteria also push for longer product life and a reduction of e-waste. Choosing certified products not only reduces environmental impact but also supports ethical supply chains, giving organisations a competitive edge.” https://tcocertified.com Technology partnership Hitachi Vantara has announced a collaboration with Virtana, a leader in AI-powered monitoring and observability for hybrid infrastructure environments. The partnership integrates the Virtana Platform suite with the Hitachi EverFlex infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) portfolio to deliver advanced consumptionbased infrastructure solutions for workload management and hybrid cloud operations. The collaboration with Virtana significantly enhances the Hitachi EverFlex portfolio. Earlier this year, Hitachi Vantara launched a new generation of advanced IaaS solutions designed to streamline IT operations and reduce costs through AI-driven automation. The new iteration of Hitachi EverFlex is focused on providing enterprises with scalable, flexible, and costefficient hybrid cloud solutions to meet their evolving IT needs. Additionally, Hitachi Vantara established a partnership with Cisco to further strengthen the capabilities of the offering, ensuring organisations can seamlessly integrate, optimise, and secure their hybrid cloud environments with networking and compute solutions. www.hitachivantara.com Kell Lin
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01732 759725 14 BULLETIN ETIRA demands stronger enforcement The European Toner and Inkjet Remanufacturers Association (ETIRA) has issued an urgent warning to European buyers. From July to November 2024, ETIRA reviewed approx. 50 new non-OEM toner and remanufactured OEM cartridges across Germany, France, the Czech Republic, Romania, Spain, and Italy. ETIRA investigations revealed that new non-OEM cartridges are high risk and often blatantly illegal. 75% of these products fail to meet EU standards, with only 8% fully compliant. In contrast, remanufactured OEM cartridges performed significantly better, with 85% meeting most or all regulations. These findings echo ETIRA’s product tests performed in the past, which showed new non-OEM toner cartridges often failed hazardous chemical checks, including decaBDE and toner emissions. These products endanger public health, the environment and legitimate businesses. ETIRA is taking decisive action by reporting violations to national market surveillance authorities and exposing buyers of non-compliant products. www.etira.org A new narrative for print In September 2024, the IPIA announced its pivotal national print research and advocacy project with research agency, Madano, utilising groundbreaking digital data acquisition and analysis technology. Capturing the research results, gathered over a 12-month period covering over 12,000 data points, has provided an accurate, detailed picture of how the print industry is truly perceived by consumers and key print buying markets across a range of critical metrics: from effectiveness, trust and sustainability, through to the role of print within multi-channel marketing campaigns. A new white paper distils the key findings of the research – an important example being how trust in print as a communications and marketing medium is very high among consumers and results in high engagement rates and positive sentiment towards the medium. Part of a long-term transformative project for the industry, the aim of the initiative is to permanently shift the perception of print across an end-user and consumer audience. The IPIA is working in partnership with its members Citipost Mail, Imprint MIS, Ricoh, Konica Minolta, Epson and The Printing Charity to drive this important project forward. Ricoh has announced its support of the New Narrative for Print initiative. Tim Carter, Commercial Print Director at Ricoh UK Graphic Communications said: “We are really proud to be part of this exciting project, and it’s forming part of our commitment and focus. We believe print delivers a different, emotive outcome; it makes things happen; it enables decisions to be made. Print still remains unique in terms of its resilience, its permanence and trust. Ricoh continues to advocate, innovate and invest in print as we believe it will remain an important part of the communication mix in the future.” Phil McMullin, Head of Sales (Commercial and Industrial) at Epson UK, stressed the importance of shaking up the view of print: “Print is an innovative and sustainable business with a great future; important to the UK manufacturing industry both in terms of profit and the number of people employed. It’s clear to us at Epson that the future of the print industry relies on us being able to attract young people into the industry. “We need to get the message about print across through education – getting the right information cascaded down to the right people, who make the decisions. If we can change how end-users perceive print as creative, innovative and sustainable, that’s going to be a good thing for everybody.” www.ipia.org.uk PCL Direct supports 2024 MTV Awards PCL Direct Group supported the prestigious 2024 MTV Awards held at the Co-op Live Arena, in Manchester, by providing sustainable printing solutions in the build-up to the event and during the Awards Show. PCL Direct provided nine A3 full colour MFPs complete with finishers, and six A4 format full colour devices from its Eco Direct recycled and re-engineered multifunctional printer range which are produced at its remanufacturing operations in Nuneaton. The Eco Direct machines were installed in the media centre and various offices, in both the arena and the adjoining Tennis Centre, and were required to print off scripts, day-to-day communications and press information - even the hair and makeup team had an A4 colour MFP at their disposal - with around 90,000 prints and copies produced over the week. PCL Direct Senior Technician, Darren Turner, managed the installation and ongoing maintenance of the machines for the duration of the week-long build-up of the MTV Awards and on the day of the spectacular Awards ceremony itself. Turner has an in-depth knowledge of the range and was on hand from 9am until after 8.30pm for the first four days of the initial build-up, regularly trekking between each department in both centres, to check and maintain the equipment. www.pcl-direct.com (l-r) Andrew Ellis, Dave Higgott and Darren Turner
At Cargil Solutions we’re experts in o ce equipment distribution and always put our clients first As the UK’s channel focused Xerox Authorised Partner, Cargil Solutions is able to offer its clients access to the full Xerox portfolio, from entry level print through to A4 and A3 MFPs. As well as their award winning and industry leading app offering: Accredited service and support packages Our partners have a range of servicing options, dependant upon the best fit for them and their end users. They can service inhouse, utilise the Xerox UK support network or work with our trained and accredited partners. Flexible service and sales training programs Our partners have access to the Xerox education platform and support platforms. Via the completion of online modules, our partners are able to attain approved Xerox service status. Contact our friendly team to see how Cargil can support your customers requirements. 0844 880 6905 www.cargilsolutions.co.uk
01732 759725 16 BULLETIN : PEOPLE Evolve appoints new FD Managed network solutions and IT services provider Evolve has announced the appointment of Michelle Horan as its new Finance Director. Horan joins Evolve from cloud and IT services provider Giacom, where she was overseeing the group consolidation, management accounts, and statutory accounts preparation for multiple entities. Prior to this, she held senior finance positions across the renewables and asset management sectors at Vercity, gaining extensive experience in managing complex financial operations. www.evolve.com Pittick joins Paralogic Former Canon channel exec James Pittick has joined Paralogic – Channel Technology Services as its new Channel Sales Director. Pittick brings a vast amount of experience to the team. He worked at Canon for many years, culminating as Director of the Partner Channel before becoming the Director of Corporate Sales at Nuffield Health. https://paralogic.tech Key leadership appointment for Apogee Apogee has hired Steve Ruby as its Chief Experience and Operations Officer to help accelerate the company’s growth and transformation in the managed workplace services industry. Ruby has over 26 years of experience in IT services and leadership. He has held senior roles at prominent managed service providers, managing extensive client portfolios and service teams across the full operational service lifecycle, from pre-sales and solution design to contract negotiation and business transformation. His career in IT services spans key positions at organisations including Logica, Capita, Computacenter and mostly recently Endava, where he served as Group Head of Service Delivery. In his new role, Ruby’s primary responsibility will be advancing Apogee’s service delivery capabilities as the organisation expands beyond its established reputation in the MPS sector and further into the managed workplace services market. He will lead efforts to unify Apogee’s operational and engineering teams to maintain consistent and high quality practices, creating an experience‑led organisation that supports its customer-first strategy. “I am thrilled to join Apogee at such a pivotal time,” he said. “Its strong reputation in the MPS market provides a solid foundation for expanding our digital workplace solutions, and I’m looking forward to using my experience to enhance operational excellence during this transition and create meaningful experiences at every customer touchpoint.” James Clark, CEO added: “Welcoming Steve to the team is incredibly exciting for us. His rich understanding of the IT services landscape and passion for delivering exceptional outcomes makes him the perfect fit for this role. His leadership will be instrumental in reinforcing our commitment to providing tailored solutions that meet our customers’ evolving needs and solidifying our position as a leader in managed workplace services.” https://apogeecorp.com Sara Wilkes named Agilitas CEO With over 18 years of experience in the technology channel and holding the position of Agilitas’ Chief Operating Officer since the beginning of the year, Sara Wilkes has been chosen as the company’s new CEO, an appointment that Agilitas says represents the next phase in its ambitious growth strategy. As Chief Operating Officer, Wilkes has been responsible for enhancing the company’s technology-driven growth, strategic expansion and employee empowerment, working closely with department heads to execute the company’s operations and support the wider team. She has also been instrumental in leading Agilitas’ total experience workstream that encompasses culture, excellence, the voice of the customer, technology and automation, and sustainability. In her role as CEO, she will focus on driving Agilitas’ strategic vision, with a strong emphasis on refining the customer experience to ensure it is deeply embedded in the organisation’s culture. She will lead efforts to foster innovation and align the company’s long-term goals with market trends, positioning Agilitas as the premier partner in the technology channel. www.agilitas.co.uk Steve Ruby James Pittick Exertis Cloud has added five new team members to its growing workforce. This expansion marks a significant step forward in the distributor’s strategic plan to scale operations, deepen its impact in the channel and deliver great value to partners. The new recruits include Commercial Director Radhika Dattani who has over 20 years’ experience in professional services built at Fast Lane, QA and CompTIA. Commercial Manager Chris Cave, who joins from Fluid One Business IT (formerly Highlander). Marketing Manager Sophie Lockwood who has spent four years at Giacom; Partner Manager Lauren Foster whose experience and understanding of Microsoft will help partners expand and grow and Azure Presales Specialist Danny Morfitt who brings extensive expertise in Microsoft Azure for SMBs and is strategically positioned to support, educate and enable MSP partners to navigate and maximize Azure IaaS. The expanded team will drive the development of new offerings and strengthen existing relationships, ensuring that every partner has the resources and expertise they need to capitalise on growing cloud demand. www.exertiscloud.com Five new hires at Exertis Cloud
Print IT Award Winners! CF Corporate Finance have won the prestigious Print IT Award for ‘Finance and Leasing Provider of the year’ Resellers across the UK Print IT sector have voted CF Corporate as the winner of the ‘finance and leasing provider’ category of the Print IT awards. We are honoured to win such an award and be recognised as a market leader. We would like to thank all those valued partners who voted for us. We end 2024 on a high but it doesn’t end there – CF Corporate will continue to deliver innovative finance solutions for our partners with exciting new products and services in 2025 and beyond. Winning this prestigious industry award is the pinnacle to a fantastic 2024 for CF Corporate. This is just reward and recognition to our hard working and dedicated teams throughout the entire business. We look forward to continuing our support to the channel in 2025 with new and exciting products, services and development. Michael Yiannakou – Sales Director Sell more with an award winning finance partner CF Corporate deliver the products, the systems, the transparency, the rates and a high level of service that represents a major advance in finance provision. Contact us today and sign up to the future of finance. 01279 759345 [email protected] cfcorporate.co.uk
01732 759725 18 six days a month and as a working mum, it really works for me. This new way of working has definitely improved my work-life balance, for example, I’m now able to pick up my children from school two days a week, which was impossible before, as I had at least an hour-long commute. I wouldn’t want to work full-time at home, I love my days in the office and meeting my colleagues. And when I go in, I plan my days so they are efficient and structured. So for example, I set-up in-person meetings, get things done that I need to collaborate on with the wider team, or arrange to collect collateral or other things I need for events I’m doing. 4 Epson’s partner portal As a 100% channel-centric business, it’s really important that we provide our partners with the tools and assets they need to promote Epson’s offering to their customers. The partner portal is something I definitely could not do my job without. It houses Epson’s key marketing messaging, sales toolkits, marketing collateral and assets all in one place. It’s easy for me to update and upload whatever new assets we’ve created, and our partners have easy one-click access to everything they need. 5 LinkedIn I really don’t know how we managed before LinkedIn became a thing! I tend to log on several times a day, the LinkedIn community is a really valuable resource and complements so many of the traditional marketing communication channels and tools we use. From keeping in touch with people I already have relationships with, re-connecting with past colleagues to making new connections. I thrive on collaboration, like to mix things up and move forward and I find LinkedIn helps me to come up with new ideas to amplify Epson’s messaging. 1 Music I love music. I was brought up surrounded by it, I used to sing in a band and I play the piano. When I’m working, I have to have music on WORKPLACE I couldn’t do my job without… Michelle O’Neill, Channel Marketing Manager at Epson, picks the tools she uses every day and couldn’t do her job without Michelle O’Neill Photo: pixabay.com/Afancycrave1 in the background, whether it’s the radio or one of my favourite playlists. Obviously when I am in the office, I put my headphones in so as not to disturb my colleagues! But I really find that it helps me to focus more and gets me through the day. 2 Dedicated home office When we first moved to working from home during the pandemic, I didn’t have a dedicated space to work, so I set up on my dining room table. It wasn’t ideal, tying to manage my work commitments whilst being right in the centre of the home and family life. I moved house recently and top of my list was to create a dedicated home office where I could shut myself away and focus on the job in hand. It’s really made a difference to my work-life balance, I now have a structure to my day and can ‘leave’ the office at the end of the day, whereas before I found I stopped for a bit to make dinner then I’d go back to the dining room table and pick up work again. 3 Flexible working Epson has embraced flexible working – the pre-pandemic norm of commuting five days a week seems like a distant memory now. I now go into the office
PRINTITRESELLER.UK 19 complex repair, Zebra’s experienced technicians are equipped to handle any challenge, ensuring that printers are returned to service quickly and efficiently. In conclusion, Zebra Technologies continues to lead the way in providing reliable and efficient printing solutions for the manufacturing, transport, and logistics sectors. With extended warranties, the OneCare program, Visibility IQ, and comprehensive repair services, Zebra not only delivers high‑quality products but also supports them with unparalleled service. For businesses looking to enhance their operational efficiency and maintain a competitive edge, Zebra’s printer solutions and services offer the perfect blend of performance, reliability, and support. a cloud-based analytics platform that provides real-time insights into printer performance and utilization. By leveraging these insights, businesses can optimize their printing operations, reduce costs, and improve overall efficiency. Visibility IQ offers actionable data that helps businesses anticipate potential issues before they escalate, ensuring seamless operations and reducing the likelihood of unexpected disruptions. Repair services are another cornerstone of Zebra’s commitment to customer satisfaction. Zebra’s global network of repair facilities ensures that customers receive timely and efficient service, minimizing downtime and maintaining operational continuity. Whether it’s a simple fix or a more In the fast-paced world of manufacturing, transport, and logistics, reliability and efficiency are paramount. Zebra Technologies, a leader in providing cutting-edge printing solutions, understands these needs and offers a comprehensive range of printers backed by robust support services. This article highlights Zebra’s commitment to ensuring optimal performance and peace of mind through their warranty and service offerings, including the OneCare program, Visibility IQ for Printers, and repair services. One of the standout features of Zebra’s service offerings is their industry-leading warranty. Recognizing the critical role printers play in operational workflows, Zebra has extended their warranty terms to provide added assurance to users. All Zebra Desktop printers now come with a 3-year warranty, while Zebra Industrial Printers are covered by a 2-year warranty. This commitment to durability ensures that Zebra printers are built to withstand the demanding environments of manufacturing and logistics. Beyond warranties, Zebra offers the OneCare service, a comprehensive support plan that elevates customer experience and product reliability. OneCare provides various levels of service to meet the unique needs of different businesses, ensuring minimal downtime and maximum productivity. With options ranging from standard maintenance to advanced support, OneCare covers everything from technical support and software updates to device diagnostics and repair. This holistic approach ensures that Zebra’s customers receive the best possible service tailored to their specific operational demands. Another innovative offering from Zebra is Visibility IQ for Printers, BUSINESS INSIGHT THE ZEBRA FILES Watch the video to find out more about Zebra ...or scan the QR code Enhancing Efficiency and Reliability: Zebra Printers in Manufacturing, Transport, and Logistics Next month… we look at Thermal Managed Print Services. Using Zebra thermal label and barcode printers, it is now entirely possible to add these devices to standard managed print service contracts.
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