01732 759725 42 VOX POP continued... Daniel Maddox, Owner, Evolve Document Solutions: Subscription models are the future. More businesses are opting for subscriptionbased and pay-per-use models for their printers and copiers. We’ve seen a 25% increase in demand for these models in the education sector alone over the past year. With so many organisations aiming to be more agile, it makes sense – predictable monthly costs and access to the latest tech without the hefty initial investment. We predict that around 40-50% of UK companies will be considering subscription models to manage their IT and print needs. Everything is moving towards flexibility and service, and this trend is here to stay. Our document management software, Agility, is a great example of how we can meet that demand. With Agility, there’s no contractual obligation. This allows clients to scan and retrieve all their documents worldwide, backed up by the AWS platform. Admittedly, it’s a bit more challenging to do that with managed print services. There’s the upfront cost of the device to think about. But by keeping copier lease and service agreements separate, we can create pricing models that suit our customers and our business model. Sustainability will set us apart. Clients want greener options, and it’s not just talk – it’s a real demand. We’ve seen schools and professional services firms increasingly ask for energy-efficient devices and recycled consumables. We see over 60% of our clients are now actively seeking to reduce their environmental footprint, and print is part of that equation. The UK government’s push for net zero by 2050 is also driving this change, and businesses are keen to align their practices with these goals. Resellers who offer energy-efficient devices, carbon offset programmes, and refurbishing options are the ones who’ll stand out. Refurbishing devices and giving them a second life is something we’ve been doing more of, and it’s making a real difference. Hybrid working changes the game for print. Hybrid working isn’t going anywhere. That means print needs to adapt. We’re seeing more demand for smaller, versatile printers that work both at home and in the office. In the professional services sector, having seamless cloud-managed print solutions has become a must. No one wants the headache of juggling different systems, and the focus on cloud security is greater than ever. According to recent data, more than half of UK employees are now working in a hybrid model, which means secure, cloud-enabled remote printing solutions are in higher demand than ever. If we make cloud printing secure and straightforward, we’re well-positioned to help businesses thrive in this new landscape. IT services and document management. The days of just selling printers are behind us. More print resellers are moving into IT services and document management. In the education sector, for example, we’re seeing increased demand for integrated IT support and secure document workflows. Businesses want integrated solutions – if we can offer IT support, secure cloud storage, and efficient document workflows alongside traditional print services, we’re not just resellers anymore – we’re partners in their digital journey. We see around 40-50% of clients looking to consolidate their IT and print services under a single provider. This is consistent with national data on the same subject of streamlining costs and improving efficiency. We are outstanding in the managed print services field. But, like other small businesses, we know we can’t be everything to everybody. This offers a great opportunity for collaboration. Like Evolve, we predict other providers of similar size will also see the value in alliances with local IT businesses that share the same values in transparency and support. Creating additional revenue streams through collaboration will help businesses to create more value and become more resilient in the process. It’s definitely a big part of Evolve’s plans. www.evolvedocumentsolutions.co.uk Daniel Maddox Clients want greener options, and it’s not just talk – it’s a real demand Photo: pixabay.com/Shirley810
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