Print IT Reseller - issue 48

01732 759725 40 VOX POP I believe increased adoption of digital transformation and ways to support and improve security will continue ...continued strong demand for multifunctional devices that incorporate app technology and mobile solutions. These devices need to be able to facilitate data security practices compliant with GDPR coming into effect in May 2018. “We will also see a sharp increase in demand for warehousing solutions as major players in this area such as AO- online, Ocado and Amazon will continue to offer more flexible delivery options to an ever increasing customer base. This will drive demand for stock control/delivery software and barcode readers and printers. “In production print, short run print solutions for packaging will become more widespread and inkjet technology for high volume transactional print will start to gain some foothold in larger print providers. “In terms of the market place, economies of scale will drive further consolidation at both vendor and dealer level. As device design is becoming more uniform and modular, service providers are looking to increase their fleets as engineers are able to service more devices in a given territory.” www.pinnaclecos.co.uk David Tulip, MPS Programme Director, Network Group “If recent times are anything to go by, then who knows what 2018 will bring! The HP acquisition of the Samsung print business is now complete and we have seen consolidation of the traditional marketplace. I think this will continue, albeit not so high profile. The Apogee purchase of Danwood was a huge surprise to me personally and will we see more of the ‘Manufacturer-Sellers’ created as we have with the likes of Kyocera/ Annodata and Sharp/Midshire? Certainly the manufacturers of ‘dots on a page’ are looking to secure their life blood – ink and toner sales. “Speaking of ink will 2018 be the year of ink? I predict considerable growth for HP’s PageWide and Epson’s RIPS as workplace cultures change. I believe we are at the early days of de-centralising print…who’d have thought that just a few years ago with such strong messaging around the benefits of hub printing? Ink technology will disrupt the traditional copier/print resellers’ market place (maybe why so many are looking to exit) and we should see a rise of electronic workflow which will push further down into SMB customers. “Resellers that have come from the traditional IT side of the tracks AND have a credible MPS offering should fare Mark Smyth, Vision David Tulip, Network Group