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PRINT.IT
01732 759725
Predictions
Simon Hill,
Group Marketing
Director,
Nuance
Audit document
processes not just
hardware
We expect 2014 to be
characterised by the evolution
of two of 2013’s key themes.
First, there will be increased
demand for a cost-effective
and secure MPS that reduces
print volumes by identifying
and eliminating non-essential
printing. There will also be
pressure to deliver continuous
improvement and cost-saving
throughout the term of MPS
agreements that are already
in place.
Customers are looking for
innovation throughout the whole
contract term, from mobile
printing to document capture
and business processes. MPS
suppliers need to migrate to
Managed Document Services
and spend time during the audit
phase gaining an understanding
of how documents flow through
an organisation, rather than
merely assessing hardware and
print volumes.
The second trend is further
acceptance of BYOD with end
users and organisations that
increasingly operate in what can
best be described as a hybrid
environment – with both mobile
technologies and cloud-based
solutions changing the way
we work with documents and
business information. We believe
that in 2014 we will see greater
demand for easy-to-use and
secure mobile print solutions.
Mobile, document capture,
desktop PDF and workflow
solutions will be key technologies
in 2014. As important as their
individual functionality is their
compatibility with each other
when embedded on the MFP.
We will see more demand for
solutions that address the
issue of non-essential printing.
The fix here needs to be based
around an effective and regularly
updated print policy and an
intelligent print management
solution that enforces print rules
designed to reduce print-related
costs, volumes and energy use.
Tony Burnett,
Sales Director,
Altodigital
Mobile print must be
driven by employers
not employees
This year has been
interesting for the print
industry. We have seen
real progress towards the
‘less visible’ print and
document technologies
that have the potential to
really improve workflow
and drive organisational
efficiencies. One key area for
our customers is mobile print
technology, and we’re seeing
increasing demand for mobile
print solutions, as BYOD
becomes more common in
the workplace and employees
become increasingly mobile.
Its two main applications are
public printing through specific
print apps and public hotspots,
and corporate printing utilising
solutions that enable printing
from smartphone and tablet
technology to any device
within the business network.
In both cases, security
remains the biggest concern.
For businesses that handle
sensitive data, it’s essential
that the opportunity for staff
to use unproven and un-
tested mobile print software is
minimised and that any mobile
print solution is driven by the
company, not the employee.
Throughout 2014, we’ll see
more companies embracing
mobility, and IT departments
will increasingly integrate
secure mobile print applications
as part of a broader BYOD
strategy. This has the potential
to increase print volumes, as
employees benefit from total
flexibility and are able to print
remotely from any device,
rather than being tethered to a
desktop computer.
Data security still a
major concern
The key trend impacting
the print industry in 2013
hasn’t, in my opinion, been
fully realised yet – although
it was rarely out of the
papers. Consider the following
possibilities proposed by
Gartner and other gurus.
n
By 2015, 80% of all handsets
will be smartphones and they
will all be capable of being
integrated into an enterprise’s
decision-making process.
n
Cloud-based services are
destined to become more
important. As more and more
devices become capable
of connecting to the cloud
and apps can sync across
all platforms, the actual
devices become increasingly
unimportant.
n
The Internet of Things (500
billion+ by 2015) will become
more important. NFCs,
embedded sensors (even
biological implants), image
recognition and many other
‘things’ will all be connected
to the Internet and all will
be transmitting data, be it
personal, social, medical or
commercial.
n
The rapid merging of the
principal and richest areas
of Big Data will drive the
development of faster chips,
chip arrays and AI and, with
it, Quantum Computers. The
architecture and infrastructure
of computer technology will
alter radically over the next
five years.
If all this is true, then we
should be very concerned
indeed. Because none of those
predictions make any mention
of security and, as Mr Edward
Snowden has so ably reminded
us this year, you don’t need to be
very clever to steal information –
you just need to be trusted with
access.
Many companies are
concerned about the security
of their cloud-connected data
streams and the people or
organisations who might be
seeing that data. Thanks to
various whistle blowers or
cyber-terrorists (depending on
your point of view), we already
have a fair idea of who they are,
and we cannot be so naive as to
believe there is no government
in the world that would not be
interested, for example, in the
latest oil and gas reports from
XYZ Plc.
My prediction for 2014,
therefore, is that we will see a
significant growth in enquiries
regarding the protection of data,
images and print in storage or in
transmission.
Fortunately – and this
may not surprise you – UTAX
does have a range of software
solutions that can help in the
shape of the UTAX Data Security
Kits (available for all A3 MFPs
and laser printers).
Shaun Wilkinson,
MD,
UTAX
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