Business Info - issue 134

magazine 27 01732 759725 ADVERTORIAL The past decade has seen great leaps in technology and innovation. Technology has advanced our lives and how we work in ways that we could never have imagined ten years ago. If we look further back, today’s workplace is in many ways unrecognisable to that of the generation before us – and tomorrow’s workplace will change further still. But through all the change, some technologies manage to have incredible staying power, while others come and go. If we take inkjet printing as just one example, this technology has managed to be reinvented and remain relevant for more than 65 years already 1 . And today, my focus lies on having inkjet take a greater share of the € 38 billion EMEA business printing market. 2 We’re at the beginning of a great technological age in which the future Why inkjet is the printing technology of the future It is crucial we can trust the technology of work is full of uncertainty. Many theories have been constructed around the workplace of tomorrow– some possibilities more imminent than others. But what is certain is that the technology we use is redefining “business as usual”. In an age where technology is all around us, the advances we’re seeing are driving expectations for higher productivity and efficiency, as well as lower costs and environmental impact. So it is crucial that we can trust the technology we choose to be the best option to get the job done, but also to make us better at what we do and make our workplaces better places to be. I believe inkjet is one such technology. Epson has invested € 400 million in new inkjet production facilities in Japan and other markets, and we’ve made a commitment to invest a further € 185 million over the next three years, specifically to further develop our PrecisionCore printhead technology. Incremental innovations in inkjet over time have already responded to many of today’s demands in the workplace, and the technology is so flexible and adaptable that it will continue to meet future needs. I don’t believe that laser technology, for example, has the same staying power. It will likely one day be among the ranks of VHS recorders and typewriters. As a technology it was introduced almost 30 years after inkjet, and for a time it brought improved business benefits in terms of cost and speed, but it is already losing ground. Industry analyst firm, IDC, has indicated that the overall business inkjet market is expected to grow at a rate of 10.2% (CAGR) by 2020 3 , and inkjet is expected to account for 34% of the total business printer market in Europe by 2019 4 , well on its way to dominating the marketplace. Epson is already experiencing significant market share growth within the business inkjet sector, and in Europe this share reached 40% in Q1 of 2017 5 . The steadfastness of the technology will continue because it has achieved alignment to all of the key drivers of businesses today: increased efficiency, productivity and quality, as well as reduced cost and environmental impact. It is clear to me that the future of business printing is inkjet, and Epson stands firmly behind this technology. We are driving it forward because we have the same expectations as our customers.We develop efficient, compact, precision technologies with the aim of making positive differences and addressing real challenges in the workplace.Whether through printing, visual, wearable or robotic technologies, we remain grounded in our long history of innovative craftsmanship, which is rooted in our DNA.We will continue to provide the technologies that enhance the capabilities of workplaces today and tomorrow, and we’ll continue to be a part of the change in the way we all do business, for the better. www.epson.co.uk By Claire Robinson, head of business sales at Epson UK Claire Robinson 1.The Economist, 2002 2. Estimated EMEA total business print market, source: IDC 3. IDC,Western Europe Business Inkjet Market Shares, 2015 4. IDC, 2015 5. IDC, Quarterly market report, Q1 2017 6. Based on EpsonWorkForceWF-C20590 max power consumption of 320W, and comparable speed model Xerox Color 1000i Press max power consumption of 7600W, based on manufacturers own specifications. Epson’s Revolutionary high-speed business A3 MFP Earlier this year, Epson lauched its next generation of superfast eco- efficient business inkjet printer: the WorkForce Enterprise. This ultra-fast 100 images per minute (ipm) departmental colour office A3 printer delivers the ecological benefits that only inkjet technology can offer, providing a low power solution with fewer supplies at the price of a departmental laser copier. TheWorkForce EnterpriseWF-C20590 is joined by a 75ipm version, theWF- C17590, both designed to meet the needs of departmental office printing in corporates and SMEs, especially those that have peaks of high-volume productivity. To further enhance the printer’s quality, Epson has incorporated a number of technology innovations, including a self- maintaining printhead to eliminate banding and an electrostatic transport belt to maintain quality at high speed.What’s more, this new technology delivers a step-change in environmental performance, reducing power usage by up to a staggering 96% compared to the same speed laser printer 6 without needing a specialist power supply. Claire Robinson says: “The WorkForce Enterprise cuts the environmental impact of print by providing a low power solution, with fewer supplies, while delivering remarkably fast print speeds at high quality. Having far fewer parts than equivalent laser- based MFDs, this series promises to deliver higher reliability and significantly increase printer uptime.”