THE TECHNOLOGY &WORKPLACE MAGAZINE FOR SMES & PUBLIC SECTOR ORGANISATIONS WWW.BUSINESSINFOMAG.UK ISSUE148 UNIFIED COMMS NEC integrates UCaaS and CCaaS applications on a single platform PAGE 24 LAPTOPS Circular Computing achieves BSI Kitemark for laptop remanufacturing process PAGE 14 SOFTWARE Why it’s time to start migration planning for Windows 11 PAGE 16 Whatever the space, whatever the workload, whatever the challenge. Canon printers work for work. Works, wherever you work Go to page 26 to discover how Canon’s MAXIFY GX range can work for you too!
IN THIS ISSUE 04 What’s New A round-up of new products for work and home 08 B ulletin Why sales people need offices 14 L aptops Circular Computing achieves BSI Kitemark for laptop remanufacturing process 15 G reen IT Tackling the UK’s e-waste problem 16 S oftware Why it’s time to start migration planning for Windows 11 17 P rocurement Opportuni takes war on corruption to next level with Bidstats acquisition 18 I couldn’t do my job without... David Levine outlines the five tools he most depends on at work 21 App Update Real-time speech-to-text transcription and translation 24 Unified Comms NEC integrates UCaaS and CCaaS applications on a single platform 26 Cover Story Be productive and efficient with Canon 28 Accessories Kensington celebrates 40 years of innovation 30 Predictions We ask workplace and technology experts what to expect in 2022 34 Month in Numbers The world of work in numbers Editor: James Goulding 0780 308 7228 · [email protected] Publishing Director, Social Media &Web Editor: Neil Trim 01732 759725 · [email protected] Advertising Director: EthanWhite 01732 759725 · [email protected] Group Sales: Martin Jenner-Hall 07824 552116 · [email protected] Art Director: Nick Pledge 07767 615983 · [email protected] Advertising Executive: James Trim 01732 759725 · [email protected] Business Info is a controlled circulation magazine. Applications for free copies will be considered upon receipt of a completed and signed reader info card or online form. Business Info is available on subscription @ £40 p.a. to UK companies or residents and @ £75 p.a. for non-UK subscribers. The opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the publishers who cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions. No part of Business Info magazine can be reproduced without the prior permission of the publisher. © Copyright 2021 Kingswood Media Ltd. ISSN 1464-8814 Design: Sandtiger Media – www.sandtiger.co.uk FOR THE LATEST INDUSTRY NEWS VISIT: WWW.BUSINESSINFOMAG.UK “ ” Comment Kingswood Media Ltd., 10 Amherst House, 22 London Road, Sevenoaks TN13 2BT Tel: 01732 759725 • Email: [email protected] BUSINESS INFO GET YOUR FREE COPY To make sure you get every issue FREE, as soon as it is published, just visit www.businessinfomag.uk, click the ‘FREE Registration’ button and add your details to our mailing list. @BinfoMag facebook.com/ BinfoMag If you no longer wish to receive Business Info magazine please email your details to [email protected] With guidance to work from home where possible and uncertainty about what other steps might need to be taken to keep new variants of coronavirus under control, it might feel as though we are ending 2021 much as we did 2020. While the sense of déjà vu is very strong is some respects, in others – and here I am speaking strictly with my business hat on – I believe we are in a better position than we were this time last year. In the last 12 months, organisations of all sizes have accelerated their digital transformation programmes and strengthened their business resilience to ensure they have the flexibility and infrastructure to cope with business disruption, whatever its source. Much of these initiatives have been facilitated by the knowledge and drive of technology providers. Earlier this month, at the PrintIT Reseller Awards, Kingswood Media celebrated the efforts of managed print service providers in helping customers make the transition to remote working, and next year we will be holding the inaugural Technology Reseller Awards for the IT channel. Organised by Technology Reseller magazine, these are an opportunity for everyone in the industry to honour IT industry professionals, resellers/MSPs, distributors and vendors that have delivered exceptional performance or service levels over the last year. Although this is very much an IT industry celebration, end user organisations, like the readers of Business Info, can play their part by encouraging IT suppliers and managed service providers that have exceeded their expectations on some major project or initiative to enter the awards and gain the recognition they deserve for their achievements. If there is one good thing to have come out of the last two years, it is the closer relationships that many businesses now enjoy with suppliers that helped them maintain operations during the first lockdown in March 2020 and are now guiding them through the digital transformation that all businesses will need to undertake in order to remain competitive in the years ahead. You can find out more about the awards at www.technologyresellerawards.co.uk. It just remains for me, and the entire team at Business Info, to wish all our readers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. See you in 2022. James Goulding, Editor, [email protected] 03 magazine
businessinfomag.uk magazine 04 Managing stock Sandvik is encouraging machine shops to stop using pen and paper for tooling inventory management and to start using its paperless CRIBWISE software as-a-service platform instead. The subscription-based cloud inventory management service enables all sizes of machine shop to streamline tool, spare part and equipment purchasing and reduce costs and storage space through better stock management. Head of CRIBWISE Joakim Johansson said: “Tooling costs can easily run into tens of thousands of pounds, and much of this can be attributed to outdated and unconsolidated tooling inventories that take up space and cause frustration.With a standardised and consolidated tooling inventory system like CRIBWISE, machine shops can streamline purchasing, reduce costs and improve stock management. In fact, our ‘early bird’ customers have reduced tooling and equipment inventory costs by as much as 20%. An effective toolmanagement system will also generate data that owners and managers can use to make more informed strategic decisions about workforce productivity, machine optimisation, expenditure and inventory size.” Cribwise.com With the launch of its new Express Connect service, Vapour is enabling organisations to enjoy the public cloud capabilities of AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google and other cloud service providers without having to send their data via the public internet. By providing a dedicated private connection to public cloud services via Vapour’s own ISO27001accredited MPLS networks, the new connectivity solution ensures customers have the bandwidth and speed for an optimum end user experience, peace of mind when it comes to security, budget transparency and the ability to scale up or down in line with business needs. Express Connect is available fromVapour and channel partners. Reinventing collaboration HP claims to be reinventing the way people connect with the introduction of the new HP Presence range of intelligent, end-to-end conferencing and collaboration solutions. Designed to meet the needs of today’s hybrid working styles and to provide a high-quality conferencing experience wherever workers are located, the series includes a suite of HP Presence Meeting Space Solutions that bundle hardware and services with real-time analytics/reporting, cyber threat protection (HPWolf Security for Business) and camera privacy features, as well as AI-enhanced audio (with speaker tracking), cinematic video and engaging controls. The solutions – the first to contain previously oceanbound plastics – are available in kits for small, medium and large spaces, each containing an HP Presence Mini PC, an HP Presence Control Center, colour-coded cables, mounting equipment and a step-bystep setup application. Add-on components include a 4K AI camera, an audio and video bar for larger spaces, an audio hub and satellite microphones. www.hp.com Dedicated connectivity Down to earth without a bump Boxxe has enlisted the help of Gravity Industries, inventor of the Jet Suit, to highlight the ‘work from anywhere’ capabilities of Dell ruggedised devices. In a new campaign from the Dell Technology Partner, Gravity Industries Founder and Chief Test Pilot Richard Browning is shown flying over Dartmoor National Park in a Jet Suit as part of a search and rescue exercise. After landing on a tor, he opens up his Dell Latitude 5420 Rugged laptop to communicate with other Dell Rugged users including a foil-boarder, paddle-boarder, mountain biker and car restorer. He said: “Being able to fly with a laptop without worrying about damage highlights a whole host of potential applications for these devices.” Every Rugged device is droptested on concrete, temperature-tested from -28°C to 62°C, and protected against damage from dust, dirt and water. Other useful features for extreme environments include an outdoor-viewable display even in direct sunlight, responsiveness to touch with gloves and dual hot-swappable batteries. https://www.boxxe.com/ dell-rugged-laptops A feel for writing Note-taking/sketching screen protector creator Paperlike has announced a new version for the 2021 iPad Mini. The company claims its iPad screen protectors are ideal for creatives and note-takers thanks to their combination of patented Nanodot smart technology, which provides the right level of friction for writing/drawing, and the iPad Mini’s integration of the Apple Pencil. In addition, Paperlike’s anti-glare soft matte finish is said to improve the feel of the iPad for simple touch operation and note taking. WH AT ’ S N E W INNOVATIONS
01732 759725 05 magazine Looks expensive Soon, shoppers may not even need a card or phone to buy goods, following the launch of the world’s first payment terminal to support both traditional payment methods (chip card, magnetic stripe, contactless and NFC) and transaction authorisation via facial recognition. Offering a fast, secure and completely contactless solution, the VisionLabs LUNA POS Terminal scans the customer’s face (without saving any facial data) and milliseconds later sends the face template to the payment service provider or bank for identification and authorisation using VisionLabs facial recognition technology. VisionLabs has used its facial recognition technology in payment terminals since 2019, but this is the first time the technology has been incorporated into a device that also supports other payment methods. VisionLabs expects the number of users securing payments via software-based facial recognition to exceed 1.4 billion globally by 2025, up from 671 million in 2020. visionlabs.ai Household printer Following the introduction earlier this year of the A4 Mini Business inkjet range for hybrid working, Brother has announced the three-strong Mini Regular series of compact A4 devices for households with print volumes of 50 to 1,000 pages a month. Designed to meet all the printing needs of busy households, from children’s homework to full colour photos, the three new devices offer print resolutions of up to 1200 x 6000 dpi, wireless connectivity and compatibility with the Brother Mobile Connect app, which allows users to send a file to print from anywhere, share and review scanned documents, monitor ink levels and order replacement supplies from a mobile device. The standard cartridge yield is 200 pages. The three Mini Regular devices are the DCP-J1140DW (print/copy/scan, 6.8cm LCD touchscreen), the DCP-J1050DW (print/copy/scan, 4.5cm LCD touchscreen) and the MFC-J1010DW (print/copy/scan/ fax, 20-sheet ADF). www.brother.co.uk/ compact-home-inkjet A quick single New from Sharp NEC Display Solutions Europe, the NEC MultiSync E273F enables customers to replace multiple video, audio, power and USB connections with a single cable. As well as offering quick and easy connectivity in hot desking environments, the integration of 65W USB Type-C connectivity and a USB hub helps users keep their desktop tidy and decluttered. For users with other requirements, the 27-inch monitor also has DP and HDMI ports and audio output, alongside useful ergonomic features like built-in Low Blue Light technology, extensive adjustability and an optional VESA thin client mount. www.sharpnecdisplays.eu Just a one:quick LG is addressing changes in the way individuals, co-workers and teams communicate with the launch of the LG One:Quick series of conferencing and collaboration solutions. This includes a dedicated wireless screen-sharing USB dongle (One:Quick Share) and two displays based on theWindows platform – One:Quick Works, an all-in-one 55-inch device with built-inWindows PC, 4K UHD camera, microphone, speaker, digital whiteboard and the LG videoconferencing solution One:Quick Remote Meeting (users can also install Teams, Webex, Zoom and other apps); and One:Quick Flex, a 43-inch 4K UHD touchscreen display with camera, microphone, full touch-pen support and whiteboard functionality. The former, which comes with easy-to-use management and control features, is ideal for more permanent settings, such as conference rooms, while the latter, with its ability to be used in landscape or portrait modes and the option of a mobile stand, is better suited to smaller group meetings, brain-storming sessions and one-on-one interactions. www.LG.com/b2b Upstanding mouse Digital lifestyle accessories brand Trust Electronics is tackling the problem of wrist pain with the launch of the Bayo Ergonomic RechargeableWireless Mouse. Featuring an ergonomic vertical design to reduce arm and wrist pain, the Trust Bayo has a range of up to 10 metres and comes with a small USB dongle that can be stored in the mouse itself. The thumb rest’s RGB LED light enables users to personalise the mouse with their preferred light setting. The Trust Bayo is available from Amazon UK for £29.99. INNOVATIONS 5G catalyst Cradlepoint is strengthening its position in the 5G wireless solutions market with the launch of the first enterprise-class branch router with native 5G. Facilitating the immediate roll-out of 5G applications across the globe, the Cradlepoint E3000 Series 5G Enterprise Router provides fast, agile, secure, resilient 5G connectivity for primary, failover or SD-WAN use cases without any compromise in manageability, features or performance. IDC expects the market for enterprise wireless routers to reach $2.98 billion by 2024, as more businesses replace wiredWAN connections with more flexible wireless solutions. https://cradlepoint.com/ products/5g-for-business/ Cradlepoint E3000 Series ISSUE 148
businessinfomag.uk magazine 06 INNOVATIONS Zoom Phone certification The Konftel 800 conference phone has been certified to work with Zoom’s cloud telephony solution Zoom Phone. Konftel Director of Global Sales Tommy Edlund said: “Zoom Phone now has over two million seats across 47 countries and territories, doubling from 1 million to 2 million paid seats in less than nine months. The Konftel 800 is a powerful flagship hybrid conference phone, which, when paired with Zoom Phone, provides high quality audio communication across a multitude of room types.” In large spaces, smart microphone technology and the ability to daisy-chain units provide an extended audio pickup and listening range. konftel.com In a new partnership with Logitech, PPDS is aiming to video-enable meeting spaces of any size by combining Philipsbranded corporate and education displays, including the Philips C-Line, B-Line and T-Line series, with Logitech audio and video-conferencing solutions (the Brio, Rally Bar Mini, Rally Bar and Rally Plus). Tim de Ruiter, International Business Manager at PPDS, said: “Combining Logitech’s advanced technologies for unrivalled, world class video-conferencing quality with our own market-leading range – inspired by market feedback to meet every business need – we’re confident that there is no stronger or more complete all-in-one solution.” www.ppds.com True partners Biodegradeable SIM Workz is helping mobile network operators (MNOs) reduce their environmental footprint by introducing a biodegradable SIM card, which can also be safely recycled with other oil-based plastic. Claimed to biodegrade completely in landfill or through composting, the EcoSIM is one of several sustainability initiatives introduced byWorkz, which is already ISO 14001 certified for Environmental Management. Others include modifying designs to halve plastic consumption per customer; introducing virtual alternatives, such as eSIM; using recycled materials in packaging; and optimising supply chains to cut the use of energy and unsustainable materials. In 2019, 5.5 billion SIM cards were produced worldwide. www.workz.com A shared view With a simple software install, Vivitek NovoStage enables up to four users at a time to share information on any Windows 10 device, from a laptop to a large format display (including the feed from a shared camera). Ideal for meetings, lessons and training sessions, as well as for seminars, workshops and virtual product demonstrations, the £225 solution is platform-agnostic, supporting iOS, MacOS, Android, Windows, Chromebook and Ubuntu content. AWindows display can receive content in one of four ways – via NovoConnect software, Airplay, LauncherPlus or the Vivitek web portal www.launchnovo.com – with no need for additional hardware or cables. www.novoconnect.eu 5G private network Cellnex UK has been contracted by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council to build an ultra-fast 5G private network in Basingstoke’s central business district. Supported by the Enterprise M3 Local Enterprise Partnership and the University of Surrey 5G Innovation Centre, the 5G core network and Radio Access Network will provide indoor and outdoor connectivity to more than 100 companies located in Basing View and a 5G Living Lab, where industry partners can showcase 5G applications for smart city, Internet of Things, immersive retail/leisure, AR/VR, transport and digital health. Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council hopes the 5G network will attract businesses to the area and enable those already there to develop, trial and bring to market new products, services and applications. www.cellnextelecom.co.uk Sharp app Sharp has enhanced its hospitality EPOS systems with a new Android app that allows table staff to take and amend orders, finalise tabs, print bills and provide dietary information to customers. Integrating seamlessly with Sharp POS systems, SPOS Remote has an easy-to-use interface that replicates till programming. www.sharp.co.uk
01732 759725 magazine 07 INNOVATIONS Cooling breakthrough Early test results show that a passive cooling system being trialled by Katrick Technologies and iomart could reduce a data centre’s total energy consumption by as much as 25%. A prototype installed at iomart’s Glasgow data centre captures heat energy generated by day-to-day operations and, through the use of bi-fluids, converts it into fluid vibrations that move fins specially designed to remove heat. Trial data suggest that using this system instead of energy-intensive condensers could cut the electricity consumption of data centre cooling systems by almost 50%. www.iomart.com • www.katricktechnologies.com Luxury listening Cisco and Bang & Olufsen have jointly developed a premium business headset optimised for hybrid workers. The Bang & Olufsen Cisco 980 pairs Bang & Olufsen’s design skills, craftsmanship and powerful sound with Cisco’s integrated meeting controls and IT management capabilities. In addition to Bluetooth 5.1,Webex integration, voice prompts and on-ear controls for muting, answering or ending calls, the Bang & Olufsen Cisco 980 provides crystal clear communications and an immersive listening experience through beamforming microphone arrays and Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation. webex.com Squeaky clean Speedlink, the PC and gaming accessories brand, has launched a mousepad treated with antimicrobial technology from Polygiene. The HI-GENIC mousepad has a durable textile surface suitable for all mouse sensors and a non-slip base that provides stability even on smooth surfaces. Polygiene ViralOff treatment reduces micro-organisms on textiles by over 99% within two hours. https://www.speedlink.com Here, there and everywhere Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise has launched a new range of desk phones for hybrid & remote working, following the introduction of its OmniPCX Enterprise Purple communications platform. Available in three lines (Basic, Essential, Enterprise), the phones incorporate 3D voice capture for meetings in large rooms, connections to wireless networks and an embedded VPN client for remote working. Nicolas Brunel, EVP, Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise Communication Business Division, said: “The new desk phones are part of the latest generation of devices that leverage the most advanced technological innovations to offer unprecedented audio quality. The desk phones have been made to connect to the enterprise environment, even when working remotely. Their design and advanced capabilities make them an essential component of any digital workplace in combination with our communication servers and Alcatel- Lucent Enterprise’s cloud-based Rainbow UCaaS platform.” al-enterprise.com Nice to see you The Teleportel Telework Reception enables remote or homeworking receptionists to provide a warm, socially distant welcome to visitors, without the risk of infection to either party. A live video connection with a remote receptionist is established automatically (and touchlessly) the moment a visitor walks up to the Reception Unit, waves their hand over the screen or scans the QR code on their invitation. The solution is available in two versions: a DIY version, where the customer supplies their own computer and Teleportel remotely installs and supports the software; and the complete RealReceptionist version, which includes a countertop or wallmountable indoor unit with a 22-inch touchscreen, integrated HD camera, microphone, speakers and optional QR reader. There is also an Advanced unit housed in a kiosk (with optional pedestals), which includes a card reader, a badge/ticket printer and an integrated Remote Diagnostic Controller. www.teleportel.com/vr/index.html You buy, Acer plants Billed as a tangible manifestation of Acer’s commitment to more sustainable operations, the Acer Aspire Vero (£649- £849) includes a significant proportion of PCR plastic in its chassis (30%) and keycaps (50%); recyclable packaging that doubles as a laptop stand; a wasteminimising design that makes it easy to disassemble, repair, upgrade and recycle the computer or components; and a commitment from Acer to offset the carbon produced in manufacturing/ shipping by planting 100 trees for every device registered by customers. Other features of the Acer Aspire Vero include a 99% recyclable 15.6in display;Windows 11;Wi-Fi 6; a Type-C USB port and two Type-A USB ports; and Acer TrueHarmony and Acer PurifiedVoice with AI noise reduction for crystal-clear conference calls. https://ecologi.com/aceruk Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise OmniPCX Enterprise Purple ISSUE 148
BULLETIN businessinfomag.uk magazine 08 WORKPLACE HULL IS OTHER PEOPLE Summit Media has become the first occupant of a new Centre for Digital Innovation (C4DI) tech hub in the heart of Hull’s thriving Fruit Market creative community. The digital retail marketing agency has taken 3,000 sq ft of office space on the first floor of a £3.75m three-storey building onWykeland Group’s @TheDock tech campus to provide a lively work and social environment for its 60-strong team and to attract local talent. The new Centre for Digital Innovation builds on the success of the neighbouring C4DI, which, since opening in 2015, has become a focal point for Hull’s burgeoning community of digital businesses and a base for 200 start-up and scale-up tech firms. The new C4DI building is expected to generate 250 highly skilled tech jobs. Summit uses performance-driven digital marketing techniques to boost the online sales of major clients including clothing and homewares company Joules, multinational retailer Ann Summers, mobile network provider Three, online marketplace OnBuy and jewellers H. Samuel and Ernest Jones. Summit was previously based in Willerby, west of Hull, but following the pandemic lockdowns, decided to relocate to Hull’s city centre tech quarter. The company’s 60-strong team now operate a hybrid system, with a combination of office days and working from home. The business also has a small team located in the Soho offices of parent company TCC Global, a worldwide retail marketing company. Summit Media Managing Director Martin Corcoran said: “Hull’s growing tech quarter is the natural place for us to be. Relocating into Hull gives us further opportunities to build on our fantastic relationship with the University of Hull, as we recruit lots of graduates; it moves us closer to where many of our staff live; and it makes us even more attractive as an employer.” John Gouldthorp, Asset Manager of Hull-basedWykeland, said: “C4DI offers the perfect post-pandemic working environment, offering high-quality, spacious and open plan offices within a vibrant urban village where workers can make the most of their time away from work, with so many places to eat, drink, shop and relax on the doorstep.” www.summit.co.uk/about-us TECHNOLOGY NFT NAMEDWORD OF THE YEAR The Collins Dictionary Word of the Year 2021 is an anagram – NFT, standing for ‘non-fungible token’, which Collins defines as ‘a unique digital certificate, registered in a blockchain, that is used to record ownership of an asset such as an artwork or a collectible’. NFT became a buzzword in March, when the rights to digital artist Beeple’s collage EVERYDAYS: THE FIRST 5000 DAYS were sold at Christie’s for $69 million. According to GlobalData’s Social Media Analytics tool, mentions of the hashtag #nft increased by 3,566% between January and October this year. NFT beat other technology-related terms on Collins Dictionary’s long-list, such as crypto (cryptocurrency) and metaverse, as well as terminology linked to the pandemic, like hybrid working, pingdemic and doublevaxxed. Other contenders for the Collins Dictionary Word of the Year 2021 were climate anxiety, cheugy, neopronoun and Regencycore. Seven of the 10 long-listed words are new to CollinsDictionary.com. Find definitions for all at https://www.collinsdictionary.com/woty BULLETIN Members of the Summit Media team outside their new home in the second Centre for Digital Innovation (C4DI) building in Hull’s regenerated Fruit Market area. Picture: Neil Holmes Photography LIGHTING ORB AND SPECTACLE An interactive audio-visual light display by Squidsoup is one of the highlights of Greenwich Peninsula’s ‘Christmas Less Ordinary’ festivities. Consisting of 500 individually suspended orbs,Wave combines sound and light to create a series of emotive, immersive environments. Each orb is an autonomous sensate unit consisting of LED lights, a speaker and microcomputer with movement sensor and wireless connectivity. Together, the 500 points of light and 500 voices, interconnected and choreographed using Internet of Things technology, create an interactive walkway at the entrance to Design District on the Peninsula, the area’s new permanent home for the creative industries. https://www.visitgreenwich.org.uk/ whats-on/wave-p1540131 WORKPLACE IWG TO CREATE NEWWORKSPACES Commuters in North London will have more opportunities to work closer to home, following the opening of five new IWG centres across Enfield, Barnet and Hertfordshire over the next four years. A new franchise agreement with the Ashley Group is part of IWG’s plan to create 800 to 1,200 new workspace locations in suburbs, towns and villages across the UK by 2030. IWG, owner of the Regus and Spaces brands, claims that hybrid working could provide suburbs with up to £171 million in extra spending by new office workers and the creation of more than 4,000 jobs. In a recent IWG survey, 77% of employees cited being closer to home as a key priority when moving job; 49% of businesses said they were considering moving closer to where their workers lived. https://franchise.iwgplc.com/en-gb/ discovery-days
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01732 759725 magazine 11 BULLETIN MAILING MISSED DELIVERY BOOST FOR PARCEL LOCKERS The growing risk of doorstep piracy is highlighted in a new survey by Quadient, which shows that in the last 12 months the proportion of consumers who have experienced lost or stolen parcel deliveries has increased from 20% to 25%. The number of people who have missed a delivery and had to arrange re-delivery or visit a depot has also increased to 45%. This may explain why the proportion of people using parcel lockers has increased from 38% to 44%, with 11% of the 1,000 consumers surveyed saying they use them frequently. www.quadient.com ERGONOMICS EMPLOYERS MUST PAY MORE ATTENTION TO ERGONOMICS AND WELLBEING Flexible working provision (or the lack of it) is not the only deal-breaker for prospective recruits. In a survey by Ergotron, 73% of UK workers (and all those aged 18-24) said the provision of ergonomic work conditions and support for wellbeing would have more influence on their choice of employer in the future. Currently, only one third (36%) have a line manager who regularly enquires about their health and wellbeing. The survey also highlights shortcomings in the provision of technology for hybrid and home-workers. For example, having two screens is seen as ‘very important’ by 47% of respondents, yet only 28% have even one large monitor. Other requirements include: n laptops (cited as important by 89% of respondents); n portable devices, with 77% of all respondents saying it is important to be able to bring their IT devices with them when working in different rooms; n an ergonomic chair (cited as important by 75%); and n sit-stand working, with 52% of respondents considering it important to be able to switch between sitting and standing while working. https://www.ergotron.com/en-gb/ HR ANONYMITY DOUBLES JOB APPLICATIONS FROM BAME CANDIDATES Coventry City Council has seen a doubling of job applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates after introducing an anonymous application process to reduce unconscious bias in the recruitment process. The proportion of candidates selecting BAME on the council’s equal opportunities monitoring form has increased from 18% to 39% since it activated the Anonymous Application feature on Tribepad’s Talent Acquisition Platform. This enables applications to be entirely anonymous, with no names, gender, date of birth, location, nationality or education institution visible to hiring managers prior to inviting candidates to interview. Other Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) initiatives implemented by the council include different sourcing techniques, line management training and diverse interview panels. Sam Griffin, Recruitment Manager at Coventry City Council, said: “It’s critical for public sector organisations that their teams reflect the communities they serve.We’re very proud of the strides we’ve made in improving the diversity of our recruitment process.We believe that anonymising the application process is a good tool to help deliver on our ED&I commitments, and many organisations across industries could see these benefits.” Neil Armstrong, Chief Commercial Officer at Tribepad, added: “The 117% uplift in BAME applicants following the introduction of anonymous applications is very promising. The increase in confidence from minority applicants in applying for roles and sharing their ethnic origin information indicates a reduction in fear of prejudice.” Researchers at Nuffield College’s Centre for Social Investigation (CSI) have found that British citizens from ethnic minority backgrounds have to send, on average, 60% more job applications to get a positive response from employers compared to white counterparts. www.tribepad.com CYBER SECURITY LOOK FAMILIAR? The UK’s 20 most common passwords 1. 123456 2. password 3. liverpool 4. password1 5. 123456789 6. 12345 7. qwerty 8. liverpool1 9. charlie 10. arsenal 11. chelsea 12. abc123 13. 12345678 14. football 15. monkey 16. arsenal1 17. 1234567 18. chocolate 19. rangers 20. 123123 (source: https://nordpass.com/ most-common-passwords-list/) SUSTAINABILITY WORST FORWEEE Europe’s biggest producers of household e-waste 1. Norway (57kg per household per year) 2. UK (55kg) 3. Ireland (52.4kg) 4. Switzerland (51.5kg) 5. Spain (49.4kg) 6. Netherlands (47.5kg) 7. Cyprus (47kg) 8. France (46.2kg) 9. Luxembourg (45.4kg) 10. Greece (43.9kg) Moldova generates the least e-waste in Europe, with 11.6kg per household, per year. (source: Clear It Waste Removal www.clearitwaste.co.uk) FURNITURE FROM LOCKDOWN TO DROP-DOWN Pith and Stem has designed a fully integrated droptop workstation for home-workers who don’t have the space or inclination to create a dedicated home office. The pre-built DropTop folds down from a wall-mounted space behind a piece of artwork providing an instant, ergonomically designed workspace with one or more monitors and storage space for papers and workplace tools. DropTop. comes in three ranges (DropTop., DropTop. Light and DropTop. Pro), each with a choice of three sizes and customisable cover options. https://drop-desk.com
businessinfomag.uk magazine 12 BULLETIN SUSTAINABILITY STOP BUYING IT URGES 3STEPIT Technology lifecycle management provider 3stepIT is calling on businesses to stop buying IT outright and to adopt a more flexible technology lifecycle management approach instead. Its appeal follows research showing that the number of devices per employee has gone up by 14% during the pandemic, from 2.1 to 2.4, with 81% of businesses purchasing more devices to support the transition to remote working. A survey of 955 European business decision-makers for the company’s Stop Buying IT report also found that 52% of businesses still buy IT outright, even though 77% use flexible acquisition models for the procurement of cars and printers. Carmen Ene, CEO of 3stepIT & BNP Paribas 3 Step IT, said: “The traditional cash purchase model is placing a huge burden on businesses. Investment in new technology requires massive upfront capital expenditure and significant time, while considerable resources need to be ploughed into sourcing new equipment, managing and disposing of it, often through a complex web of suppliers and systems.” She added: “We’re calling on businesses to Stop Buying IT outright and to start benefiting from the better cash flow, flexibility, efficiency and security that a technology lifecycle management solution can provide.” 3stepIT claims that its end-to-end approach to acquiring, managing and refreshing IT devices, as well as being cost-efficient and convenient, can help organisations improve security by giving complete control and visibility of all IT devices, with real-time insight into device health, including information on anti-virus and protection software. The company’s lifecycle management approach also helps minimise e-waste by collecting, refurbishing and reselling end of life IT devices. Three quarters (77%) of respondents agreed that e-waste and its impact on the environment is a concern for their business, with 71% admitting that the IT department is under pressure to be more sustainable. 3stepIT.com MANAGEMENT WHY SALES PEOPLE NEED OFFICES December 8’s announcement that people should work from home if possible is likely to have been greeted with dismay by many, especially extroverts who thrive on face to face contact. Paul Owen, CEO of UK sales transformation specialist Sales Talent, warns that isolation can be particularly hard for sales people who, with constant pressure to perform and hit targets, have a stressful job at the best of times – and very little support when it comes to their wellbeing. He said: “I have serious concerns about the mental wellbeing of work-from-home salespeople.We are extroverts, we feed off interaction with other people – a type of interaction we often don’t receive from prospective clients, so need to find elsewhere. In the office, we have plenty of places to feed the extrovert’s need for connection; at home, we’re alone. And that can be very dangerous.” Owen says that most people get into sales because they get on well with others and have a high sociability factor, pointing out that good salespeople connect well with 90%+ of the people they meet, often 95%+. However, when they start in sales, they fail for much of the time and that 90% is reversed: they might not be disliked by 90%+ of those they meet, but they are usually rejected by them. In the office, a network of other salespeople provides plentiful support for those who spend most of their day ‘failing’ together. That communal work – the release valve of colleagues facing the same pressures and outcomes – plays a key role in keeping salespeople motivated and balanced. Those working from an empty flat or house, however, have no banter, no jokes, no mickeytaking to help counter the near-constant rejection and see them through the day. He said: “It becomes increasingly difficult, when faced with that lack of support day after day, week after week, to maintain a positive mindset. Almost inevitably, those doing sales jobs from home see their productivity dip – and that adds to the pressure on their mental wellbeing as well. The fear of missing targets grows at the same time as that sense of being in it together is lost.” Clearly, it is possible to do sales jobs from home. Salespeople around the globe have done sterling work while confined to quarters over the past 18+ months. However, Sales Talent points out that just because a sales job can be done from home, doesn’t mean it should be. Owen details multiple reasons why the office is a better working environment for sales teams. In addition to the sociability and support that the office provides, he asserts that it’s easier to stay on track and maintain focus and discipline when surrounded by others doing the same; that learning by hearing others in action and getting tips from them the moment you need them, not later when you don’t, is superior to at-home training sessions; and that friendly competition can push colleagues on to perform at their best. He added: “Being in the office also means that salespeople have the chance to see the bigger picture – to interact with other teams within the company and better understand the product or service that they’re engaged to sell. After all, sales doesn’t exist in isolation. The more deeply it can be embedded within an organisation, the better.” https://salestalentuk.com/ TECHNOLOGY CALLING ALL YOUNG INVENTORS Samsung is once again challenging 16-25 year-olds to come up tech solutions to problems in education, sustainability, social isolation and diversity & inclusion. Now in its second year, the Solve for Tomorrow competition, which to date has received 1.8 million entries globally, will give one lucky winner £10,000 to develop their idea, as well as six months’ mentorship from Samsung and Digital Catapult, the UK’s leading advanced digital technology innovation centre. Last year’s winner, 24-year old Alec Conway from Rochester, created a digital locker that gives homeless people somewhere to store possessions and a PO BOX address so that they can apply for jobs, bank accounts and hospital appointments. Entries for the 2022 competition close on February 20. Find out more at www.samsung.com/uk/ solvefortomorrow Carmen Ene Paul Owen
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businessinfomag.uk magazine 14 Carbon-neutral laptop remanufacturing specialist Circular Computing is hoping to remove any concerns around the use of remanufactured devices after becoming the first company to be awarded BSI Kitemark certification for its Circular Remanufacturing Process. Martin Townsend, Global Head of Sustainability and the Circular Economy at the British Standards Institute (BSI), said: “Circular Computing is the first organisation to receive a Kitemark for remanufacturing where the products that come from the process are equal to or better than new. This is a great moment for the industry and great leadership from Circular Computing in terms of demonstrating what can be done.” Circular Computing Founder Rod Neale hopes that BSI Kitemark certification will help create a new category of product, the first real alternative to new for businesses that demand the highest quality, consistency and certainty. Interviewed by Panorama’s Adam Shaw at Circular Computing’s online event, Sustainable Tech: The Future Reimagined, he said: “We have zero compromise with our product.We Remanufacturing you can trust stand on the platform of equal to or better than new – our products are exactly the same as the main original equipment manufacturers’ in terms of representation, quality, channel.” Circular Computing claims its products, now distributed by Ingram Micro, offer 97% of the performance of equivalent new laptop models, up to 40% savings on cost compared to equivalent new models, an RMA (return to manufacturer) rate of less than 3%, and up to a 3-year next day replacement warranty. Capturing value This announcement, timed to coincide with the start of COP26, clearly strengthens Circular Computing’s appeal at a time when more organisations than ever have committed to reduce their environmental impact. Neale points out that such initiatives should include a commitment to break the three-year replacement cycle that has dominated IT procurement for so long and which is incompatible with a transition to net zero that will require us to cut our use of materials by 50% by 2050. “I think that sustainability is becoming more important in all walks of life and to take something and then three years later lose the value in that product is ridiculous.What Circular Computing is bringing is a legitimised channel for a product that has been reused and in doing that we capture the value for a much longer period,” he said. So, too, do refurbishers of used equipment. However, Neale argues that there is a qualitative difference between refurbished and remanufactured devices and the processes used to produce them. “Both refurbishment and remanufacturing have important roles to play,” he said. “But refurbish is a quick route to capitalising on a product, while remanufacturing is how to deliver a product back into the supply chain at a level that is more aligned with what the customer expects around new. Doing it properly means building a completely dedicated facility and doing hundreds of mini R&D projects to work out how to get a like-new product at every step. This became our 360-step circular remanufacturing process, which takes an average of between 5 and 8 hours per laptop.” This process allows Circular Computing to create thousands of laptops at a time to the exact same standard, unlike refurbished devices, which tend to be graded. Circular Computing CEO Scott Mac Meekin added that this consistency gives buyers confidence that the company’s products will deliver exactly what they expect, like new ones do, but with a lower environmental impact. He said: “This is a complete distinction in terms of authenticity. There has always been new and there has always been refurb, but refurb has a series of conditions, conditionality around it.We have built a product that has no conditions – it is zero-compromise – and that quality has allowed us to open up a secondary equipment manufacturer space. This is a space between new and a space between refurb where only remanufacturing exists. The Kitemark assures customers that our remanufactured products are absolutely equal to or better than new. Not only the product but also the warranty post-production. “Being first to achieve such a thing is a proud moment for us and our team. What we are really doing here is setting the standard that the rest of industry will try to follow. As of today, we have anchored firmly the distinction between new and refurbed; there is this gap in the middle and we are filling that gap. This is the start of something really big and really important.” www.circularcomputing.com BSI Kitemark certification for Circular Computing’s remanufacturing process is ‘the start of something really big' LAPTOPS
Daisy Lowe 01732 759725 15 magazine GREEN IT Green IT Rugged and remanufactured In a new partnership with Panasonic, Circular Computing will take legacy TOUGHBOOK devices and remanufacture them for a useful second life, starting with the TOUGHBOOK G1 tablet. The rugged devices will be remanufactured to BS8887 standards by fully qualified technicians within Circular Computing’s purpose-built state of the art production facility, with the first remanufactured versions appearing in mid-2022. Kevin Jones, Director of Operations at Panasonic Mobile Business Solutions Europe, said: “We are very proud to be the first rugged computing provider to embrace this environmentally sustainable opportunity with Circular Computing. Our aim is that in the future our customers and our channel providers need never throw away another TOUGHBOOK device.” www.toughbook.eu Waste compensation MMD, the brand license partner for Philips monitors, is partnering with Closing the Loop (CTL), a provider of green procurement services, and TCO Development, the organisation behind the TCO Certified IT sustainability certification, in a waste compensation scheme to encourage monitor recycling. One of eight projects funded by the PREVENTWaste Alliance, an initiative of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the pilot aims to extend an existing certified waste-neutral concept to monitors. MMD points out that because monitors have only small built-in circuit boards and baked-in chemicals like lead and mercury, recyclers in Africa and other emerging markets, where old equipment often ends up, have found it hard to make money from recycling and so tend not to bother. Spring into action To highlight the UK’s growing e-waste problem, tech-recirculation service Spring recently took over The Prince Arthur pub in Shoreditch (October 12-16) and invited customers to pay for their food and drink with old and unwanted tech that it could then repair and recirculate. First in line at the Trade-Inn was model Daisy Lowe who traded in her old smartphone for a beer and sandwich (with surplus value automatically deposited in her account). Spring estimates that each UK adult produces 23.9kg in electrical waste every year, equivalent in volume to around eight pints. By 2024, the UK is forecast to replace Norway as Europe’s biggest producer of electrical waste. In order to prevent precious materials from being thrown away, incinerated, landfilled, shipped illegally overseas or just kept in a drawer, Spring is installing 250 pods in supermarkets where consumers can open an account and sell and deposit unwanted tech. Spring accepts almost 14,000 models of device, including phones, iPods, e-readers and smartwatches, and is expecting to collect 100,000 devices through the pods next year. Spring has already recirculated 150,000 devices via its retail partners. Less than 10% of electronics devices are currently re-used. www.Spring.co.uk. This has created a major e-waste problem and a significant risk to human health and the environment. Participants in the pilot aim to solve this problem through a scheme that is already being used for ‘waste-neutral’ phones, laptops and tablets. This involves adding a fee to new devices, identified as TCO Certified Edge, E-waste Compensated, that will fund the audited collection and recycling of equivalent waste by Closing the Loop (CTL) and Nigerian partners Verde Impacto, Hinckley Recycling and SRADev. https://prevent-waste.net/en/ pilotprojects/nigeria/ https://mmdmonitors.com No heavy lifting IT managed service provider Digital Space is enhancing its CSR through new partnerships with Circular Computing and asset disposal organisation Re-Tek. These will enable Digital Space customers to dispose of and sell their legacy laptops and IT equipment in a secure, sustainable way. Circular Computing and Re-Tek, which collects, wipes and recycles legacy equipment, will form part of Digital Space’s new Tech Space supply chain service, which enables customers to purchase and dispose of IT and hardware in a quick and efficient manner. As part of its partnership with Digital Space, Circular Computing will plant five trees for every remanufactured laptop sold. Sarah Lambert-Gibbs, Head of Supply Chain Tower at Digital Space, said: “By partnering with Circular Computing and Re-Tek, we have the capacity to provide a quick, easy and environmentally-friendly solution for replacing legacy equipment.We’ll do all the heavy lifting, acting as one point of contact so the process is streamlined and hassle-free.” www.digitalspace.co.uk Sarah Lambert-Gibbs
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