THE TECHNOLOGY & WORKPLACE MAGAZINE FOR SMES & PUBLIC SECTOR ORGANISATIONS WWW.BUSINESSINFOMAG.UK ISSUE153 CLOUD WORKSPACES IGEL launches streamlined OS for hybrid working era PAGE 28 COVER STORY How Brother is helping retailers slash losses from labelling errors PAGE 16 VENDING Everything you love about KLIX, but with added indulgence PAGE 34
Feel connected at home Full-range speakers, a microphone with reliable background noise suppression and ‘memory’ padding for maximum comfort: Snom’s first circumaural headset snom.com A330D Home office
IN THIS ISSUE 04 What’s New A round-up of new technology products and solutions 06 Office design Braze aims to attract new talent with an office of its own 07 Hybrid Working Adwise gets creative with the Google Meet Series One Desk 27 by Avocor 08 Telephony How to prepare for the ISDN Switch-off 10 Business Briefing The attractions of Home Grown, the UK’s leading business club 12 Collaboration Popular TeamViewer remote support product now even better 14 Q&A With Karl Robinson, founder of Logicata 16 Cover story Brother expands mobile and label printer offerings 18 Cloud ManageEngine opens UK datacentres 19 Displays Content management for revolutionary ePaper displays 20 Managed print Aurora celebrates triple ISO certification 21 Records management Chaffinch Document expands UK footprint with opening of London office 22 Workplace Employers and employees pulling in opposite directions 24 Print New carbon-neutral MFPs launched by Kyocera 25 Cybersecurity The limitations of cyber insurance exposed in new Veeam report 26 My Life in IT With Erik Nicolai, CEO and co-founder of Workspace 365 27 Collaboration Experiential platform takes virtual meetings to the next level 28 Digital workspaces IGEL offers freedom and choice with slimmed down operating system 30 Opinion Nathaniel Comer, founder of Sun Screen IT, advises on ethical IT asset disposal 31 Insight How video meetings are making us all more self-conscious 32 Cybersecurity Emerge Digital partners with ConnectWise to boost cybersecurity offering 33 Q&A Everything you need to know about bots and how to detect them 34 Vending New generation vending machine with added froth Editor: James Goulding 0780 308 7228 · [email protected] Publishing Director, Social Media & Web Editor: Neil Trim 01732 759725 · [email protected] Advertising Director: Ethan White 01732 759725 · [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 2023 Kingswood Media Ltd. ISSN 1464-8814 Design: Sandtiger Media – www.sandtiger.co.uk FOR THE LATEST INDUSTRY NEWS VISIT: WWW.BUSINESSINFOMAG.UK 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] 03 magazine
businessinfomag.uk magazine 04 Realwear advances full productivity platform RealWear has launched three new products – RealWear Connect, RealWear App Marketplace and Developer Toolkit – to advance its drive to become the de facto productivity platform for frontline professionals and its partners. With the RealWear App Marketplace, customers can discover purposebuilt apps to enhance productivity and safety within their frontline, while empowering central management with powerful tools to support frontline teams. The new RealWear Connect app found exclusively within RealWear App Marketplace makes getting help for frontline workers easier than ever. When a support call is initiated, the app triggers notifications within text or email, or in-app notifications in Teams or Zoom, connecting a frontline professional to an expert in seconds. The Developer Toolkit is designed to enrich developer capabilities, increase the breadth of solutions and strengthen the RealWear ecosystem. www.realwear.com AIoT solutions D-Link has introduced a new line-up of 5G O-RAN, M2M connectivity, and enterprise and home networking solutions. The latest products and innovations tackle key themes in networking today, aiming to fully realise the potential of connectivity and shape the IoT world of tomorrow. New releases include a wide variety of Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 access points along with flexible monitoring and management solutions, Nuclias Connect and D-View 8, for SMBs, education, retail chains and hospitality. The upgraded D-View 8 is a comprehensive wired and wireless network management tool based on the server and probe architecture. It provides extended support for managing up to 5,000 devices and is available to download with 90 days free trial. Also new is the AQUILA PRO AI Series- Wi-Fi 6/6E mesh routers and extenders, designed to optimise connectivity and reliability of smart home networks. This mesh Wi-Fi system will comply with the new industry-unifying Matter standard and features a built-in AI algorithm to ensure superior Wi-Fi coverage and an enhanced smart home experience. https://eu.dlink.com PFU (EMEA), a Ricoh company, has added the RICOH fi-8040 to its range of scanners. This unit offers multiple ways to connect to business workflows, while also delivering a highly intuitive user experience – with or without a PC or server. The fi-8040’s connectivity options include traditional USB to PC or LAN, which enables multiple users to make use of a single, networked scanner. Setup and configuration are equally versatile, with operators able to carry this out via the unit, PC or web browser. The fi-8040 offers a ‘DirectScan’ function, which enables operators to instantly scan directly into business workflows from the device, saving both time and money. The 10.9cm touch screen with large, easy-to-use, clearly labelled job buttons makes for a simple user experience. It also allows scanning directly to multiple email addresses when dissemination of digitised documents is required. www.pfu.ricoh.com PC-less scanning Standalone collaboration display Lenovo’s new ThinkSmart View Plus running Microsoft Teams is a standalone collaboration display purpose-built for hot desking, phone booths, executive desks and home offices. Complementing the company’s Microsoft Teams Rooms solutions for larger meeting spaces, it brings together a 27in multi-touch display, a premium soundbar, a 4K video camera with auto framing and AI security and whiteboarding features. Built-in compute capabilities enable users to access Teams chat, calendar and files and join video meetings in standalone mode. www.lenovo.com WHAT’S NEW INNOVATIONS Jabra expands Evolve2 range Jabra has expanded its line of professional headsets, the Jabra Evolve series, with new Evolve2 mid-range headsets, engineered for ultra-flexible hybrid working. To provide maximum flexibility, the Jabra Evolve2 65 Flex has a unique foldand-go design with a collapsible hinged headband, slimmed-down earcups. It comes with a soft sustainable pouch, allowing users to easily tuck it into even the smallest of bags, or their pocket. With the headset, users can be sure to be heard clearly even in loud locations, thanks to a powerful chipset, advanced digital algorithm, and beamforming Jabra ClearVoice microphones for the open office. The headset has a 360° busylight, a shorter hide-away boom arm and it is certified for all leading virtual meeting platforms, like Microsoft Teams, Google Meet and Zoom. www.jabra.com
01732 759725 05 magazine INNOVATIONS Chip on board technology The new NEC LED FC Series LEDs with Chip on Board (COB) technology for indoor signage, transportation and meeting spaces delivers high contrast, excellent durability in public spaces and superb energy efficiency. Utilising the already established F style cabinets for easy setup and flexible usage, the new FC Series benefits from front serviceability for all components allowing easy access for maintenance. Displaying deep blacks and extreme contrast levels of up to 20,000:1, content appears dramatically vivid for a remarkable imaging performance and the best possible viewing experience in any ambient light conditions. The Sharp/ NEC COB technology is highly energy efficient, generating a brighter output at a reduced power usage, consuming around 40% less power compared to standard SMD LED technology. The FC Series is available in three fine pixel pitches (0.95mm, 1.2mm, and 1.5mm), the optimum display resolution can be achieved for close viewing distances. www.sharpnecdisplays.eu ChatGPT Integrations GoTo plans to release beta access to a ChatGPT integration for GoTo Resolve, its all-in-one IT management and support solution. This integration is designed to make creating and running IT automation scripts for device management easier. Administrators need only tell the tool what they want to do to automatically create a script and execute a task. With IT teams constantly pressed for time, GoTo believes ChatGPT is the perfect platform to further optimise productivity in IT teams by automating administrative and repetitive tasks in a consistent manner. www.goto.com Performance, security and sustainability Lexmark has announced the availability of nine new A4 colour and black and white printers and multifunction printers, which offer enhanced security and sustainability features, as well as scalable solution support and exceptional performance. Designed for mid- to large-size workgroups with monthly print volumes of up to 10,000 pages (colour) or 20,000 pages (mono), these full-featured printers and MFPs can stand alone or be part of an enterprise printer fleet. Standard features include wireless connectivity, high input capacity, and a front USB port for keyboarding and badge reader connection. For enhanced security, the new devices include the Lexmark Trusted Platform Module (TPM), which includes on-board authentication, system integrity checks, and cryptographic capabilities to create a unique digital system fingerprint. TPM meets stringent industry and US government security standards, including Common Criteria and Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS). www.lexmark.co.uk Large-format compact desktop printer Canon’s new imagePROGRAF TC-20M is a full colour, large-format, desktop printer which is equipped with an A4 flatbed scanner. The space-saving design allows users to perform all print-related operations from the front of the unit, including the paper setting (roll or sheet) and loading, ink refilling and collecting prints. Large-capacity, 70 ml ink tanks result in less frequent refilling of the four colour (CMYK) pigment inks and the different shape and colour of the inlets on each tank prevent refilling with the wrong colour. The printer supports rolls of paper up to A1+ wide and is equipped with a standard auto sheet feeder compatible with A3 and A4 paper. Rolls and sheets of paper can be loaded at the same time, allowing users to copy and print various sizes on one machine by selecting the chosen paper source on the operator panel. In addition to usual network printing capabilities, users can preview JPEG and PDF documents, scan, copy and enlarge A4-sized originals, plus other paper sizes. Jobs can also be printed directly through the printer control panel, via a USB flash drive. www.canon.co.uk Sustainable cartridges Katun has introduced an exclusive line of environmentally sustainable cartridges. Katun ecoKAP cartridges use a patent-pending cap that facilitates the refilling to make the Katun cartridge truly re-usable. The ecoKAP cartridges are currently manufactured using more than 60% of recycled plastics with plans to increase the percentage of recycled plastic in the future. The company also plans to launch Katun ecoKAP refilled cartridges, which can be refilled up to three times without comprising quality and functionality. Heidi Boller, General Manager for Katun EMEA, said: “We are very excited to be introducing a truly environmental product to the office equipment channel which will also become part of the expanding range of environmentally certified products. The empty Katun ecoKAP cartridges will be readily accepted for recycling as part of our Core Collection Partner Services.” www.katun.com/eu
businessinfomag.uk magazine 06 OFFICE Consumer engagement platform Braze recently moved into the City of London’s Broadgate Exchange Square after outgrowing its nearby shared co-working facility. The company, which exercises a fully agile hybrid working policy, wanted its new, dedicated facilities to be a magnet for employees, so making the workspace desirable and enjoyable as well as ‘futureready’ was an important design consideration. The office design and floor plan was undertaken by AIS Interiors, with furniture dealer by Bailey (now Insidesource) procuring and installing the furniture, including Attraction stations KI Work2.1 Sit-Stand desk workstations. To support worker wellbeing and productivity and to meet employee expectations, all 258 workstations are sit-stand. The number of workstations currently far exceeds the number of employees in anticipation of continued rapid expansion. Banks of desks are punctuated with large collaboration tables offering alternative work settings adjacent to workstations. These collaboration tables have been configured with the same dimensions as 6-person benches so that should the company headcount grow even faster than current projections, they can be switched with minimal disruption. Desks and screens KI Work2.1 Sit-Stand desk workstations have been configured with E Series screens finished with Camira Sumi Yabu SUR20, Handa SUR10 and Daisen SUR09 fabrics and a white beading. The fabrics were selected to suit other furniture in each neighbourhood. They are not usually used for screens as they have a weave that can look warped or distorted when stretched over screens. However, for this bespoke request, the KI factory was able to create an elegant and seamless finish. Generally arranged in groups Braze has moved from a co-working space into an office of its own as it seeks to attract new recruits of six, many of the workstations feature a fixed-height ‘D’ end table that creates a collaboration space for impromptu gatherings. These tables blend into the workstation configuration but are freestanding and can be moved to create finger safety gaps next to the desks or removed entirely if necessary. KI Work2.1 Sit-Stand desks were also chosen for their advanced cable management system. The clever design of the lower cable tray of this system makes cable distribution easier and totally hidden between desks, whilst reducing the size and number of floor grommets required. Distinct neighbourhoods The large floorplate is arranged into neighbourhoods and uses furniture, screens and planting to delineate space. Shelving has been avoided to reduce the accumulation of visible clutter. The office space features mostly neutral colours, with desk screens blending into their adjacent breakout areas. Bolder colours have been used in spaces furnished with high tables and soft seating that provide informal meeting spaces within the open plan. In addition, there are numerous standalone pods and booths, as well as traditional meeting rooms, offering a rich variety of working spaces to suit different preferences and requirements. www.kieurope.com urther information, higher resolution or other images please contact: rill Scheer & Associates, Hille House, 132 St. Albans Road, Watford, Herts, WD24 4AE, UK 44 1923 242769 E. [email protected] ZE For further information, higher resolution o Cherrill Scheer & Associates, Hille House T. 00 44 1923 242769 E. csa@hillehouse BRAZE
01732 759725 magazine 07 HYBRID WORKING To make a success of hybrid working, many businesses have had to adapt their existing working environment to accommodate changing work styles and employee preferences. One such is Adwise – Your Digital Brain, a digital marketing agency based in Almelo, Netherlands. Adwise started life as a media buying agency but has since grown into a full-service digital agency offering a variety of marketing services including advertising, publishing, campaign analytics and technology solutions to a growing roster of local and international clients. Prior to the pandemic, Adwise ran its business along traditional lines with most staff working fulltime from the office and with most meetings (internal and with clients) being conducted face-to-face. The global shutdown in March/ April 2020 forced the company to adopt a remote working model before transitioning to a fully hybrid workforce with the emergence of the ‘new normal’. As employees began to return to the office it became clear that months of working from home had changed their working habits and A place of your own expectations to the extent that the existing design and provision of space in Adwise’s HQ was no longer fit for purpose. Because people had become used to conducting virtual meetings with an element of privacy, standard large meeting rooms were quickly overbooked and often under-occupied when in use. In addition, creatives used to having their own space wanted somewhere they could work in peace and quiet without distraction. In his search for a solution Adwise Workspace Manager Jeffrey Oelen came across the Hushoffice range of acoustic office meeting pods. Hush pods are custom-designed, enclosed, sound-proofed spaces that provide the privacy and quiet needed for virtual meetings and focused working. Featuring a builtin desk, comfortable bench and adjustable lighting, they are fully mobile and can be wheeled around an office to where they are needed. Oelen’s next step was to select an all-in-one monitor or display that could be used for virtual meetings and videoconferences without the clutter of a separate camera, microphone and speakers. As he explains, Oelen found just what he was looking for on a visit to the Google office in Brussels. “I saw the Google Meet Series One Desk 27 by Avocor in action and knew I’d found the answer. The Desk 27 has no real competitors and occupies a unique place in the market. It is the perfect size for our pods and offers all the functionality we want. It’s a powerful collaboration tool for virtual meetings, a desktop monitor with touchscreen, a laptop docking station and a digital whiteboard all rolled into one unit – exactly the all-in-one device we were looking for. Also, Google Workspace is our chosen software collaboration platform so adding the hardware was a seamless process with no extra training or orientation required. The units made a real difference from day one and we haven’t looked back.” Adwise acquired four Desk 27s – one for each of its Hush units – and with existing Google Workspace licences in place, the pods have quickly become the ‘go-to’ place for smaller collaboration meetings and distraction-free focused work, freeing up the meeting rooms for larger groups to meet and collaborate. “I’m really pleased with how the Desk 27s have worked out,” says Oelen. “At Adwise, we want our workspace to continue to inspire colleagues and clients as well as excite potential new employees who visit our premises. With the addition of the stylish Hush pods and Google Meet Series One Desk 27 by Avocor, I feel that’s exactly what we’ve achieved.” www.avocor.com Adwise gets creative with the Google Meet Series One Desk 27 by Avocor
TELEPHONY businessinfomag.uk magazine 08 With less than three years to go before the PSTN switch off, Kristian Torode, co-founder and director of business telecoms services provider Crystaline, explains what businesses must do to ensure a smooth transition to all IP How to survive the PSTN switch off doorstep with Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) or to a street nearby with Fibre to the Cabinet (FTTC). Review your hardware You might think that all your hardware needs to change when you move over to a digital solution, but this isn’t necessarily the case. Some digital solutions can be integrated with existing hardware, reducing the cost of a switchover. But switching can provide the ideal opportunity to review how well your existing hardware is working for your employees. Since hybrid working has become the norm, it might be that hardware purchased pre-pandemic isn’t really fit for your current working culture. Remember: it isn’t just phones Is anything else using your PSTN line that you weren’t aware of, like alarms, door entry systems and payment terminals. These are vital to the running of a business, so taking time to identify and list them is key to a smooth switchover. Involve the team Finding out that setups are changing can be daunting for employees. To make the transition as seamless as possible, it’s important to involve your staff every step of the way. Giving them the opportunity to ask questions and understand the new solution means that when it lands on their desks, they’ll be able to pick it up easily, minimising frustration and preventing an impact on productivity. Reviewing your options The digital replacement of the landline is Voice over Internet The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) has been providing landline connectivity for decades. However, the lines are expensive to maintain and their age is making it harder for service providers to find replacement parts. Simply put, these landlines just aren’t suitable for the modern world. As a result, the entire network will be switched off by 2025. With no new lines available for purchase from September 2023, what does the phasing out of PSTN mean for businesses today? Understanding the switch off All premises that currently rely on a landline connection will need to switch to a digital replacement before the final deadline. That includes properties that use the PSTN and the Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN). If you’re unsure whether your phone line relies on a PSTN connection, you can check by identifying the cord your phone is connected to. Traditional phone cords indicate a PSTN connection, whereas an ethernet cord suggests your phone is already operating through a digital line. Check your connection If you still need to switch to a digital line, the next step is to ensure your internet connection can support it. Evaluating your business’s current usage will help to identify the benchmark service required, but it’s important to think about the future too. A connection with low latency and high bandwidth is ideal. This can be achieved by opting for a fibre connection, either entirely to your Protocol, or VoIP. VoIP performs all the same functions as a traditional landline, but comes with extra benefits. For one, VoIP is fully scalable. Connections can be added and removed in just a few minutes, making it easy for businesses to adapt to quieter and busier seasons. It’s often also more cost-effective, as there’s no need for expensive and cumbersome hardware. VoIP systems can be accessed through the internet via multiple devices. Because employees aren’t tethered to their desks or a single piece of equipment, they have the opportunity to work more flexibly. And you don’t need to lose your existing phone numbers if you’re switching from a landline. All numbers can be ported onto a VoIP system, so you and your customers don’t need to memorise any new numbers. The PSTN switch-off is inevitable, but it doesn’t need to be complicated or confusing. Taking time to prepare will help to ensure the transition is as smooth as possible, future proofing your business for years to come. Crystaline is a UK-based telecommunications provider offering business mobile, voice, data, cloud and unified communications services to small and medium-sized businesses. Through partnerships with top communications providers, Crystaline supports businesses in keeping up with fast-paced technological developments, with a focus on delivering exceptional customer service and technology without the jargon. www.crystaline.uk
01732 759725 magazine 09 KYOCERA Document Solutions (UK) Limited It’s time to print in green. Reduce your costs and your environmental impact with Kyocera printers & MFPs. All our devices are available as carbon neutral and are designed to use as little energy as possible, as low as 0.5w in sleep mode. Scan the QR code or visit: www.kyoceradocumentsolutions.co.uk/cnp Discover more: kyoceraduk @KYOCERADUK kyocera-doc-solutions-uk • +44 (0)333 015 1855 [email protected] The green benefits don’t stop there. Both our devices and toner cartridges are highly recyclable and we use long-lasting drums that need replacing less often. And you can achieve even greater cost eciencies with the help of our carbon neutral managed print services.
businessinfomag.uk magazine 10 BUSINESS BRIEFING Nestled on the corner of Great Cumberland Place in Marylebone, Home Grown serves as the go-to venue for business gatherings, where the UK’s brightest minds, most dynamic entrepreneurs and investors in London converge. Launched in March 2019 as part of the Home House Collection, these Grade II listed townhouses offer an ideal setting for meeting clients, working, and expanding one's network, with access to a community of over 4.5k leading professionals. The club boasts business lounges, pitching and meeting suites, private dining rooms, a restaurant, the Unicorn Bar and 35 bedrooms. However, Home Grown's reputation in the global entrepreneurial ecosystem is not solely built on its impressive facilities and captivating decor. Community has always been at the core of Home Grown and this has become even more significant in the post-pandemic world, where purposeful and valuable connections are in high demand. Regular member events such as the Food for Thought Supper Series, speed networking sessions, monthly Meet the Members gatherings, Masters of Scale Workshops, and pitching evenings provide abundant opportunities Join the Club… for networking, gaining insights, and certainly in the Home Grown F*uck Up Club, learning from others experinces and mistakes. The club's flagship Rockstar Series has featured renowned figures like Pimlico Plumbers Founder Charlie Mullins, former Dragon Piers Linney, and Green & Black’s Co-Founder Jo Fairley, along with esteemed investors in the Million Pound Menu Meet the Investor supper series. Moreover, the club’s extensive members' benefits program offers access to business support packages worth over £5k, covering areas such as accounting, HR, leadership, and coaching. Stephen Page, CEO of SFC Capital and an ambassador for Home Grown, commends the club as "a fantastic idea that combines the concept of a beautiful private members club with a dedication to entrepreneurship." He has collaborated with the club on various fronts, including the flagship pitching event, Crocodile Lair, and has hosted two lobbying events for the SEIS (Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme) with successful outcomes. He further describes Home Grown as "the only truly dedicated entrepreneurs club in London that deserves that title. THE entrepreneurs club!" Although Home Grown primarily focuses on business, it recognizes Since its inception in 2019, Home Grown, UK’s leading business club, has rapidly established itself as the premier community of experienced entrepreneurs, sophisticated investors and trusted advisors in the UK. Despite being only four years old and facing challenges in the wider business landscape, Home Grown's success has lied in its strong community and collaborative environment fostering business growth. Let's explore what sets this club apart as the UK destination for entrepreneurialism. that entrepreneurs need a balance between work and leisure. The club organizes monthly social suppers, live music evenings, comedy nights, a wellness program and celebrity chef kitchen takeovers, providing opportunities for members to come together and enjoy themselves. In 2023, members can look forward to a full calendar of events, including the highly anticipated Home House Collection Golf Day and the launch of an annual awards ceremony to celebrate members' achievements. “I love the Home Grown Club business community. There are always extremely interesting entrepreneurs to meet when you go there! The hotel facilities are fantastic and very good value, especially compared to other Mayfair hotels – perfect for hosting clients, investors and startups.” Cassandra Harris, Serial Entrepreneur, UK's Top female VC's to watch list and Founder and CEO of Litestream Ventures The unwavering support from members, ambassadors, and key partners, including London & Partners, Beauhurst, UKBAA, Coutts, Harvard Business Alumni and The Company of Entrepreneurs, among others, has contributed to the club's continuous growth and ability to attract the future entrepreneurial pioneers and changemakers through its doors. For more information or to arrange a Home Grown experience day go to homegrownclub.co.uk Call: 020 3928 8088 email: membership@ homegrownclub.co.uk 44 Great Cumberland Place, Marylebone, London W1H 7BS Unicorn Bar
01732 759725 magazine 11 BULLETIN For the best prices, next day delivery, industry-leading warranties & so much more! 01189 734 564 [email protected] DEALING WITH US COULDN’T BE SIMPLER DATA DIRECT PARTNER PROGRAMMES - DELIVERING VALUE TO YOUR BUSINESS EVERY DAY TONER & MORE www.data-direct.co.uk
businessinfomag.uk magazine 12 COLLABORATION TeamViewer is updating its popular remote access and support product, now called TeamViewer Remote, with improved security, new features and a more modern user interface. Introduced 17 years ago, TeamViewer’s core product is used every day by individuals and companies to remotely access, control, troubleshoot, repair, configure and monitor all kinds of IT devices. Since launch, the tool has been installed on 2.5 billion devices around the world by hundreds of millions of consumers, who use the free version to help friends and family with IT issues, as well as 625,000 SMB customers. The new version has its own product name for the first time, TeamViewer Remote, and a new look and feel that TeamViewer will be rolling out to other solutions in its portfolio. There are also major enhancements to the underlying technology stack, which is now web-first, with a new security layer and a more open infrastructure that enables closer integration with third party solutions and other TeamViewer products. Dr.Hendrik Witt, Chief Product Officer at TeamViewer, said: “Everyone knows that you can use our product to take remote control of a PC, but we've been investing quite a lot over the past years to support use cases that are beyond traditional PCs and laptops, such as embedded systems, for example in digital billboards.” He added that TeamViewer will continue to add capabilities in new areas to meet the needs of the service desk of the future, citing the example of ‘limited control methodologies’ where you might take control of a specific application or support a workflow to give support providers the right information at the right time so that they can solve technology issues more effectively. Enhanced support “I'm a big believer in data and artificial intelligence and you can expect TeamViewer very soon to integrate AI capabilities into their products to help Service Desk employees to work smarter,” Dr Witt said. What’s new What, then, are some of the key features in TeamViewer Remote that will support future plans and help current users operate more efficiently and securely? n Mandatory user accounts. In line with standard practice in the software industry, remote support providers who use the free version of TeamViewer Remote must now, for the first time, have a user account. This doesn’t apply to those receiving support. Again, in line with industry practice, TeamViewer enables log-in with an existing third party account (e.g. Microsoft or Google). n Web client. Because of its webfirst architecture, TeamViewer Remote can now be used straight from a browser. “We will keep the download client that we currently have, but we will also give people the choice to use a web client that you don't need to install. You just go on the website and access your product from there. No matter which route you take, the user interface will look the same,” explained Dr Witt. n 1-click sessions. TeamViewer is introducing 1-click connections to support sessions, like the invitations used by Microsoft Teams or Zoom, with the ability to copy and share the URL by WhatsApp, for example. “Everything will continue to be highly secure. Links, for example, can only be used once and will automatically expire after a certain amount of time, if not used,” said Dr Witt. Again, users can continue to connect using the established ID & password method if they prefer. n Transparency & visibility. TeamViewer has added two new features to reassure recipients of support that the person accessing their device is who they say they are. These are a visual representation of where the support provider is connecting from and the ability to view more details of that person, including their user account and email address. “If you've been talking over the phone to a support centre in Europe and you see somebody is connecting from the southern part of the United States, for example, you might be suspicious,” said Dr Witt. “And because we now have accounts, users can see the email address and the type of user account (commercial or free) of the person connecting. For example, if you're dealing with a professional business, you might expect them to be using a commercial licence.” n Integrations. TeamViewer Remote offers enhanced integration with TeamViewer’s wider product portfolio including the MCO management console, previously only accessible via a web browser, and the company’s remote monitoring and management (RMM) tool. “While the RMM product was perceived by many customers as fairly separate to our TeamViewer remote control and access tool, we’ve been merging these products under the hood of TeamViewer Remote, so with a commercial user licence, you can experience these products in the same space,” explained Dr Witt. TeamViewer Remote is available for download now. All existing users of the remote access and support solution can choose to upgrade their existing installation to TeamViewer Remote for free or log into the web client with their existing TeamViewer credentials. www.teamviewer.com TeamViewer updates remote support product to provide a more integrated experience Dr. Hendrik Witt
01732 759725 13 magazine Save 90% on the total cost of ownership vs other inkjet and laser printers.* Plus get a free Logitech headset when you purchase a GX4050 before the 14th May 2023. Visit: canon-gx4050-gift-promotion.sales-promotions.com * See canon.co.uk/gx4050valueaddtandcs for further details. ENABLING THE WORKSPACE, SUPPORTING YOUR AMBITION
businessinfomag.uk magazine 14 Logicata, a remote-only MSP specialising in helping businesses migrate and run their workloads in the AWS cloud, is on track to increase its revenue by more than 100% this year, following growth of 40% in 2022. Founded in 2019 by IT specialist Karl Robinson, Logicata employs 12 IT and tech professionals across the UK, Italy, Andorra, Slovakia, Columbia and the United States, all with proven experience and expertise in AWS and underlying technologies. Logicata is the third business set up by Robinson, who in 2014 sold his dedicated VMware Hosting business StratoGen. Q&A Logicata is a specialist Amazon Web Services [AWS] Managed Service Provider operating primarily within the software sector. Please explain how you developed the concept and positioning for the business? Karl Robinson (KR): I have worked in Internet and hosting all my career, before the industry called it ‘Cloud’. I have always kept a keen eye on the evolution of cloud technology and thrive on being able to solve customer business challenges through the application of the latest technology. In recent years, technology has advanced rapidly due to the scale and innovation of the big public cloud providers, such as AWS, so much so that it is becoming harder and harder for smaller businesses to compete. Those smaller businesses that have evolved have embraced the public cloud provider ecosystem and adapted their services to remain relevant. When starting Logicata I had a clean slate, so I chose to focus on what interested me most. AWS is the public cloud market leader by a long stretch, so it made sense for us to focus on the biggest fish in the pond, with the broadest range of services. Also, I’ve enjoyed much of my previous success in the SME space, so again it made sense for Logicata to focus its attention on integrating and managing cloud services for SMEs, where there is more of a skills shortage. We chose to operate primarily in the software vertical, as we know that software businesses that are delivering their applications to customers share a common set of goals around the availability, performance and security of their cloud-based applications. They also tend to be developer-heavy and potentially lacking in infrastructure engineering skills, which is what Logicata brings to the party. This means we can truly act as an extension of our customer’s team and showcase our value. Despite only launching in 2019, Logicata has already achieved AWS partner status. What weight does this carry? And why should businesses opt for AWS partners over other Managed Service Providers? KR: For Logicata to deliver AWS consulting and managed services to our customers, being an AWS Partner is table stakes. Having that AWS partner badge shows our commitment to AWS and our experience in delivering AWS services. To qualify as a partner, there are requirements around the number of AWS-certified individuals, number of registered deals launched, number of publicly visible customer references and positive customer feedback etc.. So, you need to have With Karl Robinson, Founder of Logicata INTERVIEW
01732 759725 15 magazine INTERVIEW continue to innovate with their own silicon chips (Graviton). They have a better price/performance ratio than third party silicon, which is driving down the price of compute for AWS customers. In your opinion, how has the cloud industry evolved postCOVID? Do you feel growth has stagnated? KR: Covid was a huge shot in the arm (pun intended) for the cloud industry, creating a significant acceleration in cloud adoption as businesses strived to remain online during the pandemic. While the press may be jumping on topline growth deceleration in the cloud industry, there is a bit of a post-pandemic reset going on, where businesses are seeking to optimise their cloud spend, which the vendor and partner ecosystems are doing their best to help with. Rapid adoption led to suboptimal setups which are now being optimised. Customers are leveraging better purchasing plans, optimising their compute and moving to lower cost, more cloudnative technologies. In my opinion, it’s not that cloud adoption is slowing, it’s that customers are getting better at optimising their costs. Some estimates state that only 10-20% of all IT workloads are currently in the cloud, so there is still a huge amount of market potential. How do you think the cloud industry will grow and develop in the coming years? What do you see as the biggest challenges? KR: The cloud industry will continue to grow by tapping into the latent market potential that still exists for traditional IaaS and PaaS services, while innovating and offering more value-added services to both new and existing customers around data, artificial Intelligence and machine learning. I don’t think we’ll see a significant shift away from the skills and experience to become a partner – it’s not the case that just anyone can sign up. There is a lot less risk involved in working with an AWS Partner with demonstrable skills and expertise. How does AWS compare to other cloud solutions? And why did you decide to specialise in this area? KR: AWS is by far the market leader in both overall market share for cloud services and in the breadth and depth of its portfolio. AWS has been built from the ground up by developers, for developers. Many of the developers and engineers I speak with much prefer working with AWS because of the user experience, whether that is via the AWS Console or command line. Customers buy into AWS for these reasons. Conversely, we have found that many businesses buy into the services of AWS competitors because it makes commercial sense for the business due to existing licensing or advertising spend, which can be converted or applied to cloud infrastructure spend, and not because those cloud infrastructure services are the best tools for the job. How do you think AWS will continue to evolve in the coming years and what benefits will this bring to businesses utilising the solution? KR: Data and Artificial Intelligence are the two major focus areas right now for the evolution of AWS. AWS are leading the way in driving business insights from unstructured data, which will help businesses to serve customers in ways they had not previously considered. AI technology will also help to improve and streamline business processes, enabling developers to develop faster and businesses to accelerate their innovation. In addition to this, AWS ‘Big 3’ vendors any time soon, but as we’ve seen in this industry before, nothing lasts forever. It will certainly be interesting to see what comes next. The monopoly position of the big 3 is definitely starting to raise some eyebrows. Logicata has achieved impressive growth over the last few years. What has been the secret to your success? KR: Logicata’s success has been due to our laser focus on what we deliver for our clients. We have 100% customer retention in our AWS Managed Services customer base – we listen to our customers and ensure that we are continuing to add value. We also have 100% staff retention and strive to make Logicata a fun, inclusive and flexible working environment where our team can bring their whole self to work and develop their skills to continue to delight our customers. That retention of customers and staff leads to long-term working relationships between Logicata and its clients, which really delivers value. We’re also selective about who we choose to work with. The customer/supplier relationship needs to work both ways, and it’s important for us to continue to enjoy what we do. What is next for Logicata? KR: Logicata is looking to continue our growth trajectory by finding more customers to help and developing more ways in which we can help them. Right now, we focus on infrastructure management for our customers, but our strong software development pedigree enables us to extend our management services higher up the application stack. Ultimately, we want to help as many businesses as possible to optimise their cloud infrastructure, ensuring that their products and services remain available, scalable, secure and compliant.
businessinfomag.uk magazine 16 MOBILE PRINT The new collaboration sees Brother’s range of labelling solutions become fully compatible with Planglow’s LabelLogic Live Brother UK is helping retailers save money through a new partnership with BarcodeGenie that pairs its label printers with the latter’s cloud-based labelling system. This links directly with a retailer’s product file, ensuring store staff always print the right pricing. In a recent survey of 250 SME retailers and 2,000 consumers conducted by Brother, 38% of retailers admitted to mis-labelling prices on products at least once a day, with a further 28% doing so multiple times per week. The main cause of costly pricing errors is illegible handwritten labels (31%), followed by formatting errors on printed labels (29%) and staff applying the wrong pricing by Brother beyond Retail Catering mistake (28%). More than two in five consumers (41%) have saved money – or know of family and friends who have saved money – due to retailers’ pricing blunders, with 5% saving as much as £500 on a mispriced item. The average saving was £38 per item. In an attempt to minimise these losses 74% of retailers surveyed plan to upgrade their label system in the next 12-months. Currently, just 51% use a label printer linked to smart devices. Adam Corcoran, Managing Director at BarcodeGenie, points out that the combination of Brother label printers and BarcodeGenie technology also helps retailers improve visibility and management of pricing processes. He said: “The cloud-based LabelGenie system enables head office to digitally issue labels for use in multiple stores, ensuring campaigns are rolled out effectively and accurately. Reporting tools also help managers to build accountability by understanding what’s being printed across multiple sites with greater visibility. This allows them to maximise revenue opportunities from price changes and sales discounting.” Businesses the world over rely on Brother printers for fast, high quality, reliable office printing. Increasingly, they are also using its devices for applications outside the office, in factories, warehouses, commercial kitchens, hospitality venues, retail outlets and off-site. To meet this demand, the business technology solutions provider is continuing to strengthen and diversify its offering. Here, we highlight recent developments for customers in retail, catering and field work. New partnership with reseller and software provider BarcodeGenie helps reduce costly labelling errors by retailers Brother eases compliance with Natasha’s Law through new partnership with food labelling and plant-based packaging specialist Planglow app, which enables food service users to create, amend, update and print labels with ease. The subscription-based service supports individual cafés, restaurants and delis through to multi-site caterers. Head offices are able to create and roll-out data and templates across their network, without having to monitor for consistency or errors. The platform also allows bespoke food orders to be sent straight from the till to the printer, creating clear, accurate and durable labels for packaging. This helps food service operators to achieve bestpractice compliance following the introduction of new food labelling legislation, Natasha’s Law, which requires clear signposting of any potential allergens in clear and distinct writing on pre-packaged products for direct sale. Aaron Hopkinson, product manager for labelling at Brother UK, said: “The new partnership with Planglow bolsters our support for firms that are adapting to new food safety legislation while taking advantage of the efficiencies that come with technology-enabled labelling.
01732 759725 17 magazine MOBILE PRINT For more information on Brother and the types of specialist solutions it can offer, visit: https://www.brother.co.uk/business-solutions/ mobile-print-and-label/ Replacing the Brother PJ700 series, the PJ800 series represents the first evolution of Brother’s PocketJet range in seven years. The five models – the PJ-822, PJ-823, PJ-862, PJ863 and PJ-883 – deliver faster print speeds of up to 13.5 pages per minute, as well as enhanced battery performance that enables the compact devices to print 600 pages from just one charge. Users can quickly send print requests from any device for fast, accurate printing via the latest connectivity options – USB Type C, Bluetooth 5.0 and WiFi – and Brother’s iPrint & Scan app, which is compatible with Windows, Android and Apple smartphones. The printers use direct thermal technology, rather than ink, which removes the need to change cartridges on the move, meaning the only consumable required is the paper. The image quality of up to 300 dpi ensures the machines also meet the high standards required in many industries, such as healthcare. Aaron Hopkinson, product manager at Brother UK, said: “Users operating in the field need fast and reliable print devices with a range of connectivity options to efficiently carry out routine signature collection and information sharing. This new PJ800 range provides resellers with new, market-leading options to help customers maximise the productivity of workers on the move. On the move “Faster print speeds and improved connectivity make it easier for users to produce documents as and when they’re needed, which will help them to avoid added admin at a later date. “We understand that many of the sectors that need these solutions are heavily regulated, and quality printing on the spot ensures that errors and poor legibility from hand-written documents are removed. Ultimately, the new PJ800 series is a great tool to help businesses boost efficiency, professionalism and customer service in field operations.” The mobile printers are rated IP54 when equipped with a roll case, meaning they can withstand tough environments in all weathers. Additionally, the printer is tested to withstand drops of up to 1.2m. The models, which are compatible with the ZPL 2 command language to support growing demand for label printing, also come with an industry-leading three-year warranty as standard. For more information on the new PJ800 range, visit: https://brother.co.uk/labellingand-receipts/a4-to-a5-mobileprinters. Brother PJ800 series saves time and postage costs with on-the-spot printing of contracts, certificates, prescriptions and other A4 documents “Planglow adds to a host of specialist partners, from software providers to expert technology resellers, which complement our robust portfolio of print devices. Together, we have the expertise, the technology and the supporting software to help commercial kitchens to label food more productively, accurately and compliantly.” The Planglow software compatibility enhances Brother’s existing line of label printers, which come fitted with wireless cloud printing capability. This allows kitchens to keep food preparation areas clear of wires and technology for safety while maximising worktop space. The collaboration with Planglow is one in a series of partnerships announced by the vendor, as it moves to strengthen the capabilities of its specialist labelling devices and better support the needs of customers. It recently bolstered its TJ range of rugged desktop devices designed to help high volume food service operators keep up with fast-paced manufacturing environments.
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