1 Title Standfirst THE TECHNOLOGY & WORKPLACE MAGAZINE FOR SMES & PUBLIC SECTOR ORGANISATIONS WWW.BUSINESSINFOMAG.UK ISSUE158 ASK THE EXPERTS Why it’s time to disrupt your routine PAGE 32 WORKPLACE HP launches industry’s first intelligent print experience PAGE 14 WELLBEING How boosting biodiversity can help outdoor businesses to thrive PAGE 31 How “green” monitors from Philips help save real money
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01732 759725 magazine 04 Bulletin Take a break from technology on Techtimeout Tuesday 10 What’s New A selection of new products for the modern workplace 14 Workplace HP launches industry’s first intelligent print experience for home, office and large format printing 16 Meetings Logitech brings new levels of automation to the booking of meeting rooms 18 Cover Story How ‘green’ monitors from Philips help save real money 20 End User Computing How ControlUp is helping SimpsonHaugh optimise the end user experience as it transitions to virtual desktops 24 Sustainability Sören Enholm, CEO of TCO Development, explains where to start with circular IT 25 Sustainability News C-suite buy-in needed if circularity is not to be a pipedream 26 Opinion Rod Neale, CEO and founder of Circular Computing, argues that OEMs must rethink laptop design to minimise e-waste 28 Cybersecurity NIS2 compliance requirements divert budget from business priorities 29 AI ROI key to AI deployment 30 Q&A Culture15 Founder Charlie Coode explains the importance of measuring and managing company culture 31 Wellbeing How encouraging biodiversity can help outdoor businesses to thrive 32 Ask the Experts We report from Logitech’s recent panel debate on AI and productivity 03 IN THIS ISSUE: 158 – Q4 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] Advertising Executive: James Trim 01732 759725 · [email protected] Designer: Brian Cloke 07484 288189 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 2024 Kingswood Media Ltd. ISSN 1464-8814 FOR THE LATEST INDUSTRY NEWS VISIT: WWW.BUSINESSINFOMAG.UK Kingswood Media Ltd., 7 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] Credit: Natalia Zielonka, UEA
businessinfomag.uk magazine BULLETIN Samsung adopts design principles to support inclusivity Inaccessible designs are excluding millions of consumers from products, services and experiences, warns Samsung Electronics in a new report based on a OnePoll survey of 1,000 UK adults with invisible and visible disabilities. More than two thirds (68%) of those surveyed say they have felt excluded from products or services due to accessibility issues; 55% 04 B U L L E T I N don’t believe mainstream brands are invested enough in making products that cater to individual needs; and 54% don’t think companies understand which accessibility features are important for consumers with disabilities. For these reasons, 80% believe brands could be missing out on millions of pounds worth of business from consumers with disabilities. The spending power of disabled people and their households – the purple pound – amounts to as much as £274 billion a year. More than two thirds (72%) of those surveyed say they have abandoned a purchase due to a product’s lack of accessibility. Three quarters (76%) claim they would stay loyal to companies that offer a good range of accessible options and 56% say they would be willing to pay more for a fully accessible product. Samsung is looking to address these issues through four DEI design principles developed in collaboration with design leaders and over 500 members of its Global Employee Resource Groups as part of Project INKlusion. These are: 1 Stay Curious – create joy through play, learning and growing. 2 Challenge Assumptions – deconstruct the ‘normal’; solve problems not people. 3 Celebrate Diversity – amplify diverse stories; represent real life. 4 Be the Change – create with, not for; expand beyond the individual. The top tech innovations for people with a disability were named as virtual assistants, smart home devices and wearable devices for health monitoring. www.samsung.com/uk/ sustainability/accessibility … Workers urged to prioritise mental health and take more screen-breaks Workplace products provider AJ Products is urging desk workers to take more frequent breaks to combat stress and improve mental health, after a survey sent to more than 2,000 adults revealed that only 41.5% of workers with desk jobs take hourly breaks. In September, sports footwear company ASICS warned that workers’ mental health starts to decline noticeably after two hours of continuous desk-based working, with stress levels rising by 18% after four hours without a break. The good news, according to the ASICS State of Mind study involving 26,000 participants, is that the effects can be reversed with just 15 minutes of movement. Its Desk Break experiment, Time to take a break from technology There’s still time to take part in this year’s Techtimeout Tuesday on December 3. All you have to do is sign up at www.techtimeout. co.uk and pledge to take a break from technology, from as few as 10 minutes to the whole 24 hours. Stephanie Henson, Founder and Managing Director of techtimeout, founded the digital wellbeing day in 2020 after time spent on-screen running two technology businesses began to affect her wellbeing. She said: “The irony of a tech boss encouraging people to go offline isn’t lost on me! My experience of long days and nights glued to my screens impacted my mental health and productivity. Putting in place digital wellbeing practices turned that all around. “Think about the hours you spend every day staring at screens at work, being interrupted by notifications on your phone, and doomscrolling on social media into the night. We urge you to think about the impact that’s having on your mental and physical health. Regular breaks can reduce stress and anxiety, improve your sleep and focus, and make you more productive when you are on screens.” Businesses representing 2.1 million employees have already signed up to take part in this year’s Techtimeout Tuesday – 33% more than last year. These include Cadbury, Mental Health First Aid England, the MOD, DWP, Environment Agency, HM Land Registry, Royal Air Force, PwC, The Economist, Parcelforce Worldwide, Eurostar, plus several universities, councils and charities. Taking part in Techtimeout Tuesday is free, but businesses that want to take their involvement further can employ techtimeout to deliver digital wellbeing training and certification. www.techtimeout.co.uk Stephanie Henson
01732 759725 magazine BULLETIN 05 overseen by Dr Brendon Stubbs from King’s College London, found that when office workers added just 15 minutes of movement into their working day, their mental state improved by 22.5%, with participants’ State of Mind scores increasing from 62/100 to 76/100. The experiment showed that taking a daily Desk Break for just one week lowered stress levels by 14.7%, boosted productivity by 33.2% and improved focus by 28.6%. Participants reported feeling 33.3% more relaxed and 28.6% more calm and resilient. One interesting finding from AJ Products’ survey conducted in August is that remote workers are the group most likely to experience neck, shoulder or back pain, despite being more likely than hybrid or office workers to take hourly breaks. One fifth (21%) of remote workers reported feeling pain daily, compared to 18% of office-based workers and 13% of hybrid workers. As this suggests there is no correlation between taking regular breaks and experiencing musculoskeletal pain, SJ Products says breaks should be observed for the sake of the worker’s longerterm mental health rather than for the alleviation of pain. www.ajproducts.co.uk asics.com/deskbreak … Empty those drawers! Ryman is calling on Brits to recycle 280 million broken pens squirrelled away in homes and offices, pointing out that on average pens are discarded after just six months and that only one in five pens in UK households actually works. It has calculated that if you laid all the broken pens end-to-end they would stretch 22,000 miles from London to Sydney, Australia and back again. The High Street stationery and office supplies retailer is inviting pen owners to drop off redundant pens at any of its stores for recycling. Since 2019, it has recycled over 3.5 million pens in partnership with the Writing Instruments Free Recycling Programme sponsored by BIC and managed by TerraCycle. https://www.ryman.co.uk/ environment. Talking business NESCAFÉ by Nestlé Professional is continuing its partnership with business guru Deborah Meaden with the launch of a three-episode business mini-series, Let’s Partner Up for Good, in which she offers advice and support to seven small business owners facing challenges relating to growth, sustainability and wellbeing. Each episode can be viewed on YouTube or via this link: https://www.nestleprofessional. co.uk/nescafe/discussions- with-deborah. Benefits of flexibility trump fear of missing out on promotion With more and more employers calling for a full-time return to the office, new research from United Culture, a specialist in culture, employee engagement and behavioural change, highlights some of the disadvantages of working remotely. Its Work Remastered 2024 study of 1,000 office workers across the UK and US reveals that one in four office workers who works flexibly believes they have missed out on a job promotion or opportunity. This concern is felt most strongly by millennials and older Gen-Z workers, many of whom are now in management positions and looking to develop into senior leadership roles, with 37% of those aged 25-34 and 42% of those aged 35-44 feeling they have been passed over. Despite these fears, work-life balance is the factor employees value most in a workplace (chosen by 43%), followed by flexibility (27%). The latter covers both when they work, such as compressed hours and early/late finishes (wanted by 39%) and where they work (33%). More than half of workers surveyed by United Culture currently work flexibly (60%) and say they would leave or consider leaving their company if their employer limited the amount of flexibility they offer (57%). One quarter (25%) indicated their company has already changed or reduced their options to work flexibly, rising to 44% among those aged 18-24. Mavis Boniface, Global Operations Director at United Culture, said: “Working patterns have transformed post-pandemic. However, it seems many employers are yet to grasp the extent to which the new ‘norms’ have become embedded in the public consciousness, or they are trying to drag their people back to the office regardless. “Flexibility is clearly important to all types of employees, but especially to younger employees who are the future leaders. If those who work flexibly are missing out on opportunities and promotions, it means they will leave and go somewhere else – and no organisation can afford to lose talent.” She added: “People who work flexibly must be treated the same and given the same development opportunities as those who show up to the office. If leaders reward presenteeism over productivity, their businesses are in colossal trouble.” www.unitedcultureco.com Deborah Meaden (l) with Katya Simmons, Managing Director of NESCAFÉ by Nestlé Professional continued...
businessinfomag.uk magazine BULLETIN 06 UK plc misses out on £111 million tech boost If all British-based firms had increased their digital technology usage in 2021, the economy could have enjoyed a £111 billion boost in turnover by 2023, creating 676,000 new jobs, including over 313,000 in small and medium-sized companies. So say Virgin Media O2 Business and Cebr in their new report The economic and social benefits of digitalisation. According to their analysis, digital leaders – organisations that are actively investing in digital solutions and have a strong digital culture – achieved 12% turnover growth in the period, compared to just 5% for the 75% of UK organisations that have not significantly increased their digital usage since 2021. On average, they also had more than double the productivity growth. These gains contributed to an 8% rise in Gross Value Added (GVA) for digital leaders, versus zero growth for ‘digital followers’. In addition, 81% of businesses that have a strong digital culture and embrace tools to boost performance feel their workforce is well-prepared for the future, compared to 43% of those with weaker digital cultures. So what makes a digital leader? According to the report, it is not enough just to invest in digital tools; you also need to create a strong digital culture and integrate those tools into working practices and processes to support collaboration and knowledge-sharing. Jo Bertram, Managing Director of Virgin Media O2 Business, said: “There’s a £111bn boost to the UK economy to be unlocked for those organisations that build strong digital cultures, where technology underpins the way people connect and collaborate with colleagues and customers to drive business outcomes.” https://www. virginmediao2business.co.uk/ digital-culture/ … Supermarket vouchers are most used perk Supermarket vouchers are this year’s most valued workplace perk, according to Rippl, the employee recognition, rewards and benefits platform. Its analysis of workplace benefit data for more than 145,000 workers found that 98% of employees with access to supermarket discounts use them to supplement their weekly shopping, saving an average of £725 per annum. With Salary Advances second on Rippl’s list of most valued perks, the cost of living crisis is clearly shaping the choices and preference of UK workers. Only 23% of employers offer this perk, but where it was available an average of 78% of employees took advantage of it. The third and fourth most used perks, Dental and Eye Tests, speak to the pressure on NHS services and the difficulty of getting an appointment, with six out of 10 employees turning to their workplace benefits for private healthcare support. In contrast to these widely used perks, gym membership is taken up by only 8% of employees, despite being offered by 76% of employers. Chris Brown, CEO at Rippl, said: “It is clear that the most valued workplace perks are those that meaningfully support employees in their everyday life, particularly when it comes to easing the burden of essential expenses and the cost of living. Retail and lifestyle discounts are an easily accessible benefit for employees that can help with everyday expenses such as weekly food shops, meals out or family cinema trips. For employers, it’s a simple way to financially support employees in lieu of significant pay rises.” www.rippl.work A glimpse of the future? The Natural History Museum is partnering with Microsoft and SAOLA Studio in a new immersive, mixed reality experience that transports visitors wearing Microsoft HoloLens 2 mixed reality headsets 100 years into the future to see how the natural world has responded to the actions we take today. Visions of Nature, part of the Museum’s advocacy program, Fixing Our Broken Planet, imagines how species might adapt to the threats they face in the 21st century, in a range of environments from the Scottish Highlands to the Great Green Wall in Africa’s Sahel region. Species chosen from the Museum’s 80 million physical specimens, including a cuttlefish, Darwin’s frog and coconut crab, come to life as interactive holographic animations, while a builtin scientific copilot, Hope, describes their development from 2025 to 2125. Natural History Museum Director of Public Programmes Dr Alex Burch said: “Visions of Nature is an incredibly exciting, immersive experience – and the first offering of its kind for the Museum. It presses fast-forward so visitors can see how nature has responded, for better and for worse, to the aftermath of centuries of human industrial activity as well as to the interventions we have introduced to remedy our unsustainable activity.” Tickets are available now at nhm.ac.uk/visionsofnature Jo Bertram Local councils under-prepared for cyber breach Local councils across the UK are woefully under-prepared for a cybersecurity breach, warns Apricorn. The manufacturer of software-free, hardware-encrypted USB drives issued its alert after just two out of 41 local councils confirmed they had cyber insurance in response to Apricorn’s Freedom of Information requests. Two more said they were planning to invest in it next year. In a separate Apricorn survey, 78% of IT security decision-makers in the private sector said they had cyber insurance in place, even if only 28% were confident of cover in the event of a breach. Almost half (46%) cited data backups as an essential tool to meet cyber insurance compliance requirements, up from 28% in 2023. Others include employee awareness training (43%); password hygiene (41%); encrypted storage on the move (39%) and at rest (35%); access controls (36%); and regular patch updates (35%). www.apricorn.com Top 5 Most Valued Perks: 1 Retail vouchers 2 Salary advance 3 Dental 4 Eye Tests 5 Charity donations continued... continued...
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businessinfomag.uk magazine BULLETIN 08 Caffeine buzz Nespresso UK has joined forces with HIVED, an all-electric delivery service, to reduce the carbon impact of the 60,000 coffee deliveries it makes in London every month by as much as 76% per package. Customers will be able to select next-day and two-day delivery options, track orders in real-time, receive live updates and access live chat with customer support agents. HIVED, which has delivered millions of parcels across London for brands including ASOS, Zara and Candy Kittens, currently has a 99% first time delivery attempt rate, against an industry average of 90. … Net Zero in its sights Spitfire Network Services Ltd, a provider of voice, internet and connectivity services, has smashed its two-year carbon reduction target with a 41% cut in carbon emissions between 2022 and 2024 – a 600% improvement on its target of 6%. As part of its commitment to be Net Zero by 2050, Spitfire has cut carbon emissions in all areas of its business, from reductions in business travel and the use of air conditioning to technological upgrades including hosted telephone systems that make more efficient use of servers and switching from diesel to electric vehicles. It has also significantly reduced the carbon footprint of its South London data centre by sourcing electricity supplies with a lower output of carbon dioxide per kWh of electricity generated (kgCO2e per unit). www.spitfire.co.uk … Credit where credit is due Managed service provider Node4 is helping Ofsted champion the work of its 2,000 employees with the creation of a bespoke, informal, social media-style platform where staff can publicly acknowledge and celebrate the outstanding work of colleagues. The so called ‘wonderwall’ sits within Ofsted’s Microsoft Sharepoint intranet, which Node4 recently upgraded as part of its more than 10-year relationship with the education standards body. Athene Sherwood, Ofsted Deputy Head of Internal Communications, said: “We could have opted for an out-of-the-box solution, but we wanted something bespoke to our needs. The end result is just what we wanted. It’s colourful and engaging and contributors can personalise their praise for colleagues for all to see. Because it runs on SharePoint through our intranet, there were no steep learning curves, meaning we could manage it largely in-house from day one.” Within the first three months of the wonderwall going live, Ofsted staff submitted more than 350 tributes to colleagues. https://www.gov.uk/government/ organisations/ofsted Their next job was in cyber…if only Cybersecurity is now the fastest growing tech occupation in the UK, with the number of people in cyber roles more than doubling between 2021 and 2024 (up 128%), according to Their next job was in cyber, the latest cybersecurity careers report from Socura. Despite this growth, Andy Kays, CEO of the UK-based cybersecurity services provider, warns that there are still not enough cybersecurity professionals to tackle the growing threat to UK businesses, with only one security pro for every 86 companies. He said: “Cybersecurity may be the fastest growing IT occupation in the UK but the skills shortage in the industry remains a concern. Many businesses simply do not have the specialists they need to defend against cyber attacks. To fix this problem at a national level, we need more initiatives like the NCSC-backed Academic Centres of Excellence and ways to reach even younger people so that they can discover technology in schools. For organisations struggling to recruit cybersecurity experts, finding a trusted managed services partner to bolster capabilities and ease the load remains vital to bridging the gap.” The report also highlights the need to encourage more women to pursue a career in cybersecurity. While there are 4,600 more women in cybersecurity roles today than there were in 2021, their percentage of the total cybersecurity workforce has gone down to 17%, from 24% three years ago. Last year Socura relocated from London to Cardiff to capitalise on a Welsh cybersecurity boom Self-service for all Dorset-based kiosk solutions provider imageHOLDERS has won a contract to roll-out more than 4,000 self-serve, touchscreen kiosks in Post Office branches across the UK in a collaboration with Ricoh, Intelligent AR and Meld CX. The ergonomic kiosks featuring assistive technologies, such as screen readers and braille interfaces, will enable all customers to carry out a variety of tasks themselves, including buying stamps and sending parcels and home shopping returns. The complete solution brings together state-of-the-art kiosks, postal software from Intelligent AR, remote monitoring from Meld CX and the extensive installation, service and support capabilities of Ricoh. The phased roll-out is due to begin in Spring 2025. www.imageholders.com Examples of imageHOLDER kiosks
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businessinfomag.uk magazine 10 INNOVATIONS Remote control Paxton has enhanced its video door entry solutions for midmarket businesses and public sector organisations with the launch of an iOS/Android app that enables users to see and speak to visitors and grant or deny them access remotely. Compatible with existing Paxton Entry installations, the Paxton Entry app is available for a monthly user licence fee and requires no additional installation or disruption. Customers can utilise the app together with Paxton Entry monitors or use the Paxton Entry app without a monitor. www.paxton-access.com On brand With Christmas fast approaching, Letts of London, part of FLB Group, is encouraging businesses to customise business gifts with their own branding by offering a 10% discount on initial orders of branded notebooks and diaries. Customers will also benefit from the Reminder App recently launched by fellow FLB Group company Filofax and now available across all 2025 Letts products. By scanning QR codes printed on each diary page, this app enables users to digitally capture notes and task lists, schedule electronic reminders and send notifications. https://corporate.lettsoflondon. com/pages/personalisation Unifying digital and physical access Trusted identity solutions leader HID has extended its partnership with Microsoft through a new integration with External Authentication Methods in Microsoft Entra ID that will enable employees to use an existing physical access card as a multi‑factor authentication (MFA) method to access resources such as Entra ID and Microsoft 365. A Microsoft Research study showed that MFA reduced the risk of security compromise by more than 99.2%. Eleanor Falla, Senior Product Manager for Microsoft Security, says that giving businesses the ability to use physical access cards to access Microsoft Entra ID will simplify MFA deployments and accelerate organisations’ transition to passwordless authentication. “The purpose of Microsoft Entra ID External Authentication Method (EAM) is to enable organisations to use the third‑party MFA solution of their choosing to establish quick, simple and secure MFA. HID’s integration offers flexibility through its many authenticator choices and offers the convenience of choosing from existing physical cards to access both facilities and digital resources as an MFA factor.” This capability enables organisations to unify physical and digital access, from doorways to desktops and cloud applications, and removes the need to provide employees with a company phone for that purpose. HID brings seamless MFA deployment to Entra ID users through its HID Authentication Service powered by the HID Authentication Platform. The secure cloud platform developed for highly regulated industries simplifies identity management and use, employing cryptography to ensure data security. www.hidglobal.com Rugged Android Handheld Group, a manufacturer of rugged handhelds, tablets and customised mobile devices, has launched a rugged Android handheld with enhanced durability, a high‑performance Qualcomm Snapdragon 6490 Processor for demanding applications and 5G connectivity for fast data transmission and low latency. In addition to IP65 and IP68 ratings, MIL‑STD-810H certification and 1.8-metre drop resistance, the compact, powerful Nautiz X21 comes with cutomisable buttons and the MaxGo software suite for quick setup and personalisation. Other useful features for field applications include a sunlight-readable 6.3-inch display with wet-finger compatibility, a hot-swappable 5100mAh battery, a built-in 2D imager for scanning applications, a wide ecosystem of accessories and support for customised extensions via pogo pins. Headquartered in Sweden and with subsidiaries in the UK, Germany, Switzerland and the USA, Handheld Group delivers complete mobility solutions for logistics, forestry, public transportation, utilities, construction, maintenance, mining, military and security businesses. It is part of MilDef, a global systems integrator specialising in rugged IT for the military, government and critical infrastructure sectors. www.mildef.com WHAT’S NEW Ready for your close-up PFU (EMEA) Limited has expanded its range of smart meeting devices with the launch of a compact ultra-short throw (UST) laser projector suitable for constant use in challenging or hard to reach applications including store signage, museums, exhibition halls and covered outdoor entertainment venues. The RICOH PJ UHL3660 has an ultra-short throw ratio of 0.24, enabling it to create an 85-inch image when placed just 1 cm from the screen, and a maximum projection size of 160 inches. Builtin Multi Projection software with edge blending enables multiple projectors to combine to create even larger images. The projector produces sharp, clear images even in brightly lit spaces thanks to 6,500-lumen brightness, 4K Ultra HD resolution and Ricoh’s OptiBright technology, which brings together higher brightness, lower power consumption and a longer product lifecycle in one compact unit. https://www.pfu.ricoh.com/global/
01732 759725 magazine 11 INNOVATIONS A neat upgrade New from Neat, the Zoom-backed pioneer of connected video technology, the Neat Board Pro is an all-in-one conferencing solution for medium and large spaces that brings together a 65in 4K multi-touch LCD screen, wide-angle camera, superior audio, and intelligent technology that automatically focuses on participants for a more natural meeting experience. The Neat Board Pro works seamlessly with popular video conferencing platforms, BYOD and business applications via the Neat App Hub platform. This allows users to access a growing ecosystem of apps and tools through Neat devices, including room/desk booking, wayfinding, visitor management, virtual receptionist, digital signage and collaboration solutions. neat.no Search and share Dropbox has announced a new iteration of its AI-powered universal search tool, Dash for Business. Due to be launched in the UK early next year, Dash for Business enables teams to find the information they need within all connected apps and tools, including Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, Notion and Asana, and then organise, share and secure that data from one central platform. Drew Houston, co-founder and CEO of Dropbox, said: “I first launched Dropbox because we all needed a better way to find and access our content, no matter what device or platform it lived on. Today, we’re solving the 2024 version of that problem: our content is scattered everywhere and it’s hard to find the thing you need to get your work done. Dash solves that problem by helping teams find information quickly, remove friction from their day and keep sensitive information protected.” Dropbox estimates that employees spend up to an hour a day trying to find the right information from separate files, browser tabs and cloud platforms. New features in Dash for Business include AI-powered search capabilities, with real-time answers/summaries and AI-generated follow-up questions/ answers and content links; content access and permission controls based on the Nira content governance platform recently acquired by Dropbox; and default self-hosted AI, which ensures customer data remains within Dropbox’s trust boundary rather than third-party AI platforms. https://dash.dropbox.com/ The future of training Immerse Companion, a new ondemand, 24/7 coaching solution from Cornerstone OnDemand, employs ‘virtual human companions’ to help people improve their problem-solving skills, teamwork, leadership and emotional intelligence. The virtual coaches and mentors, based on generative AI avatar technology developed by Talespin, acquired by Cornerstone earlier this year, enable users to develop their soft skills through personalised one-on-one sessions and the role-playing of common workplace scenarios. Josh Bersin, Global Industry Analyst and CEO of The Josh Bersin Company, said: “One of the best ways to learn is through experience. Exciting new platforms like Immerse Companion let employees learn, practice and get expert feedback from AI, just like a real expert coach. This is where corporate training is going.” https://www.cornerstoneondemand. com/platform/immersive-ai-learningcompanion Going places Snom has completed its M5xx product series with the launch of the M56 DECT phone. Developed for use in challenging environments, from medium-sized warehouses, shops and restaurants to workshops, construction sites and other outside areas, the phone’s robust, IP67‑certified dust and water-proof casing has a rubberised, antibacterial surface that ensures a safe and secure grip. The 2.4-inch colour display and large keypad make the device easy to use, even when wearing work gloves, while an integrated alarm button, ‘man down’ function and built-in torch offer protection for lone workers. Other highlights include a call time of 12 hours in HD audio quality, support for Bluetooth headphones and wireless updates that ensure the M56 is always up to date. www.snom.com/en App for unpaid carers In a deal with NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB), Care Networx is bringing a first-of-its kind carers app to 250,000 unpaid carers in West Yorkshire. Due to be launched early next year, the app will give carers extensive support, from uploading health and legal files to help with managing medication and household bills. Unpaid carers will be able to invite family members, other carers and volunteers into their ‘circle of care’ and communicate and share information with them through the app. The app also integrates with wearables and home devices for remote alerts and monitoring of heart rate, blood pressure, room temperature etc. For West Yorkshire ICB, Care Networx has built in a Contingency Plan function, linked to the Yorkshire and Humber Care Record (YHCR), that will enable professionals to enact contingency plans in the unexpected absence of a carer. Alexis Twigg, Founder of Care Networx, said: “Think WhatsApp, DropBox and other permission-based collaboration platforms all in one that empowers unpaid carers with the digital tools to support a loved one, that promotes proactive care by default, and that reduces stress and anxiety for all concerned, enabling access to information at the touch of a few buttons.” visit https://www.carenetworx.com/ continued...
businessinfomag.uk magazine 12 INNOVATIONS continued... Complete control PPDS, the exclusive global provider of Philips Professional Displays, has launched a technology plug-in that integrates Philips Android SoC digital signage, interactive displays and LED walls with the Q-SYS cloud platform for managing audio, video and control settings in live, hybrid and virtual experiences. The PPDS Wave Plugin for Q-SYS is fully certified and available for download from Q-SYS Designer Asset Manager. https://ppds.com www.qsys.com Cyber experts for hire CAPSLOCK is helping to plug the cyber skills gap with the launch of a new service that gives public and private sector organisations access to cyber experts on-demand without the expense of recruiting their own staff. Deploy enables organisations to hire CAPSLOCK-trained and certified cyber practitioners, from SOC analysts to cloud security specialists, at a fixed daily rate for a 12-month minimum contract. Contractors are available at every level in a variety of specialist and generalist roles, including GRC (governance, risk and compliance), vulnerability management, cloud security, SOC analysis and threat intelligence. https://capslock.ac/services/deploy Just the ticket Passengers of Northern, the UK’s second largest train operator, can now pick up and drop off parcels as part of their daily commute thanks to the deployment of automated parcel lockers at 50 railway stations across West Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Lancashire, Greater Manchester and South Yorkshire. Due to be completed in spring 2025, the roll-out of Parcel Pending by Quadient lockers gives passengers, carriers, retailers and local businesses a secure option for sending and receiving parcels 24/7. Mark Powles, Commercial and Customer Director at Northern, said: “Access to parcel delivery lockers at stations is something our customers have told us makes their life easier, as they combine travelling with collecting or dropping off parcels. Quadient has a great reputation for customer service, and we are delighted to partner with them to bring their services to thousands of our customers each and every day.” http://www.parcelpending.com/en-gb/ Back with a bang Boom Collaboration has launched a ‘meeting room in a box’ for larger rooms as part of a new range of pre-packaged solutions. Designed to simplify product selection, take away installation headaches and optimise the user experience, the BYOD Large Videobar Kit includes an intelligent videobar, two mics and a one-cable multiconnectivity hub, in a choice of black or white. Boom Co-Founder Fredrik Hörnkvist says Boom is launching the kit to satisfy resurgent demand for Bring Your Own Device deployments that enable users to connect their own laptops or mobile devices to a room’s AV system. He said: “BYOD is back with a bang, with plug-andplay simplicity, lower costs and a platform-agnostic approach the main driving forces. Our new videobar kit for larger rooms will add further fuel to the BYOD fire.” boom.co Joining forces against plastic Acer UK is partnering with TV personality Ben Fogle in a new initiative to tackle plastic waste. For every Vero laptop bought and registered in the UK, Acer will collaborate with Plastic Bank to remove 80kg of plastic waste from the environment. This is more than the average annual plastic waste generated per person in the UK (76kg) and builds on the environmental qualities of the Vero range, including a high post-consumer recycled plastic content and carbon neutrality. As a bonus, customers will receive Vero accessories worth £89.97, including a laptop case, mouse and mouse mat, all made from recycled materials. The Aspire Vero range is available from Currys, Argos, Amazon and Very. Time for your cyber MOT? The Cyber and Fraud Centre – Scotland, a provider of cyber security services, training and advice, is launching a budget-friendly service to help businesses identify practical steps they can take to improve their cyber resilience. The Cyber MOT starts with a free survey comprising 25 multiple choice questions that takes just 10-15 minutes to complete. This provides a snapshot of an organisation’s current position and highlights areas that need urgent attention and investment. Jude McCorry, CEO of Cyber and Fraud Centre, said: “Cyber MOT is a highly costeffective, simple way of benchmarking your organisation’s overall cybersecurity strength, giving you a clear picture of where to focus your efforts first. I encourage any businesses looking to evaluate their cyber security strength to take the Cyber MOT.” https://cyberfraudcentre.com Jude McCorry
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businessinfomag.uk 14 magazine WORKPLACE In order to provide IT with a more holistic view of devices, the HP Workforce Experience Platform already supports integrations with Microsoft Power BI, Power Automate and Tableau. Microsoft Intune and ServiceNow integrations are planned for a future release. HP Managed Services HP is taking advantage of new global command centres to offer HP Managed Services globally. These services include advanced remote monitoring and management capabilities for monitoring and managing HP and non-HP devices on behalf of managed solutions customers. The use of telemetry to monitor thousands of data points in conference room equipment, printers and PCs enables HP Service Experts to detect and identify issues and proactively take action to remediate incidents before customers’ employees are impacted. Out-of-band Diagnostics and Remediation To help reduce the time and frustration involved in restoring productivity for hybrid employees, HP is introducing an out-ofband remediation service that enables more PC issues to be fixed remotely – even if the PC won’t boot. By using an encrypted cloud connection to securely connect to remote PCs below the OS, HP support agents can attain full keyboard, video and mouse (KVM) control to diagnose and fix complex issues like boot failures, imaging and BIOS issues, with virtually no assistance required from the end user. This industry-first remediation service is available as an add-on to an HP Essential, Premium or Premium+ Support package when purchasing select PCs from HP or an authorised reseller. HP Managed Collaboration Services – global availability of HP’s managed meeting room service, which ensures every space is video-enabled with Poly and HP equipment and ready to be used. AI advisory service – helping customers to harness the full potential of Microsoft 365 Copilot through IT and AI readiness audits, interactive workshops and implementation roadmaps. HOPE Recycling Futures – giving refurbished PCs a second life and boosting digital equity through donations to schools around the globe. HP Workforce Experience Platform The HP Workforce Experience Platform anticipates and resolves digital friction across every employee endpoint via a single dashboard. Having been in private beta for three months, with more than 270K devices enrolled, it is now being made available to new or renewing HP Proactive Insights customers in the United States at no extra cost. As part of the latest release, HP is rolling out new features that enable customers to monitor, secure and manage printer performance at scale, in addition to PCs. New capabilities in AIpowered fleet management and employee sentiment analysis will help reduce IT support tickets and employee downtime through proactive anomaly detection and smart recommendations. Employee experience was front of mind at HP Imagine where HP’s Workforce Solutions division (HPWS) announced a series of solutions designed to help companies deliver more personalised, fulfilling experiences. Dave Shull, President of HP Workforce Solutions, said: “We are at the intersection of two major trends – AI and Flexible Work – and both are having a profound impact on our lives. At the same time, employees want greater fulfilment and companies want improved productivity. Our Future-Ready portfolio of software and solutions helps guide companies through this shift.” Highlights include: HP Workforce Experience Platform – giving IT managers enhanced tools and insights via a single dashboard to ensure employees stay connected and productive; HP Managed Services – advanced remote remediation technology to help HP monitor and manage customers’ HP and non-HP devices, with proactive remediation of faults before staff are impacted; Out-of-band Diagnostics and Remediation – an industryfirst solution that securely connects to remote PCs, using an encrypted cloud connection, enabling PC issues to be fixed remotely even if the PC won’t boot; Enhancements to HP’s workforce solutions hold the promise of greater productivity and reduced friction Imagining the future of work
01732 759725 magazine 15 WORKPLACE otherwise dispose of them, works with partners to erase existing data and refurbish the devices, and then coordinates with vetted nongovernmental organisations to deliver the devices to schools serving vulnerable and marginalised youth – all at no cost to the company or the receiving organisation. HOPE Recycling Futures already partners with companies in the EU, UK, Switzerland, India, Singapore, Brazil and now Mexico. To date, more than 16,000 children in 22 countries have benefited from the programme. http://www.hp.com HP has launched a new AI advisory service encompassing evaluations of a company’s current setup and readiness for AI, interactive workshops to help companies maximise the benefits of AI and assistance in planning the roll-out of new AI tools. HOPE Recycling Futures One of several HP remanufacturing initiatives, HOPE Recycling Futures combines the benefits of e-waste reduction with the supply of free computers to schools serving vulnerable and marginalised youth. It receives devices from organisations who would Managed CollaborationServices HP is helping more customers design, install, equip and maintain their conference rooms with expanded, global availability of HP Managed Collaboration Services. These all-inclusive managed room solutions ensure every space is video-enabled with Poly and HP equipment, backed up by 24/7 support, next business day parts replacement, remote monitoring and management, and reporting – for one predictable, monthly cost. AI Advisory Services To help customers exploit the full potential of Microsoft 365 Copilot, Imagine more intelligent printing One of the highlights of HP Imagine, for printer users, was the unveiling of HP Print AI, billed as the industry’s first intelligent print experience for home, office and large format printing. Tuan Tran, HP President of Imaging, Printing and Solutions, said: “We are transforming the printing experience with HP Print AI, making it easier and more intuitive. Introducing AI solutions across our portfolio will simplify printing, ignite creativity and accelerate collaboration – all while ensuring customer data is protected and kept private. This is our first step in setting a new standard for printing.” The first HP Print AI feature to be launched, initially available as an exclusive beta for select print customers, is Perfect Output. This ensures perfect prints by bridging the gap between what people see on their screens and what they intend to print, automatically reformatting and reorganising content to fit perfectly on the page. When printing web pages, which according to HP account for more than half of all print jobs, Perfect Output detects white space, ads, web text and other unwanted content and prints only desired text and images, saving time, paper and ink (see photo). Spreadsheets are another common print job made easier by Perfect Output, which proactively creates a printable spreadsheet without splitting tables and charts across pages. Next year, HP intends to launch additional HP Print AI capabilities: a) to improve support, including the use of natural language and contextual awareness (remembering users’ preferences and past questions) to provide immediate and personalised support whenever a customer needs it; and b) to facilitate creativity and productivity, for example through the use of simple, conversational prompts to instruct HP Print AI to integrate unique layouts, custom styles and fonts to personalise output such as greeting cards. Two other significant announcements at HP Imagine, for commercial customers and consumers respectively, were greater availability of HP Scan AI Enhanced and an upgrade to HP’s Envy portfolio, with the unveiling of the HP Envy 6100/6500 Series all-in-one multifunction printer. • HP Scan AI Enhanced is a cloudbased, AI-driven solution that automatically recognises the type of document being scanned and extracts key information based on the customer’s specific business needs. By reducing manual steps and data entry, this solution saves time and money for SMB and enterprise customers. HP cites the example of one major retail group with 300 locations in Italy that achieved an 80% reduction in labour costs after implementing HP Scan AI Enhanced in its delivery and inventory workflow. • The HP Envy 6100/6500 Series all-in-one device is designed to meet families’ printing needs in their entirety, from remote office work to schoolwork. Key features include professional quality, ‘true-to-screen’, borderless, automatic two-sided photo printing, with a wide colour range; a 2.4in colour touchscreen for easy navigation; the HP Smart app for printing from a phone or laptop; and a sleek, sustainable design. As well as being made with 60% recycled plastic, the Envy 6100/6500 series uses HP EvoMore ink, which has half the carbon footprint and twice the capacity of a standard cartridge. Messy web browser print layout before using HP Print AI Clean, reformatted print options after using HP Print AI
businessinfomag.uk 16 MEETINGS magazine who may not be familiar with a site but also visitors who can interact with the map in numerous ways, from zooming in and out and exploring the layouts of different floors to using the search function to locate a specific desk, room, colleague or point of interest. Like Auto Book and Auto Release, Logitech View is compatible with other platforms. Enhanced analytics In addition to their room booking capabilities, these new tools provide IT teams with valuable insight into employees’ meeting habits that Prakash Arunkundrum, Chief Operating Officer and GM of Logitech for Business, says can help organisations optimise their investment in meeting room technology. He said: “Underutilised and over utilised rooms are bad news for the bottom line. Logitech Sync Insights gives you data analytics on space usage, occupancy and the use of video conferencing equipment during meetings so you can make smarter decisions about tech investments and space planning.” The Auto Book function is very useful in this regard, as it allows an organisation to capture all those unplanned, ad hoc meetings that would have been missed before and so gain a truer, more accurate record of meeting room usage. Logitech View, Auto Book and Auto Release are available with a Logitech Essential or Select service plan, priced at £154 and £307 per room, per year. www.logitech.com/business from green (free) to red (occupied); and Auto Release, which frees up rooms automatically when participants don’t show up or a meeting is cancelled. If this happens repeatedly, future meetings that might have been booked every week for years into the future can automatically be deleted from the calendar and on Tap Scheduler. Auto Release also registers when a meeting has finished early, allowing that room to be booked by someone else. With Auto Book and Auto Release, managers can specify the amount of time between sensing presence/ absence and making changes by amending settings in the Logitech Sync management portal. Logitech View These two features are complemented by a third new tool, Logitech View, which allows a colour-coded digital map of the office, showing real-time availability of meeting rooms, along with workstations, amenities and exits, to be displayed on large monitors or TV screens connected to a Logitech RoomMate appliance. Extending map display options to large touchscreen displays and kiosks in lobbies, cafeterias and hallways, as well as on Tap Scheduler panels and the Logitech Tune smartphone app, gives users the ability to book rooms directly on the map and use the wayfinding capability to find meeting rooms and colleagues more easily. This is not only useful for hybrid workers As more and more businesses mandate a return to the office, Logitech is enhancing the Logitech Room Booking solution announced in May with smart office tools designed to slash the amount of time office workers spend searching for meeting spaces – up to 30 minutes per day for 40% of employees, according to a Steelcase Workplace Survey*. Logitech Room Booking allows users to book a meeting room through their work calendar or directly on a Tap Scheduler touchscreen panel outside a meeting room. New capabilities announced this month exclusively for meeting rooms equipped with Logitech Rally Bar or Rally Bar Mini all‑in‑one video collaboration devices make room booking even more seamless by minimising the impact of bad habits such as occupying meeting rooms without booking them first, remaining in rooms beyond the time reserved or booking a room and failing to show up (aka ghosting). Book and release Leveraging the AI sensor in cameras within Rally Bars, which can detect when a room is occupied (without identifying people or storing any facial images), has enabled Logitech to introduce two new tools designed to streamline the process of reserving and freeing up meeting spaces – not just for Logitech Room Meeting but for all booking platforms, including Appspace, Envoy, Microsoft Teams, RICOH Spaces, Robin, Zoom and others. These are: Auto Book, which allows employees to book a free room simply by occupying it, whereupon Auto Book will automatically amend the calendar and turn the light on the room’s Tap Scheduler Logitech is bringing new levels of automation to room booking for a more streamlined user experience and enhanced analytics Book and release *The New Era of Hybrid Work: It’s Time to Give People What They Want, Steelcase Global Research Study, 2022
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