3 www.managedITmag.co.uk Read Managed.IT online... www.managedITmag.co.uk ISSN 2055-3099 (Print) ISSN 2055-3102 (Online) 04 What’s New A selection of the best new products and services 06 Bulletin Eco award for UK’s first carbon-free battery collection service 08 Cyber security Why the time is right for automated digital risk protection 10 Collaboration How to project a more professional image over Zoom and Teams 13 IT Why Experience Level Agreements are replacing SLAs in IT service management 18 Data Capture Ibml’s new three-in-one cloud native data capture solution 20 Opinion Ashley Keil explains how AI is transforming document processing 22 Sustainability Why it pays to choose inkjet printers 24 Asset Management Sherry Irwin outlines the role of IT Asset Management in post- COVID recovery 25 HR Three Apogee leaders describe their experiences as women in tech 26 Managed Services How MSPs can help SMBs face the future with confidence 28 IT sourcing How IT sourcing specialists can tip the balance in your favour when negotiating with vendors 30 I couldn’t do my job without... Caroline Gleeson, CEO of recruitment software company Occupop, lists her five favourite work tools ISSUE 60 www.managedITmag.co.uk Editor: James Goulding 07803 087228 •
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[email protected] DATA, PRINT, DOCUMENT, NETWORKING, IP & CLOUD TECH FOR MLEs & PUBLIC SECTOR USERS Comment With the end of lockdown and the return of workers to the office imminent, businesses of all sizes will be taking stock of the last 12 months and assessing their needs for the future. Untangling the emergency purchases and compromises of the last year and creating a more professional and secure footing for the years ahead will be challenging, not least because many organisations will want to cut costs at the same time. Whether economies come from efficiency/productivity gains, real estate savings through hybrid working or the adoption of new technologies, IT procurement (or sourcing) will have a big role to play in the negotiation of new contracts and the re-negotiation of existing ones that may have years to run but no longer meet a business’s requirements post-pandemic. In our interview on pages 28 and 29, sourcing specialist David Brook explains why businesses should not be shy about taking this step – or about seeking expert help to get the best deal and then hold vendors to account or, as he puts it, ‘hold their feet to the flames’. The notion of a re-set is a theme that runs throughout this issue, from the use of IT asset management to regain visibility of the IT estate (page 24); to the employment of managed service providers to manage more complex IT infrastructures built around cloud platforms, automation, AI and robotics (page 26); to the adoption of more sustainable business products advocated by Richard Wells, Head of Business Sales at Epson UK (pages 22 and 23). One piece of advice that resonates with me is Poly’s call for business people to sharpen up their presentation skills, pointing out that after 12 months of fuzzy video, poor lighting and unreliable audio, good enough is no longer acceptable. On pages 10 and 11, we explain how Poly’s new range of conferencing products enables hybrid and home workers to project a more professional image. James Goulding , Editor
[email protected] Richard Wells