01732 759725 46 locations, how do you ensure everyone still has secure, consistent access to the tools they need, particularly when it comes to printing and scanning? Our Cloud Print and Scan solution was developed exactly for this reason. It’s browser-based, intuitive, and designed for small and mediumsized organisations who need to support remote and mobile workers. It allows teams to print and scan from anywhere, while meeting high security standards. It’s simple to use, but built to support complex, modern ways of working. Q: Looking towards the future, what do you envision as the next big breakthrough or game-changer in the industry, and how is your company preparing for it? A: We see automated document management, powered by AI, as a key breakthrough on the horizon. It won’t change the industry overnight, but over time it will significantly improve efficiency and security by automating tasks that are still very manual in many organisations. We’re preparing for that shift by doing what we always do: listening to our customers, understanding their evolving needs, and feeding that into our product roadmap. The companies that stay ahead will be those that are in tune with how people really work, and that’s where we’re focused. Q: What advice would you give a young person starting a career in the industry? A: Be ready for a fast-moving ride. Technology, and the workplace around it, is changing faster than ever. To succeed, you’ll need to keep learning and adapting. The skills that got you your first job won’t be enough to keep you at the top of your game a few years from now. That said, it’s a hugely rewarding industry. If you’re willing to innovate, stay curious, and invest in your own development, you’ll be in a great position to make an impact. come from listening to your customers, your partners, and your own team. Our approach is to make sure our staff and partners are not only well-trained but also empowered to raise ideas and share feedback from the field. We can then feed that back directly into our product development and strategic decisions. We’re a people business, and that’s not going to change. Our success comes from staying connected to those who use our technology and understanding the problems they face. That human connection is what helps us stay relevant and responsive in a changing industry. Q: With artificial intelligence fast becoming mainstream, how do you see this impacting your go-to-market strategy, product roadmap, and indeed the wider channel? A: AI will play a big part in helping us work smarter and more efficiently. Predictive maintenance is one area where we’re already seeing real value in being able to act before problems occur rather than being reactive. Document routing and automation is another: if a multifunctional printer can use AI to determine where a document needs to go, that can save a huge amount of time and reduce errors. Security is also a big driver. AI enables automation that removes some of the human error that causes vulnerabilities. Most importantly, AI frees people up to do what they do best: focus on customers, build relationships, and spend time on more valuable work. We don’t see it replacing people; we see it enhancing the way they work. Q: What do you see as the key challenges or pain points businesses are facing in today’s hybrid working model and how can you help your partners/customers to address these? A: The challenge is balancing collaboration with control. When your workforce is spread across multiple Q: What’s currently having the greatest impact on your business? A: Cybersecurity is a major focus right now, particularly as older print hardware becomes increasingly vulnerable to cyber-attacks. One of the biggest risks we’ve seen has come from the human side; things like default passwords still being used out of the box. That’s why the introduction of new legislation like PSTI (which enforces unique default admin passwords) has been so important. While these risks often affect our partners more directly than us, our role is to support them and help them mitigate risks. With more people working from home, there are new challenges around security and hardware usage, and it’s often those everyday behaviours that create vulnerabilities. We see it as our responsibility to guide our partners through these risks and help keep their customers protected. Q: How do you stay ahead of the curve and ensure that your company remains at the forefront of innovation? A: We believe staying ahead starts with people. The best innovations Q&A Shaun Wilkinson, Managing Director, UTAX (UK) Industry Insight Shaun Wilkinson
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