01732 759725 44 VOX POP …continued Tatsuo Murakami, Managing Director, RISO UK: The next year demands that channel businesses be flexible, strategic and innovative. Success will depend on helping customers navigate the convergence of digital and physical worlds, using the latest technology to transform operations while keeping the entire infrastructure secure and sustainable. Integration and specialisation will increasingly differentiate leading players. At the same time within print, sustainable printing practices and technologies are becoming a baseline expectation rather than a differentiator. Driven by both consumer demand and regulations, printers are increasingly investing in energy-efficient, eco-friendly equipment and also implementing waste reduction strategies; demand for both is therefore rising. Channel partners that provide fully certified, circular print solutions and help customers track environmental impact will gain a competitive edge. Print continues to evolve, with growth driven by shorter, customised runs that align with efficiency and personalisation trends. Beyond traditional sheet printing, the packaging and labels segment is poised for further expansion, not only because of its essential role in the continued rise of online shopping, but also due to its value as a digital marketing channel. These areas will provide high margin opportunities for resellers who can combine technical expertise with strategic insights. The world is shifting toward more intelligent and connected ecosystems powered by technological integration, and print is no different. The industry is embracing digital transformation to improve efficiency and customer engagement. Smarter workflows reduce downtime, cut costs, free staff from repetitive tasks and help boost work-life productivity. Ultimately, channel businesses that embrace sustainability, specialise in integration, and position print as a strategic bridge between physical and digital operations will thrive. By combining innovative technologies, environmentally responsible practices, and intelligent workflow management, these partners can unlock growth, improve customer value and remain indispensable in the modern print industry. www.riso.co.uk Marius Engelbrecht, CEO, CO3 Technologies: When I try to make a prediction like this, I always try to see the forces or pressures that will drive behaviour. People are smart, so we will always adapt, innovate and overcome. The print industry is navigating a complex landscape of converging pressures. From a sustainability standpoint and rising costs, to the disruptive force of AI. There’s also hybrid working models and the ever‑evolving threat landscape, spanning IT, data and physical infrastructure security to name a few. I prefer to define this industry not merely by the product that it supplies (predominantly print equipment and consumables), but rather by the role that the industry players perform in the wider marketplace. In my opinion, the question is therefore: what is the role of our type of business in the industry? When this industry started, print was seen as the latest technology, creating efficiencies and helping businesses present a professional image. So, if we reframe that question for today, we ask the following: What technology or solution can we supply to our customers, which will create efficiencies and help our customers look better than the rest? Several people I have met have recognised this change because their customers are starting to ask for something different and as a result have started positioning themselves to supply newer technologies. I don’t think its doom and gloom for players in this industry at all though. The print industry has invented some of the most creative finance and pay-per-use mechanisms for the purchase of business and office equipment. Furthermore, many dealers have excellent relationships with their customers. These two attributes that have been developed within this industry over years, will be leveraged to get newer technologies into our customer base. www.co3technologies.com/uk Tatsuo Murakami Marius Engelbrecht
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