01732 759725 46 equipment suppliers. The ability to help customers simplify, secure and futureproof their IT and print environments is where real, lasting value will be created. Q: What advice would you give a young person starting a career in the industry? A: Focus on skills, not just products. The print and IT industry is no longer about boxes and devices. The real opportunity lies in solving meaningful business problems through technology, both today and in the future. Building a strong foundation in areas such as IT fundamentals, networking, cloud services, security and customer service is essential, as these skills will remain relevant as the industry continues to evolve. Technology moves quickly, so those who succeed are the ones who keep asking questions, learning from others and adapting. Get hands-on experience wherever possible, take time to understand how businesses actually use technology day to day, and do not be afraid to start in a support or technical role. It is one of the best ways to understand the industry from the ground up. Q: What excites you most about the future? A: The biggest opportunity for us is the ability to add even more value to our customers’ businesses, not just through technology itself, but through how that technology is used to fuel growth. The shift towards hybrid working, automation and managed services mean we can play a much bigger role in helping organisations work smarter, more securely and more efficiently. I’m also personally excited by the pace of innovation, particularly around cloud services, security and smarter workflows. innovate more effectively, and deliver solutions that go well beyond hardware. Ultimately, partnerships allow us to scale, add greater depth to our offering and ensure customers benefit from the best technology and expertise available, without adding complexity to their dayto-day operations. 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 and customers address these? A: Hybrid working has fundamentally changed how organisations operate, but many of the underlying systems have not evolved at the same pace. The result is an imbalance between what the business wants to achieve and what its technology is actually capable of supporting. Cost control is another common pressure point. Print and document processes often sit in the background, unmanaged and poorly measured, making it difficult for leadership teams to understand true usage, eliminate waste or plan effectively. At the same time, security and compliance risks increase when sensitive information is accessed and handled across multiple locations without the right controls in place. We help organisations regain control in this environment. By combining managed print, intelligent document workflows and integrated IT support, businesses can move from reactive problem solving to a more joined-up and resilient approach to hybrid working. The outcome is less complexity, lower risk and an environment that supports productivity rather than holding it back. Q: How do you see the print and IT reseller sector evolving over the next five years - any disruptors or opportunities on your radar? A: Over the next five years, the print and IT sector will continue to move away from hardware- led sales and towards managed, service-driven solutions. The biggest opportunities will sit around security, automation and sustainability. Those who succeed will be providers that position themselves as long-term technology partners, rather than simply Q: What’s currently having the greatest impact on your business? A: The continued shift towards hybrid working and managed services. Customers are rethinking how they use offices, technology and print, and they’re looking for partners who can help them simplify operations, improve security, add measurable value and support long-term change, rather than simply supply hardware. At the same time, security, cost control and sustainability are driving deeper conversations with decision-makers as they shape the most effective operating infrastructure for their organisation. Businesses are looking for greater visibility, more predictable spend and reassurance that their data remains protected wherever people are working. Q: What’s one strategic decision your business made recently that you believe will pay off long-term? A: We are doubling down on being a managed services and solutions-led business, rather than a traditional hardware-led reseller. This means investing more in our people, processes and technology to support a broad and evolving range of managed IT services. Over the long-term, this brings us much closer to our customers’ day-today operations. While the shift will take time, we’re confident it will deliver far more sustainable growth for FUTERA and its customers. Q: What role do partnerships and collaboration play in driving innovation and growth in your sector? A: Partnerships and collaboration play a huge role in driving innovation and growth across the print and IT sector. No single provider can be best-in-class at everything, so real value comes from working closely with technology vendors, software providers and specialist partners to deliver complete, joined-up solutions to customers. It’s these strong partnerships that help us stay ahead, from emerging security threats to cloud technologies, automation tools and evolving sustainability requirements. By collaborating with the right partners, we can move faster, Russell Cole, COO, FUTERA Industry insight ONE-TO-ONE Russell Cole
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