PRINT, MFP, SOFTWARE, SERVICES, DOCUMENT & CLOUD NEWS & INFORMATION FOR VARS, CONVERGED RESELLERS & MFP DEALERS www.printitreseller.uk ISSUE 140 · 2026 PRINT IT RESELLER MAGAZINE IN PRINT & ONLINE SINCE 2011 Entries open Tuesday May 5 See page 22
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Entries to the 2026 PrintIT Awards open on Tuesday May 5 and they will close promptly at 5pm on Friday July 17. Winning or even getting shortlisted for an award is one of the quickest ways to build credibility and boost your company’s profile. We know that there’s a lot of work involved in putting together a submission for an awards event – it can seem like a daunting task, but it’s well worth the effort – just ask any one of our previous winners! There can only be one winner in each category, so how can you ensure you are in with a good chance? We’ve put together some tips to help you craft a strong submission and improve your chances of success. Follow these tips and your submission will have a much better chance of making the shortlist and (hopefully) winning an award (page 22). Also in this issue, Glenn Kershaw, Marketing Manager at DSales, picks the work tools he uses every day and couldn’t do his job without (page 18). This month’s Q&A is with Charles Taylor, Director, Digitec, and PITR spent 60 seconds with James O’Connor, Co-Owner & Managing Director, WBM. If you’ve got any news about your business to share, would like to be included on our monthly VOX POP panel, have a compelling business success story or simply wish to comment on any industry issues, please get in touch with me at: [email protected] Michelle Ryder, Editor 04 Bulletin Where do you take yours? 06 Bulletin News from the channel 16 People A round-up of new hires 18 I couldn’t do my job without... Glenn Kershaw picks his favourite work tools 20 My life in print Liam Close shares details of his life in print 22 PrintIT Awards Top tips to write a winning entry 26 What’s new A round-up of recent product launches 29 Tech Trust Index Trust is becoming the channel’s most valuable asset 30 One-to-one Errol Basaran, Lead Solutions Consultant, Masiello Ltd 32 Cover Story The compact colour opportunity 34 Artificial intelligence AI becomes defining force in print and capture market 36 Solutions DSales drives partner success through DSolutions 39 VOX POP The sustainability challenge – part two 46 Industry insight Alan Medcalf, VP Sales EMEA, Tungsten Automation 48 View from the channel Charles Taylor, Director, Digitec 50 60 seconds with… James O’Connor, Co‑Owner & Managing Director, WBM COMMENT Editor’s Comment Register online To receive your regular FREE printed copy of PrintIT Reseller Magazine simply fill in our online registration form at www.printitreseller.uk/register Read PrintIT Reseller online at: www.printitreseller.uk Join us : Follow us @print-it-reseller-magazine PRINT IT RESELLER MAGAZINE IN PRINT & ONLINE SINCE 2011 PrintIT Reseller is published by Kingswood Media Ltd., 7 Amherst House, 22 London Road, Sevenoaks TN13 2BT • Tel: 01732 759725 Email: [email protected] www.printitreseller.uk No part of PrintIT Reseller can be reproduced without prior written permission of the publisher. ©2025 Kingswood Media Ltd. 2026 ISSUE 140 printitreseller.uk If you no longer wish to receive PrintIT Reseller magazine please email your details to [email protected] Group Editor: James Goulding 07803 087228 · [email protected] Editor: Michelle Ryder 01732 759725 · [email protected] Publishing Director, Social Media and Web Editor: Neil Trim 01732 759725 · [email protected] Advertising Director: Ethan White 01732 759725 · [email protected] Account Manager: Jeff Root 07976 950285 · [email protected] Designer: Brian Cloke 07484 288189 · [email protected] Issue 140 ISSN 2055-3110 (Print) ISSN 2055-3129 (Online) PRINTITRESELLER.UK 3
01732 759725 4 We’re all about championing print at PrintIT Reseller, so why not join in the ‘Where do you take yours’ challenge? Don’t forget to get your camera out and get a photo of yourself reading the latest issue in the most unexpected spot you can find – whether that’s atop a mountain trail, tucked into a hidden café corner, or even mid–air on your next flight. Here’s a selection of the shots we received this month. Where do you take yours? Alice McCall, Sales Specialist at Westcoast caught up with the latest news in print and printing during the PrintIT Reseller and Technology Reseller magazines third ski club network event which took place 2-5 March in the Italian ski resort of Sauze d’Oulx BULLETIN We want to see where you take your issue and where our magazine travels with YOU! Send me your pix for a chance to see your face (and your favourite pages) featured in our next issue. You can reach me at [email protected] Gerard Rudolph, Marketing Manager, CO3 Technologies pictured reading PrintIT Reseller at Umhlanga Pier and lighthouse in Durban, South Africa, just after taking a dip in the Indian Ocean to cool off from a hot and humid marathon he’d finished about an hour earlier. Stuart Ogden, Technical Business Manager, Data Direct was too busy reading PrintIT Reseller to notice the beautiful scenery 2600 metres up in Bansko, Bulgaria whilst snowboarding with his son!
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01732 759725 6 BULLETIN BULLETIN CBS acquires ASK Bradford-based Commerce Business Systems (CBS) has acquired ASK The Office Equipment Specialists, a long-established supplier of office interiors, business and facilities supplies, promotional merchandise, workwear, PPE, tools and equipment to customers across West Yorkshire. The acquisition is the self-funded asset purchase of ASK ‘s customer contracts, staff and vehicles. The two companies will operate from CBS’ Bradford Headquarters, under the CBS brand, ensuring continued business growth, ongoing team development and the strengthening of the local economy. The partnership enables CBS to expand its range of services, with ASK’s Managing Director, Greg Colehan, running the business equipment, office furniture and supplies operation. This will provide all CBS and ASK customers with an even wider choice of products and services, while receiving the same high standard of customer support that both businesses are renowned for. John Green, Managing Director of CBS said: “CBS and ASK are very similar. We are both Bradford based, service-led companies, with the same values. ASK stands for Advice, Service and Knowledge, which fits perfectly with our own approach to business. I have known Greg for years and am really looking forward to working with him. My team is already working closely with ASK’s team, to ensure a smooth transition to the CBS brand.” https://commercebusinesssystems.co.uk/ Saving technology waste from landfill Since the launch of Agilico Zero, the company’s circular technology programme, in April 2023, the UK firm has diverted more than two million kilograms of technology from landfill. The environmental benefits extend beyond waste reduction. Through remanufacturing, Agilico has also avoided 3,064,964 kg of CO₂e emissions which would otherwise have been generated through manufacturing new equipment. This carbon saving is equivalent to planting 153,248 trees, 123 journeys around the circumference of the Earth in a petrol car, or the weight of 242 Routemaster buses in equivalent CO₂. Since April 2023, 5,593 multifunction devices have been remanufactured through Agilico Zero. Across the same period, recycling activity has also played a major role in diverting technology from landfill. The firm has harvested more than 30,000 parts from used tech, of which 553,148 kg has been remanufactured and 1,508,142 kg that could not be reused has been recycled through specialist partners Warren Colby, Managing Director at Agilico Agile Print Division said: “By remanufacturing devices wherever possible and recycling responsibly when products reach the end of their life, we are helping organisations reduce waste, lower carbon emissions and extend the lifecycle of critical technology.” www.agilico.co.uk 23 Years and counting iNREACH Group has reaffirmed its long standing relationship with Canon after being re-awarded Gold Partner status for 2026. The recognition highlights more than two decades of partnership between the two organisations. Andrew Thomas of Canon formally handed over the 2026 Gold Partner certificate to Andrew Macintyre, Sales Director at iNREACH Group. The moment marks the company’s 23rd consecutive year as a Canon partner. In a statement the company said it is looking forward to many more years of working with Canon who provide it with market leading products and support. https://inreachgroup.co.uk Platinum for Carbon Group Carbon Group has announced the renewal of its Canon Platinum Accreditation, the highest partnership level awarded by Canon. The accreditation underscores the company’s continued growth and its strong position within the UK’s print and technology sector. The renewal further cements Carbon Group’s status as the fastest growing, independently owned Canon partner in the UK. https://carbon-group.co.uk Aurora invests in managed services business Aurora Managed Services has announced the acquisition of the Ethos MPS business assets, staff and contracted customer base. The acquisition of the MPS business operations by Aurora, agreed with the joint administrators, ensures the Ethos customer base will continue to benefit from the MPS services and support they are contracted to, which will now be provided by Aurora. Robin Stanton-Gleaves, Aurora Chairman said: “This is another significant acquisition by Aurora as we continue to invest and grow our managed services business. It is also a very important development for the many organisations who were contracted MPS customers of Ethos. They can now depend on the Aurora business to continue to deliver the managed services they need for their organisations, as well as benefitting from access to the full portfolio of managed services Aurora can provide. “In addition, I am pleased to confirm that MPS operational staff formerly employed by Ethos will transfer across and become employees of Aurora with continuous employment, so they will continue to provide support to these customers as part of the Aurora Managed Services team,” he added. www.aurora.co.uk
PRINTITRESELLER.UK 7 BULLETIN Emerge Digital achieves B Corp certification Gloucestershire-based technology and MSP Emerge Digital, has announced its B Corp Certification. B Corp Certification places Emerge Digital among a growing global movement of purpose-led organisations. The UK is home to more than 2,700 Certified B Corporations, making it the largest community of this type in the world, with 60 based in the county alone. The certification marks a period of strategic growth for the business following its recent expansion into South Wales and the appointment of Business Development Director, former professional rugby player Alex Cuthbert. The company now employs 24 team members, turnover has grown 15% year‑on-year and the number of supported users has increased by 30% over the last 12 months. CEO Nigel Church said: “We’ve always believed that how you do business matters just as much as what you deliver. B Corp Certification validates the culture we’ve built, one that puts people, community and integrity at the heart of what we do, and it reflects the way we approach AI too, using technology to support people, reduce pressure and create positive impact.” https://emerge.digital Flotek partners with Citation Cyber Flotek has partnered with Citation Cyber, giving partners direct access to industry-leading protection. With expertise spanning compliance, assurance, testing, threat detection and incident preparedness, Citation Cyber helps organisations strengthen resilience, meet evolving requirements and stay ahead of emerging threats. Combined with Flotek’s trusted IT, cyber security, and communications expertise, this partnership delivers seamless, outcome-driven cyber defence. Jay Ball, CEO, Flotek Group said: “We support our partners with cyber security day in, day out, and Cyber Essentials is a regular part of that work, not a one off. As demand grows, we needed the perfect partner who could move at our pace – fast, responsive and consistent, so certification stays straightforward and high quality. “But this is bigger than just Cyber Essentials. More businesses are asking for penetration testing to properly understand their exposure and fix weaknesses before they become incidents, and we wanted a partner who could scale with us there too. Citation gives us that depth, and they’ll also help us keep partners informed through events and updates around cyber security, as the landscape and requirements change.” www.flotek.io TD SYNNEX strengthens networking portfolio TD SYNNEX has announced an extended distribution agreement with Arista Networks, a provider of data-driven, client-to-cloud networking for large AI, datacentre, campus and routing environments. This agreement expands TD SYNNEX’s specialised networking portfolio, enabling partners and end customers across Europe to access a broader range of high performance, next-generation infrastructure solutions. Sam Paris, Vice President, Security, Networking & Communications, Europe, TD SYNNEX said: “Giving our partners access to Arista’s portfolio means they can deliver enterprise-grade networking, automation and security without complexity, backed by the innovation and reliability Arista is known for. This opens new revenue streams and strengthens our shared commitment to modern, cloud-driven solutions.” https://uk.tdsynnex.com Aidan McDonough wins industry achievement award BLOC Chairman, Aidan McDonough picked up the Industry Achievement award at the European Office Products Awards (EOPA). The award recognised a career defined by high-impact roles, consistent delivery and lasting influence. The judges panel highlighted his versatility and resilience in navigating complex challenges across multiple organisations, as well as the breadth of his contribution not only within the businesses he has served, but across the wider industry. McDonough said: “I’ve had the privilege of working with some of the most dedicated and passionate professionals in our sector over the last 32 years and this award is also for them – particularly those at Integra, BLOC, BOSS, BPGI and most recently EVO group.” https://bloc-group.co.uk Sam Paris An important milestone for razorblue Managed IT services provider razorblue has been named a supplier on Crown Commercial Service’s RM6190 Technology Services 4 framework, across three lots covering end-user support, device management and infrastructure management. The appointment enables razorblue to deliver a comprehensive range of end-user support, device management and infrastructure management services to UK public sector organisations through a fully compliant government procurement route. CEO Dan Kitchen said: “This achievement reflects the expertise and dedication of our team, as well as the high standards we consistently deliver for our customers. Being part of the new framework is an important milestone in our growth, and we remain fully committed to helping public sector organisations achieve their objectives through reliable, secure and innovative technology solutions.” www.razorblue.com
01732 759725 8 BULLETIN TD SYNNEX unveils cloud insights TD SYNNEX has launched Cloud Insights – a tool designed to help Microsoft CSP partners turn detailed data on customer licences and usage into strategic conversations, unlock greater value with additional services and solutions and drive profitable growth. Built for partners, Cloud Insights enables organisations to deliver greater financial control and accountability across the customer lifecycle through data-driven, executive-level insights. Designed to help CSP partners differentiate their value proposition, Cloud Insights provides comprehensive visibility across Microsoft 365 and Azure estates, supporting stronger renewals through informed forecasting, budget governance and spend predictability. The platform enhances security posture, governance and compliance, while enabling dataled adoption of security and Copilot workloads aligned to business value. This empowers partners to improve retention, support more disciplined cloud financial management, and deliver highervalue, outcome-led services. Darren Dixon, Business Unit Director – Business Applications, Advanced Solutions, UK and Ireland, TD SYNNEX said: “Managing Microsoft 365 and Azure spend with financial discipline is a growing challenge for many organisations. By enabling informed forecasting, budget control and investment prioritisation, Cloud Insights helps customers make confident, value-based funding decisions. In many cases, this allows spend to be rebalanced away from inefficiency and redirected towards strategic initiatives, including partner-led services and AI adoption. The pilot phase has delivered highly positive outcomes, and we’re excited to extend Cloud Insights to Microsoft CSP partners across the UK.” https://uk.tdsynnex.com Bechtle enables customers to offset carbon emissions With its new offering, Bechtle CO₂- Conscious IT, Bechtle AG is further expanding its sustainable product portfolio. The service enables customers of the IT service provider to offset carbon emissions generated during the production and delivery of purchased IT hardware. Bechtle delivers its service in collaboration with Berlin-based carbon offsetting specialist goodcarbon, which meets recognised quality and verification standards. Even with optimised production and procurement processes, carbon emissions arising from the manufacture and delivery of IT hardware cannot be completely avoided. As these emissions occur in the upstream value chain, they are reported under Scope 3 of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG). Bechtle CO₂-Conscious IT enables organisations to account for these unavoidable emissions within their carbon footprint in line with GHG requirements. Jérôme Cochet, Co-Founder and CEO of goodcarbon said: “Each project undergoes a comprehensive assessment of its climate impact, biodiversity benefits and social co‑benefits. The projects selected for Bechtle CO₂-Conscious IT enable companies to credibly support their beyond value chain mitigation activities in line with the requirements of the Science Based Targets initiative.” Sophie Mándoki, Chief Sustainability Manager at Bechtle AG added: “With our new offsetting service, we help our customers achieve the objectives set out in their climate strategies in a credible and transparent way. Bechtle CO₂‑Conscious IT combines environmental responsibility with tangible added value for our customers.” www.bechtle.com Frontier distributor designation TD SYNNEX has achieved Microsoft’s newly established global Frontier Distributor designation, reaching this milestone early in the program’s rollout. The designation, part of Microsoft’s updated partner accreditation framework, recognises top-performing cloud solution provider (CSP) distributors that demonstrate excellence in support, security, channel enablement, platform innovation and technical delivery. The designation positions TD SYNNEX among the most advanced Microsoft distributors worldwide, reinforcing its role as a trusted ecosystem orchestrator and enabling customers to adopt solutions faster, monetise AI more effectively and deliver secure outcomes consistently across over 100 countries. Reza Honarmand, SVP, Global Hybrid Cloud and Transformation, at TD SYNNEX said: “Our value to the Microsoft ecosystem is rooted in helping remove friction across the customer lifecycle, accelerating solution adoption and enabling customers to monetise cloud, security and AI at scale. From advanced cloud commerce capabilities through StreamOne to 24/7 support, we’re focused on making it easier for customers to grow with Microsoft securely, and with the capabilities needed to translate innovation into customer outcomes.” https://uk.tdsynnex.com New distribution deal Boom Collaboration has struck a new supply deal with AV and workplace solutions distributor, Anders + Kern, to create a stronger foothold across the UK market. The new distribution deal is being hailed as a major catalyst for growth for both parties – providing Boom with new market opportunities and Anders + Kern with access to high quality, high value conferencing innovations, from plug-and-play devices to integrated full room systems. boom.co Darren Dixon Sophie Mándoki Infinigate UKI and OpenOrigins partner Infinigate has announced a new vendor partnership with OpenOrigins, a decentralised authentication platform designed to verify the authenticity of digital media and help organisations combat deepfakes and AI-generated content. The partnership will initially focus on UK & Ireland, enabling Infinigate’s channel community to address an urgent and fast-growing challenge around establishing trust in the images and videos used across their organisation. www.infinigate.com
01732 759725 10 Strengthening cyber resilience Assured Data Protection has introduced a new managed service developed in partnership with Backbox, a provider of network cyber resilience solutions. The new service – Assured Backup – provides automated backup, version control and rapid restoration of network and security device configurations. Assured Backup with Backbox addresses a long-standing blind spot in enterprise resilience strategies, the lack of operational rigor to safeguard configurations for firewalls, switches, routers and other critical network and security endpoints. With support for more than 5,000 device types, the BackBox-powered service secures configuration files, stores them in an encrypted off-site repository, and enables customers to quickly flash devices back to a known good state after cyber incidents, outages or hardware failures. Tony Giannini, Vice President, Global Innovation, Assured Data Protection said: “Customers rely on network-connected devices every second of every day, yet many have no proven plan to recover them. Replacing a switch, firewall, or router can take two to eight hours per device and even longer during a crisis. With this service, we can restore exact configurations almost instantly. For customers with dozens or hundreds of devices, the time and cost savings are enormous.” www.assured-dp.com Konica Minolta expands CEC Konica Minolta Business Solutions (UK) has expanded its Client Engagement Centre (CEC) to help customers explore the potential of digital workplace transformation in their organisation and across key sectors and departments. The enhanced facility in Houghton Regis near Luton now provides customers with a single, immersive environment to experience the complete breadth of Konica Minolta’s digital workplace, print and intelligent video solutions alongside its wider production print and industrial print solutions – all under one roof. The expansion marks the second phase of the CEC’s development and represents one of Konica Minolta’s most significant investments in the UK. The CEC serves as a central hub for customer engagement, enabling tailored discovery and innovation workshops, pre-sales conversations, partner forums and tailored demonstrations. With 75% of customer visits resulting in a sale, the CEC continues to prove the value of co-innovation and discovery through to live, real world demonstrations of customer value. www.konicaminolta.co.uk Tony Giannini BULLETIN Thought leadership partner Keypoint Intelligence will serve as the thought leadership partner at FESPA Global Print Expo 2026 which takes place May 19–22 at Fira Barcelona. Building on the collaboration launched in 2025, Keypoint Intelligence will continue contributing research and market insights to the event program, helping attendees better understand developments in wide-format, textile and production print. The Global Print Expo showcases innovations in digital printing, signage and graphics, apparel decoration, personalisation and production technologies. Through its continued partnership, Keypoint Intelligence will highlight major trends affecting the print industry, including artificial intelligence and automation, digital transformation, sustainability initiatives, workforce challenges, and advancements in production software and workflow optimisation. https://keypointintelligence.com Four-year partnership Canon is celebrating four years of partnership with the British Printing Industries Federation (BPIF), delivering high quality printed editions of its Printing Outlook report. By ensuring that each edition of Printing Outlook is delivered as a high quality, professionally produced printed report, Canon enables the federation to showcase its data, analysis and industry leadership in a format that members trust and value. The collaboration reaches a new chapter as the BPIF prepares to unveil a refreshed brand identity. BPIF’s new brand identity brings a modern, insight-driven aesthetic to the Printing Outlook report, featuring refreshed colour palettes, redeveloped graphs, clearer layouts and improved data navigation. The updated design aims to support better understanding of market trends while aligning visually with the federation’s forward-looking mission. Duncan Smith, Country Director, Production at Canon UK & Ireland, said: “Our partnership with the BPIF represents a shared commitment to elevating the value and visibility of print in the UK. For four years, the Printing Outlook report has been produced on Canon’s imagePRESS technology, ensuring exceptional quality, consistency and professionalism. The BPIF’s refreshed branding brings new energy to the publication, and we’re proud our technology is helping deliver this evolution.” In the last four years Canon has produced over 7,000 printed reports for the BPIF, approximately 65,000 SRA3 sheets, at its Customer Experience Centre in Birmingham using its imagePRESS technology and sustainable top colour zero media – engineered to reduce environmental impact. www.canon.co.uk
01732 759725 12 Canon named a leader Canon has been named a leader in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide High-Speed Inkjet 2025 Vendor Assessment. The IDC MarketScape evaluates vendors on their capabilities in inkjet, including innovation, product portfolios, service and support, customer experience, and long-term vision. The IDC MarketScape recognises Canon’s high-speed inkjet (HSIJ) portfolio, reporting that: “Since the last iteration of this study, in which Canon was already in the leaders’ category, Canon has made significant strides to bolster its position in the segment.” The report also noted: “Canon maintains a strong presence in the market, with continued growth in new installations and page volume. Canon is able to prove its value and success with many proven installations. Real-world production and utilisation data prove uptime claims.” Duncan Smith, Country Director, Production at Canon UK & Ireland said: “We believe the recognition of Canon within the IDC MarketScape report reflects both the depth of our heritage in high-speed inkjet, our longterm commitment to our customers and our relentless pursuit of setting new standards through continuous innovation. “We believe what differentiates us is not only the performance of our presses, but also the reliability and business development support we deliver as a trusted partner. And we’ve built that reputation on more than a decade of experience in sheet-fed inkjet, an investment of around 8% of our revenue in research and development, and a service organisation that consistently delivers the uptime and support our customers depend on.” www.canon.co.uk BULLETIN Security validation seal Konica Minolta bizhub i-Series firmware has earned the Keypoint Intelligence Security Validation Seal for Device Penetration. Testing was conducted by security specialists using a combination of automated vulnerability assessment, hands-on manual issue verification and exploitation attempts designed to identify weaknesses in device firmware, operating system components, web interfaces, ports, protocols, and related network-exposed services. The Device Penetration track of Keypoint Intelligence’s Security Validation Testing program evaluates whether network-connected printers and MFPs are appropriately protected against likely attack vectors. Results confirmed that Konica Minolta devices running bizhub i-Series firmware and configured with the recommended settings were well-protected against a wide range of anticipated threats. The Security Validation Device Penetration seal is earned when no vulnerabilities are deemed a high or critical risk on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) scale, with any medium-risk findings evaluated on a case-by-case basis. www.konicaminolta.co.uk Zyxel Group ranks top 1% Zyxel Group has been named in the S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook 2026, achieving a top 1% ranking in the communications equipment industry. This recognition underscores the company’s leadership in global ESG standards and its commitment to transparent, sustainable corporate governance. The S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook is a premier ESG reference produced using the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI). In 2025, more than 9,200 companies were evaluated, with 848 qualifying for inclusion in the 2026 Yearbook. Within the communications industry, just five companies were selected. Zyxel Group’s commitment to excellence is consistently reflected in its top-tier ratings from major global sustainability benchmarks. In 2025, the company earned the Platinum Medal from the EcoVadis Sustainability Rating and a resilient A rating from Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) ESG Research for two consecutive years. Furthermore, the company’s climate roadmap reached a significant milestone in 2025 as its carbon reduction targets were officially validated by the Science Based Targets initiative, aligning with the global mission to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. www.zyxel.com Great place to work ECI Software Solutions has been Certified as a 2026 Great Place to Work in eight countries. 82% of employee feedback described ECI as a Great Place to Work, a 7% increase from the previous year, and 25% higher than the average for US‑based companies. This marks the eighth consecutive year of ECI’s recognition in the US; the fifth straight year in Canada, the UK and Australia; the fourth straight year in the Netherlands; the second straight year in Portugal; and a first-time certification in Norway and India. www.ecisolutions.com Ricoh ups climate targets Ricoh has announced revision of its materialities and ESG targets based on the new ESG strategy under its new mid-term strategy launched in fiscal 2026. Ricoh Group raised its fiscal 2030 target for reducing Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions from 63% to 75%, compared with fiscal 2015 levels. The company has also strengthened its long-term target framework. Replacing its previous combined target of a 90% reduction across Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions by fiscal 2050, it has established separate targets of a 90% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by fiscal 2040 and a 90% reduction in Scope 3 emissions by fiscal 2050. These targets have been validated under the Science Based Targets initiative’s net zero standard, which aligns corporate emissions reduction targets with climate science. Ricoh also raised its fiscal 2030 renewable energy adoption target from 55% to 85%. In Japan, the company will promote responsible renewable energy procurement that does not cause environmental damage or apprehension in local communities, in line with domestic market conditions. In other news, Ricoh has been awarded the highest Platinum rating from EcoVadis, the world’s most trusted provider of business sustainability ratings. Placing Ricoh among the top 1% of companies assessed, this is Ricoh’s second consecutive Platinum rating. This year, Ricoh achieved an overall score of 86 out of 100, an increase of four points from last year, with particularly strong recognition in the environment category, along with notable improvements in the labour & human rights and sustainable procurement. www.ricoh.co.uk
PRINTITRESELLER.UK 13 BULLETIN Pathways to the print profession Konica Minolta Business Solutions (UK) hosted 30 pupils and their teachers during its latest Young People in Print event which took place on Tuesday April 14, at its recently expanded Client Engagement Centre (CEC) in Houghton Regis. The day aimed to showcase how a career in print provides a way to express creativity, use the latest technology, learn about the commercial world, and make a significant contribution to wider society, with a team of like‑minded people. Pupils got hands-on with Konica Minolta’s professional presses and discovered how the printed materials they see and use in the world around them are made. In addition, they designed a poster that captured their experience, which was professionally printed, ready for them to take back and share with their peers, extending the impact beyond the classroom. In addition to providing an insight into the world of professional print, the Konica Minolta team explained the pathways available, to help young people take their first step on the career ladder. These include the company’s successful apprenticeship programme, which is also open to school and college leavers. Throughout the day, pupils had an opportunity to listen and speak to members of the Konica Minolta team, who have progressed through these routes. www.konicaminolta.co.uk Strategic alliance ECI Software Solutions has announced a strategic alliance with software provider In Time Tec. This alliance will drive automation, quality and speed in MPS assessments and fleet design. In Time Tec brings a critical, userfriendly assessment and design platform to ECI’s integrated product ecosystem. Its Cartos Suite, a cloud-native MPS assessment tool set, leverages ECI’s Printanista remote device data collection to bridge business logic with real-time fleet intelligence. Working together, these products bring dealers greater sales proposal automation capabilities, allowing them to gain a competitive advantage by creating a faster, streamlined end-to-end assessment workflow with more data-driven insights. This integration highlights ECI’s continued investment in digital transformation of the managed print services industry, advancing toward a fully connected and automated dealership. Laryssa Alexander, Industry President, Field Service at ECI Software Solutions said: “In collaborating with In Time Tec, we are ensuring our customers can effectively and efficiently increase the number of devices they have under contract. We are providing the speed, accuracy, and scalability required for our Printanista users to capture more market share and drive long-term growth.” www.ecisolutions.com Katun and ELATEC collaboration Through a new global collaboration with ELATEC, Katun’s Arivia MFPs are now fully compatible with ELATEC’s TWN4 family of radio frequency identification (RFID) readers. This compatibility enables organisations to implement secure authentication workflows using ELATEC’s RFID technologies and services, helping protect sensitive documents, streamline access control, and support compliance requirements for enterprise environments. “By confirming compatibility with ELATEC’s RFID readers, we’re expanding the security and authentication capabilities of our Arivia MFP portfolio,” said Tony Ko, Vice President of Hardware & Business Solutions at Katun. “Arivia users can now benefit from ELATEC’s advanced RFID technologies that seamlessly integrate with their existing print environments while maintaining the performance and reliability they expect from Katun’s Arivia devices.” www.katun.com Keypoint Intelligence launches Keypoint Engage Keypoint Intelligence has announced the launch of Keypoint Engage, a new suite of AI-powered execution services designed to help organisations turn trusted industry operations intelligence into measurable business results across sales, marketing and customer service. Offered as a managed, outcome-focused service, Keypoint Engage fuses advanced automation with Keypoint’s deep understanding of what actually works in sales, marketing and service. Rather than expecting organisations to navigate complex technology, thought leadership or dynamic market personas on their own, Keypoint does the heavy lifting, delivering momentum, measurable impact, and real business growth. Randy Dazo, Chief Strategy and Product Officer at Keypoint Intelligence said: “Businesses want the benefits of AI, but most don’t have the time, resources, or expertise to implement it effectively. Keypoint Engage is about closing the gap between insight and execution. We’re not just providing technology, we’re delivering action and measurable results without forcing organisations to become AI, content or marketing experts.” https://keypointintelligence.com
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01732 759725 16 BULLETIN : PEOPLE New hire at Data Direct Data Direct has announced that Simon Oakerbee has joined the business, bringing with him decades of experience in the copier and managed print sector. Oakerbee has held a number of senior industry roles and has built a strong reputation across the market. Most recently, he served as Regional Director at Ricoh UK, where he developed extensive expertise in managed print services, account management and business development. Data Direct said it is committed to strengthening the team with the very best talent. Oakerbee’s deep market knowledge, long-standing relationships and understanding of customer needs make him an excellent addition to the team and his appointment will support the company’s continued growth and help enhance the value it delivers to customers. www.data-direct.co.uk Hitachi Solutions appoints new CEO Hitachi Solutions has appointed Roger Lvin as Chief Executive Officer and President. Lvin is a global transformation leader with more than 20 years’ experience scaling technology-led consulting businesses. He previously served as Founding CEO of Hitachi Digital Services, establishing it as a leader in digital transformation and IT–OT convergence. His background also includes senior roles at Cognizant, including leading its digital operations business. In his new role, Lvin will focus on continuing to build on the company’s exclusive global partnership with Microsoft and deepen collaboration across the Hitachi group as part of the True One Hitachi initiative. www.hitachi-solutions.co.uk Christophe Roy joins KPAX The GOA Group (Groupe Office Automation) has appointed Christophe Roy as Director of its subsidiary, KPAX. Roy’s career has seen him working closely with manufacturers and software developers in the print management sector, including Konica Minolta Business Solutions in France and Australia, PaperCut and Y Soft. He is experienced in scaling SaaS solutions internationally and developing and managing large-scale partner ecosystems. In his new position, Roy is tasked with positioning KPAX as a global leader in its market and a strategic channel partner capable of supporting office technology and IT providers in optimising their managed services operations. Sébastien Créno, Director of the Digital Division at GOA Group said: “Christophe has an intimate understanding of our industry’s challenges. His experience in managing large-scale partnerships will clearly be a major catalyst for our international expansion.” www.kpax-manage.com Christophe Roy Simon Oakerbee Roger Lvin Investing to accelerate partner growth TD SYNNEX Maverick is making further investments to support partner business development and growth in the fastgrowing areas of audiovisual, collaboration and digital signage. The business unit has recruited a trio of experienced heads to augment its existing skills and ensure it continues to meet the needs of its growing number of IT and audiovisual partners. Paul Bartrum has joined as Audiovisual Account Director, Peter Vernon now headsup Maverick’s UK&I projection business, and Jimmie Ireton has been appointed as Business Lead for digital signage. Mark Glasspool, Senior Director, UK&I, Maverick said: “We are investing to support our continued growth and to add further capabilities and depth to what is already a very knowledgeable and experienced team at TD SYNNEX Maverick. Our ever-growing partner base includes both audiovisual specialists and the growing number of IT partners that are now deploying AV products as integral elements of many solutions. This investment is a clear demonstration of our commitment to partners on AV, projection and signage sales.” uk.tdsynnex.com/portfolios/ maverick-av-solutions Mark Glasspool Brother UK strengthens leadership team Brother UK has appointed Julie Harrison as Chief Commercial Officer. She will sit on the leadership team alongside Phil Jones MBE (Managing Director), Louise Marshall (Director of ESG & OD), Stuart Maclean (Chief Financial Officer), Keith Howe (Director of Supply Chain & Service), Mike Anderson (Chief Marketing Officer) and Greig Millar (Chief Revenue Officer). Harrison previously served as Head of Commercial and Business Planning, a role she has held as part of a career spanning more than three decades with the business. She brings extensive experience across commercial operations, including promotions, rebates and bid management, as well as sales forecasting and budget planning. Her remit places her at the centre of how Brother UK delivers value to its partners – shaping pricing programmes that enable sustainable, mutually beneficial growth across the channel. Jones said: “Julie and I have worked together for over three decades and she is a great example of someone that has risen through the ranks of the company due to her rock-solid reliability, ability to handle complex problems and attention to detail. I am delighted she will join our senior leadership team as we continue to pursue growth and expand into new vertical markets.” www.brother.co.uk Julie Harrison
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01732 759725 18 colleagues who know the products inside out, and people who are happy to challenge and improve a concept before it gets released into the wild. It also helps to have a great boss – and in having Jonathan Whitworth, I consider myself very lucky – a leader, mentor and a fantastic and very generous friend. A sense of humour No matter how organised you try to be, there will always be moving deadlines, sudden requests and ideas that looked brilliant for about three seconds. The ability to laugh and adapt when needed is probably one of the most useful attributes you can have. Whether my jokes are funny or not is open to debate. 5 Test Match Special If it’s summer, there’s a fair chance Test Match Special is on in the background. It’s the perfect companion – thoughtful, slightly eccentric and occasionally chaotic, which probably mirrors my personality! Cricket generally keeps everything balanced for me; it’s my happy place! I’m heavily involved in coaching and organising at my club (Mytholmroyd) and it’s a great way to relax, reset the brain and remember that not everything needs to be quite so urgent. and every now and then it is called upon to help oil the wheels of creativity. Purely in the interests of productivity, obviously. Creative tools A big part of my job is turning ideas into something people can actually use. In our industry it’s not just about explaining what a product does, it is about communicating it clearly, making it relevant, and packaging it in an engaging way. I might be a bit old school but good creative tools like Illustrator and Photoshop still work well for me and I am increasingly making use of AI tools these days too. A supportive team and a great boss Marketing can’t happen without the wider team. A lot of what makes the job work is having knowledgeable people around you – sales teams who understand the market, technical In marketing, no two days are ever quite the same. It’s a role that combines creativity, organisation and a fair bit of improvisation, but there are a few things I rely on every day. Coffee and occasionally, Guinness The first thing I do in a morning is make a coffee (not a Guinness!) and then caffeine is normally involved for the rest of the day. Most things begin with a blank screen and a strong brew. That said, we do happen to have a draft Guinness pump in the office, Glenn Kershaw, Marketing Manager at Develop UK, picks the tools he uses every day and couldn’t do his job without I couldn’t do my job without… WORKPLACE Glenn Kershaw
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01732 759725 20 Liam Close, Area Account Manager, Kyocera Document Solutions UK, shares details of his life in print, what he’s learned, and the highs and the lows of our unique and challenging industry print industry – is the difficulty I often have getting a good mobile phone signal while I’m out and about in my role! I spend a lot of time taking calls on trains to and from London and other parts of the country and the call quality can be a bit of a lottery. It’s an issue that I’m sure everyone in field-based roles has to grapple with, so we make do as best we can. PITR: What (or who) do you think has had the greatest impact in the sector in recent years? LC: The change to a digital marketplace has without doubt had a massive impact. In my earlier days in the industry, the approach was quite an analogue one, where the emphasis was on selling physical units. Now, businesses can’t survive by solely focusing on hardware. Selling software is vital, and it’s an area where we’ve seen significant growth at Kyocera in the last few years. PITR: If you could speak directly to someone who inspired or challenged you most in your career, what would you want to say to them today? LC: An old colleague who hired me once told me you never get your time back, so enjoy it while you can. Which is a shame really, because I’d quite like to delete that particular moment: I turned up to my interview wearing a shiny suit which soon became talk of the office! in the print industry! Prior to working at Kyocera, I had spent six months living in the US doing sports coaching. When I returned to the UK, I was figuring out my next steps before coming across the role at Kyocera. Since then, I’ve never looked back! PITR: What excites you most about working in print today? LC: The people that we work with – both customers and channel partners – are what make the industry so exciting in my eyes. The products and services that we sell are obviously crucial, but the relationships you build with people along the way make everything so much more rewarding. PITR: And what are the biggest frustrations or challenges? LC: The move from office-based to hybrid working arrangements has without doubt been the biggest challenge of the last few years. Businesses have had to accelerate the development of new offerings, such as cloud-based products that can be accessed anywhere in the world and on any device, whether a computer, tablet or mobile phone. It’s something we’ve been very conscious of at Kyocera, as evidenced by the growth in our cloud and cyber service portfolios in recent years. Another frequent challenge of mine – although not directly related to the PrintIT Reseller (PITR): What was your first job in print? Liam Close (LC): I started my career in print at Kyocera in 2013 and have been at the company ever since. My first role at the company was as a business development executive, which provided a challenging start to life in the industry as I had to build relationships with customers and partners from scratch, often through cold outbound calls. This provided a great foundation for working in sales, and a learning curve that grounded me and set me up well for the future. After a couple of years in my first role, I progressed to the position of account executive where I was given new responsibilities in building and maintaining customer relationships. I then moved into an account manager position before becoming area account manager, which takes me around the country on my regular visits to customers and partners. PITR: What led you to enter the sector? Did you choose print by design, or accident? LC: Being completely honest, it was completely by chance that I ended up My life in print INTERVIEW Liam Close
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