Print.IT Reseller - issue 68

01732 759725 IT 24 as Acronis, Sophos, service desk, etc. “Importantly the dealers can manage their own margin the way they want to, revenue and profitability doesn't come just from the platform, but also from applications and services that are sold on top,” he said. Leucat continued: “The aim is to lead partners through the different maturity stages with Workplace Hub. We have that experience, and we are geared up to deliver that support to our partners. The support processes have been designed to keep the strong relationship between the partner and the customer. The dealer conducts all onsite tasks and is the face of the relationship, handling MFP and application support when needed. After we have closed a couple of deals together, partners will be able to progress and achieve Workplace Hub dealer status, where Konica Minolta will act as the subcontractor.” Partner playbook Konica Minolta has created a partner playbook, which provides dealers with information on the platform, an overview of the partner programme, along with details of the pre-sales, ordering and billing processes, support workflow and pricing. AT ELC19 the company announced that the first 60 partners to sign up as agents will receive showroom material, including hardware and a preferential price on service. www.konicaminolta.co.uk multifunctional product. Both versions rely on best of breed technology providers, such as HP, Sophos, Acronis and Microsoft. “With Workplace Hub, dealers can offer their customers a one-stop solution that will simplify IT administration, increase productivity and optimise costs and because it’s scalable, it also provides room for growth,” Leucat explained. Konica Minolta’s approach has been to encourage partner adoption in stages. Leucat stressed the importance of training. “It’s a very different proposition than selling printers, when selling Workplace Hub, a partner is assuming responsibility for the customers’ IT infrastructure, it can’t fail and ensuring continuity of service is key. This requires sales, service and legal training and a commitment from partners to transform their sales and service function,” he said. To this end, initially partners will resell Workplace Hub as an agent or subcontractor. Konica Minolta will assume overall responsibility for the platform deployment, management and support while the partner will manage their customer and their customer’s applications. Leucat was quick to point out the customer/ partner relationship would be fully protected as an agent and that partners could earn a commission on both the hardware as well as monthly recurring revenue for services such The aim is to lead partners through the different maturity stages with Workplace Hub. We have that experience, and we are geared up to deliver that support to our partners ...continued Workplace Hub: In Brief Single centralised platform Workplace Hub is the first solution to unify the IT-related needs of small businesses into a single centralised platform by seamlessly integrating hardware, software and services into a one-stop solution. From an infrastructure perspective, it includes everything a small organisation or location needs – a multifunctional printer, powerful HPE Gen10 server for running applications or storing information, cloud space for applications or back-up services, Wi-Fi access and the latest next-generation security from Sophos. Powerful virtualisation capabilities enable users to host all key server applications on a single managed on- premise platform – from mail servers to file servers through to solutions to manage documents and information. The Workplace Hub is more than a physical device – it is an ecosystem. It includes all the necesssary managed IT services to lessen the load on in-house IT resources – from proactive management services such as patching; monitoring the total infrastructure; system security and data protection such as threat detection and anti-virus managment; as well as storage and back-up management services; onsite installation and associated professional services; all the way to an ITIL accredited helpdesk. Simple IT management Instead of disparate IT infrastructure elements that are managed separately, Konica Minolta has worked with technology leaders HP Enterprise, Sophos and Microsoft, to integrate various IT components into a unified IT ecosystem with a common user and management experience. The Admin Dashboard provides a complete overview of a company’s IT, including users, assets, applications, server, storage, Wi-Fi, and multifunctional printer. With Workplace Hub, it’s easy to conduct everyday tasks from reviewing resource usage, managing user rights or infrastructure status, changing site support or adding and removing applications. Workplace GO It also includes a new collaboration suite to empower individuals, teams and the business to work together Workplace GO – is a ready-made digital workplace that works on top of Microsoft Office 365 and brings together information such as emails, meetings and tasks, alongside team projects and company-wide projects and information. Best-in-class security With cyber security a top priority for small and medium-sized businesses, this all-in-one scalable system provides a level of IT security and sophistication traditionally associated with large enterprises. Leveraging Sophos, a world leading security provider, customers benefit from the latest software, ensuring systems are constantly monitored, protected and managed against malicious attacks and other security threats.