Print.IT Reseller - issue 74

VOX POP 01732 759725 42 Over the past few months, working from home has become the norm for millions of British workers. As the UK slowly returns to a new normal, businesses nationwide are focused on making their workplaces COVID-secure. PrintIT Reseller invited a number of industry vendors to share their thoughts on the impact of the new normal on print How will COVID-19 shape the future office printing landscape? Ben Gaston, Sales Director, Toshiba Tec: “Our focus here is on end-user safety and leveraging our technological capabilities to ensure that MFPs can be accessed safely. In the coming weeks we are releasing information to our customers regarding ‘Zero Touch’ MFP experiences covering basic solutions like using a stylus, to more advanced options like providing near-field print release with mobile phones. We have also changed our preventative maintenance regimes to include deep cleaning of user access areas on our devices. The protection of print volumes is a lower priority given our focus on a wide range of revenue streams and desire to always provide help to our customers.” David Warrington, Client Services Director, Office Fox: “The print world has always been very cyclical in its centralisation and decentralisation of print. I think the ‘new’ world will become a hybrid. One of our stronger partners in this respect is Epson, who offer a new form of technology that makes A4 as, if not more affordable than A3. This means the old argument of removing A4 to push out to satellite A3 devices is no longer valid. “I recently helped design a return to work office that had self-contained pods – a desk with all the technology needed not to have to go to communal spaces for print/scan etc. There may also be a resurgence of mailrooms – where an individual or team do the enhanced finishing/mailing for the company as a whole, thereby reducing touch points.” Michael Field, Managing Director, Workflo Solutions: “I think it’s important that we recognise common sense plays a major part in the plethora of changes which companies and employees must make to beat COVID-19. “Whilst I think the touch panel is recognised as being the high touch hotspot on an MFP; there are also additional areas such as paper cassettes, toner cartridges, door latches, and of course the paper itself. ”The innovation of our vendor partners has helped greatly in our delivery of solutions to our customers. Konica Minolta’s bizhub remote, and Utax’s MyPanel allow users to replicate the MFD interface on their mobile device, subject to a WI-FI connection. This allows them to utilise all copy, print and embedded app functions from their own device with no MFD touch. “We continue to drive innovation internally and our bespoke client app is due for release later this month. It offers our clients one-touch consumable ordering, meter input and live chat, it’ll provide a one-point platform for all of our customers’ needs. “With the steadfast support of both Utax and Konica Minolta, we are expediting further development so that customers can use MyPanel, bizhub remote and the associated mobile printing tech as further one-touch options from the app. “The evolution of cloud printing solutions facilitate communication from those workers adopting flexible home working, and allow documents to be produced, sent securely, and collected at the MFP within a company’s print security model. “Each new installation undertaken by Workflo, will be done by technicians wearing face masks, hand coverings and aprons when appropriate. Spray surface sanitiser is being carried by all staff and training has ensured they know how and when to use this. We are also providing branded hand sanitiser to clients which can be used to protect them when it has been necessary to open paper cassettes, change consumables, or otherwise touch the hardware.” Joe Doyle, Marketing Director, Kyocera: “Kyocera is committed to ensuring the safety of our customers, employees and anyone who uses our products. PrintIT Reseller: One of the biggest challenges for organisations and print vendors is what to do with shared printers and MFPs when government guidelines recommend limiting or restricting use of high-touch items and equipment. What will you be doing to make print accessible and safe, and protect print volumes when work returns to the new normal? Ben Gaston