Print.IT Reseller - issue 74

VOX POP PRINTITRESELLER.UK 45 view, is a must to regain revenue lost, as businesses utilise digital technology over print. “Innovations such as Konica Minolta’s Workplace Hub, with its embedded Edge server and necessary operating systems, allow print management software, cloud connectivity and print, security and back- up to be hosted and managed by a single managed service provider, subject to it having the infrastructure and resource to holistically manage clients’ needs. Not only will such a provider generate the well-established print click, it will now benefit from the wider support revenue. Those who are successful in achieving this will flourish and be the success stories of the future.” Joe Doyle: “Kyocera offers a comprehensive range of printers and MFPs, ranging from large A3 departmental copiers to A4 desktop devices, ideal for the small and home office. We have both networkable and wireless devices available, with the latter proving a preferred choice for home users. Our competitive running costs and long-life consumable technology on our A4 range are proving key differentiators when choosing a new printer or MFP for the long-term, as they combine low running costs with great sustainability credentials. Kyocera designs and builds security and reliability into all our products; this is proven by the numerous industry awards and recognitions Kyocera has received by the global leading testing and research bodies for the print industry.” Alpesh Unalkat: “Vendors such as Aura are accustomed to supporting large multi-site, multi-machine clients, including already providing hybrid print services that support home and office- based workers in addition to providing alternative print production services that enable users to generate print jobs from home and have them printed/finished via Aura offsite hubs. “This does involve having an infrastructure that is capable and being able to support the ‘feeding/watering’ of a distributed solution rather than servicing an office. Furthermore, our own business supports a ‘print less, do more’ approach and we believe vendors should be able to support clients looking for digital alternatives to print as part of their workflow in the new hybrid working environment.” Phillip John: “Before the pandemic happened, we had already seen a shift to providing print management solutions in the cloud. We provide all the support services – including the professional installation services, the solution itself and all the licensing. This involves taking a normal licence-based solution and moving it into the cloud, ensuring the customer does not have the headache of having to manage their own servers etc. “There has been a noticeable move towards creating a central cloud print management solution and then enabling authorised people to tenant within that. Interestingly, we are finding that most of our print management vendors are escalating their plans and developing solutions along those lines. This should open up the market for SMB level customers, who may typically buy five to ten MFPs but do not want to invest in a print management solution (seeing it as too costly), and find a SaaS offering Ben Gaston: “They need a clear strategy to service all environments – whether through technology options available, leveraging or combining multiple technologies to create more bespoke or appropriate services and they must ensure that their support is as non- intrusive or automated as possible – removing the dependency for physical site visits, especially in people’s homes. “It isn’t feasible any more that all users need to print, the consideration is – when print is critical how can a frictionless service be provided irrespective of where that user is located and the purpose of the printing? Our customer facing business analysts have risen to this challenge well and we are busy advising many customers, helping them form IT and print policy within their return to work strategies.” David Warrington: “Security will be key to this change, particularly in relation to GDPR. More organisations will be hosting data and information on cloud- based servers for access and I believe there will be a greater investment in telephony services/network infrastructure as a result of this. I think with home- based print, the technology is there but organisations need to think hard about the cost implications of rolling out ‘home use’ printers and technology for what will become a more office output environment. Print vendors will need to find the right marriage of technology and flexible service to accommodate this new emerging need.” Michael Field: “I have been very vocal recently on the importance of managed print providers innovating and adopting technology as it evolves at lightning speed. “IT Services are fundamental to MPS providers who wish to trade over the longer term. The ability to model a SaaS and HaaS platform for cloud, security and hardware requirements, certainly in my PrintIT Reseller: It’s highly likely that a new hybrid working environment will emerge – how can print vendors meet the needs of both home and office- based workers, and ensure that print is readily and securely accessible to all? continued... Joe Doyle Clive Hamilton