Print.IT Reseller - issue 74

01732 759725 VOX POP 46 ...continued... For those home users that do not have a printer, we offer hybrid mail as an efficient way to print and post a document without the sender having to do anything other than securely upload their content online much more accessible. “This is where cloud-based services come into their own. You can start controlling print without any installation of any servers at all, which is perfectly matched to both those remote working, and also those who are still office-based. By using a cloud solution, it does not matter where you are. You can choose where the print job should go and have it reported within the main database. A good example of this approach in action is with home-based workers producing invoices which need to be printed and posted. It is a simple process to delegate a print queue to somebody in the office, who can go to the machine, authenticate and release the print jobs. A print job can even be released without physical contact, meaning the only touchpoint is with the final output.” Clive Hamilton: “By ensuring that we continue to offer an award-winning portfolio of products and solutions which are innovative and scalable and are designed to allow businesses to remain connected and secure, irrelevant of whether they are in a home or office environment. We do have great partners in Xerox and Process Fusion that offer this kind of support, through us, for our customers.” Simon Warnes: “There are a number of ways that Sharp is supporting office based and print-at-home workers. We offer small and mid-range devices that are suitable for the changing office environment and also offer desktop managed devices, including home visit repairs to cater for a growing home- based workforce. “For those home users that do not have a printer, we offer hybrid mail as an efficient way to print and post a document without the sender having to do anything other than securely upload their content online. Once the file is uploaded, the document is sent to one of three UK-based Sharp print hubs to be printed, enclosed and posted. Users are also able to use hybrid mail to create mailing lists too, allowing them to send out documents to more than one individual. Crucially, hybrid mail removes the need for the sender to handle anything directly or have a printer at home – along with the added benefit of potential postage savings of up to 40 per cent versus traditional franking. “We are also finding that our cloud-based software solutions, such as follow-me print, are proving invaluable to support our customers’ health and safety during these unprecedented times. Follow-me solutions prevents the need for queuing, by allowing users to upload their print jobs to a server in the cloud (or on-prem) and then collect on demand from any connected printer in the building – when they are safe to do so. Home workers can also use these serverless solutions to print at home and collect in the office, when they are next at work.” James Pittick: “To meet customers’ needs in the new working environment, you need to really understand the end- user. This means asking ‘what do they want to accomplish?’ and ‘how can we support that goal?’ At Canon, we’re providing partners with training and support to understand the new hybrid office, helping us to collaborate so we can provide end-users with solutions that are safe and accessible. As a print vendor, we feel that it is important that our partners are supported in supplying the full breadth of our device portfolio. Being agile and adaptable is growing in importance and partners can explore devices that they might not have considered before to survive and thrive. Most businesses will not have had plans in place for mass remote working, so there are several solutions they may not have previously considered that can help them operate in the new normal. “A key example for diversification is a desktop scanner as this can help with a user’s workflow in a home office environment. Selecting products that support remote working will continue as restrictions are kept in place and businesses embrace the benefits of flexible working. Using scanners or printers that are located in the home office but are part of the office network will improve security as critical documents are kept within a secure perimeter.” Andy Johnson: “We saw a spike in printer sales when lockdown hit as workers rushed to kit out home offices with new devices. But this has led to longer-term concerns from business’ IT leads about their ability to monitor, manage and maintain their workers’ devices remotely. “This has increased the demand for cloud-connected managed print services – solutions that don’t rely on office- based servers to help workers continue to operate efficiently. Cloud-connected services that can be installed in peoples’ homes are piquing the interest of large firms, particularly in finance and law where paper processes are still an essential part of everyday operations. By ensuring all printers can be integrated into an office network, they’re enabling IT managers to manage print estates with devices in multiple locations, while helping end-users enjoy less downtime with supplies replenishment, monitoring and remote set-up.” www.toshibatec.co.uk www.officefox.co.uk www.workflo-solutions.co.uk kyoceradocumentsolutions.co.uk www.aurafutures.com www.konicaminolta.co.uk www.pinnaclegroup.co.uk www.sharp.co.uk www.canon.co.uk www.brother.co.uk Simon Warnes Andy Johnson