Print.IT Reseller - issue 75

01732 759725 BULLETIN ITECH partners with Konica Minolta Manchester-based specialist managed print and IT services provider ITECH Managed Services has signed up as a Konica Minolta channel partner. The partnership is a key part of Konica Minolta’s continued expansion of the channel to offer additional expert support to its customers across all parts of the UK. Neil Hamilton, UK Channel Development Manager, Konica Minolta said: “ITECH Managed Services is a perfect fit for our channel growth strategy. Managing Director Paul Hamilton and his team have a proven ability to build a successful business and are particularly well known and respected in the North West.” ITECH Managed Services is the re- branded name of ITEC Connect Northern Ltd having recently been bought outright by the management team from shareholder ITEC Connect Ltd (which itself was recently acquired). www.Itechms.co.uk 10 OKI Europe partners with German broadcaster OKI Europe in Germany has partnered with the German broadcaster WDR for a special project to provide free visual aids for children based on a popular cartoon series to help them follow social distancing measures effectively. Schools, day care centres, paediatric practices, zoos, amusement parks and toy shops in Germany can take advantage of the offer of floor stickers designed with the look and feel of the children’s cartoon series ‘Die Sendung mit der Maus1’ (The Show with the Mouse). The initiative is helping to support educational establishments as they reopen following the easing of measures put in place to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. The campaign is proving to be popular with educational establishments across Germany with 5,000 requests for the stickers received by OKI Europe Germany in just two days (maximum 20 stickers per order). This approach forms part of a wider social distancing campaign OKI Europe is running to assist organisations to reopen quickly and safely. “High impact visual communications are critical for encouraging social distancing. Even as the strict controls have been lifted, social distancing is likely to remain a requirement for some weeks, potentially months to come, so organisations need measures in place as a reminder to keep a safe distance,” said Javier Lopez, General Manager, Vertical Solutions, OKI Europe Ltd. “Providing free media will help minimise the time it takes to print and implement essential social distancing signage and support businesses and organisations, including educational establishments, to become operational again safely.” www.oki.com/eu IBC rebrands Intelligent Business Consulting Group has rebranded and launched a new website www. trustibc.com, a move designed to reaffirm its role as a trusted advisor to MPS providers. Managing Director Ian Birch said: “We recognise that the current climate may leave some organisations short of resources, as a trusted advisor we can provide a wide range of support services they can tap into on demand. We want to support the channel, help them accelerate their customers’ digital transformation and cloud adoption, and capture new opportunities outside of the core print sector.” The company provides a number of light-touch support services to the channel spanning data insight process automation and regulatory compliance. It has also announced the launch of a new DPO Subscription service, designed for companies who don’t want or need a full-time DPO, but would appreciate having someone to turn to with questions and be listed as the named DPO with the ICO. Birch continued: “Remaining compliant with regulations such as the GDPR is critical for organisations of all shapes and sizes. These data protection obligations can have a direct impact on your customers and also your brand if there is a data breach, as well as having a significant potential fine for a failure to comply.” www.trustibc.com Tangent Office reopens Orpington-based Tangent Office and Workwear has welcomed customers back instore as lockdown was eased across England. The team had been working hard in the months leading up to the store re- opening to ensure their customers’ welfare was the highest priority. The store, specialising in office supplies, computer consumables and workwear, threw open its doors to many of its loyal customer base but also attracted new visitors thanks to a high profile, local advertising campaign. Newly elected local MP for Orpington, Gareth Bacon, and managers from Orpington 1st BID, visited local stores and businesses on the day to lend their support. The MP thanked local businesses for their hard work in putting measures in place to ensure customers could shop safely and with confidence. Owner and local resident, Chandra Sharma is passionate about supporting local businesses and is a volunteer for the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), representing them to the London Borough of Bromley. When the pandemic struck, he, along with three colleagues, set up a group called ‘Business Continuity Support’ holding two meetings a week to help local businesses through the crisis. As well as lobbying the local council for a better deal for small businesses, he also holds two lunchtime networking events a month (currently via Zoom). www.tangentoffice.com Expansion for DataSolutions DataSolutions has announced a UK and Ireland distribution agreement with Login VSI, a move that supports the continued expansion of its UK operations and digital workspace portfolio. Login VSI provides comprehensive testing and validation of the entire technology stack, from the core to the endpoint, to ensure business continuity and safeguard application and virtual desktop performance for the best end-user experience. As such, it enhances DataSolutions’ growing digital workspace portfolio and has strong synergies with other vendors in its portfolio, including Citrix, IGEL and Lakeside. www.datasolutions.co.uk Shortlist online from 24 August 2020 11 February 2021 www.printitawards.co.uk