Print.IT Reseller - issue 77

01732 759725 44 VOX POP Frank Hulshoff Martin Randall COVID-19 has presented a number of unprecedented challenges to organisations in every sector, however it has also opened doors of opportunity for print and IT vendors to innovate. PrintIT Reseller invited a panel of industry leaders to share their thoughts on business post-pandemic Looking to the future: Part two Frank Hulshoff, Director Rent, Demo & Marketing, Flex IT Distribution: “Although some markets where Flex IT is active in have suffered, (such as the events industry) overall, we have been able to respond well to the market demands. We believe the economy itself will see a slow recovery. The main question for many markets will be how customer behaviour will be influenced in the long-term by this situation. As far as circular IT goes we feel very positive about the future even in an economic slowdown where people will be even more aware of the ROI benefits it brings.” Steve Holmes, EMEA Regional Director, PaperCut: “It will of course vary from country to country and sector to sector, with many variables playing a role in what recovery looks like for each one. “Caution will probably be the watch- word for many; caution in post recovery plans, caution in getting staff safely back into the workplace, and caution when making purchasing decisions. “Another factor is the state of the nation’s confidence. Once there are positive signs that processes are in place for bringing the virus under control – that track and trace is comprehensive and effective – we are hoping to see a resulting rise in business confidence. And with that, we then see the start of an economic recovery, albeit slowly. “Of course, almost all businesses will have to change and adapt, whether it’s their overall business strategy, or how and where their staff work. For many companies, the pandemic has accelerated their digital transformation plans. This is probably an unexpected benefit of the pandemic, as digital brings with it the sort of agility and insights that enables business to act and respond quickly to the sort of rapid market changes that extreme events like a pandemic can trigger. “It’s our belief that, once the business challenges presented by COVID-19 have been addressed, we can all start to embrace the possibilities presented by ‘Business-21’.” Martin Randall, Sales and Marketing Director, Vision: “We are fortunate to have a large number of clients in sectors, for instance healthcare, that remain fully functional and in general we remain optimistic about the recovery of our market. That said we recognise and accept that there will be long-term impacts on our industry as a result mainly of the shift to the working from home model. In the medium term we are anticipating 85 per cent of people will return to the office, and volumes to reduce in line with this by 10-15 per cent overall. Uncertainty over how long COVID will be amongst us makes it difficult to predict any timescales for this recovery to fully take effect, all we can do is remain positive, focused, and of course continue to adapt.” Phil Jones, Managing Director, Brother UK: “Even if we need to permanently re-think how the economy runs, how people work and where businesses are located, and while there’s no doubt that tough times are ahead, the Bank of England’s latest forecasts suggest things might not be as tough as we first thought, which is really welcome. “If lockdowns become a feature of our everyday lives, then the economy may be a series of stop/starts. Let’s not forget Brexit either, which will also contribute to the economic situation. It will keep the economists busy, that’s for sure.” PrintIT Reseller: What do you think business recovery will look like post-COVID-19? Steve Holmes Phil Jones It’s our belief that, once the business challenges presented by COVID-19 have been addressed, we can all start to embrace the possibilities presented by ‘Business-21’