PrintIT issue48

22 PRINT.IT 01732 759725 2017 REVIEW We have invested considerable time and focus in 2017 going through a transition and on-boarding with our new partners Print 2017/2018 Nick Parkes, regional sales manager, Y Soft Y Soft recently moved hardware manufacturing to a larger facility. Our YSoft SafeQ print management platform has optional hardware components, including ID card readers for verifying a user’s identity at the MFD and payment machines for schools and businesses who charge for print services. The larger facility allows us to produce these products in larger volumes. We also upgraded our manufacturing equipment, which allows us to produce even higher quality products. The ongoing and increasing success of YSoft SafeQ, particularly our most recent and well received version, YSoft SafeQ 6, means we have to ensure our hardware volumes can keep up. Chris Strammiello, director, worldwide marketing and global alliances, Nuance Document Imaging Division Nuance enjoyed several industry ‘highs’ in 2017. We announced worldwide strategic partnerships with Epson and Lexmark to distribute and resell our document imaging solutions. Ingram Micro Inc. named Nuance ‘Emerging Vendor of the Year’, celebrating the increasing demand and brand awareness within the IT channel for Nuance’s Imaging solutions. In the annual International Legal Technology Association (ILTA) technology survey, Nuance’s office productivity software for use in legal firms retained its leadership position in multiple categories. Finally, leading IT market research and advisory firm IDC named Nuance its 2016 market share leader among global device and print management vendors. Colin Griffin, managing director, Blackbox Solutions We have had a longstanding partnership with Samsung as a managed print services provider, and with the sale of Samsung's document solutions division to HP, finalised in early November, we have been busy establishing a relationship with our new contacts at HP. While we'll be sad to see the back of the fantastic and supportive team at Samsung, we're looking forward to working with HP and bringing its innovative devices and cutting-edge technology to market in the very near future. HP will have the strongest A3 printer portfolio on the market, so we're very excited to be partnering with a global leader in document solutions. Carlo Longhi, director and general manager, indirect channels UK and Ireland, Xerox 2017 has been a milestone year for Xerox – from our separation into two independent publicly traded companies on January 1st through to the biggest product launch in the company’s history (ConnectKey) just a few months later. We reinforced our commitment to our channel partners being a pillar of our growth strategy and continued to evolve our partner value proposition to enable this. Mark Smyth, chief operating officer, Vision The highlight of 2017 for Vision was the formation of an exciting new partnership with HP. We have invested considerable time and focus in 2017 going through a transition and on-boarding with our new partners. Gary Tierney, MD Ireland & UKI printing category director, HP HP being positioned as a leader in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Security Solutions and Services Hardcopy 2017 Vendor Assessment . It is the culmination of a huge amount of innovation and effort across HP to become a genuine leader in security. A significant part of this journey was the acquisition of Samsung’s print business, which took place this year, and the launch of a whole new portfolio of highly secure devices to disrupt the A3 copier market. Jonathan Whitworth, managing director, DSales (UK) Ltd Our move to the purpose-built Business Hub near Halifax, providing 15,000 square feet of space, was our 2017 highlight. It provides room for larger offices, a premier showroom, technical training, a PDI centre for setting- up and customising machines prior to delivery and a marketing department. There is also a warehouse allowing us to hold stock of Develop consumables and machines, instead of using third party warehousing. An additional highlight was the promotion of Huddersfield Town from the Championship into the Premier League. Develop is the Club’s Official Imaging Partner and we were at Wembley to cheer on ‘The Terriers’ in the play-off final. Ben Gaston, sales director, Toshiba TEC 2017 was a very positive year for Toshiba TEC, so singling out just one highlight is difficult. The sheer number of new organisations that have placed their faith in our ability to solve their business problems is highly encouraging, as is the way in which we have expanded our business services portfolio to enable us to find solutions to our customers’ organisational challenges. Although there is much to feel optimistic about, I’m particularly delighted with the number of talented individuals that we have attracted into the business from a range of diverse skillsets and backgrounds. It means that we finish the year on a high and are better prepared than ever to help What was the highlight for your company in 2017? DSales (UK) Ltd, exclusive UK distributor of Develop MFPs, moved into larger premises to support continued growth Ben Gaston Gary Tierney ...continued