PrintIT issue48

24 PRINT.IT 01732 759725 2018 PREVIEW Print 2017/2018 Nick Parkes, regional sales manager, Y Soft As a technology company, I should probably respond with some kind of technology-related product. I think we will continue to see innovations and demand in the product area, particularly cloud-based solutions, but GDPR will remain a focus for many customers. Chris Strammiello, director, worldwide marketing and global alliances, Nuance Document Imaging Division An increased interest in security is going be spurred by GDPR. It will be the talking point of 2018, as organisations realise the enormity of their responsibilities – and the amount of organisational change required – if they’re to successfully honour the requirements of GDPR and avoid eye-watering fines. In anticipation of this, we’re already talking with print device manufacturers, channel partners and customers to ease the transition to this new GDPR environment from an imaging perspective. Intelligent Print Management solutions will become an increasing part of the secure print narrative as a measure against potential GDPR infractions. Colin Griffin, managing director, Blackbox Solutions Increased cyber threats will see data and document security become vital growth areas during 2018. With the impending introduction of the General Data Protection Regulations in May, businesses will be required to ensure that their security is robust in order to avoid costly fines – not to mention reputational damage. We'll see businesses investing in improved procedures to protect documents and ensure they are collected by the right person. Solutions include devices with document control, such as having employees swipe their ID badge or enter a username and password in order to retrieve sensitive documents from a printer. Carlo Longhi, director and general manager, indirect channels UK and Ireland, Xerox We should expect to see a surge in demand for apps within the print industry. Channel partners are recognising apps as the ideal solution to address customers’ pain points and as a way to provide personalised print services and connect to SMBs’ core business infrastructures. Apps are light, simple and very specific, which means they are easy to build – we can expect to see a larger breadth of apps available for the end-user in 2018. Mobility and security will be key areas of focus, as will addressing the challenge of GDPR compliance. Mark Smyth, chief operating officer, Vision 2018 will be a year of further consolidation in our market, with both resellers and vendors looking to protect and grow their market positions. There will also be financial challenges for some vendors and resellers, as Brexit negotiations and the process of exiting the EU continue. Amongst our customers, the adoption of Digital Transformation and ways to support and improve security will accelerate as businesses look to become more efficient and drive down cost through automation of manual processes.  Gary Tierney, MD Ireland & UKI printing category director, HP The workplace is being transformed from a stodgy, cubical land into a stylish, open-plan environment. The modern office now offers agile workspaces for individual productivity, informal meeting areas for co-creation and interactive conference rooms for collaborative meetings with colleagues working remotely etc.. With all these changes, many of which rely on an increasing range of technology (some of which belongs to the employee), security will play a more prominent role in IT purchase decision-making, including printers. The role of print in the digital path of work-life will continue to be redefined, with growing recognition of the importance of print as a communication tool and a driver of information sharing and efficiency in businesses. Jonathan Whitworth, managing director, DSales (UK) Ltd The need for compliance with the new General Data Protection Regulations is focusing attention on the need for data security. The risk of print devices being used as an entry point for hacking, malware and ransomware is a very real threat. Yet print as part of the IT What do you think will be the key trend in the printer/ document management market next year (2018)? 2018 will see a surge in apps developed for MFPs like the Xerox VersaLink series, which is based on the company’s ConnectKey solutions platform ...continued Greater focus on security will increase demand for sophisticated authentication solutions Phil Jones MBE Jamie Brothwell Pete Pearce