26 01732 759725 AV who will oversee and manage its roll-out to Econocom entities across Europe. New five-year plan The launch of Gather follows the unveiling of Econocom Group’s five-year strategic plan for 2024-2028. Called One econocom, this plan follows a period of stabilisation for the Group from 2019-2023, when it refocused on its strategic geographies and core business lines – financing; the supply of workplace, AV, infrastructure and network products and solutions; and services e.g. asset lifecycle management and recycling. Following a difficult 2023, with revenue growth of 3.9% in H1, the Group is placing renewed focus on organic growth through the acquisition of new customers and greater wallet share from existing customers, driven by the accelerated deployment of end-to-end offerings and international harmonisation for multinational customers. Key targets include average revenue growth of 8% per annum to reach €4 billion by 2028, up from €2.7 billion in 2022, but 20% lower than an earlier 2028 revenue forecast of €5 billion; an operating margin of more than 5% in 2028 (up from 3.3% in H1 2023); and a planned contribution of €400 million from (fully financed) future acquisitions. AV targeted for growth Econocom has identified AV and digital signage as a key growth area for the next four years, backed by the company’s core strengths in: n the design and modernisation of the work environment and IT architecture; n the supply of new or reconditioned equipment and associated software and services (e.g. customisation, logistics, delivery, installation); n tailor-made leasing solutions, including optimisation of the asset lifecycle to reduce environmental footprint; n support, including dedicated service desk, on-site support/maintenance and IT security; and n end-of-life management of devices, including their return, data erasure and recycling and/or repackaging. In line with its focus on reducing the carbon footprint of customers’ assets, Econocom aims to have upgraded its Ecovadis Sustainability rating from Gold to Platinum by 2028. www.econocom.com Econocom Group, the European digital general contractor represented in the UK by Trams econocom, is looking forward to strong growth in its audio-visual business with the introduction of Gather, a new brand that brings together AV, UC and IT solutions to meet the need for collaboration and digital signage in offices, education, retail outlets, transport hubs, leisure venues and other public spaces. The standalone brand leverages Econocom’s capabilities in finance & leasing, the supply of products and solutions and the lifecycle management of assets to provide everything from interactive office environments to smart digital signage in public spaces, supported by services such as interior design, fleet management, proactive maintenance, lifecycle management and financing (including as-a-service options). Leading brands in its ecosystem include Samsung, Sharp/NEC, Philips, LG, SONY, Cisco, Microsoft, Logitech, Poly, Yealink, Barco, Extron and Crestron. Gather will come under the remit of Jean-Pierre Overbeek, CEO of BIS|Econocom, a Netherlands-based supplier of audio-visual, IT and UC solutions, Econocom launches new brand to power growth in AV and digital signage Gather – the new name in AV Q&A Technology Reseller (TR): What is the timescale for the roll-out of Gather? Jean-Pierre Overbeek (JPO): We have been preparing for the launch of this new brand over the past year and are now ready to enter the market across all 19 European countries. This will be done either through Econocom entities or, in some cases, through the PSNI Global Alliance (a network of AV & IT companies that work together to provide members with greater international reach - Ed) TR: How will the brand be presented? Will it have its own website or will it be integrated into, say, the Trams website in the UK? JPO: The website is live and available in several languages (see above). Working in collaboration with local country management, we are determining the optimal route-tomarket, including refining the local positioning. Our primary focus is to prioritise serving our customers. TR: What impact will the launch of Gather have on an existing customer who acquires a range of solutions through Trams, e.g. Apple devices, cloud storage, backup and recovery and AV solutions, perhaps on a lease or finance-as-a-service arrangement? JPO: No impact at all, except a positive one. Gather is an additional core competence. We will be able to offer all our solutions as a subscription service. If customers desire, this can even be implemented under an existing agreement with an addendum. TR: What will it mean for new customers? JPO: We can serve them seamlessly across borders, even globally, ensuring a consistent user experience for their meeting, retail, hospitality and public spaces. Our unique approach offers all solutions in an Opex model, incorporating eco-friendly sustainability. Customers don't need to allocate budget but can still access best-inclass AV, unified communications and IT solutions. TR: What does Econocom hope to achieve with the Gather brand? JPO: The brand serves as a distinct pillar, presenting a recognisable face to the market. The goal is to deliver optimal solutions to customers, offering end-to-end services in an AVaaS setup. This encompasses lifecycle management, as well as options for reuse and recycling. Jean-Pierre Overbeek
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