THE TECHNOLOGY &WORKPLACE MAGAZINE FOR SMES & PUBLIC SECTOR ORGANISATIONS WWW.BUSINESSINFOMAG.UK ISSUE152 OFFICE PRINT HP says goodbye to grey with fastest yet A3 MFPs PAGE 20 VENDING Lavazza Professional’s economical alternative to the office canteen PAGE 12 ELECTRIC VEHICLES The UK’s changing charging habits PAGE 32
The PrintIT Reseller and Technology Reseller Golf Society is open to everyone; Resellers, Dealers, VARs, System Integrators and Vendors – the maximum number of players being 72 at each event. The cost per event is £107 per player or £428 per four ball + VAT. Includes breakfast and dinner. At each event there will be a prize for Overall Highest Score for the Day, Longest Drive and Nearest the Pin. Not sure about running your own golf day? No problem, bring customers along to this friendly industry relevant event. The four events for 2023 If you would like to join us at any of the events please email [email protected] or call Paul on 07887 944433 & The Golf Society is open to everyone no matter what your handicap is... so don’t be shy. Come and join us. 2023 2 0 2 3 The First round will take place at Carden Park on the 11th May The Second round will take place at Luton Hoo on the 8th June The Third round will take place at Olton Golf Club on the 13th July The Final round will take place at Robin Hood on the 28th September SPONSORSHIP If you would like to discuss the opportunities available, please call Paul on 07887 944433, email [email protected]
IN THIS ISSUE 04 What’s New A round-up of new products for work and home 07 B ulletin Lack of investment in new technology keeping staff at home 10 Technology Energy-saving tips for technology users 12 Vending Lavazza Professional launches alternative to office canteen 14 E vents Consumer tech takes centre stage at inaugural Exertis Exclusive event 16 M PS The rise of the employee-centric hybrid workplace, plus greener printing at KLM UK 18 Cover Story How Snom helps maximise the benefits of unified communications 20 MFPs New HP A3 MFPs optimised for managed print services 24 Meetings Giorgia Prestento’s top tips for more effective business meetings 26 Displays Work smarter with Samsung displays 28 End user computing Citrix and IGEL offer fast route to new acquisition integration 30 Tech Live 2022 Who was there and what was said (in the seminar programme) 32 Electric vehicles Changing EV charging habits revealed 34 I couldn’t do my job without… Tash Grossman picks five things she couldn’t do her job without Editor: James Goulding 0780 308 7228 · [email protected] Publishing Director, Social Media &Web Editor: Neil Trim 01732 759725 · [email protected] Advertising Director: EthanWhite 01732 759725 · [email protected] Art Director: Nick Pledge 07767 615983 · [email protected] Advertising Executive: James Trim 01732 759725 · [email protected] Business Info is a controlled circulation magazine. Applications for free copies will be considered upon receipt of a completed and signed reader info card or online form. Business Info is available on subscription @ £40 p.a. to UK companies or residents and @ £75 p.a. for non-UK subscribers. The opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the publishers who cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions. No part of Business Info magazine can be reproduced without the prior permission of the publisher. © Copyright 2022 Kingswood Media Ltd. ISSN 1464-8814 Design: Sandtiger Media – www.sandtiger.co.uk FOR THE LATEST INDUSTRY NEWS VISIT: WWW.BUSINESSINFOMAG.UK “ ” Comment Kingswood Media Ltd., 10 Amherst House, 22 London Road, Sevenoaks TN13 2BT Tel: 01732 759725 • Email: [email protected] BUSINESS INFO GET YOUR FREE COPY To make sure you get every issue FREE, as soon as it is published, just visit www.businessinfomag.uk, click the ‘FREE Registration’ button and add your details to our mailing list. @BinfoMag facebook.com/ BinfoMag If you no longer wish to receive Business Info magazine please email your details to [email protected] There’s nothing like an imminent recession to turn Britain into a nation of dimwits. Or so it would seem. For the last few weeks survey after survey has dropped into my inbox pointing out how troublesome we find it to perform even basic tasks, like setting up virtual videoconferencing technology. Can this really be true? Or is it just convenient for technology vendors to pretend we find these things difficult to encourage us to splash out on some shiny new gear. As ever, the key words to look out for are ‘up to’, which marketers use quite shamelessly to turn the world on its head. Thus, ‘90% of users can take up to 20 minutes to change a light bulb’ looks bad, but it says virtually nothing about how long it really takes people to change a bulb. Perhaps only one person needed 20 minutes and the rest just 20 seconds. Rant over. I love statistics, and we have some really good ones in this issue. The feature on electric vehicles on pages 32 and 33 is jam-packed with them – and the best sort too, comparing responses from different years. Quocirca is a master at this, and on page 16 we publish findings from its third Global Print 2025 report highlighting the continuing need for print in the emerging hybrid workplace. Interestingly, 72% of IT decision-makers (ITDMs) say print will still be important in 2025, compared to just 50% of office workers. Is ITDMs’ belief in printed output why 83% of office workers surveyed by Microsoft Surface have the same working environment that they did before the pandemic and why only 31% say their organisation has invested in technology to improve digital collaboration (see page 7 for more details). HP, which recently acquired collaboration specialist Poly, is clearly preparing for all eventualities. Nothing demonstrates this more than its new flagship A3 MFPs (see pages 20 and 21), which come with faster print speeds but also larger displays, physical keyboards and new workflow capabilities, including the ability to edit, re-order, redact and sign scanned documents on the MFP screen.With 57% of workers surveyed in March citing having access to a printer as one of the things they missed most about working in an office and 56% citing having access to a scanner, HP’s decision to enhance both aspects of its new devices looks very smart. James Goulding, Editor, [email protected] 03 magazine Photo: Monty Rakusen
businessinfomag.uk magazine 04 Double protection Cellularline is launching a range of protective phone cases with built-in Microban antimicrobial technology that keeps cases free of germs and prevents staining. Antimicrobial options are available for Sensation, Gloss, Tetra Force Strong Guard, Tetra Force Strong Guard Mag (illustrated) and Book Agenda cases. www.microban.com/cellularline-group B2B with a Bang Bang & Olufsen is expanding its businessto-business product range with the launch of a Zoom-certified wireless headset designed specifically for hybrid workers. Meeting growing demand for multi-purpose devices, the Beocom Portal combines highquality Bang & Olufsen sound, an attractive lightweight design and compatibility with popular communication platforms. Wearables support RealWear, a provider of wearable AR solutions for frontline industrial workers, is enabling customers to improve the security, reliability and efficiency of deployments with the launch of its first software-as-aservice (SaaS) offering, Realwear Cloud. This cloud-based remote support and analytics solution enables IT and business operations to keep their RealWear device fleets secure with over-the-air firmware updates; optimise operational efficiency with real-time data and metrics; and reduce downtime with remote technical support and troubleshooting to quickly identify, diagnose and fix device issues. Following a big increase in global ransomware attacks, up 24% in Q2 compared to Q1, Avast has added a Ransomware Shield to its Essential, Premium and Ultimate Business Security packages. The Ransomware Shield provides an added layer of protection to that already provided by the Avast Web Shield, File Shield and Behavior Shield. Enabled by default, it enables users to specify which applications can access their most important files and folders, ensuring they can’t be modified, deleted or encrypted by unknown applications. www.avast.com Lecture mode Konftel’s flagship conferencing speakerphone has been enhanced with a wireless link to approved headsets connected via a DECT base station, giving users total freedom of movement within a room. Offered on the Konftel 800 via a free software upgrade, ‘lecture mode’ will initially only be available with Jabra Engage 65 headsets. Support for other wireless headsets will be enabled in future firmware releases.When the presenter talks, the Konftel 800 automatically mutes all of its microphones bar the headset microphone. Once the presenter has stopped talking, speakerphone microphones are unmuted enabling inroom participants to be heard. Remote participants can be heard through the headset at all times. www.konftel.com An extra layer A level playing field AIRPA is aiming to level the playing field between large and small businesses with the launch of an Integrated Platform as a Service (InPaas) solution that connects all ‘out of the box’ systems, apps and data in one synchronised platform with single sign on and the ability to search for information across all applications. AIRPA automates repetitive tasks; creates workflows and reports at the click of a button; and enables small businesses to make real-time decisions based on data collected from multiple systems. AIRPA Co-founder Farooq Raja said: “AIRPA is the first platform that allows businesses to handpick the best of breed for every process and easily manage, sync and access these solutions from one place. Our platform and dashboards reduce the need for repetitive tasks, empower with data and save hours so business owners can focus on important tasks.” https://airpa.ai WH AT ’ S N E W INNOVATIONS Compact air purifier Indoor air quality specialist Rensair has brought out an affordable,WiFi-connected air purifier for smaller indoor spaces. Ideal for SMEs, conference rooms, doctor/dental surgeries, classrooms and homes, the Compact uses HEPA filtration and germicidal UVC light to remove more than 99.97% of pathogens and other airborne particulate matter, including bacteria, pollen, dust and mould. Five airflow speeds and 360-degree outflow enable clean air to penetrate an entire room no matter where the unit is placed. An accompanying smart app enables users to programme multiple Compact devices to adjust fan settings automatically in line with particle concentrations, switch to the maximum setting between scheduled meetings, or start/stop based on location and time. www.rensair.co.uk
01732 759725 05 magazine Cloud explained Managed web hosting provider Cloudways has compiled a Cloud Hosting Glossary with definitions of 50 common cloud computing terms. Suitable for everyone from cloud novices to business leaders and experienced cloud specialists, the glossary provides straightforward explanations of each term along with more in-depth information and real-world use cases. https://www.cloudways.com/en/ resources/cloud-hosting-glossary Interpreters welcome Microsoft is helping theWelsh Government to fulfil its duty to provide meetings in English andWelsh with a new feature that allows designated interpreters to translate what is being said during a scheduled Microsoft Teams meeting and attendees to choose their preferred language in realtime. Attendees can switch between two or more languages at will without having to open another window, tab or device. The new Teams feature developed by Microsoft in partnership with theWelsh Government will replace a previous workaround, where interpreters would observe a Teams video meeting and provide a simultaneous translation via a telephone line. The Welsh Government’s Chief Digital Officer Glyn Jones said: “I don’t think you can underestimate the impact this will have on organisations that operate bilingually or multilingually.” Connecting the dots WithSecure (formerly F-Secure business) has launched a data visualisation tool for cyber security defence teams (aka blue teams) that connects the dots between suspicious activities during a cyberattack. Detectree decreases response times, reduces alert fatigue and improves communication during an incident by visualising log data and showing the relationships between suspicious activity and any processes, network destinations, files or registry keys connected to that detection. Rather than manually sorting through data represented as text to reconstruct a chain of events, responders can look at the visualisation to see connections and the nature of those connections (e.g. interactions, parent-child relationships and process injections) and share that data with relevant stakeholders. https://www.withsecure.com Democratising public cloud ANS Group, an Azure Expert MSP, is aiming to remove much of the cost and complexity associated with cloud adoption by changing the delivery model from one based on expensive consultation to one based on repeatable automation. Its new managed Public Cloud for SMBs offering supports this by enabling businesses to lift and shift their code into a pre-configured AWS or Azure environment and launch their new cloud platform and virtual machines at the touch of a button. Then, once customers are up and running, they can access a managed service layer tailored to their specific requirements and budget, with support and continuous optimisation by the ANS Centre of Excellence and the option of bolt-on capability in security, DevOps and disaster recovery. ANS CTO JoeWolski said: “Public Cloud has for too long been the preserve of organisations with significant in-house skills or huge budgets. The typical digital transformation journey hasn’t moved on in 20 years and involves expensive consultations up front. Then, when the project is finally delivered, the technology and the business have moved on. After years of experience bringing enterprises to Public Cloud, we’ve created best-practice templates for cloud environments alongside an affordable managed service, democratising the technology for everyone to use.” www.ans.co.uk Built-in flexibility With Bluetooth 5.0 and NFC connectivity, a USB audio interface and the ability to attach headsets when privacy is required, the new Snom C300 speakerphone has builtin flexibility. It can be operated via seven touch keys or a smartphone app, with choices confirmed via the LED display and audio announcements. It provides 24 hours’ talktime and five days’ standby time and includes a USB port for charging the device or a smartphone. The Snom C300 and the company’s new Snom A330 M/D headset are part of a new range of devices being launched for hybrid workers. INNOVATIONS Portable display Meeting the needs of today’s mobile workers, MMD has launched the lightweight, foldable Philips 16B1P3302 portable monitor. The 16-inch, 16:9 Full HD (1920 x 1080) display features one USB dualmesh cable and Type C and Type A USB connectors that enable users to enjoy high resolution video from a smartphone or laptop, take advantage of dual-screen productivity, recharge the monitor, transfer data at high speeds and enjoy quick, easy sharing and presentations. It costs £219.99. https://mmdmonitors.com/ JoeWolski
businessinfomag.uk magazine 06 INNOVATIONS Toner on tap HP is saving time and money for small businesses by expanding its HP Instant Ink subscription service to include automatic deliveries of replacement ink or toner to multiple printers in multiple locations, on one bill. Supported printers include HP’s new LaserJet Pro 3000 and 4000 series printers with HP+. These 35 and 42 pages per minute devices can also help protect forests through HP’s Forest First initiative. For every page printed for the life of the printer, HP will contribute to the restoration, protection and management of forests in collaboration with NGO partners likeWorldWildlife Fund. www.hp.com Intelligent healthcare Purple, the Manchester-based technology company, is aiming to help the NHS improve service levels, reduce waste and cut waiting times with the launch of its ‘Intelligent Healthcare’ app. The asset tracking and navigation tool enables healthcare workers to keep track of hospital equipment and medicines through an interactive map and, if necessary, find their way towards assets with the help of the app’s integrated wayfinding. Purple says that nurses spend at least one hour of every shift searching for critical pieces of equipment and medication and that every year £300 million of medicines are wasted. From bedsit to worksit Jarvo, the self-styled Airbnb for work, is ready to revolutionise remote working after hitting its Seedrs investment target in just 42 seconds, smashing the previous record of 96 seconds set by Monzo Bank in 2016. Through its platform and app, Jarvo aims to help householders generate extra income by making unused, work-ready residential space available to remote workers in their area. Founder Daniel Hillman said: “The traditional office space is dead, and while co-working spaces have opened up a world of collaboration, they also bring a host of challenges with them. They’re rigid, expensive and require lengthy commutes.Work in the future needs to be decentralised, diverse and truly sustainable.” Since it was founded in 2001, more than 1,000 homeowners have signed up to list their spare space on the platform; more than 13,500 users are waiting to discover new workspaces in their area. www.seedrs.com/jarvo/coming-soon Carbon neutral for life Lexmark is addressing the print needs of eco-conscious small and medium-sized businesses with the launch of its first CarbonNeutral-certified printers. The two flagship models in the Lexmark GO Line series of small footprint devices – the B3442dw mono printer (£249) and the MC3326i colour MFP (£389) – are carbon neutral-certified out of the box, with no additional fees to pay. Carbon neutrality covers the printers’ full lifecycle from cradle to grave. The B3442dw is also one of eight models supported by the Lexmark OnePrint Subscription service, which monitors devices and automatically ships new toner when a replacement is needed. www.lexmark.com Flat out brilliant Panasonic has introduced a ‘flat’ version of its popular TOUGHBOOK N1 rugged Android handheld for last-mile delivery drivers, warehouse employees and field service technicians. One of the thinnest and lightest handheld devices in the 4.7in category, the MIL-STD-810G-tested TOUGHBOOK N1 Flat has an integrated camera-based barcode scanner and can also be paired, via Bluetooth, with a wearable barcode reader. For document capture, proof of delivery and webcam use, there is an 8MP rear and 5MP front camera, while an optional Pen enables more accurate signature recording and recognition capabilities. https://business. panasonic.co.uk/ TOUGHBOOK-N1 In the Zone Logitech has launched new webcams and headsets for hybrid workers that offer business-grade quality, style, affordability and compatibility with leading conferencing platforms. Brio 500 webcams and Zone Vibe headphones also make it easier for IT managers to support remote and hybrid workers, for example through integration with Logitech Sync, which allows admins to update firmware and troubleshoot problems remotely. Both ranges are certified carbon neutral and have high levels of post-consumer recycled plastic. www.logitech.com Pay it again, Sam Subscription management and billing platform Recurly is now available on Google Cloud Marketplace, enabling Google Cloud users to integrate the solution with their own platforms, from within their Google Cloud environment. Thousands of companies across digital media, streaming, publishing, SaaS, education, consumer goods and professional services rely on Recurly’s all-in-one, integrated platform to automate subscription billing at scale and to manage subscriber accounts. https://recurly.com
01732 759725 magazine 07 BULLETIN OFFICE DESIGN NEWWORK, SAME OFFICE UK businesses are failing to invest in new, collaborative technologies that could entice staff back into the office, claims Microsoft in a new report. Most UK workers surveyed by YouGov for the Microsoft Surface report The re-imagined office: not a re-design but a re-define believe that an office is better than remote work for socialising (57%) and strengthening relationships with colleagues (65%). However, 36% feel they achieve less there than when working remotely and 32% worry about time and money spent commuting. Half (50%) say they only go into the office if they’re told they have to. This is a worry as 80% of UK business leaders surveyed for Microsoft’s recent Work Trend Index report cite getting employees back into the office as a concern. One reason might be that although the world of work has changed, 83% of office workers have the same office environment as before the pandemic and remain stuck in uncollaborative work patterns, with 71% spending time ‘doing emails’ every time they go in. Microsoft suggests lack of investment might be to blame. Only 35% of IT decisionmakers (ITDMs) say they have been asked to consider whether the IT in their office is fit for their workforce and just 6% cite meeting room technology as a priority investment. Less than one third (31%) of office workers say that their organisation has invested in technology to improve collaboration over the past year. Alan Slothower, Surface Business Group Lead at Microsoft UK, said: “Too many UK workers are stuck in the same office spaces as before the pandemic...Our research points to a clear need for businesses to not just re-design their offices, but truly reimagine them for a hybrid future.” E-WASTE NEW LIFE FOR OLD PHONES UK households have accumulated an estimated 24 million unused smartphones with a collective value of more than £1 billion over the last three years, according to new research by Deloitte. Its Digital Consumer Trends survey of 4,160 consumers found that two in five phone buyers hold on to their old phones when they upgrade to newer models. Deloitte estimates that in 2022 alone this will add up to seven million smartphones with an average trade-in value of £75 and a total value of over £500 million. Even so, less than half (45%) of tradedin phones are sold, recycled or given away. In the UK, just 17% of phones in use were purchased second-hand, compared to 82% that were bought new. Emily Cromwell, environmental, social and governance lead for the consumer industry at Deloitte, said: “It is important that refurbished or used phones are no longer viewed as lesser devices, but as cheaper, greener alternatives. Providing incentives to recycle devices will not only put extra pounds in consumer pockets, but also lengthen the lifecycle of the device across more owners and improve its carbon footprint.” www.deloitte.co.uk INVESTMENT FEMALE ANGELS NEEDED The UK Business Angels Association is extending its Women BackingWomen campaign in an attempt to double the pool of women angel investors, from 5,000 to 10,000, and give female-founded businesses better access to early-stage capital. This follows publication of the first Women Angel Insights report in conjunction with Beauhurst, which shows that over the last decade more than £2bn has been invested in over 4,000 UK companies through deals involving female angel investors. Although there are currently more than 5,000 female angel investors in the UK, this is still only 14% of all angel investors (36,800). Moreover, less than 0.5% of female angels (157) have a portfolio of 10 or more investments. The UKBAA claims that the shortage of women angels has a direct impact on female founders as women are more likely to invest in female-founded companies, which tend to be underfunded compared to male-founded counterparts. https://ukbaa.org.uk/our-programmes/ women-backing-women/ BULLETIN In Deloitte’s survey, 18% of those who bought a new phone said they did so because new was ‘more exciting’. This certainly applies to the METAVERTU, the world’s first Web3.0 smartphone.With seamless toggling betweenWeb2.0 and Web3.0 modes, Vertu claims its new flagship 5G mobile will enable users to enjoy instantaneous NFT generation, self-contained peer-to-peer encrypted communication and a curated range of DAPP applications. Owners can customise their phone with a variety of luxury materials, including diamond detailing, gold finishes and platinum additions. Prices start at £2,909 for an entry-level METAVERTU in carbon fibre. www.vertu.com SUSTAINABILITY TCO GROWTH SPURT Demand for more sustainable IT is driving record rates of certification to the latest iteration of TCO Certified, the sustainability certification scheme for monitors, displays, laptops, mobile devices, PCs and other IT products. Since TCO Certified, generation 9 was launched at the end of 2021, more than 1,000 new models have been certified, reaching the milestone one month faster than the previous generation. This acceleration has happened despite stricter criteria, including more than 40 new Sustainability Performance Indicators (SPIs) and an expansion of substances assessments to cover process chemicals used in the manufacture of IT products. www.tcocertified.com Women Angel Insights: The impact of female angels on the UK economy September 2022
BULLETIN businessinfomag.uk magazine 08 CLOUD WHO DO YOU TRUST? Over half (55%) of UK IT professionals trust public cloud services less than they did two years ago, according to research conducted by hosting and cloud services company Leaseweb Global. Transparency, customer service and ease of workload migration were all highlighted as potential concerns by the 500 UK-based IT professionals surveyed: 57% said they had found it challenging to migrate workloads out of a public cloud environment; 49% said they had encountered difficulties in understanding their cloud usage costs; and 49% had struggled to get hold of a public cloud provider’s customer services. The research also calls into question the scale of the shift to the cloud over the last two years.When asked about the period from January 2019-December 2021, 36% of organisations described their approach to IT infrastructure as ‘cloud first’, with 19% stating their organisation was officially committed to a ‘cloud-only’ approach. Since January 2022, the proportion of respondents with a ‘cloud first’ approach has fallen to 31%, while those with a ‘cloud only’ approach has risen only to 25% of respondents. When asked about the optimum IT infrastructure for their organisation, private cloud-only (23%) and a mixture of onpremise and public cloud (20%) were the most popular options. These were followed by public cloud-only (17%) and a mixture of on-premises and private cloud (14%), with on-premises-only the least popular option at 7%. Two-thirds (66%) of respondents agree that the industry will see the end of on-premises infrastructure over the next two years. Terry Storrar, Managing Director of Leaseweb UK, said: “Although respondents acknowledge that the desire and need to look after on-premises infrastructure is dying, the results also indicate that businesses are still using it as an ongoing component of their IT infrastructure when adopting hybrid cloud. The key takeaway from this research is IT teams are looking for flexibility – there’s no one size fits all approach.” www.leaseweb.com SUSTAINABILITY LYRECO EV SURGE Office products supplier Lyreco has invested £2.3 million in 50 new Ford E-Transit vans, increasing the size of its electric vehicle fleet to 67. The company already had 17 Renault Master Z.E all-electric light goods vehicles. The Lyreco EV Fleet is being deployed across 13 of the firm’s 24 Regional Distribution Centres, including Dartford, Edinburgh, Manchester and Oxford, as well as at the Lyreco National Distribution Centre in Telford where they will be charged using electricity generated by Lyreco’s own solar panel-powered charging stations. Lyreco has invested more than £124,000 in charging infrastructure across the Regional Distribution Centre network, with plans to install charging stations at Lyreco’s remaining sites in 2023. Since 2013, Lyreco has reduced fuel consumption per delivery by over 31% through route optimisation, fleet improvements, driver training and order consolidation. It has pledged to switch completely to zero tailpipe emission vans by 2028 and aims to be carbon neutral by 2030. why.lyreco.com MFPs ITWAS 50 YEARS AGO TODAY… This year marks the 50th anniversary of the SF-201, Sharp’s first copier. Joe Tomota, Vice President at Sharp Europe, describes the SF-201 as ‘game-changing’: “Most copiers at the time employed diazo technology, where copies are initially made on special photosensitive papers. Sharp used the Electrofax (EF) method, where paper is given a static electric charge before being exposed to light reflected from the original document. The EF method provided outstanding results without ammonia odour, discoloration or colour mixing and was so successful Sharp produced another 10 series models in the four years following its launch.” The rest, as they say, is history. Find out more at: https://global.sharp/products/copier/ anniversary/history/. MAILING RECORD YEAR FOR PARCELS In their different ways, China and the UK were the leading parcel generators of 2021, according to the seventh Pitney Bowes Parcel Shipping Index of 13 major markets around the world. While China became the first country to generate more than 100 billion parcels in a year – 108 billion parcels, up 30% from 83 billion in 2020 – the UK had the highest per capita rate of 80 parcels per person, up from 74 in 2020. Parcel volumes increased in all regions covered by the report, reaching a total of 159 billion (up 21%, from 131.2 billion parcels in 2020), with an average of 41 parcels per capita or 137 parcels per household. Respective UK figures are 5.4 billion parcels (up 9%, from 5 billion in 2020), with an average of 80 parcels per capita or 192 parcels per household. The Index predicts continued growth in parcel volumes from 2022 to 2027, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of between 5.5% and 11.5%, resulting in volumes of between 216 billion and 300 billion by 2027. https://www.pitneybowes.com/us/ shipping-index.html DIGITISATION MUDDLED THINKING Despite advances in process digitisation (see page 16), a study carried out by Quocirca for PFU (EMEA) Limited, now part of Ricoh, shows that a huge amount of documents are still paper-based. In a survey for Scanning As An Enabler for Digital Transformation, 69% of respondents said they still store customer records in paper form; more than half (52%) say they haven’t yet fully digitised payslips. Reasons given for persisting with paper include compliance (cited by 39%), customer need (29%) and employee preference (25%). The research highlights the risks associated with printed output, with 41% of respondents complaining that paper documents are left lying around the office even though 22% say they prefer hard copies for security reasons. www.pfuemea.com/en-gb/quocirca Scanning as an enabler for digital transformation September 2022 © Quocirca 2022 1 Scanning as an enabler for digital transformation Findings from research into the usage of scanning September 2022
The new PressIT360 is released from Panasonic providing a true meeting experience to read the expressions on the office side of the room and know when to speak up. The focus on the person speaking is automatically optimized according to the volume of speech and the length of the utterance. Focus may be delayed or not performed depending on the situation. The slim shape and seamless fabric netting create a discreet appearance that is unobtrusive even when placed in the centre of a conference table or room. The camera captures the participants' faces at an optimal angle of incidence without overlapping with the computer, so you can concentrate on the discussion without worrying about the equipment. There is a tripod mount for the base of the camera should you wish to elevate the PressIT360 in anyway. The sound covers the entire room and the microphone adjusts to pick up sound from the person speaking to give a true unobtrusive meeting room experience with no drop out in sound quality. The technology works within a 5m radius seamlessly. The PressIT360 also comes with a range of advanced features which allow you to tune your meeting depending on situation or circumstance. More detailed settings, such as camera position adjustment and image quality changes, can be made on the laptop or PC. The PressIT360 app built into the unit can be installed on a laptop or PC to perform detailed settings which include: n Display of camera images n Video control (zoom in/zoom out, tilt up/down, pan left/right) *May not work on some models. n Image quality adjustment n Speaker operation test n Firmware update and version confirmation. Supporting operation systems for the PC app are Microsoft Windows (Windows 10/11) and macOS. A true flexible device suited to work in any business environment the PressIT360 is must for any modern hybrid working environment. business.panasonic.co.uk/ visual-system The PressIT360 comes with a 360 degree camera and speakerphone which is packed with nice features to enhance and give you that true meeting room feel. The PressIT360 truly supports a hybrid working environment being very versatile and easy to set up. All you need to do is connect the USB-C cable to any laptop or PC and you’re ready to meet! There is no need to set up and prepare any other equipment which can often be complicated and troublesome. The PressIT360 comes with a variety of meeting modes which you can select depending on the situation: n dual view – 360 degrees view of room focusing on 2 people in the room n single view – focus on a single speaker n multi view – focus on up to 4 people in the room with person speaking highlighted by use of an indicator bar n surround view – 360 degrees view divided into 2 180 degree half screens n stable view – allows you to display the image with a fixed focus like a web cam perfect for focusing on things such as a whiteboard. Five different video modes allow meetings to proceed with the camera layout best suited for communication. For example, by using Multi view, a green bar indicating the speaker is lit on the PC on the remote worker, making it easy to recognize the speaker. Remote work participants will be able Panasonic PressIT360 Diameter 64 mm (2.52") Height 285 mm (11.23") Weight approx. 950 g (2.1 lbs) PRODUCT PROFILE 01732 759725 magazine 09 Panasonic PressIT360 ISSUE 152
businessinfomag.uk magazine 10 TECHNOLOGY 1 Upgrade monitors to LED screens “If your business has separate screens and monitors, consider upgrading them to modern LED backlit versions, which have a much lower power consumption when compared with traditional alternatives, known as CCFL styles. Old equipment can often be traded in or recycled and will result in cost savings in the long run.” 2 Choose a laptop over a desktop “Modern laptops consume 50% less power than equivalent desktop PCs, meaning energy savings start from day one. If you are still using desktops, consider migrating to laptops, ensuring you only plug them in to charge as needed, rather than leaving them constantly connected to the power source. Not only will this save energy, but it will also help to conserve the battery life of the device.” 3 Keep routers switched on “It pays to switch off most IT equipment at the mains at the end of each working day, but this logic does not apply to internet routers. These should be plugged in and connected to a power source at all times, otherwise your internet service provider could falsely detect an issue and reduce your internet speed while they attempt to stabilise the line.” 4 Clean dust and debris “All IT equipment should be carefully Warming to the task Faced with sky-high electricity bills and a reduction in the Government support outlined in the mini-budget, 70% of hybrid workers admit they’re concerned about the cost of working from home this winter. In fact, in a survey of 2,000 UK workers by OnePoll for smart building technology firm Infogrid, 23% of hybrid workers say they plan to spend more time in the office to keep down home heating and energy costs. This figure rises to 30% amongst 18-34 year olds. Respondents are not just concerned about their own costs. According to Infogrid’s Energy Management and the Workplace of the Future report, more than half (55%) worry about energy efficiency in the workplace too, with 27% saying they plan to take personal action, such as turning off lights and monitors, to reduce energy consumption at work. Again, the 18-34 age-group feels most strongly about this, with respective figures of 62% and 32%. www.infogrid.io Energy-saving tips for technology users cleaned and maintained, as dust can cause issues if it enters a device. If you operate servers, keep the fans, vents and filters free of dust and debris so that the airflow can circulate evenly and efficiently. If fans become clogged, the servers have to work much harder to maintain optimal working temperatures, therefore using more energy.” 5 Maintain an optimum temperature “Server rooms should be kept at between 20 and 22 degrees, which varies according to the size of the space and the volume of equipment within it. If air conditioning units are too small for the space and volume they will never reach the target temperature and will consume more energy as they will be running continuously. Inverter-based air conditioning solutions consume less power than older models and work well in most server rooms. You should also limit access to server rooms and keep the doors closed, helping to maintain airflow and temperature.” 6 Consider going virtual “Physical servers could be virtualised onto more modern and power-efficient platforms, depending on your business needs. You could also consider using resource schedulers with virtual and cloud environments during off-peak periods. This reduces the number of hosts required and helps to conserve With the UK facing an energy crisis, rising bills and the threat of blackouts this winter, Richard Nelson, senior technical consultant at technology services provider Probrand, outlines seven steps businesses should take to reduce the energy consumption of their IT equipment power consumption.” 7 Audit and decommission unused equipment “IT equipment should be audited at regular intervals to ensure you are getting the most out of your devices. Any tech that isn’t in use should be decommissioned and powered down so that it is not using energy unnecessarily. You may also be able to repurpose or trade in devices for new. Make sure you maintain equipment that is in use to ensure it is operating at its best, prolonging the life of your technology and therefore reducing long-term spend.” A Top 100 UK VAR with 25 years’ heritage, Probrand provides IT products, cloud services, managed IT services and IT solutions. The business has more than 15 years’ experience delivering award-winning managed IT services and over 1,000 IT solutions annually to private and public sector organisations. In addition, its CIPS-accredited online marketplace connects 40,000 registered IT buyers with 2,500 brands and vendors, with the ability to access additional support from dedicated sector and technical specialists. www.probrand.co.uk Richard Nelson
01732 759725 magazine 11 BULLETIN KYOCERA Document Solutions (UK) Limited The new black. Hybrid working is in vogue. Epitomising Japanese design, the MA2001w multi-function printer from Kyocera is the perfect addition to any home oce. Simply connect wirelessly with your laptop or phone to print, scan and copy with this quick, quiet and compact device. To find out more about Kyocera's new desktop print devices, scan the QR code or visit: www.kyoceradocumentsolutions.co.uk/hybrid Discover more: kyoceraduk @KYOCERADUK kyocera-doc-solutions-uk • +44 (0)333 015 1855 [email protected]
businessinfomag.uk magazine 12 VENDING Lavazza Professional, the businessto-business arm of the Lavazza Group and home to popular catering and vending brands such as KLIX and FLAVIA, is addressing the evolving needs of today’s businesses with the launch of a modular micro café offering premium Lavazza coffee, cold drinks, traditional vending snacks and fresh food, including wraps and sushi.With self-service and a choice of payment options, Moments by Lavazza Professional is designed to be an economical, hassle-free alternative to expensive canteens that can also act as a hub where staff can socialise, collaborate and exchange ideas. Business Info finds out more from Lavazza Professional UK Market Director AshleyWeller Business Info (BI): Say Lavazza Professional and most people will think coffee machines, but probably not fresh food vending. Is Moments by Lavazza your first micro café? AshleyWeller (AW): Lavazza Professional has a long, credible history in workplace vending. It’s home to the popular vending brand KLIX and to the Office Coffee Service (OCS) system FLAVIA, which uses patented Freshpack systems to brew ground coffee, tea and herbal infusions. With the popularity of premium coffee-shop drinks, the micro café is an exciting development that centres around the ultimate Lavazza coffee experience – serving premium espressobased drinks like latte, cappuccino and flat white from bean-to-cup machines using Lavazza’s expertly roasted beans. Partnering premium coffee with snacks and fresh food, Moments by Lavazza Professional is our first holistic alternative to canteens that aims to provide businesses with a one-stop-shop for bringing coffee culture into the workplace. BI: What snacks and fresh food are available from Moments? AW: As with most enjoyable coffeeshop experiences, premium coffee is the key element when it comes to retaining Q&A loyal consumers, complemented by a range of food options. Our micro café follows this model with a blend of traditional vending snacks and fresh food fridges that enable staff to access a wide selection of refreshments on-site at any time of day. Consumers can enjoy favourite snacks and confectionary, as well as food from brands such as Yumie Sushi, Ginsters pasties, Urban Eat sandwiches and the new Leaf & Loaf Premium range of fresh food, from pastrami pretzel subs to Middle Eastern flatbreads. The food offering will continue to evolve. BI: Why are you launching Moments now? BI: Research shoes that 85% of employees feel quality coffee improves morale, making it an important element of the post-pandemic workplace as businesses look to attract and retain talent. With today’s focus on employee wellbeing, it’s also important for businesses to provide an environment where staff can spend time getting to know colleagues and collaborating on ideas and projects or quietly prepping for a productive afternoon. By bringing the best elements of coffee culture into the workplace, businesses of all sizes can delight employees returning to the office and reap the rewards of increased productivity and staff engagement without having to invest in an expensive manned canteen. BI: Have there been developments in vending technology that make the self-serve micro café concept a viable option for businesses? AW: The latest AVA report predicts that hybrid working will cause a reduction in on-site fresh meal preparation and barista-served coffee, creating more room for micro-markets, smart fridges and premium self-serve coffee solutions as businesses look to entice staff back into the office with premium yet economically viable refreshments. The AVA report also shows that well over 75% of cashless systems now support credit card and mobile payments.With concern over cash hygiene and the wide adoption of cashless spending, there is a clear need to tap into today’s quick, self-serve buying habits. Products in the micro café can be paid for at unattended payment stations, at a central kiosk or by smartphone app. Smart fridges are also available featuring built-in payment systems that provide an extra layer of security. All these options help to reduce overhead costs and make day-to-day management more efficient than running a canteen. BI: What type of organisation is Moments aimed at? AW: Moments by Lavazza Professional is the perfect option for any business looking for a modular, 24/7 selfserve alternative to a canteen or for a vibrant hassle-free hub that fuels workplace productivity and drives staff engagement with Lavazza coffee at its heart. We know every moment counts when it comes to operating a business so our in-house team supports the micro café with a world-class fully managed service. From design through to operation services, it’s a true onestop-shop. BI: How do you expect Moments by Lavazza Professional to develop in the future? AW: We will aim to harness new technologies, such as auto camera recognition, and to expand its offer by adapting to the latest market trends. We’re also keen to listen to and learn from customer feedback to ensure we consistently deliver a best-in-class experience. lavazzapro.co.uk/systems/micro-cafe With AshleyWeller, UK Market Director, Lavazza Professional AshleyWeller
01732 759725 13 magazine
businessinfomag.uk magazine 14 On September 29, Exertis, a leading distributor of consumer and business products, brought together 25 of its top technology and lifestyle brands at the inaugural Exertis Exclusive showcase at The Steel Yard, London. Companies including, but not limited to, Samsung, LG,Wacom, Swann, Toshiba, Netgear, JBL, Nicky Clarke, Tado, TP Link, Cricut, Roku, Pioneer DJ and Exertis’ own brands Flexson and Kitsound demonstrated the latest consumer tech products to 100 technology and lifestyle journalists, writers, reviewers and influencers. Despite the strong consumer focus, business-oriented devices and solutions were also to be found, notably the new Wacom Cintiq Pro 27in creative pen display (and new Pro Pen 3) for top end creatives, graphic designers, post-production studios and gaming companies. Even some consumer products had definite cross-over appeal. It is easy to imagine the stylishly retro lines of the Moccamaster coffee maker (the original design from 1974 but now in 21 colours) gracing a company reception area or boardroom; and Business Info The connected consumer would love to see a versatile cricut digital cutting machine (and associated app and heat presses for mugs and t-shirts) being used in a marketing department to create eye-catching promotional materials from vinyl, card, wood, fabric and metal. Smart products With the high cost of energy, plenty of small businesses could benefit from the smart thermostat and radiator controls shown by tado and Hive, which both companies claim can save the average customer £200 to £300 per year. The same could be said for the Tapo smart home range from TP-Link. The number one networking manufacturer for 11 straight years, TP-Link sees the smart home as a logical next step and since introducing its Tapo brand to the UK three years ago with energymonitoring smart plugs it has been adding to its range with smart bulbs, contact sensors, motion sensors, batteryoperated outdoor cameras, smart light switches and, soon, a smart door bell. Plenty of cross-over appeal there. Meeting the security needs of home owners and presumably also small businesses, Swann was showing its new AllSecure650 2KWireless Security Kit, its first Wi-Fi network video recorder (NVR) system to feature completely wire-free, smart cameras with longlife, rechargeable batteries (and secure mounts).With easy set up in minutes, users can look forward to 24/7 security monitoring on a smartphone or smart TV, with the ability to store up to two years of footage on a 1TB hard drive built into the system’s Wi-Fi NVR Power Hub, plus backup to the cloud. WiFi routers NETGEAR, a strong networking brand with a foot in both the business and consumer markets, was showing new whole home MESHWi-Fi products and 5G mobile hotspots that are likely to resonate with the whole family, from teenage gamers to hybrid workers. These include the Orbi 760 Series Exertis highlights consumer tech at inaugural Exertis Exclusive showcase EVENTS Moccamaster coffee maker Swann AllSecure650 LG XBoom 360 XO3
01732 759725 15 magazine EVENTS Boomcube 15 speaker cube and Diggit 2 weatherproof outdoor speaker with removable stake for fixing in the ground). This is just a small selection of the products on display at Exertis Exclusive. There were plenty more which will be featuring in shopfronts, catalogues and seasonal gift guides in the run-up to Christmas, plus a few more that have yet to be launched including interesting options for healthy/green commuters. Look out for more details in 2023. www.exertis.co.uk Wi-Fi 6 router supplied with a year’s worth of NETGEAR Armor multi-layer protection to protect every connected device from internet threats; and the Orbi Quad-band, the industry’s first Quad-band meshWiFi 6E system, offering combinedWiFi speeds of up to 10.8 Gbps across 15,000 square feet. Smartphones & audio New smartphones were being shown by Sony, including its new flagship model, the Xperia 1 IV. Optimised for advanced content creators, this boasts three lenses – a 16mm ultra-wide lens, a 24mm wide lens and the world’s first true optical zoom lens (85-125mm) – with 4K 120 frames per second (fps) slow-motion video recording on all three. As you would expect there were plenty of headsets/headphones on display, from consumer/recreational models to ones specifically designed for hybrid workers, like the OpenComm UC from Shokz, as well as soundbars and wireless speakers from the likes of LG (the LG XBOOM 360 XO3 with 360 degree sound and mood lighting customisable via the XBOOM App), JBL Harman (PartyBox Encore splash-proof party speaker with light effects and wireless mic) and Exertis own-brand KitSound (Boombar 30 speaker bar, Orbi Quad-band Shokz OpenComm UC Wacom Cintiq Pro Sony Xperia 1 IV KitSound Diggit 2 KitSound Boomcube 15 Cricut maker
businessinfomag.uk magazine 16 MPS The post-pandemic transformation of offices is proceeding at pace, with the role and requirements of the modern workplace undergoing fundamental changes caused by hybrid working and the ‘great resignation’, reveals market insight and research firm Quocirca in The Future of Work, 2025. Based on a study of 1,021 office workers and 521 IT decision-makers in SMBs and large enterprises in the UK, France, Germany and the US, the third edition of Quocirca’s Global Print 2025 report highlights the emergence of a hybrid workplace catering to the needs of employees. Below, we publish some key findings with commentary from Quocirca Director Louella Fernandes. People: a workforce in flux n 42% of respondents intend to leave their jobs in the next 12 months, with mental health concerns and a lack of appreciation by employers cited as key drivers. n 69% believe flexible working will change perceptions of what makes a good company culture. n 67% of businesses expect to lose talent if they don’t offer flexible work options. n 36% of workforces already work remotely and 44% will do so by 2025. Fernandes comments: “The ‘Great Resignation’ is still strongly in evidence and businesses are acutely aware that they must address employee wellbeing. Offering a flexible, hybrid work environment with a rich variety of enabling technology can help retain talent by putting the employee – rather than the building – at the centre of the corporate experience. Additionally, employers must be mindful of the impact of the energy crisis. This may prompt more employees to consider returning to the office to reduce home energy consumption, but businesses will also be aiming for efficiency in their office footprint to minimise energy costs and emissions.” (Further discussion of the effects of the energy crisis on employee work preferences and employer strategies can Print and the office of the future be found here: https://quocirca.com/ content/will-the-energy-crisis-lureremote-workers-back-to-the-office/) Place: a new purpose for the office n 56% believe the physical workspace will be used only as an occasional meeting point, primarily for the purposes of in-person collaboration. n 40% expect to see an increase in retained office space vs. 35% who anticipate a reduction. Fernandes comments: “There is a clear change in how employees perceive the role and purpose of offices. The focus is on occasional in-person collaboration rather than daily work. We also found growing anticipation of metaverse-enabling office technology, with 61% expecting workers to mainly communicate through video and augmented or virtual reality by 2025.” Print: print-digital convergence accelerates n Decision-makers and office workers have different views on the future of print, with 72% of ITDMs saying print will be important by 2025, compared to only 50% of office workers. n 32% say that digitisation of paperbased processes will be extremely important to digital transformation initiatives, rising from 15% today. n 20% of print environments will be fully cloud-based by 2025, compared to just 4% today. Fernandes comments: “Print volumes are unlikely to recover to pre-pandemic levels. The digitisation of paper-based processes was catalysed during the crisis and this drive is set to continue.We will see print provision becoming more flexible and cloud-based, with print being reserved for high value documents and customer-facing communications, rather than day-to-day use. This also aligns with companies’ drive towards the less-paper office.” Planet: sustainability continues to drive action n 67% say sustainability will be a highly important credential for businesses by 2025. n Print policies, cloud print management solutions and managed print services are all being used to address sustainability, with digital leaders having many more print-related tools in place to meet sustainability goals than digital laggards*. Fernandes comments: “Sustainability has a strong influence on business decision-making. Therefore, suppliers must ensure they are communicating environmental benefits alongside efficiency and financial benefits. The print industry seems to have some catching up to do, as we found organisations that are sustainability leaders** are least likely to say their deepest relationship will be with a print manufacturer by 2025.” Providers: print manufacturers are losing influence to IT services providers n Only 16% of respondents expect their deepest relationship to be with print manufacturers by 2025, a fall from 18% today and 26% in our 2019 study. n 26% expect their strongest relationship to be with IT services providers in 2025. Fernandes comments: “Print manufacturers must prioritise diversifying their offerings to incorporate in-demand services such as security and cloud print capabilities if they are to deepen their customer relationships. We are already seeing manufacturers innovating around security, cloud and sustainability, exploring the IT services space for themselves.We expect to see more of this as the sector strives to retain relevance with customers. “Nevertheless, the pace of evolution will need to increase to keep up with demand for diverse, flexible office provision that puts employees at the centre, as customers seek to retain and support a fragile workforce.” Quocirca’s ‘The Future of Work, 2025’ report is available to subscribers and to buy here: https://print2025.com/ reports/quocirca-future-of-work-2025/. A complimentary executive summary is available at the same link. www.quocirca.com Quocirca Future of Work Study tracks rise of the employee-centric hybrid workplace Louella Fernandes * For the purpose of the report, Quocirca categorises organisations as Digital Leaders (44%), Digital Followers (39%) and Digital Laggards (15%) based on the importance they attach to the digitisation of paperbased processes. ** Sustainability leaders are those who currently consider sustainability to be extremely important.
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