1 Title Standfirst THE TECHNOLOGY & WORKPLACE MAGAZINE FOR SMES & PUBLIC SECTOR ORGANISATIONS WWW.BUSINESSINFOMAG.UK ISSUE160 SIGNAGE Cobal brings a new dimension to workplace signage PAGE 24 CPC success for Canon See page 14 SECURITY How Verkada is improving security at GAIL’s Bakery PAGE 12 SOFTWARE Monday.com supports UK growth with move to bigger office PAGE 20
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01732 759725 magazine 04 Bulletin Today’s office workers enjoy more frequent and longer-lasting breaks 06 Sustainability It’s time to be more positive about sustainability, urges The Willow Report 08 What’s New New products for the home, office and all places in-between 12 Security How Verkada is helping GAIL’s Bakery improve security and enhance the customer experience 14 What’s New in MFPs UK workers play fast and loose with printer security, warns Sharp 16 Product Review Jeff Root reviews the Poly Sync 10-M speakerphone and HP Envy 6120e inkjet all-in-one 18 Sourcing Michelle Lau, MD of Alibaba.com France, highlights the growing role of AI‑enhanced digital platforms in SME sourcing strategies 19 Procurement Amazon Business passes 8 millioncustomer milestone 20 Software Monday.com relocates to bigger offices to support continued growth 24 Signage Are you making the most of signage to boost your brand identity and create a more engaging workplace? 26 Cybersecurity Mike Fry of Logicalis UK&I explains how Managed XDR can take your cyber resilience to the next level 27 Data Security Stolen devices a bigger cause of data loss than ransomware, warns Blancco 28 Business Briefing How HP is helping NHS Primary Care unlock efficiency and cost savings 30 On Test The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 32 On Test Neil Trim reviews the HP Poly Voyager Surround 80 Headset 33 Opinion Dave McGrail, Head of Business Consultancy at Xalient, explains how Digital Twins can enhance network management and security 34 Cybersecurity Arctic Wolf’s Clare Loveridge outlines the benefits of employing a managed security service provider to counter the growing cyber threat 35 Networks New optical ground station to accelerate development of unhackable next-generation communications networks 03 IN THIS ISSUE: 160 – Q2 Editor: James Goulding 0780 308 7228 · [email protected] Publishing Director, Social Media & Web Editor: Neil Trim 01732 759725 · [email protected] Advertising Director: Ethan White 01732 759725 · [email protected] Advertising Executive: James Trim 01732 759725 · [email protected] Designer: Brian Cloke 07484 288189 · [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 2025 Kingswood Media Ltd. ISSN 1464-8814 FOR THE LATEST INDUSTRY NEWS VISIT: WWW.BUSINESSINFOMAG.UK Kingswood Media Ltd., 7 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]
businessinfomag.uk magazine 04 BULLETIN Thrive incentivising staff to improve physical and mental wellbeing UK-based learning tech firm Thrive is building on its no meetings policy and four-day week trial, with the launch of an internal initiative that uses Whoop wearable technology and real-time data to improve physical and mental wellbeing, performance and retention. The ‘Wellness Era’ programme incentivises staff to improve sleep, manage stress and stay active through personalised challenges and the chance to win a range of cash rewards, spa vouchers and other wellness perks. Employees who opt-in to wearable tracking can participate in 12 monthly challenges, such as Snooze for Success, which rewards employees for getting a good night’s sleep; Move More Monday, which encourages staff to start the week with 45 minutes of physical activity; Wellness Walks, featuring step count challenges; and Pedal Power, with mileage targets via road, spin or Peleton. The programme alerts Thrive when individuals encounter issues, such as sleep difficulties, decision‑making and cost savings of more than 11%. Three quarters (72%) of employees who use AI say it saves time, with one in ten saving more than five hours per week. One in three says it contributes to a better work-life balance and reduced stress (38% and 33% respectively). Despite these benefits, over one quarter of business leaders still don’t have a formal AI strategy in place. For them, Neil Sawyer, HP Managing Director for Northwest Europe, has a simple message: “AI is no longer a ‘nice to have’, it’s a business imperative,” he said. “Companies that fail to act now risk falling behind their competitors, losing productivity and missing out on the efficiency gains AI is already delivering. By embedding AI directly into secure, familiar devices, organisations can overcome trust and usability challenges and scale adoption with confidence.” www.hp.com Built-in AI key to adoption, says HP Could AI PCs accelerate the adoption of AI and enable more workers to enjoy the productivity benefits already experienced by early adopters? New research by YouGov and HP suggests they might, with 54% of business leaders surveyed saying they would adopt AI more readily if it was built into employee devices and 29% of employees saying they’d use AI more if it was embedded in tools that they already use or that don’t require an internet connection (10%). With built-in, devicelevel intelligence, AI PCs enhance security, simplify deployment and support automation of routine tasks and data-based insights. Almost half of organisations that are already using AI say it helps reduce time spent on admin, with one third reporting better B U L L E T I N Office workers enjoy more frequent and longer breaks Today’s in-office and hybrid workers have taken their foot off the gas since the fully remote-work era of 2021 and are enjoying a better work-life balance as a result, according to new figures from the productivity monitoring and time tracking tool DeskTime. Work-life balance and employee productivity data collected from 60,000 DeskTime users between January and December 2024 shows that the most productive 10% of employees now do 75 minutes of work followed by a pause of 33 minutes (a work:rest ratio of around 2:1). In 2021, the most productive remote workers worked for longer stretches (112 minutes) and took shorter breaks (26 minutes), creating a work:rest ratio of circa 4:1. This new work pattern means that today’s in-office and hybrid employees are able to take four breaks over an 8-hour workday compared to the fully remote workers in 2021 who could take only three (shorter) breaks. The proportion of the working day people now spend actually working has fallen to 69%, from 81% in 2021. Artis Rozentals, CEO of DeskTime, argues that these figures suggest in-office or hybrid work encourages a healthier work-life balance than fully remote work and that spending at least a few days per week in the office could be beneficial for employees. He said: “When DeskTime conducted the work/break ratio study back in 2021, we saw that working from home had immensely impacted workers’ ability to draw a line between work and life. Now, our latest productivity research shows we’re returning to more balanced working habits, which may be linked to working in-office again. “Working from the office, we’re naturally prone to taking more breaks – getting coffee, talking to co-workers etc. While these interruptions may seem unproductive at first, they’re vital for mental rejuvenation and contribute to employee wellbeing. Plus, it provides us with the necessary social dynamic of a workplace. Ultimately, my experience as a CEO has shown that the hybrid model is the goldilocks choice, as it best leverages both this in‑office social dynamic and the deep focus afforded by remote work.” In 2014, when DeskTime conducted its first study into people’s working habits, it found that the most productive 10% of people worked for shorter periods, an average of 52 minutes, and took more frequent, shorter breaks of 17 minutes. With a work:rest ratio of 3:1, this 52/17 rule gained widespread popularity and is still in use today. www.desktime.com Artis Rozentals
01732 759725 magazine 05 BULLETIN homes, for example by improving the performance of heat pumps in nearby homes, using lowtemperature heat networks and storing heat for later use. The three other projects are: SHARED, exploring the use of low-cost hydrogen production and storage to improve energy resilience in rural communities; Conductor, exploring how the installation of large-scale battery storage in under-used rail substations could provide power to electric trains and reduce the need for network upgrades to reduce peak loads; and Super DuPPR (Dual Purpose Power Reserves), exploring how backup power stored by operators such as BT can be shared with the electricity grid when there’s less renewable energy available without destabilising the system. implemented change management strategy for AI, are 29% less likely to cite fears around AI affecting employee engagement and are 67% more likely to agree that their organisation has the tools and processes to make an accurate inventory of employees’ skills. Maryjo Charbonnier, Chief Human Resources Officer at Kyndryl, said: “Preparing your workforce for the era of AI is easy to say, hard to do and an urgent imperative for business leaders. It’s about anticipating the business impacts of AI, understanding and integrating your skill data with your customer demand and having a multi-pronged approach for equipping employees to build the skills they need and to learn to use generative AI tools in their work.” www.kyndryl.com … Data central heating UK Power Networks, the UK’s biggest electricity distributor, has secured ‘Discovery’ phase funding from OFGEM’s Strategic Innovation Fund for four projects designed to support the transition to Net Zero and enhance sustainability, flexibility and resilience in the UK energy system. These include the Hot Chip project to explore the feasibility of repurposing waste heat from data centres to heat people’s and suggests proactive, targeted support options like wellbeing kits or spa vouchers. Employees who don’t want to take part in wearables-based challenges can participate in other activities such as dog walks, a 5k run club and family park runs. They can also ‘expense’ team sports activities like paddle tennis, rock climbing and badminton. Thrive Co-CEO Cassie Gasson anticipates a significant return on investment through increased productivity, enhanced goal attainment and a more balanced and fulfilling work-life experience for employees. She said: “At Thrive, we believe our employees are our greatest asset and their wellbeing is directly linked to our success. We also understand that true wellbeing is a continuous journey, not a fleeting trend. That’s why we’re committed to cultivating a sustainable culture of wellbeing and we’re constantly looking for innovative ways to improve their lives, both inside and outside of work. Our ‘Wellness Era’ is just the latest experiment in our ongoing quest to create a productive and fulfilling workplace.” www.thrivelearning.com … Employees take the rap for slow AI adoption Almost three quarters (71%) of senior executives say their workforces are not ready to leverage AI successfully, warns enterprise technology services provider Kyndryl. Its first People Readiness Report, based on a global survey of 1,000 senior business and technology executives, shows that while 95% of businesses have invested in AI, 51% of executives say their organisation lacks the skills needed to manage AI. Almost half (45%) of CEOs believe that most of their employees are resistant or even openly hostile to AI. While most organisations are not yet benefiting from AI use cases that will drive new products and services for their customers, the report identifies a small subset of AI Pacesetters that are successfully addressing barriers to adoption. These organisations are three times more likely to have a fully UK Power Networks is exploring the use of excess heat from data centres to warm people’s homes Belfast celebrates birth of Digital Twin Centre The official opening of the UK Digital Twin Centre in Belfast is expected to accelerate the adoption of digital twin technology by UK industry, adding £62 million in GVA to the economy over the next decade. A Digital Twin is a dynamic virtual representation, or twin, of a physical asset, process or system that turns data into real-time insights that can optimise performance, reduce costs and predict outcomes before they happen. Delivered by Digital Catapult, the UK Digital Twin Centre has been funded by the Belfast Region City Deal, Innovate UK and co-investing industry partners Artemis Technologies, Spirit AeroSystems and Thales UK. These industry partners have already utilised the Centre’s facilities, including a 360-degree immersive space and advanced technology lab, to demonstrate how digital twins can solve complex operational challenges in improving product design, building supply chain resilience and decarbonising operations. The UK Digital Twin Centre aims to demystify digital twins and give businesses a practical route to adoption by providing expert support, shared learnings, test environments and tools to validate industry use cases. digicat.org.uk/UK-Digital-Twin-Centre
businessinfomag.uk magazine SUSTAINABILITY 06 a five-point sustainability plan for SMEs based upon its findings that, amongst SMEs that are profiting from sustainability, 65% now use sustainable materials, 60% have introduced waste reduction measures, 57% have reduced business travel and 45% now partner with sustainable suppliers. It advises SMEs to: Switch to sustainable materials. Reduce travel and optimise logistics. Minimise waste. Take action on energy. Partner with sustainable suppliers and clients. It also advocates participation in mentoring and peer-networking and tracking sustainability measures (such as carbon emissions and waste reduction) to demonstrate and motivate progress. The report calls on financial services organisations to do more to educate SMEs about the commercial opportunities in going green; to help SMEs develop business plans that clarify the return on investment (ROI) for sustainability initiatives; and to offer simplified access to finance and better promotion of existing funding options. Most of the report’s 14 recommendations are directed at Government and also concern easing access to finance as well as implementing local sustainability champions who can guide businesses to funding options and support. https://willowreview.com through increased sales to the public and trade, who are keen to back our sustainable spirits.” Sira Dheshan Naidu, Owner and Co-Founder at Disruptor London, a sustainable skin, hair and beard care brand, also sees a link between sustainability and brand loyalty. He said: “By embedding responsible practices throughout our business, we’ve created a model that not only differentiates us in a competitive market but drives economic resilience through high customer retention and lasting loyalty that contributes around 35% of our business.” Enduring obstacles While many businesses are gaining a commercial advantage from their investment in sustainability, The Willow Review points out that there are also many SMEs that want to act more sustainably but are struggling with complexity, mixed messaging and a lack of time, funding or accessible support. This echoes earlier research from Small Business Britain and BT which found that 53% of small business owners feel they lack the time or resource to take sustainability action. In The Willow Review’s own survey of 425 small businesses, conducted by Small Business Britain, 72% cited the perceived cost of implementation and/or access to finance as key barriers. Five-point plan To help more SMEs embrace sustainability and identify changes to boost their growth, The Willow Review recommends The Willow Review, an independent, Government-backed review established last autumn to identify the financial benefits of going green for the UK’s 5.45 million small firms, has made 14 recommendations on how to encourage a ‘mass shift’ in sustainability adoption by SMEs to boost business resilience and growth. These include promoting a more positive message about sustainability and positioning the green transition as a profit-driving opportunity, not simply a cost to be managed. Michelle Ovens CBE, Founder of Small Business Britain and Co-Chair of The Willow Review, said: “Too often, sustainability has been presented as a moral obligation or regulatory hurdle, rather than an opportunity for growth and resilience. We must change the conversation. Through deep engagement with the small business community, we have uncovered powerful examples of businesses using sustainability to cut costs, reach new markets and build stronger relationships with customers and employees alike. The small businesses that embrace this now will not only future-proof themselves, but also lead the way in shaping a more resilient and inclusive economy for the UK.” The Willow Review’s final report, published at the start of June, reveals that of the SMEs that are already seeing benefits from sustainability, 67% have cut operational costs, over half are attracting new customers and one third are seeing improved customer loyalty. An example of the former is Cooper King Distillery in Yorkshire, which has cut its annual energy costs by £9,722 by installing solar panels. Co-founder and Director Chris Cooper said: “We’ve seen a raft of financial benefits thanks to our sustainable business model. These can be attributed to reduced energy and water use, waste reduction (we are a zero waste distillery) and It’s time to be positive about the commercial opportunities in sustainability, says The Willow Review Pivoting from cost to profit Cooper King Distillery: raising a glass to sustainability Sira Dheshan Naidu and Juan Jose Jimenez Anca, Disruptor London
Why Spitfire’s One Network? Are you at risk from: • Poor device visibility and erratic management? • Requirement for third party remote access? • Default or weak passwords? • Software security updates? • Transmission of unencrypted data? One Network uses MPLS to combine mobile, fixed line and cloud connectivity into a secure private network. A low cost, no fuss, business and IoT solution that is both invisible and unreachable to external threats. Easily built using whichever primary and backup access components are required to connect your sites, users, devices and servers - wherever they may be located - without the need for time consuming VPN tunnel configurations. What could be simpler, or safer? Call us today, to find out more. www.spitfire.co.uk/iot-security Telecoms and IP Engineering Solutions for Business since 1988 Innovative • Flexible • Reliable • Supportive • Cost Effective Sales 020 7501 3333 • Partner Services 020 7501 3150 VOICE INTERNET I O T W A N www.spitfire.co.uk Key Benefits No public internet traversal Avoid need for encryption MPLS private networks available Fixed or dynamic IP addresses Private APN available Invisible and unreachable to external threats Looking for mitigation with one easy, cost effective and time efficient solution ? Worried about IOT security?
businessinfomag.uk magazine 08 INNOVATION Born to be wired There’s no doubting the convenience of wireless connectivity, but there are still environments that require wired technology for reliability and security, from financial trading floors and medical facilities to schools or shared workspaces, where missing keyboards and mice can bring productivity to a halt. To meet their needs, Logitech has expanded its Signature Slim series with a Signature Slim Wired MK620 Combo for Business, bringing together an MK620 keyboard and an M520/M520 L mouse designed to fit left-handed and right-handed users. The keyboard is just as versatile, featuring a switch that allows users to toggle between Windows, MacOS and ChromeOS operating systems and a dedicated AI Launch Key for instantly accessing Copilot for Windows or Gemini for ChromeOS (customisable to launch other AI tools such as ChatGPT and Perplexity). The Logi Tune app gives users the ability to configure additional keyboard short cuts, including meeting controls for Microsoft Teams, Google Meet and Zoom. Environmental features include a minimum of 66% post-consumer recycled content for plastic parts; paper packaging derived from FSC-certified forests and other controlled sources; and 50% lower energy consumption than the previous MK120 wired combo. www.logitech.com/business On the up HONOR, now the fourth largest OEM manufacturer of smartphones in Europe, is looking to maintain its strong UK growth with the launch of the HONOR 400 Series. With opening week sales 183% higher than its predecessor model, the HONOR 400 builds on last year’s 70% rise in UK sales of HONOR smartphones. Key selling points of the new HONOR 400 Pro 5G and HONOR 400 5G include a 200MP Ultra-clear AI Camera and AI Image Editing features, such as an HD Moving Photo feature which captures five seconds of live action for sharing on social platforms, and image enhancement features like ‘AI Eraser’, ‘AI Outpainting’, ‘AI Erase passers-by’ and ‘AI Remove Reflection’. https://www.honor.com/uk/phones/ honor-400-pro/buy/ Motoring ahead PPDS, the exclusive global provider of Philips Professional Displays and complementary solutions, has added an all-new ‘foldable’ and ‘height adjustable’ all-in-one display to its advanced, low energy direct view LED portfolio. The company’s new 135-inch Philips Unite LED 6000 Series All In One will be welcomed not just by customers looking to make a bold impression or transition away from smaller LCD screens but also by installers and FMs fed up with the mobility and accessibility challenges of large displays. Inspired by the portable and fixed direct view LED solutions PPDS has created for Oracle Red Bull Racing, the Philips Unite LED 6000 Series All In One overcomes installation, moving and storage difficulties with a new foldable design that enables it to fit easily through any standard-sized door, including elevators, and a motorised trolley for effortless height adjustment. Jeroen Brants, Global Product Director for LED at PPDS, said: “One of the biggest and often unforeseen issues with larger displays, whether LED or LCD, is around accessibility. Sometimes an order will arrive for installation that can’t get through the door due to size. I’ve seen boxes being left in reception because they cannot physically fit in the lift, or in some more extreme and costly circumstances, products being dropped and damaged while being carried up flights of stairs. We took this on board. And with our Philips Unite LED 6000 Series All In One, we have a solution that fits.” Part of this is a new motorised trolley offering smooth and safe electric-lifting to accommodate all possibilities and room types, including sloping environments or areas with rising seating, such as a lecture theatre or auditorium. An integrated emergency stop can detect any obstruction and halt movement to avoid mishaps during lifting or lowering, preventing potential injury or damage to equipment. When in use, presenters can smoothly adjust the display height with just the push of a button, ensuring perfect viewing in any setting. Offering added convenience for rental or exhibition customers, the Philips Unite LED 6000 Series All In One will be available with a flight case that allows the display to be stored neatly when not in use and easily moved and redeployed on demand. www.ppds.com A bigger boom Conferencing manufacturer Boom Collaboration has expanded its ‘meeting room in a box’ range with the launch of an all-in-one video kit for larger meeting spaces, boardrooms and conference rooms. The BYOM Large Room Pro Kit brings together the Boom MAGNA Pro Ultra HD 4K PTZ camera for crystalclear video, the Boom GEMINI HD USB/ Bluetooth speakerphone kit for wide audio coverage, and the Boom ZYGO easy connect hub for effortless plugand-play connectivity. Boom Co‑Founder Holli Hulett said: “With just one cable, users can connect any device and instantly access high-quality video, audio and screen sharing. This kit makes conferencing seamless and professional, especially in larger rooms where complexity often increases.” boom.co
01732 759725 magazine Built for durability Samsung has expanded its range of rugged work companions with the launch of the enterprise-ready Galaxy XCover7 Pro smartphone (RRP £559) and Galaxy Tab Active5 Pro tablet (RRP £769). Designed for frontline workers in retail, government, logistics, healthcare and manufacturing, the devices combine ruggedised durability, enterprise-grade security, seamless connectivity and AIdriven features to help businesses operate efficiently in harsh conditions. Both devices feature IP68-rated water and dust resistance (the Tab Active5 Pro’s S Pen can also function in certain wet conditions); are MIL-STD-810H-certified to withstand drops, extreme temperatures and vibrations; are tested for use with common workplace sanitisers, ensuring durability in environments requiring frequent cleaning; feature enhanced touch sensitivity, allowing seamless use with compatible gloves; and come with Vision Booster, which improves screen readability in bright environments. In addition, the Tab Active5 Pro features Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+, offering enhanced scratch and impact protection; a display brightness of up to 600 nits, up from 480 nits in the previous model; and front-facing NFC Tagging, enhancing usability in retail, hospitality and logistics environments where fast, secure interactions are essential. Both devices offer enhanced mobility and reliability, with support for 5G connectivity, an upgraded processor and increased memory and enhanced battery life (on the Tab Active5 Pro, this includes Dual Hot-Swap battery functionality, allowing workers to replace batteries without powering down their devices). Samsung’s latest ruggedised devices also introduce AI-driven enhancements, such as high-performance chipsets, enhanced usability features and AI‑powered tools like Circle to Search with Google, Object Eraser, AI Select and Read Aloud. Connectivity features include Samsung DeX, allowing users to connect to a monitor or PC and transition seamlessly between mobile and desktop environments, and POGO charging interfaces that enable workplaces with POGO docks to charge multiple devices at the same time. news.samsung.com/uk/galaxy 09 INNOVATION A better experience HP has announced the UK availability of its Workforce Experience Platform, an AI-enabled digital employee experience solution designed to manage, secure and support IT environments while improving employee engagement and productivity. Available in three plans (Standard, Professional and Elite), the managed service leverages device intelligence, user sentiment insights and AI automation across PCs, printers and IT infrastructure to deliver real-time recommendations and analytics via a unified dashboard. Highlights include AI-generated technology recommendations for each user; natural language querying that enables IT admins to ask simple questions such as ‘Which devices need storage upgrades?’; crossplatform, multi-vendor visibility, device monitoring and support, with seamless integration into tools such as Microsoft Power BI, ServiceNow and Tableau; smart lifecycle planning, using predictive analytics to recommend timely device upgrades; continuous tracking of employees’ satisfaction with digital tools and environments; and automated driver and BIOS updates that reduce manual workloads for IT departments. https://workforceexperience.hp.com Where’s my Clipper? Customer experience agency Brandwidth has created a journey planning app that gives users of Uber Boat by Thames Clippers live tracking features familiar to users of rail and bus apps. The app for iOS and Android combines real-time boat and passenger capacity tracking, integrated journey planning covering 24 London piers, ticket sales and access to the Uber Boat by Thames Clippers River Guide, enabling passengers to browse curated sightseeing routes, cultural hotspots and hidden gems along the Thames. www.thamesclippers.com/commuters/download-the-tickets-app Scan as you go Canon group company IRIS has announced the highly portable IRISPen Air 8 smart pen scanner. As well as offering easy text scanning on the go, this versatile device and associated IRIS software suite can transform text into speech and translate it into more than 40 languages. It can even translate text in scanned photos. Other features include an integrated Collins English Dictionary, the ability to play imported MP3 files and expandable storage capacity via an external SD card. The IRISPen Air 8 is compatible with Windows, Mac, iOS and Android and, for easy navigation, features a colour screen with icons for scanning, saving, editing and transforming text. www.iriscorporate continued... Canon IRIS ISSUE 160
businessinfomag.uk magazine 10 INNOVATION UiPath is hoping to break down barriers to enterprise AI adoption with the launch of a single intelligent system that integrates AI agents, robots and people in agentic workflows, reliably and securely. Billed as the ‘first enterprise-grade platform for agentic automation’, the next-generation UiPath Platform transforms workflows by enabling developers to build, deploy and manage AI agents and robots at scale, with open and secure orchestration for centralised oversight, monitoring and guardrails. UiPath says that uniting AI agents capable of human-like reasoning and learning, robots for executing tasks and people represents the next act for a platform already used by 10,000-plus organisations. Document generation platform Templafy has introduced a conversational, agentic AI tool that makes it quicker and easier for enterprises to automate the creation of structured, branded and compliant documents, from email responses to presentations and business proposals. Templafy describes its Document Agents system as ‘a significant leap forward in the company’s mission to power enterprise productivity’ that can also boost the accuracy and quality of agent output. It estimates that businesses can save up to 30 working days annually per employee by automating document generation with Document Agents and its conversational user interface. Unlike existing tools which provide basic output or draft documents for internal use only, Document Agents acts as a new mid-layer in document generation, orchestrating AI-powered document agents and streamlining the entire document creation process. Document Agents integrates with any AI model, applies guardrails, leverages RAG (retrieval-augmented generation) and compiles document components (e.g. pricing, proposals) into a cohesive output. Document Agents will be available later this year. AnywhereNow has enhanced its Dialogue Cloud Contact Centre for Microsoft Teams, with the launch of Dialogue AI Assist, a collection of more than 30 ready-made AI assistants designed to automate tasks and empower human agents to work more efficiently and confidently. Powered by the company’s AI assistant platform Deepdesk and based on applications used by existing customers, they provide a range of capabilities including intelligent routing, transcription, sentiment analysis, summarisations, knowledge assistance and best next action recommendations. AnywhereNow CEO Will Blench said: “Organisations can now access Agentic AI capabilities without complexity and risk, at an affordable price, fully embedded within our market-leading Dialogue Cloud Contact Centre for Microsoft Teams.” A Philips first New from Philips Monitors, the Philips 34B2U3600C is the company’s first model to have TCO Certified, generation 10 accreditation and a 5-year warranty. TCO Certified, generation 10 is a global sustainability certification for IT products covering environmental, social and circular economy criteria. Features of the 34‑inch curved VA display include UWQHD resolution and 1.07 billion colours for rich, vivid images; 5W speakers for easy video conferencing; extra connectivity through a USB-C dock with 90W power delivery and RJ45 for secure network connection; enhanced eye comfort with TÜV Rheinland Eyesafe certification and SoftBlue Technology; an adjustable base; SmartKVM for seamless source switching via a keyboard shortcut; and MultiView for simultaneous dual connection and viewing. https://www.philips.co.uk/cp/34B2U3600C_00/ Made for sharing Apricorn, a manufacturer of software-free, 256-bit AES XTS hardware-encrypted USB data storage devices, is addressing the connectivity needs of hybrid workers and hot desking and shared workspaces with the launch of the Aegis Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station. Featuring 11 ports, including three Thunderbolt 4 (40Gbps) ports for high-speed data transfer, the docking station enables users to connect and power multiple peripherals. Enhanced security features include two Kensington Security slots to prevent unauthorised removal or theft of the device. https://apricorn.com/aegis-thunderbolt-4-docking-station Enterprise resilience platform New from Semperis, the Ready1 enterprise resilience platform is designed to bring structure, speed and coordination to cyber crisis management. Unifying stakeholders, coordinators and technical teams under one secure platform, it ensures seamless crisis response through preparation, collaboration and enterprisewide communications. Instead of using 20+ disparate tools for cyber crisis response, the average for enterprises, Ready1 consolidates fragmented crisis management, IR, downtime planning and communication tools into a single platform offering a secure command centre with live dashboards and playbook automation; real-time coordination across teams and external partners; integrated tools for communications, documentation and task tracking; and always-on readiness through tabletop testing, role-based team building and after-action reviews. Ready1.com Agentic AI Update …continued Philips 34B2U3600C ISSUE 160
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businessinfomag.uk 12 Tellivue, a specialist in CCTV and access control installations, including Verkada solutions. Designed with simplicity in mind, Verkada’s six product lines – video security cameras, access control, environmental sensors, alarms, workplace and intercoms – offer enhanced management via an integrated, cloud-based software platform. To date, more than 30,000 organisations in 93 countries, including 91 of the Fortune 500, use Verkada for their physical security layer. “When I saw Verkada’s capabilities – which are all accessible from my phone – I knew it was the solution we needed to streamline our operations and enhance security across all our stores,” explained Parker. Delivering the scalability and centralised control that GAIL’s Bakery needs, Verkada’s unified platform and cloud-connected solutions allow Parker’s team to remotely monitor stores from any device, reducing the need for on-site presence and travel and eliminating the inefficiencies of having varied security systems in each location. “What impressed me most was the ability to access everything from my phone or desktop,” said Parker. “We could finally manage all our locations in one place, which was a game-changer. The time and money we’ve saved with Verkada has made it an investment we wish we had made sooner.” Ardon Anderson, Vice President of EMEA at Verkada, added: “We’re excited to support GAIL’s Bakery with a security solution that not only protects their people and assets but also makes day-to-day operations smoother. This partnership shows how a unified, cloud-based platform can make a difference, especially for businesses with multiple locations that need a simple, scalable way to stay safe and secure.” www.verkada.com GAIL’s can ensure compliance with food safety standards, monitor allergen handling and maintain quality control. Optimised store layouts – Visual intelligence from cameras, such as heat maps and trajectory analysis, has helped GAIL’s to optimise layouts and customer flows in its retail storefronts. Lower legal fees and settlements – “One major benefit of Verkada’s system is its impact on how we process insurance claims,” said Parker. “We’ve been able to disprove fraudulent claims by providing clear footage of the incidents, saving us significant amounts in legal fees and settlements.” Faster investigations – A new Verkada feature, AI-Powered Search, has reduced incident investigation times by 25%, significantly speeding up incident resolution. “Instead of scrolling through hours of footage, we can search based on simple descriptions like the colour of a shirt or object. It has made investigations much faster,” said Parker. Enhanced security and operations Since opening its first craft bakery in Hampstead in 2005, serving handmade bread, sandwiches, salads, pastries and cakes alongside specialty coffee and barista-made drinks, GAIL’s Bakery has extended its network of bakeries to more than 170 neighbourhoods across the UK, including in London, Cambridge, Oxford, Brighton and Manchester. As the company grew, managing security and operations across multiple sites became increasingly complex, as each location operated its own security system. This lack of consistency made oversight of its fast-growing footprint difficult and inefficient. To address these challenges, GAIL’s Bakery partnered with Gentrification bellwether GAIL’s Bakery is streamlining security and operational processes across its 170-plus UK locations through a combination of Verkada physical security solutions and cloud-based remote management. The renowned bakery has installed Verkada video security cameras, access control systems and air quality sensors to protect assets and improve employee safety, operational efficiency and quality control in its retail storefronts and bakeries. Brett Parker, Property Director at GAIL’s Bakery, said: “Verkada has been a game-changer for us. The ability to remotely monitor our bakeries, track food preparation and investigate incidents has delivered tangible benefits”. These include: Reduced theft – Motion grids and AI-powered analytics have helped GAIL’s Bakery identify theft incidents quickly and provide clear evidence to local authorities. Improved team oversight – The ability of facilities managers to remotely monitor 75% of floor space and oversee multiple locations reduces the need for travel and speeds up responses to operational issues. Enhanced food safety and quality control – With cameras monitoring food prep stations, GAIL’s Bakery is enhancing safety and the customer experience at its 170-plus UK locations by standardising on Verkada security solutions Verkada rises to the challenge Ardon Anderson magazine SECURITY
01732 759725 magazine 13 manage assets, IT support, and parcel handling more efficiently than ever before, all while reducing operational costs and enhancing user experience. A New Era of Smart Storage “As the pioneers in smart locker solutions, LapSafe® has always been at the forefront of innovation,” said Mark Exley, Director at LapSafe®. “With ONARKEN®AI, we are delivering an unparalleled level of intelligence, security, and efficiency to help organisations transform their workflows and automate critical processes. This is the next evolution of smart storage.” Experience the Future Today LapSafe® is inviting businesses, universities, and IT service providers to experience ONARKEN®AI in action. For more information or to book a demo, visit www.lapsafe.com or contact 0800 130 3456 Email: [email protected] Intelligent Automation – Accurately processes returns, reducing errors and manual admin. Unrivalled Security – Real-time access logs, remote monitoring, and AI confidence thresholds. Seamless Integration – Connects with existing IT service management (ITSM) tools. World-First Innovation – The only smart locker system powered by AI for ultimate efficiency. LapSafe®’s pioneering technology means organisations can now LapSafe®, the industry leader in smart locker solutions, has launched ONARKEN®AI*, the world’s first AI-powered smart locker system, marking a new era in intelligent storage, asset management, and automation. ONARKEN®AI introduces cutting-edge AI-driven content verification, ensuring that every asset, IT device, or parcel is correctly stored, loaned, and returned – without manual intervention. This game-changing innovation eliminates human error, enhances security, and streamlines workflows for businesses, educational institutions, and organisations worldwide. Redefining Smart Lockers with AI Intelligence Designed to seamlessly integrate with IT service management (ITSM) tools, ONARKEN®AI takes automation, security, and efficiency to the next level. Key features include: AI-Driven Asset Verification – Ensures the correct items are dropped off, loaned, or collected. Revolutionising Asset Management, IT Services, and Secure Storage with Game-Changing AI Technology LapSafe® Unveils The World’s First AI-Powered Smart Locker BUSINESS BRIEFING About LapSafe® LapSafe® is the UK’s leading provider of intelligent charging solutions and smart lockers, delivering innovative, secure, and efficient asset management solutions for over 25 years. Trusted by over 85% of UK universities, LapSafe® continues to drive the future of automated smart storage and IT service management. *Patent Pending with UKIPO
businessinfomag.uk magazine 14 WHAT’S NEW CPC success for Canon Canon has significantly expanded the range of products and services it is able to provide to public sector organisations by winning a place on the new Crescent Purchasing Consortium (CPC) Framework for Multifunctional Devices and Associated Services Including Print and Design Services. The framework, which primarily supports 10,000 CPC member institutions in the education sector but is also accessible to any UK public sector organisation, allows Canon to supply an expanded range of products and services including all workspace and production print products and services, wide format and graphic arts products and some ICT services (through its partner Wavenet). Darren Lowe, Managing Director of Crescent Purchasing Consortium, said: “We were delighted to launch our Multifunctional Devices and Associated Products & Services purchasing framework in April, a framework that also covers Print & Design Services. CPC’s vision is to be the procurement services partner of choice for the education sector and, through our work, to help the sector enhance teaching and learning. This new framework does exactly that, helping members with their print requirements, while driving value for money and regulatory compliance.” www.canon.co.uk Sharp introduces compact colour A4 series Sharp has introduced two space-saving A4 colour devices for homes and offices, with a strong focus on sustainability and data security. The BP-C131WD MFP and BP‑C131PW printer, featuring footprints of just 410mm x 410mm, are built with up to 50% recycled plastic and are supplied in fully recyclable corrugated cardboard packaging, which eliminates the need for polystyrene. In addition, advanced fusing technology ensures they offer the best power consumption in their class. Despite their size, both devices come with a comprehensive range of security features including data encryption and erasure, TLS 1.3 support, user authentication and remote firmware updates. Ben Lake, Senior Product Manager for MFP and Printer Products at Sharp Europe, said: “We recognise the changing needs of organisations, including an increasing focus on sustainability. Our new A4 devices are compact, secure and environmentally responsible, meeting the needs of modern workplaces. By incorporating recycled materials, reducing energy consumption and delivering powerful functionality in a small footprint, we’re enabling organisations to meet their environmental goals without compromising on workplace productivity.” www.sharp.co.uk UK office workers playing fast and loose with printer security Insufficient employee training and lack of awareness of the security risks posed by printers and MFPs are leaving UK organisations vulnerable to data breaches and cyberattacks, warns Sharp Europe. Its pan-European survey of 11,000 office workers, including 1,000 in the UK, reveals that 29% of UK businesses have no IT security measures in place for printers and that across Europe only 14% of employees who have had training on new cyber threats have been specifically trained on printer security. This matters because, as the survey highlights, office workers are not as careful as they should be when it comes to printing: 28% admit to printing files emailed from home on work printers; and 21% print files downloaded from non-work-related websites without considering the associated risks. Only 18% of employees are aware that leaving printouts in MFP output trays can pose a data security risk, potentially enabling a bad actor to gather information for social engineering purposes. Matt Riley, Director for Information Security at Sharp UK and Europe, said: “Our findings underscore the urgent need for businesses across the UK to secure all office endpoint devices and to ensure that employees are properly trained to recognise risks and prevent breaches. In the current cyber landscape, securing overlooked endpoints such as printers is vital to ensure a comprehensive IT security strategy.” He added: “Comprehensive training programmes should support employees in identifying potential threats and educating them on how to report them. By following the two simple principles, observe and report, businesses will have the expertise to stay vigilant in the face of cyber threats.” www.sharp.co.uk/it-services/cybersecurity-services WHAT’S NEW IN MFPs
01732 759725 magazine 15 Fujifilm expands Apeos range with new mono MFPs A year on from the successful launch of the Apeos multifunction printer (MFP) range in the UK, Fujifilm is expanding its range with three new series of monochrome A3 and A4 devices. Matthew Wrighton, Head of Device Technology at Fujifilm Europe, said: “These new monochrome devices are built to the same design specifications as our very successful range of colour A3 MFP models. With this expansion of the Apeos range, Fujifilm now offers both colour and monochrome solutions, from entry-level office printers to high-end devices suitable for a production print environment, meaning that whatever a business’s size and production needs, Fujifilm has a proven solution.” The Apeos 5570 series features two A3 models, the Apeos 5570 and Apeos 4570, with print speeds of 55 and 45 pages per minute respectively and support for paper weights of 52-300 gsm and media sizes from postcards (100 x 148mm) to SRA3, with optional banner printing (320 x 1,200mm). Both models provide single-pass colour scanning at speeds of 80ppm simplex and 160ppm duplex. The Apeos 3560 series includes three A3 models, the Apeos 3560, 3060 and 2560, with print speeds of 35, 30 and 25ppm and single-pass, 80ppm simplex and duplex colour scanning. They accommodate paper weights of 60-256 gsm and sizes from A3 to A5. The Apeos 5330 series, recipient of an iF Design award for excellence in product design, includes two compact A4 devices, the Apeos 5330 and 4830, with print speeds of 53 and 48ppm respectively and single pass simplex/ duplex colour scanning at speeds of 53/105 and 48/96 respectively. They support paper weights of 60‑220gsm and sizes from A4 to A6. https://www.fujifilm.com/uk/en WHAT’S NEW Brother wins 2025 A4 Line Of The Year Award Keypoint Intelligence’s Buyers Lab (BLI) division has awarded Brother its 2025 A4 Line of the Year Award in recognition of the performance, reliability and economy of the company’s latest generation of A4 mono laser printers. In addition to this accolade, Brother has picked up individual BLI 2025 Pick Awards for the Brother HL-L5210DN professional network A4 mono laser printer; Brother HL-L6410DN highperformance professional network A4 mono laser printer; Brother MFC-L5710DN professional all-in-one A4 mono laser printer; and Brother MFC‑L5710DW professional wireless all‑in-one A4 mono laser printer. Greig Millar, Chief Revenue Officer at Brother UK, said: “This recognition cements our position as a leader in business printing. Winning the BLI 2025 A4 Line of the Year Award is a proud achievement for Brother and reinforces our commitment to delivering reliable, high‑quality print solutions that our partners and their customers can trust. “The design and functionality of the line‑up reflects the needs of today’s hybrid and digitally connected work environments, allowing businesses to work securely and efficiently. This win further demonstrates our consistent innovation, our commitment to helping businesses work smarter and how we remain At Your Side in an ever-evolving workplace.” www.brother.co.uk Kyocera TASKalfa refresh Kyocera Document Solutions UK has refreshed the core of its TASKalfa range with the launch of the nine-strong MZ7001 SRA3 series, including six colour MFPs with print speeds of 25ppm to 70ppm and three high-speed SRA3 monochrome MFPs with print speeds of 50ppm to 70ppm. The cloud-ready range supports modern workstyles with the seamless capture, storage and printing of documents via the cloud and advanced security features. These include a Data Security kit for data encryption and data sanitation; a Trusted Platform Module, which protects sensitive information such as image data and certificates; Allowlisting, SEIM and S/MIME encryption to improve email security from the device; and AI-powered features like Confidential Document Guard, which detects stamps, watermarks or sensitive text on documents and informs the user that reproduction is not allowed. The entire MZ7001 SRA3 series is delivered carbon neutral, with all emissions relating to the production, packaging, transport and lifetime use of the product (inc. toner) offset through the company’s partnership with myclimate. In addition, the MZ7001 SRA3 Series’ touchscreen control panel features a new sustainability display providing a real-time graphical view of CO2 and energy usage during operation. Trevor Maloney, Product Marketing Manager at Kyocera Document Solutions UK, said: “At Kyocera, we understand that organisations need reliable and secure document management capabilities to ensure smooth operations. Equally, our channel partners need to be empowered to meet these requirements for their customers, with cloud-ready print devices and advanced security features crucial to making hybrid working efficient for end-users wherever they are. These latest additions to our core range have been designed with all these goals in mind, helping customers save time, reduce complexity and improve productivity, all while encouraging sustainable business practices.” https://kyocerads-group.co.uk/
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