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BULLETIN
4
Brother achieves IIP Platinum status
Brother UK has become the first large
business in the UK to receive Investors in
People (IIP) Platinum status in recognition
of its leadership, continual improvement
and support for employees.
Phil Jones, managing director of Brother UK,
said: “Investors in People estimates that only
0.05% of businesses could achieve platinum
status, so we’re all incredibly proud of the award,
which represents the culmination of many years of
hard work re-purposing our business. It also serves
to inspire us to continue striving to be a leading
employer, not just in our sector and our region, but
in the whole of the UK.”
IIP noted Brother’s commitment to sustainable
growth and planning for the future and
commended it for its community engagement
programme and for championing equality and
diversity.
Data protection
explained
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)
is holding a free half-day conference at the
NEC, Birmingham on April 25 where resellers
can find out more about their data protection
responsibilities. The SME Data Protection
Conference will feature workshops on records
management, information security, subject
access requests and the recently launched data
protection self-assessment toolkit for SMEs.
Register at
/
wh/s.asp?k=145449781468
.
Panasonic solutions
Panasonic has created a new European company
to develop solutions based on hardware,
software and connectivity from Panasonic and
third parties. Panasonic System Solutions Europe
(PSSEU), a division of Panasonic Marketing
Europe, will initially focus on three vertical
markets – utilities, transportation and logistics.
One of the first solutions it has developed is an
automated trespass warning system for the UK
railway network.
Westcoast is offering customers a printer
pre-delivery inspection service (PDI),
following the opening of a brand new
facility at its Theale HQ.
The service is available for reseller partners of
most major brands, including HP and Lexmark, as
well as brands not distributed by Westcoast.
It removes the need for managed print
partners to unpack, inspect, configure, test and
software-image large printers on their own or
their customer’s premises – work that can be
extremely time-consuming and requires resellers
to take full responsibility for the technology, to pay
increased shipping costs and to train and manage
an engineering resource capable of carrying out
complex software-loads.
In addition to printer pre-inspection, the
Westcoast PDI service includes printer delivery,
installation and connection on behalf of a partner,
plus product demonstration and removal of old
devices, if required.
Westcoast Managing Director Alex Tatham
said: “I could not be more excited about offering
this service. It eliminates DOA headaches for
resellers at a stroke. We have already delivered
more than a hundred large format printers to
retailers’ shops across the UK, configured a
bulk order on behalf of one of Britain’s largest
managed print providers, and are working on a
large order for a brand not even distributed by
Westcoast for a chain of betting stores.”
He added: “Every print provider we have
engaged with has welcomed this move as
they frequently hit periods of high demand or
skill shortages. We have invested in dedicated
resources, project management and skilled
engineers. I can only see this new service growing
as Westcoast become the UK’s managed print
fulfilment partner of choice.”
To find out more, speak to your account
manager or contact Richard Kerrison, Westcoast’s
PDI project manager (Richard.kerrison@westcoast.
co.uk).
BULLETIN
Say goodbye to DOA headaches
Finance package to
boost HP LaserJet sales
Tech Data and HP Finance are making it
easier for businesses with limited budgets
to invest in the latest printing technology
by introducing a 0% financing package for
HP LaserJet devices.
Delivering the benefits of a ‘small-scale’
MPS, the package includes the cost of the
printer, installation, one set of replacement toner
cartridges and warranty cover, paid for in monthly
instalments over 36 months.
Tech Data says that instead of paying £5,000
for an HP Color LaserJet Enterprise flow MFP
M880z plus £2,300 in add-ons upfront, the
customer would pay around £204 per month for
36 months.
The scheme is good for resellers, too, as HP
Finance will carry out credit checks, pay the full
amount up-front and manage the risk with the
customer.
Mike Leary, Print Business Development
Executive at Tech Data, said: “We receive a lot
of enquiries about managed print services on
HP printers, but it is not suitable for most small
companies. At the same time, these businesses
often find it difficult to finance the purchase of a
high-quality LaserJet. The HP Finance scheme will
provide a simple answer to the dilemma, so we
think it could be very popular indeed.”
HP partners are also benefiting from Tech
Data’s switchover to a new online Integrated
Quoting (IQ) tool, which enables it to provide
verified pricing on bids within minutes, rather than
the hours it used to take with Smart Quote.
Ross Turner, HP Business Manager at Tech
Data, said: “The new IQ system is slicker and
smarter and it will allow HP partners to compete
much more effectively. HP will now be responding
very quickly to bid requests, and we will be
replying almost instantly as well. In most cases, we
expect to give customers a price that is even better
than the indicative price from HP. So, by listing
Tech Data as their preferred distributor, resellers
can expect to get the very best response and
pricing on HP quotes.”
Phil Jones,
managing director,
Brother UK
