Print.IT Reseller - issue 47

01732 759725 34 VOX POP Stuart Sykes, Managing Director, Sharp Business Systems UK “Ongoing technological advancements are going to continue to shape our industry, and society more broadly. Artificial Intelligence is a perfect example of this. Currently MFPs sit at the heart of a suite of integrated office solutions, but as AI technologies develop, there will be complex implications for information workflows. “More MPS vendors will need to start exploring how AI and the Internet of Things (IoT) can be incorporated into products, so that they can retain a competitive advantage in an evolving industry. While this isn’t an immediate concern for many, all manufacturers should be aware of the opportunities posed by emerging technologies. Sharp has already unveiled prototypes in Japan based around AIoT; a concept that looks at the application of a fusion of AI and IoT to a range of electronic products for the home and office. “IT security will undoubtedly remain a hot topic in 2018. Cyber-attacks of all kinds are on the rise, and hardware is becoming increasingly vulnerable. Customers are better educated on the risks; tenders will become more specific and customers will demand more from vendors in terms of IT security. “Vendors have to be able to show that their products are secure. This will of course impact product development, with IT security becoming a more important part of the design process. But it will also affect people. Vendors need to become more adept at showcasing and explain how their products can accommodate that customer need.” www.sharp.co.uk Phil Jones MBE, Managing Director, Brother UK “The IT sector, like many other markets, has continued to operate in a climate of uncertainty throughout 2017 due to ongoing political and economic turbulence. “With post-Brexit Britain still unclear, businesses remain vigilant, cautious and As 2017 draws to a close, PrintIT Reseller asked a panel of print hardware and software vendors to consider what 2018 holds for the print and IT sectors careful with their decisions and this shapes many of the predicted trends for 2018. New initiatives will be launched from a stable cost base. “In 2017, the desire by CIOs to deliver consistent and stable IT performance increased by 21 per cent on the year before*, and I expect this will continue to increase even more in 2018. Business leaders are looking for consistency, certainty and stability and my prediction is that this mindset will fuel further demand for services and solutions from reliable partners as businesses of all sizes take reassurance from the visibility, control and support they can offer. “Failures of major resellers in 2017 demonstrates how merciless the sector currently is in terms of its pace. Our customers’ worlds are changing and, as a result, they are seeking partners to deliver services which provide control, increase efficiency and boost productivity. As both vendors and partners, we need to make sure our business model and skills are equipped to deal with that requirement and speed. With so much uncertainty Aidan McDonough, CEO , Integra continued... 2018 Print Predictions Phil Jones MBE Stuart Sykes