DATA DIRECT
No contract, no worries Demand for consumables is increasing, but dealers don’t always want to be tied into having to hold large amounts of stock, which is why non-contract consumables are becoming a popular option.
Data Direct offers non-contract consumables – what are the
Demand for consumables is rising, but dealers often want transparent pricing and contracts that mean they don’t have to hold excess stock – and this is where non-contract consumables come in. Here, Stuart Ogden, technical business manager at Data Direct, explains the benefits of non-contract consumables for customers.
advantages of this? SO: The advantages are clear. By partnering with Data Direct, dealers retain full control over what they buy and when, without the need to hold excess stock simply to satisfy supplier-driven commitments. As a dealer-only distributor, Data Direct is fully aligned with the channel. We never sell directly to the dealer’s customers, ensuring their relationships – and their revenue – remain fully protected. Many manufacturers operate tiered consumables pricing based on hardware
Print in the Channel: What is demand like for printer
Stuart Ogden
consumables currently? Stuart Ogden: Over the past 36 months, we’ve delivered consistent month-on- month growth, driving a 20% increase in units supplied to the copier and printer channel. While overall print volumes dipped post-COVID, confidence in, and reliance on, printed documentation continues to strengthen, underpinning sustained growth in document output.
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spend and performance rankings, leaving some dealers questioning
Many manufacturers operate tiered consumables pricing based on hardware spend and performance rankings, leaving some dealers questioning whether their fleets are truly running at optimal cost. With Data Direct, pricing is fully transparent..
whether their fleets are truly running at optimal cost. With Data Direct, pricing is fully transparent, free from complex conditions, targets or pre-defined criteria. Just as importantly, we take a principled approach to data. We will never use monitoring software to track end users with the intent of bypassing the dealer. There is no hidden agenda – no risk of disintermediation – just a trusted partnership built on transparency, integrity and long-term channel support.
What are the current trends in print consumables?
SO: The copier market has historically been built around high-spec, centralised A3 multifunction devices – high upfront hardware costs offset by low running costs. This model helped defend the traditional copier channel against growing competition from printer manufacturers. However, the landscape has shifted. Print has become increasingly decentralised, with A4 devices now firmly in focus across the industry. This shift has accelerated demand for A4 devices and single-unit print cartridges, moving the market away from traditional A3 reliance and multi component consumable use.
How popular is this option? SO: This is proving to be a popular
and straightforward decision for dealers, driven not just by commercial advantage, but by complete trust in the model. With ultra-competitive CPCs now being offered by some hardware suppliers, dealers can stay highly competitive through the Data Direct Total Fulfilment Partner Programme
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CONTINUED
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