COMMENT
Reflections on 2023 As 2023 draws to a close, it has a busy year in the print channel, in a market that continues to evolve thanks to the emergence of hybrid working, networked devices and cybercrime – among many other things – but also provides plenty of opportunities for forward-thinking businesses.
As the year rapidly approaches its end, it is time to reflect on another busy 12 months in the print channel. While there haven’t been the sort of global events the past few years have been characterised by – thank goodness – it has still been a year full of challenges. For instance, there have been ongoing high prices to deal with, as well as an economy that has only just avoided recession, as well the continuing evolution of the way people work. But that doesn’t tell the full story. Among the challenges there were many causes for optimism in the print channel, not just with businesses looking to renew and upgrade their fleet, but new opportunities as technology and customer demand evolves. As is traditional, we have asked a range of thought leaders from across the print channel to give us their thoughts on how 2023 has been for them, including the trends in the sector among customers, the new technologies that are disrupting the market and what 2024 might bring. Read more on p26. One of the bigger trends in 2023 was the importance of sustainability being placed by customers on their print solutions, and it has now reached the point where it is, in some cases, influencing buying decisions. This has been growing over recent years and is something that manufacturers and resellers have reacted to. In our feature on p40 OEMs discuss how the way printers are being manufactured is changing to align with this.
In a similar vein, Epson has recently announced that it is extending its warranties for its printers to reflect the growing desire to keep printers active in the field for longer. Read more on p12. Likewise, manufacturers are working towards making toner cartridges more environmentally friendly and easier to recycle as businesses increasingly look towards this as part of their overall sustainability goals. In our feature on p20, OEMs talk about how toner cartridges are being manufactured to have less parts as well as recycling schemes available to keep them out of landfill. Another trend in 2023 has been the rising threat from cybercriminals, and how they are targeting businesses of all sizes. This means that security for print devices is more important than ever before. But there is plenty that can be done to ensure the print fleet is kept safe from ever-evolving threats. Read more on p34. On a personal note, I would like to thank all those who have read Print in the Channel over the past 12 months. Your support is always appreciated and never taken for granted. We will be back, better than ever, in 2024. As ever, it is great to hear from people – if you have any topics that you want us to cover, or you want to get involved in editorial or even send through an op-ed please drop me a line at dan@newsinthechannel.com I wish you all a happy Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous New Year.
Dan Parton
CALLING ALL BRANDS
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