PREVIEW 2024
CONTINUED
Arjan Paulussen , managing director, Western Europe & English-speaking Africa, Lexmark We at Lexmark are cautiously optimistic about 2024. The office technology landscape is undergoing a period of significant
solutions – harnessing the power of AI, big data, analytics and prioritising security and data privacy – the office technology dealerships of the future must be agile, customer-centric and innovative. Sustainability is another major trend that the print channel will need to continue to focus on. This is where Lexmark’s ‘intentional engineering’ strategy comes into play. Our devices are built to last seven plus years at minimum; thanks to their robustness they can stay longer in the field. This helps to minimise the impact on the environment as fewer devices need to be remanufactured, recycled or disposed of. AI will continue to play a significant role in modern office technology, enabling dealerships to automate routine tasks, analyse large volumes of data, and provide personalised experiences for their clients. For example, AI-powered predictive maintenance algorithms can help dealerships proactively identify potential issues with printing devices, allowing them to address problems before they impact customers. Additionally, AI-driven analytics can help dealerships uncover hidden patterns and trends in their data, leading to more informed decision-making and improved business outcomes.
transformation, driven by rapid advancements in technology and shifting business priorities. The channel market, which plays a crucial role in connecting manufacturers with end users, faces numerous challenges as it navigates this dynamic environment. However, these challenges also present opportunities for growth and innovation, especially in the realm of sustainability, enabling forward-thinking dealerships to differentiate themselves from the competition and thrive in the years ahead. The state of the economy always plays a big role for our B2B customers. Persistent inflation continues to be a challenge and companies are more thoughtful where investments are allocated. At the same time, investments that drive savings, whether these savings are monetary or in the form of efficiency improvements or for example sustainability benefits, will always jump to the front of the queue. It does call on us, as well as the channel partners that we work with, to lead with these benefits first and foremost. In terms of trends in the sector in 2024, from embracing cloud services and infrastructure to developing industry-specific
Arjan Paulussen
lexmark.com
Stuart Sykes , managng director, Sharp UK I expect there to be several major trends in the sector this year. Firstly, there will be greater automation of print processes. While automation of processes within organisations
laborious tasks with ease. As with many of the trends we are seeing, this will only become easier with the use of AI. Until recently, process automation was a very expensive thing to indulge in, requiring consultancy and a bespoke build and configuration. The application of AI simplifies process and workflow automation, taking a standard platform and personalising it to a specific client in a cost-effective manner. The print industry in Europe is seeing new sustainability regulations introduced, either as draft proposals to give manufacturers time to prepare, or as laws taking effect. One area in which the industry is seeing change is in that of remanufactured or refurbished devices. IDC research suggests that by 2027, global enterprises will seek to shift 10% of their fleet acquisitions to remanufactured or refurbished devices. While this trend is very much focused
is nothing new, streamlining workplace tasks is a trend that delivers efficiency for the employer and employee. The removal of manual steps from routine operations speeds up productivity, reduces overall costs, while at the same time enabling employees to
focus on business development. MFPs still have a role to play in the
Stuart Sykes
automation of many organisations, as often there is content in analogue form that needs to be digitised through workflow processes. This is a trend that continues to gather traction with clients, as they move away from centralised processes in favour of custom workflows. Tools are now available to enable even the smallest of organisations to automate manual and
sharp.co.uk
printinthechannel.co.uk
47
Powered by FlippingBook