Print in the Channel - issue #32

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Issue #32

Looking out for our planet…

Read more about Xerox’s commitment to the environment. Page 32

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COMMENT

Continuing evolution It has been another busy year in the print channel as the sector continues to evolve to respond to changing customer demands, from greater desire for sustainability to enhanced security.

And so, another year is coming to an end. It may just be me getting older, but I swear they go faster than they used to. Whatever, December is a good time to look back over the past 12 months. It has been a busy year in the print channel. While the wider economy has been largely flat, the print channel has been busy, with plenty of product launches to help give

document management software – as well as printers. Security has also been to the fore this year for printers. With printers often networked, they are under as much threat as any other part of the IT suite – and this means that security needs to be just as tight. To get more analysis of the

Dan Parton

print channel in 2025, we asked a range of thought leaders for their opinions of the major trends in the sector and how business has been. Read more on p24. Elsewhere in the issue, we look at another aspect of the sector that has been growing this year – and set for further growth in 2026 – mobile barcode

resellers added incentives to customers to make an investment. There have been signs that some parts of the market are starting to pick up too. For instance, in the MFP market, there have been an increase in businesses looking to refresh

scanners. With retail businesses looking to enhance the shopping experience for customers, as well as increase efficiency in front and back of house – and in warehouses – mobile barcode scanners are becoming more important, and this presents opportunities for resellers. Read more on p38. As always, I hope you enjoy the issue. This is the final edition of Print in the Channel for 2025, so I would like to wish all our readers a very happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year. We will be back in January with a look ahead at what 2026 could have in store, as well as other great features. n

their printer fleet – many have put it off since COVID but are now making a move as more people return to the office. Often, businesses are now looking for options that are more sustainable, and there are a range of devices that have been launched this year that fit the bill, whether that is by using less energy than older devices, having more recycled parts in them or being more recyclable at the end of their life. Meanwhile, businesses, especially at the small- to medium-sized end, have continued to digitise their operations. This means that resellers can open conversations about document scanners,

See the 2025 WINNERS

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00 05

CONTENTS

News You should know p8 Product launches Brother p14 Konica Minolta p18 Canon p20 Research Ai: retails new backbone p22 2025 Review That was the year that was p24 Cover story Xerox looking out for our planet p32 Bulk document scanning p35 Mobile barcode scanners p38 SMB print security p43 Ricoh Print Evolution Live p49 Eagle Eye BI Multifunctional printers p52 EKM A year of growth p54 People p55 Stockies 2025 The Winners

2025 Review – p24

As 2025 draws to a close, it’s a good time to look back over the past 12 months – the high, the lows, the challenges and the trends. Various thought leaders in the sector give their opinions on how 2025 has been from their perspective.

Bulk document scanning – p35

Bulk document scanning is the hidden gem that turns paper into profit for channel partners, says Marcin Pichur, regional vice president, sales (UK, Spain, Italy, Poland) at DocuWare.

Product Launches Brother – p14

Brother UK has launched its first six-inch industrial label printers to help resellers meet demand for wider-format labelling across the logistics, warehousing and manufacturing sectors.

Konica Minolta has launched four new bizhub i-Series A4 black and white, all-in-one and single-function printers, which are aimed at businesses with larger printer fleets.

Konica Minolta – p18

CONTENTS

Ricoh recently held its third Print Evolution Live event, showcasing some of the company’s latest hardware and software and talking about the future of print with more than 100 customers and suppliers. Ricoh Print Evolution Live – p49

Publishing Director Justin Penn 07816 573 186 justin@ printinthechannel.com Editorial Dan Parton 07941 979 845 dan@ printinthechannel.com Advertising Sales Martin Jenner-Hall 07824 552 116 martin@ printinthechannel.com Market Analyst Wickus Bester wickus.bester@ stockinthechannel.com

The STOCKIES 2025 award WINNERS have been revealed.

Mobile barcode scanners – p38

Mobile barcode scanners are becoming increasingly popular in a range of retail settings, helping to enhance the shopping experience and make businesses more efficient – which provides opportunities for resellers.

Research – p22

Canon – p20

Canon has refreshed its i-SENSYS portfolio of A4 printers, introducing six new easy-to-manage devices designed to meet the evolving demands of SMBs, home workers and satellite offices.

Published by: In the Channel Media Ltd Company registration number: 14363401 Registered office address 14-18 Heddon Street, Mayfair, London, United Kingdom, W1B 4DA In conjunction with:

Gen AI and automation solutions could be critical to helping retailers look to boost sales by enhancing the retail experience, but also help in the fight against loss prevention.

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NEWS

PaperCut Hive announces major update

PaperCut Software has announced a major update to PaperCut Hive, delivering features designed to help system administrators manage user details at scale, automate critical reporting and enforce stricter cost controls for copying. Recognising the shift in hardware trends, PaperCut Hive’s Print Queue Deployment now supports ARM64 architecture. As energy-efficient Windows on ARM devices become more prevalent, this update saves IT admins from the headache of managing separate print queues for different architectures, ensuring seamless printing across diverse setups. For workplaces transitioning to the cloud, the new User Data Import Tool is a built-in feature designed to streamline user onboarding and smooth out migrations from legacy systems. IT teams can now bulk upload or update user information using simple CSV or TSV files. This feature serves as a flexible, all-in-one solution for organisations that do not use a supported Identity Provider, have user data scattered across multiple

systems, or are migrating from PaperCut MF or PaperCut NG. Crucially, the tool introduces a ‘Dry Run’ capability, offering risk-free testing. System administrators can simulate the entire import process to check for errors without altering live data. This allows IT teams to correct data discrepancies and proceed with total confidence, ensuring a flawless start for end-users. Admins can now create recurring schedules that automatically generate and email insightful reports (such as Print Volume, User Activity, Environmental Impact, and the new Transaction Report) directly to the people who need them. While print quotas have long been a staple of PaperCut, this release closes the loop on cost management with Copy Control. This feature integrates directly with PaperCut Hive Print Quotas, preventing users from making copies once their budget is exhausted. Known in the industry as ‘zero-stop,’ this functionality stops users from starting a copy job if they lack funds and halts jobs mid-way if the balance runs out. n

papercut.com

Konica Minolta employees step up for Cancer Research UK

Konica Minolta Business Solutions (UK) Ltd is continuing to support Cancer Research UK through a company-wide initiative encouraging employees to take part in the ‘Walk 30 Miles in November’ challenge. From November 1-30, Konica Minolta team members across the UK laced up their walking shoes and committed to walking 30 miles – just one mile a day – to raise funds for life-saving cancer research. The challenge was open to all employees, whether walking solo, with colleagues, or as part of a team, and could be completed anywhere. “We’re incredibly proud to support Cancer Research UK in their mission to beat cancer,” said Gillian Nuttall, ESG partner

at Konica Minolta Business Solutions (UK) Ltd. “This initiative reflects our commitment to wellbeing and gives our employees a meaningful way to make a difference – literally one step at a time!” Employees were encouraged to share their progress via social media and fundraising platforms. They also benefit from training resources – including training guides, challenge calendars, and Strava integration – to help participants stay motivated and track their journey. Since launching its partnership with Cancer Research UK in May this year, the Konica Minolta Business Solutions (UK) Ltd. Team has so far raised £2,885 of its year's target of £10,000. n

Gillian Nuttall ESG Partner

konicaminolta.co.uk

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NEWS

Digimarc and Honeywell partner to combat gift card fraud

Digimarc Corporation and Honeywell have teamed up to help retailers and brands fight gift card fraud. The global gift card market was valued at $1.24 trillion in 2024 and is expected to reach $2.31 trillion by 2030. Gift card fraud losses grew 364% from 2018 to 2021 and continue to increase. Honeywell is one of the first manufacturers to configure its handheld scanners to detect Digimarc’s new digital security layer for gift cards, enabling retailers to automate detection of tampered cards and prevent their activation at the point of sale. Digimarc’s end-to-end solution is over three times more secure than ‘card-only’ security features and removes the need for cashiers to manually inspect or otherwise prepare cards prior to scanning. Retailers using this solution report dramatically lowered incidents of fraud and faster gift card scanning, thereby improving the

customer experience. Honeywell has committed to rolling out this newest version of Digimarc software across its flagship handheld retail scanner portfolio by early 2026. “Digimarc and Honeywell understand that retailers and consumers demand excellent fraud protection, as well as a seamless checkout experience,” explained Ken Sickles, Digimarc’s chief product officer. “The latest version of our on-scanner software delivers a step-change improvement in tamper evidence and first-pass read rates, creating more robust fraud protection and greater scanning speed and efficiency at checkout.” “Gift card fraud is a serious, pervasive and increasingly costly problem for retailers,” said David Barker, president of Honeywell Productivity Solutions & Services. “Honeywell is committed to delivering best-in-class solutions to protect retailers, brands and consumers.” n

Ken Sickles chief product officer

digimarc.com

honeywell.com

Data Direct bring Braille printing to the UK

Data Direct is bringing direct Braille and tactile printing to the UK market thanks to its partnership with Mutoh, providing a step forward for accessible signage in the UK. With accessibility requirements ramping up across public spaces, traditional Braille production has meant slow, manual and expensive methods like embossing or adhesive dot application. But Mutoh has a different approach: using precise multi- layer UV-LED printing, Mutoh devices build perfectly formed raised dots and tactile structures directly onto the substrate. Each ink layer is applied and cured automatically until the defined height is reached — typically 0.3–0.6 mm for Braille and up to 1.0mm for tactile graphics. The result is consistent, compliant and highly readable. Why Mutoh’s Braille solution stands out:

👉 Completely digital workflow — no tooling, plates, or manual finishing 👉 Accurate dot placement via Braille translation software and Vertelith RIP 👉 Crisp, reliable tactile legibility thanks to controlled UV curing 👉 Compatible with a wide range of materials 👉 Ideal for prototypes, short runs and custom signage 👉 Combine raised detail with full-colour print in a single pass 👉 Reduced waste and no additional consumables. For sign makers, PSPs, accessible- product providers, designers and public- sector organisations, this offers a genuine competitive edge — fast, compliant, high- quality accessible signage that’s easy to produce and easy to adapt. n

Peter Cowan group chief operations officer

data-direct.co.uk

mutoh.eu/en

NEWS

Fujifilm rolls out security applications

Fujifilm Europe GmbH has announced the availability of two server-less device applications for its Apeos MFP range: Server-less On-Demand Print and Server-less Authentication. Many SMBs face growing challenges in securing sensitive information without incurring the complexity and high costs associated with security solutions. To address this, both applications provide a reliable, low-overhead security option. Fujifilm’s Server-less On-Demand Print can be installed directly on a MFD. It lets users release their stored documents on any linked device, without a dedicated on-premises or cloud print server. If the device that first received the job is occupied, the user can simply release it to another available MFP on the network. And because jobs are held for

confirmation before printing, unnecessary printing can be greatly reduced. Fujifilm’s Server-less Authentication application, when installed on MFDs, allows the sharing of user information for authentication with multiple devices, so users can register a smart card or authenticate on any linked device within the server-less environment. User authentication information is shared from the designated ‘parent device’ to all linked devices in the network. This sharing uses a smart card registration function that associates the credentials stored on the device with the card’s ID. Once the information is shared, it can be used by any linked device through authentication operations, with no need to set up a dedicated server to link devices, thereby reducing costs and complexity. n

www.fujifilm.com/uk/eu

MPS redefined report finds

Managed Print Services (MPS) are strengthening their role in workplace digital transformation as organisations seek to digitise more processes and print management challenges evolve, finds Quocirca’s MPS Landscape Study 2025 . Paper documents remain an intrinsic part of multi-stage, converged workflows, and businesses are seeking solutions to improve and accelerate those workflows. As a result, print and scan workflow automation are top print-related priorities for the IT decision makers (ITDMs) who took part in Quocirca’s research, followed by greater use of digitisation to reduce print volumes, and security solutions. Cost and security continue to lead print management challenges, with both increasing in importance compared to last year. However, reducing environmental impact has dropped as a key challenge, from joint top priority last year to sixth place in 2025. Key report findings also include:

🌐 Paper persists: 60% see printing as very important to their business in 2026 🌐 MPS as digital transformation enabler : 89% of ITDMs believe MPS is important to their digital transformation initiatives, with 43% saying it is “very important” 🌐 Scanning is a focus area: Scanning capabilities are the most important service ITDMs want prospective MPS providers to deliver, followed by managed security services and integrated data workflow offerings 🌐 Planned investment is rising: 71% expect their MPS investment to increase in the coming year, up from 48% last year. IT expertise, cybersecurity expertise, and workflow automation expertise lead supplier selection criteria, and costs are the main reason why ITDMs would consider a change of provider, cited by 47%. However, a small but notable proportion (15%) of respondents said they would change provider in favour of a more innovative provider that offers stronger security and uses AI tools. n

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NEWS IN DEPTH

bakergoodchild strengthens mailing and print operations

bakergoodchild has enhanced its production capabilities with the investment in Canon’s imagePRESS V1350 and varioPRINT 140 digital presses, allowing the business to increase capacity and efficiency, elevate print quality and unlock new opportunities. Since installing the presses, bakergoodchild has seen a notable uplift in productivity and receiving positive customer feedback, with one customer already committing to an additional 160,000 booklets next year, and forecasting significant growth moving forward. Combined with Canon’s PRISMA software, these devices have also enabled the business to automate and streamline workflows, ensuring only high-quality, PDF/X-4-compliant jobs are processed and minimising errors, while remaining energy and cost efficient. The investment also supports bakergoodchild’s long-term digital

strategy, including the rollout of ‘Frankk’, the company’s proprietary e-commerce platform. This platform allows users to upload, personalise and pay for print jobs online, mirroring the convenience of a digital storefront. Ian Stevenson, operations director at bakergoodchild said: “Procuring Canon’s imagePRESS V1350 and the varioPRINT 140 devices is a game-changer for us. Not only do they boost our printing speed and efficiency, but they also elevate the quality of every job we produce. We can now meet tighter deadlines and continue providing the exceptional service our clients expect. Canon isn’t just a new addition to our equipment; it’s a real catalyst for growth and innovation in our business and demonstrates the direction bakergoodchild are heading in.” n

Ian Stevenson operations director

bakergoodchild.co.uk

Canon imagePRESS V1350

Epson future proofs textile printing

Epson recently hosted its second Textile Academy Event its Textile Innovation Centre in Lutterworth, Leicestershire. Building on the success of its inaugural Textile Academy earlier this year, the event welcomed Textile Design BA students from Nottingham Trent University and Loughborough University. The event featured workshops designed to enhance student’s practical textile printing skills; corporate and entrepreneurial business acumen; marketing and self-branding; and environmental awareness around the textile industry. Adding industry insight at the event was guest speaker AJ Weir, designer for Print and Textile Ready-to-Wear at Burberry, who shared his career experience in textile design and the journey toward sustainable, circular production.

AJ said: “Print has been a part of the fashion industry since ancient times, and recent developments in textile printing have challenged the norms around design, development, and innovation. As sustainability grows in importance in every industry and walk of life, it is inspiring to see young people wanting to contribute with thoughtful, responsible print design.” To show students how easy and sustainable the fashion supply chain can be with on-demand textile printing, they took part in a ‘no-sew’ dress workshop, new to Epson’s Textile Academy. Inspired by the viral ‘no-sew’ dress social media trend - students printed, cut, and modelled their own designs into simple dresses using dye-sublimation printing. n

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PRODUCT LAUNCH Brother TJ-6421TN and TJ-6521TN

Brother enters six-inch label market

Brother UK has launched its first six-inch industrial label printers to help resellers meet demand for wider-format labelling across the logistics, warehousing and manufacturing sectors.

Labels are playing an ever-more crucial role in the logistics and warehousing sector, carrying more data than ever to help speed goods through to their destination at an ever-faster pace. With more information being desired on labels, businesses want flexibility to print larger labels to accommodate this. As a result, demand for six-inch label printers is increasing, which has led Brother to enter the market for the first time with two new devices. Brother’s new TJ-6421TN and TJ-6521TN models support a range of labelling applications such as pallet identification, outer-case logistics labels, chemical safety labelling and product ID tags used in automotive and heavy manufacturing. Built for durability and performance, the new TJ-6 models feature robust metal

construction and a touchscreen display for easy operation in fast-paced settings. High ribbon capacity of 450m means that less time is spent replacing label rolls, while fast print speeds of up to 12ips and optional internal rewinders to further streamline batch labelling boost labelling efficiency. The TJ-6421TN offers thermal transfer and direct thermal printing technology and prints up to 203dpi print resolution and a speed of up to 12 inches/second. Meanwhile the TJ-6521TN also offers thermal transfer and direct thermal printing technology, but at a print resolution of up to 300dpi and speed of up to 10 inches/second. Both offer a maximum print width up to 168mm (6.61 inches), so the pair can cover a range of applications.

Demand for six-inch label printers is

increasing, which has led Brother to enter the market for the first time with two new devices.

PRODUCT LAUNCH Brother TJ-6421TN and TJ-6521TN

Simon Brennan senior business manager – Specialist Printing Solutions

brother.co.uk

support customers across every labelling requirement – from factory floor to forklift, back office to shop floor. Performance and durability The new printers are aimed to keep operations running smoothly, and for ease of use straight out of the box. “When labels stop, workflows stop – and in industrial settings, that costs time and money,” says Simon Brennan, senior business manager – Specialist Printing Solutions at Brother UK. “With the TJ-6 series, resellers can trust us to deliver performance, durability and easy integration – backed by the kind of robust support that keeps critical processes running without drama. “Whether its pallet labelling in a distribution centre or product tracking on a factory floor, these printers are built to keep operations running smoothly. We’ve combined rugged performance with seamless, simple integration and backed it with expert support, so resellers can deliver print solutions that work first time, every time.” n

Warranty and compatibility To give customers peace of mind, the devices are backed by a five-year return- to-base warranty as standard. Customers can also upgrade to an optional on-site service pack for enhanced service levels, including next working day support. This flexible service helps firms reduce disruption, control costs and maintain critical operational processes by keeping downtime to a minimum. Both models are compatible with major WMS and ERP systems and support common printer languages including ZPL2 for seamless integration. Connectivity includes USB, USB host, serial and ethernet as standard, with optional Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to support flexible deployment in industrial and warehouse environments. The new printers build on the success of Brother’s TJ industrial range – designed for demanding, high-volume environments – and complement the brand’s existing desktop (TD) and mobile (RJ) labelling solutions. Together, the line-up gives resellers the tools to

“

With the TJ-6 series, resellers can trust us to deliver performance, durability and

easy integration – backed by the kind of robust support that keeps critical processes running without drama.

”

printinthechannel.co.uk

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PRODUCT LAUNCH KONICA MINOLTA A4 BLACK AND WHITE BIZHUB I-SERIES PRINTERS

Hubs for business Konica Minolta has launched four new bizhub i-Series A4 black and white, all-in-one and single-function printers, which are aimed at businesses with larger printer fleets.

For businesses with large print fleets, efficiency is often the key when seeking new print devices, whether they are all in one or single-function devices. Businesses want printers that are efficient on energy and ink use – and efficient for use of employees’ time too. Konica Minolta has been alive to this and has added four new A4 printers to its popular bizhub range aimed at businesses with larger print requirements. The bizhub 4221i/5021i (all-in-one) and 4201i/5001i (single function) devices offer enhanced usability and deliver improved performance, along with advanced connectivity that includes card reader support, barcode printing, Air Print support and dual scan functionality (all-in- one only). The all-in-one models boast a large and easy-to-use touch display, a popular and user-friendly feature included on other devices in the bizhub i-Series range.

This is often achieved through a print management solution, and those that use them benefit from authentication card reader support, which is offered in these models.

Michelle Brown category manager – office

The new models can also be integrated with Konica Minolta’s Fleet Remote Monitoring and Management solution (Fleet RMM) to ensure optimised performance and minimal downtime. In addition, to further broaden the functionality of the printers – and therefore the number of potential customers – barcode printing now comes as standard on Konica Minolta’s new devices. For instance, it means these devices are ideal for logistics operations, with labels able to be printed natively from ERP systems such as SAP. Mobile printing is also simplified with native Air Print support, which enables users to print directly from their iOS devices without needing additional apps. Additionally, the bizhub 4221i comes with a dual-scan document feeder, significantly improving scanning speeds for businesses handling large volumes

konicaminolta.co.uk

Print management and new standard features

Increasingly, businesses – especially larger ones with big print fleets – are seeking to track the printing, scanning and copying activities of its workforce, for efficiency and sustainability reasons.

PRODUCT LAUNCH

Mobile printing is also simplified with native Air Print support, which enables users to print directly from their iOS devices without needing additional apps.

increasingly demand. “These new additions to our award winning bizhub range combine speed, convenience and the practicality organisations need, to meet their day-to- day printing and document digitisation needs,” says Michelle Brown, category manager – office at Konica Minolta Business Solutions (UK) Ltd. “They integrate into the fabric of the organisation, linking with other systems to streamline business processes, as well as management and monitoring systems that help control costs, performance and productivity.” n

of documents – something that is a consideration in document-heavy sectors such as legal. Anniversary celebrations The launch of these new printers comes as Konica Minolta celebrates the 20th anniversary of its bizhub brand. Launched in 2005 as a centralised hub for print, copying, faxing and scanning for the rapidly connecting workplace, Konica Minolta continues to evolve the line-up in the bizhub range to reflect changing demands among customers, for instance, integrating advanced features for efficiency, security and sustainability over the last two decades. Its versatility has seen the bizhub range support the needs of businesses and organisations of all sizes and types, including schools and colleges, NHS and healthcare providers, financial services, manufacturing, retail and more. Meeting daily needs The new bizhub printers are designed to meet daily printing needs of businesses but allied to the oversight and monitoring that cost-conscious customers

“

These new additions to our award winning bizhub range combine speed, convenience and the practicality organisations need, to meet their day-to-day printing and document digitisation needs.

”

printinthechannel.co.uk

PRODUCT LAUNCH CANON I-SENSYS MODELS

Talking SENSYS Canon has refreshed its i-SENSYS portfolio of A4 printers, introducing six new easy-to-manage devices designed to meet the evolving demands of SMBs, home workers and satellite offices.

With hybrid working remaining a popular option for many businesses, especially SMBs, it means that demand among them for versatile A4 devices is rising, with 23% of businesses looking to increase adoption, according to Quocirca’s Print Industry Trends 2025 report. While demand may be increasing, SMBs are increasingly looking for their multifunction printers to be compact, cost-effective, and able to perform reliably across home, remote and small office environments. This presents plenty of opportunities for resellers to capitalise – and manufacturers are responding with refreshed models in their A4 line-ups, such as Canon, which has recently added six new devices to its i-SENSYS range. The updated range now includes three new colour series: i-SENSYS LBP640 series, MF660 series, MF750 II series, and an additional model, the LBP673Cdw II, plus two black-and-white series: i-SENSYS MF460 II series and LBP240 II series.

Compact, out-of-box solution The new additions to Canon’s i-SENSYS range have been designed to be reliable and provide secure, easy-to-use printing solutions that fit into any office environment while simplifying device management and maintenance. The devices automatically download and install the latest drivers and software with the new Master Setup feature, helping to streamline the setup process. With a compact footprint, the new printers save valuable space in the working environment without compromising on performance. SMBs also gain additional benefits through a variety of improved features including an increased use of recycled plastics, easy-to-use interfaces and enhanced security. Built for every need The new i-SENSYS devices are aimed at any office environment including small, satellite and home offices, with an emphasis on helping to drive employee productivity, according to Canon. Whether printing in black and white or colour, the new models deliver high- quality output that users can rely on. Small document scanning also supports a wide range of users, such as healthcare providers with prescriptions or retailers with receipts, ensuring users can easily store, share and archive any type of document. The new models prioritise ease of use, providing an exceptional user experience enabled by an intuitive interface with a QR code that navigates users to an online manual, and an application library for workflow customisations that can be

PRODUCT LAUNCH CANON I-SENSYS MODELS

personalised to users’ specific needs. In addition, security has been strengthened in the refreshed range, with the security settings navigator, which allows users to easily apply the appropriate level of security – a crucial feature for those with limited IT knowledge, as SMBs often don’t have in- house expertise in this. In addition, enhanced 360° security provides peace of mind for businesses that need to secure key data and documents, further enhanced by additional security capabilities. For those with an eye on sustainability, Canon’s devices are built with an increased recycled plastic content from predecessor models and have a market-leading low energy consumption, helping businesses meet their sustainability objectives.

Addressing evolving demands The new printers have been designed in response to the evolving demands of SMB customers, according to Khalid Aziz, marketing director, Digital Printing & Solutions at Canon UK & Ireland. “As SMEs adapt to the modern workplace, they need cost-effective and reliable solutions that help employees get work done, whether at home or in the office,” he says. “Our refreshed i-SENSYS range is designed to address these evolving demands, offering compact and easy- to-use devices that fit seamlessly into any office environment. By prioritising quality, security, sustainability and user experience, these new models empower SMEs with the tools they need to drive productivity and efficiency today.” These latest models are a key part of Canon’s strategy to deliver solutions for customers of any size. The new products demonstrate Canon’s commitment to providing secure, user-friendly, and sustainable printing solutions that support the evolving landscape of modern work. The new i-SENSYS models are available across EMEA now. The i-SENSYS MF460 II series will be available early 2026. n

Khalid Aziz marketing director Digital Printing & Solutions

canon.co.uk

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Our refreshed i-SENSYS range is designed to address these evolving demands, offering compact and easy-to-use devices that fit seamlessly into any office environment.

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printinthechannel.co.uk

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RESEARCH

AI: retail’s new backbone Gen AI and automation solutions could be critical to helping retailers looking to boost sales by enhancing the retail experience, but also help in the fight against loss prevention, says new research from Zebra Technologies.

“Retail’s future belongs to those who connect the physical and digital worlds through intelligent workflows,” said Matthew Guiste, global retail technology strategist at Zebra Technologies, after findings of Zebra Technologies’ 18th Annual Global Shopper Study were revealed recently. The research shows 87% of retail leaders believe Gen AI and automation solutions are critical tools in the fight against loss prevention efforts. The majority also believe that AI and improved workflows will deliver fast and personalised shopping experiences that today’s busy consumers are coming to expect. It also gives into insights into persistent challenges that retailers face daily such as inventory visibility, task prioritisation for retail employees, and achieving shopper satisfaction. Retail armour Technology is continuing to move to the centre of loss prevention, as decision- makers adopt AI, RFID, and computer vision to better detect, prevent and respond in real time. Once a luxury, these tools are becoming an essential part of retail armour for loss prevention, inventory accuracy and employee productivity. Half of shoppers still leave stores without the products they want, driven by frustrations like out-of-stock items, slow service, locked-up items and limited checkout options, according to the report. Retail workers still voice that real-time inventory synchronisation is a top priority for profitability and customer experience,

however they are doing it in larger numbers than in previous years.

Matthew Guiste global retail technology strategist

Inflation bites The report’s data is perhaps reflective of macro-economic trends too. The research highlights a shift in shopper priorities. While increasingly drawn to convenience, speed and value, nearly eight in 10 shoppers prioritise discounts and promotions as inflation pressures persist. All too important too is shrinkage, perhaps not all related to shoplifting, but recent reports suggest in England and Wales it is at its highest level since current records began more than two decades ago. There were 530,643 reported shoplifting offences in the year to March, a 20% increase from 2024, according to the Office for National Statistics. Hence it is no surprise that many of the retailers surveyed plan to implement advanced technologies such as computer vision (57%), RFID (54%) and Gen AI (51%) over the next five years as they are viewed as essential tools for improving inventory visibility and reducing shrinkage. n

zebra.com

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Half of shoppers still leave stores without the products they want, driven by frustrations like out-of-stocks, slow service, locked-up items and limited checkout options, according to the report.

”

printinthechannel.co.uk

2025 REVIEW

That was the year that was As 2025 draws to a close, it’s a good time to look back over the past 12 months – the high, the lows, the challenges and the trends. Various thought leaders in the sector give their opinions on how 2025 has been from their perspective.

Another year has zipped by, and it has been a busy one in the print channel. While the economy has remained relatively sluggish, there has been an uptick in some areas of the sector. Among manufacturers there have been multiple product launches, with refreshes of existing models and new ones joining the range. This activity shows that there

is still interest in print and customers want new and better products. There are signs that print volumes are rising too as more people return to the office, and there remains demand for printed items. Over the following pages, thought leaders in the print channel give their opinions on how 2025 has been for them.

Nick Taylor , head of sales for office printing, UK&I, Epson This has been a strong and positive year for Epson. We’ve continued to see momentum through our channel-only model, partly driven by the introduction of our new Replaceable Ink Pack System devices, the EM-C800RDWF, EP-C800RDW, EM-C8100 and EM-C8101,

partners have continued to innovate and diversify, responding to evolving customer needs with a focus on efficiency and sustainability. As a result, despite the headwinds, we’ve seen encouraging success across the channel this year. This year has reinforced three key trends in the industry. The first is the continued demand for sustainable IT and print solutions, as organisations look to cut costs and carbon emissions. Heat-Free inkjet technology continues to resonate strongly here, and is increasingly seen as a benchmark for sustainable printing. This will only grow in importance as businesses face increased environmental scrutiny as the world pursues net zero targets. Secondly, the drive toward document digitisation has accelerated as businesses look to streamline workflows and support hybrid teams. Intelligent document management solutions from Epson and its ISV partners have been key enablers here, allowing users to capture and securely store documents directly to the cloud without manual handling. Finally, security has become a top

which deliver improved, sustainable printing options for fleets of all sizes. This year we also restructured our office print partner program to champion the success of customers driving Epson’s Line Inkjet technology, which covers many of the market gaps previously in our range. This restructure is helping ensure the resources go where they are most effective in transitioning the market from laser to heat-free inkjet technology. In the print sector overall, 2025 has had its fair share of challenges for many. For instance, tighter public sector budgets have created a more cautious market environment, and even five years on from COVID-19 we’re seeing some suppression across certain markets. That said, one of the defining strengths of the print sector is its resilience and adaptability. Channel

Nick Taylor head of sales, office print, UK&I

epson.co.uk

2025 REVIEW

priority, particularly as hybrid working blurs the lines between office and remote environments. We’ve seen growing demand for hardware and document-level security features such as user authentication and secure print release, which are helping organisations

safeguard data integrity and maintain compliance with regulatory standards. While AI is not yet a core focus of the print hardware market, we are seeing its growing influence through third-party software integrations and workflow automation tools. n

Stuart Miller , UK&I director of channel partners, Canon This has been a year of steady progress

to drive innovation across the product lifecycle, with customers looking for solutions that deliver more with fewer resources. As measurable impact becomes the priority, trust and collaboration between manufacturers and partners remain essential. One of the biggest challenges for the print sector is talent. Manufacturers and partners need to invest in attracting new talent while upskilling existing teams so they can guide customers through their digital transformation journey. This requires building long-term trust, shifting the focus from purely transactional sales and developing a stronger value proposition. Economic pressures continue to create hesitation around technology investments, making it even more important for the print sector to demonstrate clear, long-term business outcomes. AI is becoming central to how the industry operates. Data analytics is enabling remote diagnostics, predictive maintenance and automated workflows, improving uptime, reducing waste and freeing up engineers to focus on complex issues rather than repetitive tasks. But technology alone isn’t enough; the real value comes from combining human insight with data-driven intelligence. The future of print will be shaped by those who can harness AI responsibly to deliver measurable, sustainable progress. n

and renewed focus on value. We’ve continued to help our partners evolve beyond product sales towards service- led, data-driven business models. Customers are increasingly looking for smarter, more efficient ways of working, and our focus on connected devices, predictive servicing and workflow automation has positioned Canon UK&I well to support that. It’s been a year of evolution rather than disruption, with growth coming from solutions that improve efficiency and security across print environments. Against a backdrop of sustainability pressures, security threats and economic uncertainty, the print sector has shown real resilience. Many partners have adapted to shifting customer demands by focusing on measurable business outcomes rather than just hardware alone. Across the board, the conversation has moved from ‘what we sell’ to ‘what problems we solve’, reflected in the growth of sustainability initiatives, security tools and efficiency goals across the sector. AI, security and sustainability have defined the print sector in 2025. AI- powered tools are now improving everything from predictive maintenance to energy optimisation, while secure digital workflows are helping customers operate more reliably and efficiently. Sustainability expectations continue

Stuart Miller, UK&I director of channel partners

canon.co.uk

CONTINUED

printinthechannel.co.uk

2025 REVIEW

CONTINUED

Marcin Pichur , regional vice president, sales (UK, Spain, Italy, Poland) Docuware As 2025 draws to a close, we reflect on a year of reinvention and acceleration across the print and document management sector. For our business, it’s been a transformative period. We launched the DocuWare AI Hub, a global R&D centre dedicated to

accuracy and compliance, particularly in finance, healthcare and logistics. Challenges inevitably persisted, such as economic headwinds, rising operational costs and the pressure to modernise legacy systems. Yet resilience prevailed. Demand surged for hybrid workflows and cloud-based solutions, as organisations sought agility, compliance and responsiveness in a fast-changing landscape. A defining trend has been the shift from large-scale overhauls to practical, scalable solutions that simplify operations and deliver real value. Rather than replacing systems wholesale, many organisations are rethinking how work gets done, delegating repetitive tasks to intelligent automation, freeing teams to focus on strategic growth and innovation. Emerging technologies like AI are no longer peripheral. But the lesson of 2025 is clear, AI should empower, not replace. The organisations thriving today are those integrating intelligence with purpose, using automation to enhance decision- making, improve customer engagement and unlock new levels of efficiency. n

advancing proprietary AI for intelligent document processing (IDP) and enterprise content management, based on ethical and data privacy standards supporting regulations such as the EU AI Act 2025. With the opening of the Hub, we maintain our foothold as an AI leader, driving product innovation and empowering our global network of partners and customers. At the beginning of the year, we also welcomed a new CEO, Dr Michael Berger, and refreshed our leadership team, bringing renewed strategic clarity and momentum. Sector-wide, 2025 has been a year of promise and recalibration. IDP evolved from passive digitisation into adaptive intelligence, with systems now anticipating user needs, initiating workflows and aligning with business logic. This shift has delivered measurable gains in speed,

Marcin Pichur regional vice president sales (UK, Spain, Italy, Poland)

start.docuware.com

Andy Muskett , director UK channel partners, Xerox This has been a year of progress

their propositions, extending into managed IT and adjacent services, and responding well to the ongoing convergence between print and technology. Across the private and public sectors, customers are focused on efficiency – optimising fleets, investing in multifunction devices and seeking the right balance between A3 and A4. Sustainability, security and hybrid working remain strong drivers of investment decisions. Meanwhile, margin pressure and slower procurement cycles have challenged growth, but partners who diversify and

and momentum for Xerox in the UK. Following the acquisition of Lexmark, we have strengthened our core print portfolio and expanded our channel reach. We are focused on making it easier for partners to do business with us through improved tools, training and access to a broader range of products and services that meet today’s customer needs. The print sector has shown resilience in a challenging economic climate. Alongside us channel partners have continued to evolve

Andy Muskett director UK channel partners

www.xerox.co.uk

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