Print in the Channel - issue #18

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Issue #18

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COMMENT

Health and efficiency Maximising productivity is a goal for many businesses and print and document management can be key to efficiency for many businesses, which is something that resellers should be emphasising to customers.

Efficiency and maximising working time are key for goals for many businesses – after all, time is money, as the old saying goes – so using technology to help employees become more efficient is always sought after, especially as economic times remain tough for many. Printing and document management can be a key part of that push for greater efficiency for office and hybrid workers,

efficient. This can be through things like greater automation of repetitive tasks but also through enhanced monitoring of activity in the printer fleet, as explained on p20. Efficiency of a different kind is also becoming more of a concern for many businesses as they look to become more sustainable in their operations. Customers now want their printers to be more than just efficient in their use of energy, ink and paper. Now, there is more of an emphasis on the entire lifecycle of a product and

Dan Parton

which makes it something that resellers need to push in talks with customers. For instance, hybrid workers need to be able to print, scan and send documents as if they were in the office from wherever they are and traditional home printers often aren’t up to what is needed, so many are turning to multifunctional printers (MFPs) to do this. Resellers

ensuring that as much of a printer

is reused or recycled as possible. This emphasis

on the circular economy is growing

and something that resellers should be aware of. Read more on p41. While the economy is out of recession, it doesn’t

have an important role to play in emphasising the benefits of MFPs to customers. Read more on p27.

look like there will be strong growth in it for some time, so businesses will continue to look for ways to make their operations more efficient, which should provide strong arguments for resellers to push print, document management and other solutions to customers for some time to come. As always, I hope you enjoy the issue. If there are any topics that you would like to see covered in a future issue – or you have news stories or opinion columns you would like to submit for consideration for publication – please drop me a line at dan@newsinthechannel.com

Meanwhile in document-heavy sectors, such as legal and financial, it isn’t just about print solutions, but document management ones too. As so much of what legal and financial companies produce is confidential – from case reports, contracts, leases and deeds to investigations and market trend reports – it is vital that the record keeping is robust, and many businesses in these sectors are now turning to document management systems for this. Read more on p34. Artificial intelligence is another technology that can help businesses become more

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00 03

CONTENTS

News You should know p6 Product Launch Zebra FS42 & S3 Series 3D Sensors p14 Epson Colorworks C8000E p15 Print Security Quocira Print Security Report p17 AI in Print Machine learning p20 Eagle Eye – BI Handheld Scanners p24 MPS for SMBs Service saving money p27 MFPs for Hybrid Workers Fully functional p30

Print Security Landscape, 2024

July 2024

Print Security Landscape, 2024 Mitigating the print infrastructure as a threat vector

MPS for SMBs – p27

Recent research found that managed print services can bring significant savings to businesses compared to traditional printer ownership – but what other advantages are there for SMBs to take up MPS and how can resellers most effectively sell them to customers?

Print Security – p17

Quocirca’s Print Security Landscape, 2024 reveals that the number of print-related breaches has increased and confidence in print infrastructure security has dropped as organisations switch up their print fleets. © Quocirca 2024 1

Print security trends in the US and Europe July 2024

Document Management in Legal and Financial – p34

Legal and financial businesses produce a vast amount of documentation that needs robust systems to ensure it is recorded properly, and many are turning to document management solutions for this, which presents opportunities for resellers.

Circular Economy – p41

MFPs for Hybrid Workers – p30

Document Management In Legal and Financial p34

With hybrid working now an established part of the UK working landscape, employees are seeking devices for their home office that do more than just print, which is where multifunction printers come in.

Circular Economy Importance to print sector p41 Labels in 3PL Minising downtime p46

As sustainability concerns continue to ascend the agenda of businesses large and small, the idea of the circular economy is becoming more important, and this is something the print sector is responding to.

People News New jobs and schemes p50

CONTENTS

Product Launch: Epson – p15

With the quality of labels becoming more important to businesses in a range of sectors – and colours now increasingly being demanded – Epson has responded by launching its latest printer in the ColorWorks range.

Editorial Dan Parton 07941 979 845 dan@ printinthechannel.com Head of Sales Martin Jenner-Hall 07824 552 116 martin@ printinthechannel.com Publishing Director Justin Penn 07816 573 186 justin@ printinthechannel.com

Labels in 3PL – p46

Technologies like barcode scanners and label printers are vital for third-party logistics and similar organisations to improve traceability and ensure that their entire supply chains run smoothly, as Jeremie Brocas, sales manager at BIXOLON Europe, explains.

Business Intelligence – p24

Handheld scanners, also known as portable scanners, comprising barcode readers (59.82% by total searches) and handheld mobile computers (40.18% by total searches).

Product Launch: Zebra – p14

Zebra Technologies has launched a fixed industrial scanner for AI applications and powerful 3D sensors with the capabilities that are

AI in Print – p20

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:

wanted by businesses to make the

AI and machine learning can provide many benefits to business – but it must be deployed with a plan to realise its potential, as Alastair Nestor, comms lead at PaperCut, explains.

‘connected factory’ a reality.

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NEWS

Konica Minolta partners with Two Sides

Konica Minolta Business Solutions (UK) Ltd has formed a new partnership with not-for- profit sustainable print, paper and paper packaging initiative Two Sides. Konica Minolta will work with the Two Sides team to educate and inspire businesses and consumers about the sustainability and potential of responsible print. As a champion of the evolving print industry along with its inherent sustainability potential, Konica Minolta joins the Two Sides campaign's growing partnership of supporters and collaborators, which include companies in the forestry, pulp and paper manufacturing, packaging, inks, pre-press, press, finishing, publishing, printing, envelopes and postal operators. “We are delighted to be partnering with Two Sides to highlight the sustainability potential of print as part of our broader environmental, social and governance (ESG) commitments,” said Malcolm Smith, category manager – professional print at Konica Minolta Business Solutions. Biennially, Two Sides conducts a Trend

Tracker Survey into public preconceptions and beliefs. The latest survey, published in 2023, showed that 41% of people surveyed believe paper is a wasteful product. However, figures from Cepi (Confederation of European Paper Industries) key statistics 2022 indicate that 49% of the fibrous raw material used in Europe’s paper industry comes from paper for recycling. and in Europe, 71% of paper ( European Paper Recycling Council, Monitoring Report, 2022 ) and 83% of cardboard packaging (Eurostat, 2021) is recycled. Konica Minolta takes its ESG responsibilities seriously and was named a ‘Leader’ in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Sustainability Programs and Services Hardcopy 2023 Vendor Assessment (doc #US49892223, December 2023). It aims to be a robust and innovative company that keeps evolving and contributing to the sustainable growth of society and individuals, using an ESG framework to navigate its efforts and obligations. Its ESG approach is guided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, with a particular focus on climate action.

Malcolm Smith category manger – professional print

konicaminolta.co.uk

SYNAXON UK and Integra Business Solutions renew partnership

and delivery of complete IT projects. “Through this alliance, Integra members can call on the extensive resources available from SYNAXON and offer their clients a range of IT solutions – from simple product fulfilment at competitive prices, to tried-and-tested managed services and complete project support,” said Mike Barron, managing director of SYNAXON UK. “For a lot of office products dealers, technical knowledge and dealing with any hardware issues is the main barrier to offering IT solutions. With SYNAXON that’s no problem as we also provide free, no-quibbles, 14-day RMA process, so any faulty products can easily be returned.” Aidan McDonough, CEO, Integra, added: “We are delighted to have renewed our partnership with Synaxon UK. This strategic partnership gives our members a fantastic competitive advantage within the IT arena with access to industry leading IT distributors, managed services and project support. Under this agreement, SYNAXON partners also have a great opportunity to access additional benefits by joining Integra, particularly within OP and diversification areas.”

SYNAXON UK and office supplies dealer group Integra Business Solutions Ltd have renewed their strategic partnership through which partners and members of each organisation will be able to access the benefits of the other at preferential rates. Under this agreement SYNAXON partners can sign-up as members of Integra, gaining access to the company’s preferential trading terms with more than 100 leading suppliers, including leading office products distributors such as Antalis UK and VOW Wholesale. Similarly, Integra members will receive discounted SYNAXON UK membership, giving them access to leading brand products through SYNAXON Hub plus stock and availability data from more than 40 IT distributors via the EGIS procurement platform. They can also offer customers ready-to-deploy managed services options through SYNAXON Managed Services, and with SYNAXON’s Project Support services, make use of the group’s experts to offer consultancy, design

synaxon-services.com

Aidan McDonough CEO

integra-business.co.uk

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NEWS

Paragon ID UK partners with Fujifilm

Paragon ID UK, a global leader in identification solutions, has invested in LuXtreme, Fujifilm’s LED UV curing system, and CuremaX, Fujifilm’s LED UV inks. The solutions were supplied by Fujifilm in conjunction with IST, which has recently partnered with Fujifilm to become the key supplier for the LuXtreme LED UV system for the narrow web market. Paragon ID UK is primarily a flexographic label print manufacturer with additional capability in production of RFID labels & access cards. Paragon ID, as a wider group, designs, develops and delivers secure contactless identification solutions including bank cards, mobile payment technology and train tickets based on smart technologies. The partnership began when Paragon ID UK’s production site in Hull, driven by their own internal sustainability targets, decided to switch to Fujifilm’s Flenex water wash plates, which were supplied by Fujifilm partner, Creation Repro in 2023. The relationship developed further when Paragon ID were introduced to Fujifilm‘s LuXtreme LED UV curing systems just prior to Labelexpo 2023. Paragon ID’s interest in the sustainability benefits of this solution led to the signing of three retrofit installations during the event. Additionally, prior to the first installation, Paragon ID tested Fujifilm’s CuremaX inks and

was delighted with their performance. This prompted Paragon ID to initiate the transition to CuremaX inks before the curing system installations began. "Our investment in Fujifilm's LuXtreme and CuremaX technologies underscores our commitment to driving sustainability and innovation in print solutions,” said Jamie Parker, head of operations at Paragon ID’s Hull site. “At our production site in Hull, we have spearheaded efforts to eliminate solvent emissions from magnetic stripes, transitioned to LED technology for energy savings and embraced water-based solutions in relation to plate supply. By leveraging Fujifilm's expertise and cutting-edge technologies, we are now able to deliver unparalleled value to our customers while maximising our environmental credentials. The investments have enabled us to realise a range of energy, time and cost savings while achieving unparalleled performance and productivity.” Ian Isherwood, segment manager EMEA - analogue packaging, Fujifilm Europe, added: "We are thrilled to partner with Paragon ID UK in their journey towards sustainability and innovation in print technology. By combining Paragon ID's industry expertise with Fujifilm's advanced solutions, we are confident in our ability to deliver comprehensive and sustainable print solutions to customers worldwide."

Jamie Parker head of operations

paragon-id.com

Half of IT decision makers still think laser printers are more sustainable than inkjets

New data shows there is a common and potentially costly misconception among IT decision makers about which printing technology is more sustainable: laser or inkjet. In a survey carried out by analyst firm Quocirca, 47% of respondents across the UK, US, France and Germany believed laser printers are the more sustainable choice in terms of energy efficiency, environmental impact, consumables and total cost of ownership. Those at larger businesses with more than 1,000 employees were more likely to hold the misconception compared to their counterparts at smaller firms, with 57% suggesting laser technology was more sustainable compared to 21% saying inkjet. “At a time when electricity costs are high, power use is rising and global warming is a

critical challenge, misconceptions about printing technology can cost organisations dearly,” said Karl Angove, vice president, Office and Home Print Division, Epson Europe. “Both in terms of energy bills and increased CO2 emissions. “Given more respondents at larger businesses incorrectly believe laser printers are more sustainable than inkjets, they could be wasting significant amounts of power and money and adding unnecessarily to emissions. These organisations can have hundreds of printers. Such a misconception and a poor choice in printing technology could have a real impact.” Epson Heat-Free inkjet printers use no heat in the printing process, and no heat means less energy consumed, reducing use cost and CO2 emissions. Heat-free inkjets also have

Karl Angove Vice president, Office & Home Print Division, Epson Europe B.V.

epson.co.uk

NEWS

no warm-up time when switched on or woken from sleep, resulting in faster first-page-out speeds and improved user productivity. Typically Heat-Free inkjets also have fewer consumable parts than laser printers. This reduces the amount of intervention required. Epson previously announced it will end its global sale and distribution of laser printers by 2025, citing the technology’s limited ability to make meaningful advances in sustainability for the decision. “Epson’s decision to leave the laser market was inevitable,” said Karl. “As a company we’ve

committed to sustainable innovation and action, and laser printers don’t fit within that. They typically use more energy than inkjets and have more consumable parts. This is simply the result of how the technology works – by heating and fusing toner to a page. This technology is therefore limited in how far its suitability improvements can go. “Our printing business will instead focus 100% on piezo Heat-Free inkjet, leveraging our propriety technology to deliver efficient, sustainable print solutions for our partners and end users.”

New Konica Minolta Client Engagement Centre opened

Konica Minolta Business Solutions (UK) Ltd now offers comprehensive sales support and end customer demonstrations to its network of indirect channel partners, from its new state- of-the-art Client Engagement Centre (CEC). Located in Houghton Regis near Luton in Bedfordshire, the CEC provides hands-on experience with its innovative print hardware and solutions, making it the ideal venue to highlight the powerful combined proposition of local expert partners working directly with Konica Minolta’s technology and support. “The CEC features an impressive selection of our print hardware and solutions, making it the perfect setting for our partners to bring customers or prospects to experience these first-hand, with the full support of experts,” said Cameron Mitchell, business leader for indirect channel at Konica Minolta Business Solutions. “Working together to present an in-depth experience of our full business technology solutions, in perfect synergy with the sales and direct support expertise that our accredited partners excel in delivering, gives customers full peace of mind that they are choosing the right partners as well as the right technology, to meet their digital transformation needs.”

Konica Minolta’s comprehensive range of AccurioPress toner presses, AccurioLabel press range as well as its B2+ inkjet and partner technologies for print, packaging and embellishment. Konica Minolta also plan to open a Model Office facility, which is planned within phase two of the CEC launch, which will showcase Konica Minolta’s bizhub MFP range along with associated print management software and its range of powerful workflow and document management solutions. “Along with showcasing our print and IT solutions all in one place, it’s also a perfect location for our partners to explore the opportunities of expanding their Konica Minolta offering beyond office print to encompass workflow solutions, professional print and industrial/packaging print solutions,” said Jon Hiscock, head of production and industrial print at Konica Minolta Business Solutions. “From a customer point of view, the Konica Minolta CEC provides the perfect introduction to the exciting technology solutions on offer. It also highlights the considerable advantages of choosing a technology partner that works closely with the manufacturer, to deliver the right technology backed up by the most comprehensive support.”

Find out more

The CEC features a fully operational professional printshop that includes

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NEWS

Sharp UK awarded accredited supplier status on CBG framework

Sharp UK has been awarded a place on the Charities Buying Group (CBG) framework to provide charities and not-for-profit organisations across the country. Sharp UK will provide a range of solutions including MFPs, printers, audio visual solutions, print management and document management software. Today more than ever, cost reductions, efficiency and product reliability are critical for charities and not for profits. Sharp UK’s ambition as a member of this framework will be to help organisations overcome challenges and digitally transform with high-quality and tailored solutions alongside end-to-end support. Services include: l Comprehensive suite of MFDs and printers l Remanufactured and reconditioned devices l Print management and document software l Consultancy services including general consultancy services, print audit services and project management services l Audio visual supplies and services l Document storage and distribution services l Electronic document management systems and services l External print and related services l Hybrid mail l Mail management services including mail room services l Scanning and archiving services.

The main purpose of the CBG is to reduce expenditure for not-for-profit organisations. By offering an efficient procurement solution, it allows members to deliver greater investment in frontline services, helping them leverage their resources to effectively benefit their stated objectives. CBG invest their profit funds in CBG4Health, which in turn is dedicated to investing in community-based initiatives and projects such as the National Walking Football Alliance. “The CBG Framework is an important contract for Sharp UK, and I am delighted that we have the opportunity to work with the team,” said David Harrison, director of public sector sales at Sharp UK. “Being awarded a place on this framework is testament to the high-quality support we provide as a trusted technology partner, as well as our inherent understanding and commitment to supporting organisations across the public sector. “Sharp UK has enjoyed a long partnership with Dukefield Procurement Services. We have a deep understanding of the charity and non-profit sector, the challenges they face, and ways our products and services can help them grow. Sharp UK is committed to this relationship as a key part of our business strategy. “We’re excited to see how our expertise and growing portfolio of product and services can help shape the future of this industry in the coming years.”

David Harrison director public sector sales

sharp.co.uk

charitiesbuyinggroup.com

UK Atomic Energy Authority invests in new Ricoh Pro C7500 will not only enhance print quality but also drive automation and deliver a wide range of benefits for the customer, enhancing operational efficiencies and ensuring higher- quality output for the customer.”

Ricoh UK has announced a renewed partnership with UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA). The partnership will see Ricoh supply UKAEA with a Ricoh Pro C7500 with integrated Plockmatic and Duplo finishing, helping to increase print automation capabilities and improve print output quality. “We are thrilled to extend our partnership with UK Atomic Energy Authority,” said Ian Taylor, production print specialist at Ricoh UK. “Integrating the Plockmatic and Duplo finishing devices with the Ricoh Pro C7500

Stuart Morris, print manager at UKAEA, added: “Ricoh continues to be a valued partner to Print Services at UKAEA. This most recent investment in Ricoh technology has enabled us to streamline what were previously time-consuming and manual operations, allowing us to build further workflow automation into our production environment.”

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15 13

PRODUCT LAUNCH ZEBRA FS42 AND S3 SERIES 3D SENSORS Making the connection

Zebra Technologies has launched a fixed industrial scanner for AI applications and powerful 3D sensors with the capabilities that are wanted by businesses to make the ‘connected factory’ a reality.

Manufacturing businesses are always looking for ways to improve efficiency in their operations, and often look to technology to achieve this – and increasingly with an eye on utilising artificial intelligence (AI). To this end, Zebra Technologies

while the 3S80-4L scan area reaches to 2495x1836x2256mm. The 3S80 provides high-quality 3D data, colour information, and the ability to scan random movement in a picking application. The technology behind the 3S80 is patented, parallel-structured light technology that enables users to 3D scan whole areas of scenes with sub-millimetre resolution and accuracy, including those that are high-gloss, translucent or transparent. Together, the 3S Series sensors can cover a range of use cases in manufacturing and logistics. These include electric vehicle battery surface inspection, automotive parts inspection, 3D measurement of angles in post assembly inspection, volume measurement, box dimensioning and object sizes in logistics operations. As part of a picking solution, the 3S Series can support logistics palletising and depalletising, bin picking, and robotic picking for automotive assembly lines. Tools to optimise “Customers and industry reports are clear on the challenges manufacturers and logistics operators face and the opportunities before them. Zebra provides the tools they need to optimise the frontline,” said Donato Montanari, general manager and vice president, Machine Vision, Zebra Technologies. “Better 3D technology, deep learning and NPUs are powerful tools businesses need to support quality production and processing, and Zebra’s hardware and software will help deliver the outcomes they want.”

Corporation has introduced the FS42 fixed industrial scanner and 3S Series 3D sensors as it continues to power secure technology innovation around AI and industrial automation for the manufacturing industry to help increase operational efficiency. The FS42 fixed industrial scanner comes equipped with a neural processing unit for faster performance when running AI deep learning-based tools. The FS42 will also feature Zebra Aurora Focus™ for fast set-up and deployment. Plug and play Together with its new pixel application- specific integrated circuit, manufacturers and warehousing operators will benefit from faster decode times for select symbologies and gain significant performance enhancements for Zebra’s deep learning-based optical character recognition tool. The high-resolution, high-speed 3S Series 3D sensors are plug-and-play ready with a power over ethernet connection. They are enhanced with Zebra’s Aurora Design Assistant™ or Aurora Vision Studio™ to speed up development and bring 3D vision applications online quicker. Kits with Zebra’s 4Sight Series EV7 vision controller will also be available for multi-camera machine vision and deep learning applications on the factory floor. The 3S40 sensor supports new use cases with a large field of view for the inspection and dimensioning of larger, static objects, with a scanning area of up 1626 (width) x 1312 (depth) x 1280 (height) mm. The 3S80 sensor is ideal for accurate inspection and dimensioning of static or in motion objects, with a scanning area of up to 862x567x442mm for the 3S80-4M,

Zebra FS42 fixed industrial scanner

Donato Montanari general manager and

vice president, Machine Vision

zebra.com

“

Zebra provides the tools

they need to optimise the frontline.

”

Zebra 3S series £D Sensors

PRODUCT LAUNCH EPSON COLORWORKS C8000E

Making colour work With the quality of labels becoming more important to businesses in a range of sectors – and colours now increasingly being demanded – Epson has responded by launching its latest printer in the ColorWorks range.

Labels are becoming more important in a range of sectors as legislation and customers demand more and better information on them. Increasingly, colour printing is also becoming desired by customers as they seek to highlight certain information. To this end, Epson has launched the ColorWorks C8000e, which has been designed for in-house, on-demand colour label printing, and producing exceptional quality labels at high-speed, while reducing the costs and waste associated with traditional analogue label production processes. Building on success The ColorWorks C8000e builds on the success of its predecessor, the ColorWorks C7500, to meet the high-volume label production needs of businesses in sectors ranging from food, beverages, chemicals and healthcare, to horticulture, pharmaceuticals, warehousing and logistics. Designed to help eliminate costs associated with pre-printing, such as label waste and excessive inventory, the C8000e incorporates Epson’s PrecisionCore printhead technology to deliver detailed, consistent high-quality and accurate colour labels. The C8000e achieves an image resolution of 1200x600dpi, enabling accurate reproduction of barcodes and small fonts, while its print speed of 300mm/sec minimises run times for on-demand jobs. To further enhance image accuracy and reliability, the C8000e features Epson’s Nozzle Verification Technology to prevent misprints, as well as spot colour matching and ICC profiling for easy and precise colour management. The C8000e supports a variety of media types, including matt and gloss paper, film and synthetic and is capable of printing label widths from one to four inches, while an adjustable platen gap (up to 0.6mm) enables the use of thicker media for applications such as for price tags or floral labels. With no loss of quality on BS 5069-certified media, the printer is also ideal to produce labels for use in harsh and demanding environments such as when exposed to salt water or chemicals.

Low TCO With a low total cost of ownership, the

The printer is backed by an Epson warranty with CoverPlus available for all volume customers.

C8000e is designed for optimum efficiency and reduced environmental impact. The use of high-capacity ink pouches means that it contains 75% less plastic than if using cartridges and provides 1.65 times more volume compared with its predecessor. It has also been manufactured using 2.6 kilos less metal parts than compared with the C7500. Providing an improved range of connectivity options, including USB 3.0, high-speed Ethernet, Wi-Fi (optional) and an I/O port, the C8000e is easily integrated into new infrastructures without changing existing software systems, while ZPL and ESC/ Label support ensure simple and seamless integration with legacy systems. Integration with the SAP infrastructure is also simple, using the ABAP drivers for ERP direct printing. In addition, the C8000e enables on-demand label printing to be easily moved to the cloud, using Loftware, a comprehensive labelling and artwork management solution, or NiceLabel Cloud, which is customisable to meet the needs of any business. Print management and configuring is further simplified with new applications and cloud services. With a footprint reduced by 35% compared with the C7500, the C8000e requires less room for installation and can fit in tighter spaces. The C8000e features a new one- side access design, which simplifies printer management and maintenance by enabling all operations, such as paper loading, ink replacement and printing operations.

“

Epson has launched the ColorWorks C8000e, which has been designed for in-house, on- demand colour label printing, and producing exceptional quality labels at high-speed...

”

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QUOCIRCA PRINT SECURITY REPORT

Focus on print security rises as average cost of print- related data breach rises

Print Security Landscape, 2024

July 2024

Print Security Landscape, 2024 Mitigating the print infrastructure as a threat vector

With cybersecurity threats continuing to rise, print security is becoming more significant. In addition, changes to print infrastructure composition are coinciding with greater awareness of print security as breaches and their associated costs rise, according to the latest edition of Quocirca’s Print Security Landscape Report 2024 . In the report, 71% of the 500 IT decision makers (ITDMs) from the UK, US and Europe surveyed said that their organisation remains dependent on print, and 80% said they have changed the composition of their printer fleet in the past two years. In addition, 67% of respondents reported experiencing at least one print-related data breach in the past year, an increase from 61% in 2023. Worryingly, the average financial cost per breach has also risen by 38% year on year, reaching £1,028,346 – demonstrating how significant they can be. “Print infrastructure security has often been regarded as lower priority than other aspects of cybersecurity,” says Louella Fernandes, CEO of Quocirca. “However, our latest study indicates growing awareness of the vulnerabilities associated with hybrid and remote printing as breach frequency and costs rise. “Concerns about employee-owned home printers now rank second on the IT security breach list, with office printing in third position. Last year, these issues ranked ninth and eighth, respectively.” Confidence falls, spending expected to rise Despite the increasing risks, Quocirca’s report found that just 16% of ITDMs said they are completely confident in the security of their print infrastructure. This continues a

three-year trend of confidence decline, from 19% in 2023 and 23% in 2022. SMBs are the least confident, just 13% said they have complete confidence in print security. The study also showed differences between confidence in office print environments, where 58% are mostly or completely confident, and home/remote printing, where this figure drops to 47%. The lack of confidence may be prompting organisations to

Print security trends in the US and Europe July 2024

commit more budget to the challenge, with 70% saying that they expect to spend more on print security in the next 12 months. Home print focus In terms of the print security measures being introduced, there is more evidence that focus has turned to home printing. Providing authorised printers to home workers that adhere to security policies (42%) is the most commonly implemented measure, followed by reporting and analytics to monitor home and office print usage of each employee for tracking and audit purposes (41%). Expected AI impact Artificial intelligence (AI) is also having an increasing impact on print security, with 34% of ITDMs say it is very important that print vendors use machine learning and/or AI to identify potential security threats and cyberattacks. This figure rises to 48% among organisations that see printing as a critical activity, and 41% among managed print service

Louella Fernandes ceo

quocirca.com

CONTINUED

printinthechannel.co.uk

QUOCIRCA PRINT SECURITY REPORT

CONTINUED

(MPS) users. However, ITDMs also recognise that AI can be a risk as well as an opportunity, with 62% reporting extreme or moderate concern that AI will be used to create further security risks. “Organisations that are highly dependent on print demonstrate their acute awareness of the impact AI could have on it,” says Louella. “There is an important role here for vendors and channel partners to ensure their messages around AI opportunities and risks are robust and reassuring in equal measure.” Benefits not being realised Elsewhere in the report, organisations using MPS said they had much greater satisfaction with their print supplier’s security capabilities, with 43% saying they were very satisfied compared to only 23% of organisations not using MPS. This correlation holds true over confidence in print infrastructure security, with 21% of MPS users saying they are completely confident, compared to only 18% of non-MPS users.

Organisations using standardised print fleets are less likely to report one or more print-related breaches (59%) than those operating multivendor fleet (70%). However, fewer organisations now operate standardised fleets; 73% now say they operate a mixed fleet, up from 69% in 2023. Furthermore, organisations operating a mixed fleet expect to deploy more on-premise print servers in the coming year – 68% state that they will increase the number of print servers, compared with only 34% of those with a standardised fleet. “Alongside a lack of standardisation we are also seeing organisations reticent about moving to cloud print management, with cited reasons including security concerns, perceived lack of functionality and cost,” says Louella. “These should all be easy for channel partners to overcome, but it seems clear that a complex, multi-vendor, hybrid cloud print environment is the prevailing approach right now, making management more difficult.”

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Alongside a lack of standardisation we are also seeing organisations reticent about moving to cloud print management...

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QUOCIRCA PRINT SECURITY REPORT

Leading players Several OEMs were recognised in Quocirca’s report as being leaders in print security. Sharp was recognised for its development of its strong print security proposition

Advances recognised Meanwhile Konica Minolta retained its leading position in Quocirca’s 2024 assessment of the print security market. The company was recognised for the advances it has made in its multi-layered approach to print security, citing 'secure and robust product design'; 'customised security solutions and services such as bizhub SECURE', and support customers through the automation of security. In the report, Quocirca stated: “Konica Minolta products are a suitable choice for companies with high data security requirements.” The strengths of Konica Minolta highlighted by Quocirca include its ‘robust hardware and software security’, a ‘multi- layered solutions portfolio’ and mature ‘IT security expertise’ which the analyst said: ‘can help customers with information security services beyond the print environment’. The report also highlighted the strength of Konica Minolta’s service portfolio, with bizhub SECURE providing additional assurance that devices are highly secure, and the cloud-based Shield Guard platform that offers remote device security monitoring and management. In addition to Shield Guard, Konica Minolta’s wider cloud security portfolio was acknowledged, with the analyst observing how it: ‘includes multiple options to support and increase customers’ security’. “For a fourth consecutive year Quocirca has positioned Konica Minolta as a leader in print security,” says Olaf Lorenz, general manager, international marketing division at Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe. “Its report highlights the importance of instilling confidence in CIOs and CISOs that their print security provision will protect them from the rising volume and cost of data breaches and future security risks that artificial intelligence may present. We are committed to developing our portfolio of workplace products and services, to enable every organisation to empower its employees to be productive and protected.”

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across its hardware and services portfolio, as well as the company’s efforts to raise awareness among European SMEs about its consultative and layered security offerings. Sharp is the first OEM to integrate a native Microsoft Teams connector into its latest MFPs. This feature enables users to securely access, scan, and print data from Microsoft Teams, alongside additional cloud application integrations such as Google, and SharePoint channels without additional software. Sharp has long been acknowledged as a leading player in the SMB print market, offering a mature technology platform and a range of A4 and A3 products tailored to the needs of SMBs. The report praised Sharp for its strong IT security credentials and robust hardware-security features, noting that Sharp MFPs and printers include an extensive range of built-in security features with optional Bitdefender malware technology integration. Sharp's print security solutions extend beyond direct customers to channel partners, a critical part of the company’s route to market. Quocirca identified that Sharp's approach is helping resellers to develop new ways of selling with differentiated security- led propositions. “As Sharp transitions from a traditional print business to offering a diverse range of business technology services to meet the needs of the growing European SME market, this recognition reflects the significant strides we have made to provide enhanced security and differentiating our offerings,” says Jason Cort, director product planning and marketing at Sharp Europe. “Innovation is at the core of our operations, and we are pleased to see our continued advancements being recognised by both customers and the industry.”

Innovation is at the core of our operations, and we are pleased to see our continued advancements being recognised by both customers and the industry.”

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Jason Cort, director product planning and marketing, Sharp Europe

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For a fourth consecutive

year Quocirca has positioned Konica Minolta as a leader in print security

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Olaf Lorenz general manager,

international marketing Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe

printinthechannel.co.uk

AI IN PRINT

AI and print services: enhancing cloud management platforms with machine learning

AI and machine learning can provide many benefits to business – but it must be deployed with a plan to realise its potential, as Alastair Nestor, comms lead at PaperCut, explains.

We’re at an interesting inflection point when it comes to machine learning and cloud management platforms, including print management. On the one hand, artificial intelligence (AI) can certainly help with automation, efficiencies and cost cutting (hear that excited murmur from HR). On the other hand, the industry does have a certain dot-com-bubble-wild-west-gold-rush- cum-snake-oil feel to it, where every SaaS operator is slapping ‘AI’ onto their product, whether it’s adding value or not. The trick, like anything, is doing your research. Going in with a plan. Organisations that want to use AI for AI’s sake will likely overspend for little return, but if you shop around with clear metrics, and do your full procurement due diligence, machine learning platforms can certainly supercharge your cloud environment. So, here’s our view on how you can enhance your cloud print management with AI and machine learning.

Machine learning supports predictive maintenance for printers If you buy a modern MFD, chances are good it’s connected to IoT edge devices, which means it’s got more data-collecting sensors than the Death Star. Models equipped with machine learning systems can use this data to analyse usage trends and make predictions on when certain machines will fail, when faults may occur, or when consumables will need to be topped up. That’s good news for fleet operators, customers and field service engineers.

Alastair Nestor comms lead

Machine learning allows print job optimisation

There are a few sides to this one. Machine learning is good at spotting patterns, which means it can forecast future printing needs. By identifying peak printing periods, AI can even schedule less critical jobs during quieter times to avoid congestion. Then there’s dynamic prioritisation. With the right configurations, AI can dynamically prioritise print jobs based on urgency or user roles, even making real-time adjustments to the print queue. Neat, huh?

papercut.com

Enhance security with AI-based threat detection

AI is a weapon in your cyber arsenal – but not a magic bullet. Used correctly, it’s a fantastic aid for spotting anomalous networks or printing behaviour. This includes the obvious stuff like unauthorised server access, but also unusual print volumes, device locations or document types. Machine learning tools can also analyse print job data for signs of malware, including any embedded malicious code.

AI IN PRINT

Automate print supply management Imagine never having to make another printer procurement request ever again. With real-time consumables tracking and predictive analytics, machine learning algorithms can automate the entire print supply management process, right down to ordering and replenishment. By integrating with vendor APIs, AI can predict a shortage, procure supplies and have them delivered, without IT ever lifting a finger. All you have to do is physically top up the machine. Machine learning can also remember personalised print settings The more you print with machine learning switched on, the better it knows your printing preferences. This might include stuff like paper size, colour settings, duplex printing and document formatting. AI models will incorporate user feedback into these systems over time, becoming more accurate and refined, eventually applying personalised print settings for every user. This has a few benefits: it speeds up the print flow, minimises misprints and formatting errors and improves the overall user experience. AI print services mean reduced waste You might notice a common theme running through these features: efficiency. Cost cutting. Removing or reducing unnecessary printing. Only ordering and using the consumables you actually need. This is great for the printing budget, but it also helps cut down on paper use and e-waste, both of which are major issues in the printing industry. Stats on this are hard to come by – widespread adoption of printing AI is still in

its infancy – but in 3D printing, for example, it’s been shown that AI-based optimisation allows for one ‘free’ print after every 6.67 prints – just from materials that were previously wasted.

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Analysing print usage patterns with machine learning

Using machine learning to analyse print patterns is great for users on a granular level, but it’s also fantastic for fleet managers and sysadmins, who need to make sure they’re using their print resources efficiently – and cheaply. By optimising print queues, and implementing AI-guided load balancing, there will be fewer bottlenecks and performance issues. High volume printing can automatically occur during ‘off-peak’ hours. You can even tweak AI to enforce cost-saving policies like duplex or greyscale printing, quickly identifying departments or users who generate the most waste. Improve tracking and accountability This brings us back to the final benefit: improved accountability. By tracking all print activity across a network in real time, machine learning platforms offer fantastically detailed reports and audit trails. They also consolidate print job data into a centralised logging system, giving sysadmins and IT managers a bird’s eye view of their print environment. Automated audit procedures cut down on man hours and will automatically flag any outliers in terms of wastage, print errors or suspicious network activity. Think of it like having a robot detective, constantly monitoring print flow.

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A version of this article first appeared on the PaperCut website – see more at www.papercut.com

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