PREVIEW 2025
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In 2025, the role of the office printer and other technologies will evolve from standalone tools to fully integrated, intelligent systems that enhance productivity, improve sustainability, and support hybrid working models. As AI continues to advance, its potential to redefine how we work and interact with technology is only just beginning to be realised. Several key factors will shape customer priorities and channel dynamics this year. Sustainability will remain at the forefront, with businesses and consumers expecting solutions that align with their environmental commitments. This includes energy- efficient devices, recyclable materials and lifecycle management services. The channel will face several challenges in 2025, driven by evolving customer expectations, market dynamics, and global trends. One significant challenge will be balancing the demand for sustainability with cost pressures. While customers are increasingly seeking eco-friendly products and services, the upfront investment in sustainable technologies and materials can be a barrier. To
overcome this, channel partners should focus on educating customers about the long-term benefits of sustainability, such as cost savings from energy-efficient devices and potential compliance advantages as regulations tighten. Offering flexible financing options and subscription-based models can also help ease the transition to greener solutions. Another challenge lies in navigating supply chain disruptions, which remain a concern due to geopolitical instability and economic uncertainty. Localising production and embracing on-demand manufacturing can help mitigate these risks, as can fostering closer relationships with suppliers to improve forecasting and inventory management. Finally, competition within the channel will intensify as customers expect more tailored and value-added services. To stand out, channel partners must go beyond selling products to become trusted advisors, offering insights into areas like workflow optimisation, remote management, and advanced security. Developing deeper partnerships with manufacturers to co-create customised solutions can be a key differentiator.
Zoe Westwood
Jason Cort , European director product management and marketing, Sharp Europe Automation has always been important in print, and it continues to transform workflows. Print vendors need to be
of workflows that previously would have required a designer, or be coded manually, during deployment thereby increasing service costs. Such AI processes reduce complexity and costs for businesses of all sizes. In print, we have already started to see trends around AI simplifying and personalising the use of technology within a business, helping reduce the number of steps to accomplish a print task, for example, or assisting in helping to personalise how people use devices. Looking ahead, AI-driven print systems
aware that devices are much more than just for printing, as the scanner, for example, allows for the creation of smarter digital workflows. Rather than seeing any huge trend changes in print, we are seeing a continual evolution of capabilities. In part, this is being driven by AI, which is enabling what were previously quite complex integrations and setups to be done semi-automatically. For example, AI can automate the creation
Jason Cort
sharp.co.uk
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