Print in the Channel - issue #30

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COMMENT

Safety first The losses recorded by the Co-op in the cyberattack it suffered earlier this year are huge and demonstrate how devastating a breach can be. It also shows the importance of cybersecurity for all parts of the network, which print resellers need to consider.

Listening to the news on the radio as I write this column, it has emerged that the Co-op says it has lost £206 million in revenues because of the cyberattack the

Security is also paramount in document management solutions for legal and financial businesses, given the confidential nature of much of their work. As demand for document management solutions increases in these sectors, security must be a

Dan Parton

company suffered in April. The loss is a mind-boggling amount – and it could yet get worse as the figures only cover the first six

consideration, but there is much more that customers want from their solutions, which resellers must be

months of the year and it is anticipated

the attack will have an impact on the business in the second half of 2025 too.

alive to. Read more on p43. Another area of the print sector that is growing is smart labelling. Labels are becoming increasingly important in the supply chain, and they are carrying much more information than ever before. This presents opportunities for resellers because smart labels need to be printed by printers that can cope with these increased expectations. Read more on p46. In all these situations, customers look to resellers as trusted partners to help secure the right solution – now and into the future. As always, I hope you enjoy the issue. Print in the Channel is for everyone involved in print, so if you have a topic you wish to see covered in a future issue – or you have a press release or an idea for an opinion piece – please drop me a line at dan@newsinthechannel.com n

While a company as big as the Co-op can continue despite the huge hit to its revenues, a similar scope of attack in a smaller business could easily be fatal – and it has been. Transport business KNP – most famous for its Knights of Old brand – went out of business last year, largely down to the effects of a cyberattack. It shows the importance of cybersecurity to businesses and, while it is has been a must-have for years now, some haven’t been meticulous in ensuring that all their devices – such as networked MFPs – are as secure as possible, thus leaving a potential route in for bad actors. But there are plenty of ways that it can be ensured that MFPs are as secure as possible, which are explored from p24.

See the 2025 Nominations and Sponsors

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00 05

CONTENTS

News You should know p8 Product launches Canon p14 Epson p18 Toshiba p41 Xeretec Wide appeal p20 MFP Security p24 Stockies 2025 Nominations and Sponsors p29 Scanners for Education Providers p33 Cover story Canon: Smarter together p36 A word from... Canon p38 Document Management for Legal Firms p43 Smart Labelling p46 Epson Enviromental priorities p51 Eagle Eye BI Scanners p52 EKM Aimee Kennedy p58 People p59

Xeretec – p20

Epson – p51

The sustainability of printers is an increasing priority for many users,

and manufacturers such as Epson are responding – not just with the printers they make, but how they are made and disposed of, as well as refining their own operations to reduce their impact on the environment.

Xeretec recently completed the acquisition of First Copy, helping to boost an already good year for the company, which is reaping the benefits of diversifying its product offering and helping customers to achieve sustainability targets.

Scanners for Education Providers – p33

Demand for scanning solutions in education settings continues to grow – and not just among teachers. This means there are plenty of opportunities for resellers to sell into this large market.

Product Launches Canon – p14

Canon has launched a revamped version of its imagePRESS V1000 production printer, offering better productivity, reliability and application versatility than its previous iteration.

Epson has launched three new series of EcoTank printers that offer better productivity, ease-of-use and hassle-free printing for home and small offices, as well as significant savings on printing costs compared to traditional cartridge printers.

Epson – p18

CONTENTS

With the threats from cybercriminals continually rising, businesses, including SMBs, must remain vigilant as they can come through any networked device – including MFPs. Resellers can help ensure customers are as protected as possible. MFP Security – p24

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

TECHNOLOGY & STORAGE 24 NOVEMBER

The first set of STOCKIES 2025 award nominations and sponsors have been announced.

Document Management for Legal Firms – p43

In association with

The pace of digital transformation is accelerating among legal and financial firms, and that is driving the uptake of document management solutions – but customers are looking for smart solutions that can drive efficiency and collaboration.

Smart Labelling – p46

Toshiba – p41

Toshiba has launched its BX600 Series, which expands its A-BRID platform to six-inch wide format industrial barcode printing – offering a range of new features for users in various sectors.

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:

As demands on the supply chain continue to increase in a variety of sectors, so more is expected of the labelling on products and packaging, leading to greater adoption of smart labelling – which providers opportunities for resellers.

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NEWS

PaperCut unveils PaperCut MF 25

PaperCut has released PaperCut MF 25, which introduces advanced scanning capabilities, extends support to new environments, and delivers a major architectural uplift to enhance security, stability and scalability for the future. PaperCut MF’s Advanced Scan Actions transforms basic scans into actionable data by enabling users to capture crucial metadata directly at the multi-function device (MFD). Customers can now seamlessly integrate scanned documents into systems like ERP, E-MDS and CMS, automating processes and minimising manual intervention. This feature allows partners to offer a more comprehensive solution that addresses complex document workflow needs. PaperCut MF 25 extends its Advanced Scan to Fax functionality to two segments. The first is Advanced Scan to Fax for Linux: organisations committed to Linux can now integrate secure, intelligent faxing directly from their MFDs. This new functionality

eliminates the need for separate servers or complex workarounds, reducing operational overhead and aligning with Linux-centric IT strategies. The second is Advanced Scan to Fax for Lexmark. The solution is now available directly on Lexmark MFDs, eliminating the need for separate hardware. This integration provides a unified, intuitive user experience and offers a more secure, efficient and cost-effective solution for advanced faxing needs. PaperCut MF 25 includes a significant infrastructure upgrade with updates to Java 21, Spring 6, and other core dependencies. This improves long-term security, stability, and scalability by closing vulnerabilities and ensuring the platform is ready for future innovations. “This release is about helping our customers and partners solve today’s challenges while future-proofing their technology stack,” says Matt Coad, head of self hosted software at PaperCut. n

Matt Coad head of self hosted software

papercut.com

Study shows accelerated AI adoption in document processing

The Association for Intelligent Information Management’s (AIIM) Market Momentum Index: Intelligent Document Processing (IDP) Survey 2025, has unveiled significant changes in how organisations leverage AI for document processing. With research undertaken by Deep Analysis, AIIM released this study of 600 enterprises spanning major industries in the US and Europe, which highlights a pivotal shift in the intelligent document processing (IDP) market, fuelled by rapid AI adoption, changing use cases and evolving buyer behaviour. The report underscores four critical priorities for enterprise transformation:

managing unstructured data across increasingly complex systems; adopting a holistic, end-to-end approach to workflow automation; leveraging process mining to identify opportunities for AI-driven gains; and addressing the persistent reliance on paper-based processes. Findings include that 78% of companies are now operational with AI, signifying

Dr Michael Berger CEO

start.docuware.com

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NEWS

CONTINUED

a leap from previous market concerns around stalled pilots and readiness gaps. Meanwhile, data security and privacy remain the top challenge for IDP implementation, reflecting growing urgency around AI governance and compliance. Also, 62% of IDP systems now involve external users, driven by use cases expanding beyond invoices and claims into customer-facing workflows like KYC, contracts, HR files and licensing. In addition, generative AI is now the leading method for researching IDP solutions, reshaping how buyers evaluate and select vendors. Finally, despite digital transformation, 61% of IDP workflows still rely on paper, and 48% of enterprises expect paper volumes to rise next year.

“AI is fundamentally changing how enterprises engage with IDP, retiring legacy systems, reshaping expectations and unlocking new levels of efficiency and insight,” said Dr Michael Berger, CEO, DocuWare. “We’re witnessing a redefinition of what’s possible. AI is both the spark for innovation and the force challenging long-standing norms. This is purposeful disruption, and it’s only just beginning.” Tori Miller Liu, president & CEO, AIIM, added: “The research shows the opportunities and challenges ahead – from the persistent role of paper to the growing demand for secure, AI-powered workflows. This report is a call to action for organisations to rethink their information strategies and embrace the next generation of intelligent automation.” n

Tori Miller Liu president & CEO

info.aiim.org

Quocirca study reveals continued investment in print

While organisations are experiencing fundamental change due to advancing digital, cloud and AI maturity, they are continuing to invest in print infrastructure modernisation to support secure, hybrid work models, according to Quocirca’s Future of Work 2030 Study . The fourth edition of Quocirca’s Future of Work Study revealed new demands for technology providers as buyers expect a broad range of expertise across AI, security and managed services. “Organisations are balancing their investments across emerging and traditional office technology as hybrid working practices become more clearly defined,” said Quocirca CEO Louella Fernandes. “As expected, AI spending is set to increase in the coming year, with productivity gains the primary driver. However, 47% also plan to increase their investment in print infrastructure. We are seeing print volumes stabilise as the shape of the less-paper office becomes clearer, and organisations are seeking

secure, accessible solutions to support the continuing demand for print.” The Future of Work Study is based on research conducted among 400 knowledge workers and 400 IT decision- makers (ITDMs) in small to medium businesses and large enterprises in the US, UK, France, and Germany. Key findings include that improved productivity is the primary benefit expected from AI adoption, cited by 28% of respondents. Also 66% of ITDMs expect to increase investment in AI in the year ahead; they expect to spend 22% of total budget on AI and plan to upgrade 32% of PC fleets to AI PCs in the next 12 months. Elsewhere, 18% of organisations are now fully paperless. Nevertheless, print volumes are expected to rise by 0.5%, while mobile printing is expected to increase by 2.3%. Also 47% of organisations expect to increase investment in modernising their print infrastructure. n

Louella Fernandes ceo

quocirca.com

NEWS

Konica Minolta’s AccurioPress C84hc earns Fogra certification

Konica Minolta’s AccurioPress C84hc has become the only high chroma toner system on the market to be awarded the internationally recognised FograCert Validation Printing System certification. This achievement means that all Konica Minolta’s current colour production systems are now officially Fogra certified. Fogra, the independent German research institute for media technologies, grants certification to systems that meet stringent ISO standards across a range of measurable criteria. The AccurioPress C84hc passed with distinction in two tested controller configurations: Konica Minolta’s proprietary IC-609 and the optional EFI Fiery IC-317. To earn Fogra accreditation, the AccurioPress C84hc underwent comprehensive testing across multiple production scenarios to assess a wide range of capabilities. These included PDF/X conformance, proofing substrate

colour, gloss and fluorescence, colour accuracy, uniformity, permanence and light fastness. Other factors were fading, long and short-term repeatability, print rub resistance, colourimetric tone value transfer, tone value reproduction limits, image register, and resolving power and margin information. “The successful AccurioPress C84hc has already made a strong impression with its ability to deliver vibrant, high-impact colour that meets the creative demands of today’s market,” said Malcolm Smith, category manager – professional print at Konica Minolta Business Solutions (UK) Ltd. “This Fogra certification is a powerful endorsement – not just of the technology, but of the consistent quality and reliability our customers expect. It’s a game-changer for UK print businesses looking to push boundaries, find new opportunities, and unlock new revenue streams with confidence.” n

Malcolm Smith category manger – professional print

konicaminolta.co.uk

XDP Digital invests in Revoria Press

Commercial printer XDP Digital has become the first company in the UK to invest in Fujifilm’s new Revoria Press SC285S. XDP Digital made the investment due to the SC285S’ fifth colour capability. “We’ve always prided ourselves on being able to do nine out of 10 things in-house for our customers,” explains Robert Jupp, director at XDP Digital. “But we knew we needed something new to keep offering that ‘extra mile’ – especially with so many clients looking for fresh, high-impact print.” By expanding into metallic, pink, white and clear toners, the company is opening

customers the samples, they were blown away – especially with the metallics and the pink,” added Robert. “A lot of our clients are always looking for that ‘wow factor’ without paying a high price point for specialist finishes. Now, we can offer striking effects in-house, with no extra hassle or outsourcing. It’s truly a game-changer for us and for them.” The press has been installed for a few months and XDP Digital is seeing positive reactions to it, with early jobs for major garden centres showcasing vibrant pinks and seasonal colour palettes. “The new press is faster, more robust and delivers excellent quality, but it’s the new creative options that really excite us,” says Robert. “In a market where print budgets are under pressure, this gives us a real USP.” n

Robert Jupp director xpd.digital

new creative possibilities for local marketing teams and in- house designers who want to make their materials stand out. “When we showed

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NEWS IN DEPTH

Brother backs inkjet with new campaign

Brother is launching a multi-million campaign push to build out its brand presence in the SOHO/SMB inkjet market across Europe. The investment is part of a strategy to increase market share on the back of growing demand for reliable, quality inkjet printers and the strength of Brother’s existing and new inkjet line-up. A key objective of the campaign is to build brand perceptions around the ease of use and durability of Brother printers. For channel partners, this will unlock opportunities to sell (and upsell) on quality, even for everyday printing needs in smaller settings. “Our resellers and channel partners are fantastic at selling our printer technology, making us number one in A3 inkjet, mono laser and colour laser,” said Matthias Schach, director Brother Europe – Sales & Marketing. “The opportunity in our sights now is the sizable A4 inkjet category,

where lack of awareness is holding us and our resellers back. This major campaign is here to fix that, helping channel partners sell today and grow with us tomorrow.” The campaign is being backed by significant, multichannel media spend in 15 European markets, a first major campaign burst will dramatically increase visibility of Brother as an inkjet brand across multiple touchpoints and with memorable, emotive creative. Under the banner ‘More time for life’ the campaign will be seen by SMB and SOHO audiences on social platforms and websites, as well as out and about and on streaming services. The creative will be focused around three hobby-themed short films, each showing how Brother inkjet printers give people more time to do what really matters to them.

Matthias Schach director Brother Europe – Sales & Marketing

brother.co.uk

ESP Colour upscales with Ricoh C9500 investment

Ricoh UK has announced a new investment from ESP Colour, which has acquired Ricoh’s flagship Pro C9500 colour cutsheet. ESP Colour, a print service provider that produces a range of litho and digital print, will use the engine to produce high-quality A4 landscape covers and long sheet jobs. The company recently transitioned to the Ricoh Pro C9500 colour cutsheet in response to an increased demand for A4 landscape covers from its publishing and print-on-demand clients. Previously, these covers were printed on a Kodak Nexfinity and a Ricoh Pro C7200. With the Pro C7200 reaching the end of its service life and a planned phase-out of the Kodak Nexfinity, ESP Colour opted-in for a higher-quality replacement solution.

“After careful consideration, we decided that the Ricoh Pro C9500 engine stood out amongst its competitors as it produces best-in-class output for A4 landscape cover printing,” said Dave Woloszynski, head of digital production and operations at ESP Colour. “This investment exceeded what we achieved previously – not only delivering a competitive click cost and superior print quality, but also the option to print onto card material up to 470gsm with reproduction of solid colours and subtle tints.” The investment marks a joint commitment to enhance production capabilities and deliver high-quality print for the publishing sector, ensuring the evolving needs of ESP Colour clients are met to a favourable standard. n

Dave Woloszynski head of digital production & operations

espcolour.co.uk

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PRODUCT LAUNCH Canon imagePRESS V1000

Enhanced image

Canon has launched a revamped version of its imagePRESS V1000 production printer, offering better productivity, reliability and application versatility than its previous iteration.

For businesses that require high volumes of material to be printed, productivity and reliability are key requirements for their printers. In competitive markets, customers are ever-more demanding of their print solutions. To ensure its solutions keep up with customer demand, Canon has launched an upgraded version of its toner-based imagePRESS V1000 production printer with new hardware and firmware upgrades, including an updated user interface, and compatibility with long- sheet handling accessories. Canon’s imagePRESS V1000 has been popular in the market for some time – indeed, there have been more than 700 installations of it across EMEA, according to the company. For the upgraded printer, Canon has responded to customer feedback and introduced a new vacuum-fed paper deck for the imagePRESS V1000, a feature previously available only on the V1350. This suction-feeding and paper separation technology delivers more reliable paper handling, particularly with challenging media types, while maintaining the press’s compact footprint as the most space-

efficient production device in its class. Extending its application capabilities, the imagePRESS V1000 is also now compatible with the Plockmatic LCT XL (Large Capacity Tray), supporting media weights up to 400gsm and efficiently handling long sheets up to 700mm long from two vacuum trays and sheets up to 1,300mm from the LSM long-sheet tray above the two trays. This expansion significantly increases the automated production of output such as landscape booklets, trifold brochures and gate-folded applications.

Canon has responded to customer feedback and introduced a new vacuum-fed paper deck for the imagePRESS V1000, a feature previously available only on the V1350.

Improved user experience Other upgrades come to the user

experience, with the imagePRESS V1000 now coming with a new, larger operating panel for the PRISMAsync print server, making the system more user-friendly and efficient to operate. The 533mm panel enhances visibility of workflow and printer functions, providing a more intuitive interface where operators can check all information in one screen, including media loaded in paper decks. Allowing operators and users to be more self-reliant and reducing the need for service visits for routine maintenance issues, Canon also continues to support

PRODUCT LAUNCH Canon imagePRESS V1000

cloud-based e-maintenance on the imagePRESS V series. Beneficial to all customers, this feature is particularly valuable for customers in remote locations, further enhancing productivity, uptime, and overall value for money. Quality and sustainability leadership With sustainability an increasing priority for businesses, Canon has moved to ensure the new imagePRESS V1000 meets high standards for quality and sustainability. Its FOGRA 51 certification confirms its ability to deliver exceptional print quality and it does so without compromising on productivity – a balance that is typically difficult to achieve on toner presses. The V1000 produces output with a colour gamut that meets the FOGRA 51 standard without additional colour stations. In line with Canon's goal of reducing its environmental impact, the imagePRESS V1000 has also received INGEDE certification for 'good' deinkability, the highest category awarded by the non- profit association, which is committed to maintaining and improving the recyclability of graphic print products. This certification confirms that output from the imagePRESS V1000 can be efficiently recycled, supporting circular economy principles. Proven reliability As mentioned, reliability is crucial for high-volume printers. The reliable performance of the imagePRESS V1000 is evidenced by customers like UWV, the public organisation in the Netherlands responsible for implementing employee insurance schemes and providing social security services. Operating a dedicated, in-house print centre to manage all its outgoing customer communications, UWV prints an average of 2.5 million A4 pages each month on five identically configured V1000 presses, enabling UWV to handle a daily volume of 144,000 impressions within a five- to six- hour production window.

Finishing options Professional feeders and finishing solutions for perfect results every time.

Investing in toner technology "At Canon, we’re very conscious of the ever-growing pressure on turnaround time that is placed on our customers by their own, so we continuously look to offer technology improvements that will result in greater workflow efficiency and productivity,” says Stuart Rising, head of graphic arts for Canon UK and Ireland. “With these multiple enhancements to the imagePRESS V1000, we're reaffirming our commitment to the toner-based production print market and ensuring that we continue to offer our customers the industry’s broadest range of both toner and inkjet printing technologies. “While others may be shifting focus, Canon continues to invest in toner technology to meet the ongoing demand of our customers for high- quality, reliable, on-demand printing. The improvements to the imagePRESS V1000… again demonstrate our approach to customer-driven innovation, ensuring that Canon remains at the forefront of digital production printing technology while helping our customers add value throughout their production workflow, expand their application range and migrate more volume from offset to digital printing.” The imagePRESS V1000 with vacuum- feed paper deck is available now. The press is available with either a PRISMAsync or Fiery controller, both of which have been updated for more efficient usability. n

Stuart Rising head of graphic arts

canon.co.uk

“

Canon continues to invest in toner technology to meet the ongoing demand of our customers for high-quality, reliable, on- demand printing.

”

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PRODUCT LAUNCH EPSON ECOTANK PRINTERS

Make it easy Epson has launched three new series of EcoTank printers that offer better productivity, ease- of-use and hassle-free printing for home and small offices, as well as significant savings on printing costs compared to traditional cartridge printers.

For those working in small and home offices, printers are often crucial to their work, so users want products that are efficient and reliable. But, as they often don’t have ready access to technical expertise, they also want them to be easy to use too. Ease-of-use has been to the fore for Epson, as it has launched three new series of its EcoTank printers – seven new models in all. The new models have had a significant redesign and include many new improvements aimed at increasing user productivity, more intuitive operation and hassle-free printing. The new EcoTank models are: 🔥 ET-2950 Series: ET-2950/51/56 (replacing the ET-2850 series), designed for busy families seeking reliable, ultra-low-cost printing with advanced features like automatic double-sided printing 🔥 ET-3950 Series: ET-3950/56 (replacing the ET-3850) and ET-4950 Series: ET- 4950/56 (replacing the ET-4850/56),

Designed to meet the needs of home and small office users, the new EcoTank models feature an array of advanced specifications all with usability and productivity in mind.

tailored for home office and small office users requiring fast, reliable printing solutions. Designed to meet the needs of home and small office users, the new EcoTank models feature an array of advanced specifications all with usability and productivity in mind. For instance, the new EcoTank range offers faster print speeds compared to other models. The ET-2950 Series has a mono print speed of 15 pages per minute (ppm), and colour print speeds of 8ppm, while the ET-3950 and ET-4950 Series features a mono print speed of 18ppm and colour print speeds of 9ppm. There is also automatic double-sided scanning and copying of multi-page documents enhances productivity, enabling users to complete tasks quickly and efficiently. The ET-3950 and ET-4950 series also features a large 250 sheet front loading paper tray with media window for easy paper level monitoring. In addition, the new semi-automatic print quality adjustment function makes it quick and easy for users to optimise print quality.

PRODUCT LAUNCH EPSON ECOTANK PRINTERS

Intuitive interfaces As mentioned, ease of use has also been a prominent consideration with these printers. For instance, the ET-2950 features an easy to use 3.7cm colour LCD, which increases to a 6.1cm LCD for the ET-3950 series. Meanwhile the ET-4950 series adds touchscreen functionality. There is also an auto opening output tray: This feature eliminates the need for users to be present at the printer. All users need to do is send a job to print and the output tray automatically opens and extends ready to receive the printed pages. Again, ease of use is to the fore when refilling the ink tank. The ink tanks are front facing and have a flip-forward lid to simplify the refilling process, and the no-squeeze, gravity fed key-lock bottle design ensures hassle-free refills. There is also enhanced connectivity with support for 2.4GHz and 5GHz options ensures faster, more reliable network connections, ideal for environments with multiple wireless devices. In addition, users can print from smartphones and tablets via Wi-Fi and the Epson Smart Panel app. The app allows users to set up the printer, check ink levels, troubleshoot and maintenance as well as order supplies, all from a mobile device. Cost and eco savings Another priority for many in small and home offices is cost effectiveness. Users can save up to 95% on printing costs

compared to traditional cartridge printers, with one set of ink bottles delivering the equivalent of 63 ink cartridges, according to Epson. All the new EcoTank models come packaged with up to three years of ink and with high-yield ink bottles, enabling thousands of prints with minimal refills and significantly reduced waste. There is 6,600 pages in black and 5,500 pages in colour with the included ink of the ET-2950 series, increasing to 15,100 pages in black with ET-3950 and ET-4950 Series thanks to an additional black ink bottle. A replacement set of inks prints 8,500 pages in black and 6,500 pages in colour, meaning fewer refills and an ultra-low cost per print. Also, fitting in with movements to ensure printers last longer in the field to cut the amount of devices sent to landfill, these have been built to last: the ET-2950 series can print up to 50,000 pages, while the ET-3950 and ET-4950 series produces up to 100,000 pages, according to Epson. “We are thrilled to introduce these new affordable, productive, cost-efficient EcoTank printers, which showcase our absolute commitment to innovation and user-centric design,” said Lee Withers, Epson Europe. “Epson’s new EcoTank printers are designed to be flexible, reliable and easy to use, making them the ideal choice for busy home and small office users looking for ultra-low-cost, hassle-free printing solutions. “With many advanced features and a sleek new design, these printers provide the reliability and flexibility that modern households and small offices demand.” n

“

Epson’s new EcoTank printers are designed to be flexible, reliable, and easy to use, making them the ideal choice for busy home and small office users looking for ultra-low-cost, hassle-free printing solutions.

”

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XERETEC

Wide appeal Xeretec recently completed the acquisition of First Copy, helping to boost an already good year for the company, which is reaping the benefits of diversifying its product offering and helping customers to achieve sustainability targets.

Back in 1991, and within days of each other, Xeretec and First Copy were established. Both went on to forge good reputations within the print sectors, and both successfully operated as Xerox concessionaires. Fast forward 34 years, and the companies have come together, with Wokingham-based Xeretec recently acquiring First Copy as part of its growth strategy. When the opportunity to acquire First Copy came up, it immediately interested Xeretec, says David Smith, Xeretec’s group marketing director. “First Copy’s main market is in East Anglia, which is a greenfield site for us and they are a Xerox concessionaire too, as well as having strength in production print,” he explains. “They are a great fit for Xeretec, with not only mutual value add but also we deliver financial strength to the First Copy customer base, which in a tough industry is important. Additionally, the customer base would have instant access to the wider Xeretec solution portfolio. “It felt like a win-win for both companies and Xerox too. Acquisitions are never simple, but in terms of culture, style,

understanding, learning, value add, it just made sense, so we proceeded.” David says the deal came together relatively quickly, helped by the willingness on both sides to complete the deal. “First Copy is blessed with a loyal customer base especially in production print, so for us to consolidate our presence with them means we can offer so much more to them to help with their broader IT requirements,” he adds. Post-deal, First Copy is keeping its well- established name and branding, with a slight tweak – it is now First Copy IT Ltd. The existing management team and staff also remain in place, helping to maintain consistency for its customers and well- developed local presence. “Where we can add value with scale, support and technology, we’ll do that,” says David. “They are a separate legal entity, wholly owned by Xeretec, but managed by their existing team. We provide additional value through Group functions such as a larger marketing operation and increased analysts and specialist technology support. This includes the National Help Desk in Aberdeen. It’s important to us that they retain their local identity and reputation, and they will continue to operate as a Xerox concessionaire in their own right.” For First Copy customers, it is business as usual and the only difference they should notice is the slight change in name, David says. “It’s hopefully completely seamless,” he adds. “The idea was to try and make that transition almost invisible to the customer base. What they

David Smith group marketing director

xeretec.co.uk

XERETEC

will see is access to a broadened portfolio of technology outside print, but they’ll continue to have all the support that they would expect from the business. “It is early days, but we’ve seen some good successes with the team there already. Hopefully, their customers will get greater value from the adjacent technologies and other IT solutions they can now offer.” Diversification benefits Away from the acquisition, 2025 has been a good year for Xeretec so far, with several big contract wins outside of its traditional print heartland helping to provide organic growth. Xeretec has consciously diversified its product mix into wider IT managed services over the past eight years, and this policy is bearing fruit. David says Xeretec has built its portfolio and expertise in recent years in PC and related services, as well as software, cybersecurity and lifecycle services. “They are difficult markets to break into, and you have to work at it for some time and develop a reputation in those markets,” he says. “You must have people that understand the market and change your processes and systems, which is what we’ve done over the past eight years. We’re now comfortable with who we’ve got, what we offer, and are accelerating our penetration into new business. “Alongside that our print business is going from strength to strength and we have won some big contracts recently.” Print trends David adds that a trend in the print sector this year has been for customers to look at what next to do with their print fleet, including consolidation, upgrading and cost optimisation, as well exploring how to improve the environmental performance and lower the carbon footprint. “We’ve had to fight harder to retain customers, as the market is really competitive, but I think it’s kept us on our metal,” he says. “We’ve

been successful in achieving that and seen good growth.” Another prevalent tend has been the migration to management through the cloud. “Pretty much everybody wants a cloud function and a serverless environment,” says David. “That’s been a big driver for customers, whether they’re looking to deploy that on an existing fleet, unify a multi-brand print fleet across a common cloud platform or replacing equipment and getting an integrated cloud solution that gives them control at the same time.” But alongside this has been a focus on costs, which Xeretec have been striving to provide. “Customers want great products, but they don’t want to pay premium prices,” he says. “But they also value that complete lifecycle management and they want comfort of knowing that if something goes wrong, we’ll fix it. They want to take the pain away and just have it work. “The market is very price sensitive, but they want a managed solution too. It is hard to find a good balance between the two, but it is something we manage to achieve.” Sustainability priority As mentioned, sustainability continues to be a priority for customers. To this end, Xeretec recently received an EcoVadis Bronze Medal, which puts the company in the top 35% of companies evaluated globally. Criteria for this include environment, ethics, labour and human rights. The award can give customers confidence that Xeretec is working towards its own sustainability goals, something needed as the topic crops up in every large engagement that the company has, according to David. “This is particularly the case around print, for new and existing customers,” he adds. “We’ve done so much work to help customers understand what’s the optimum sustainable solution moving forward. “We help customers understand the true impact of adopting a product, and not just

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Xeretec has built its portfolio and expertise in recent years in PC and related services, as well as software, cybersecurity and lifecycle services.

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We think that the software and cybersecurity is a very competitive market, but it's a very big market so the plan is to keep growing those parts of the business. “ ”

Future Looking to the future, the focus for

whilst it is operated. For example, while the use and maintenance of a colour MFP printer typically account for only 15-18% of its total environmental impact, that’s just a small part of the story. “The bigger picture includes factors like raw material sourcing, production, shipping and eventual retirement. By looking at the entire product lifecycle, we can help customers make informed decisions about the most sustainable and cost-effective path forward.” “We try to ensure that everything we put into the market is optimised for the customer. When looking at new products, customers want to know about things like the total energy consumption, what the Energy Star TEC rating is, and if it’s going to be less than the ones that are being replaced. We come armed with a deep understanding of the marketplace, and provide that end-to-end lifecycle picture of the technology, whilst helping customers see the bigger picture. “We are aware that as technology is replaced, such as PC refreshes for Windows 11, there is an opportunity to turn this into a force for good, rather than a burden. We have new business engagements where we help customers responsibly dispose of their old technology via a secure, certified programme. Here it is repurposed for a second life wherever possible or recycled. For many organisations supporting causes through charitable donations makes a material difference to their ESG manifestos. In many cases customers also see a monetary value returned. This is an initiative we’ve been working hard to perfect.”

Xeretec is on continued growth. David says the company is working hard to retain its existing print customers, as well as seeking out new business – and this is where Xeretec’s range of services gives them an advantage. “We want to massively scale our PC services business,” he adds. “That’s everything from buying PCs – very pertinent with Windows 11 switchover coming up in terms of the product refresh rate – through to helping them with complete lifecycle services. We’ve also investing significantly in building assets and services including software and cybersecurity. “In the next 12 months, we intend to strengthen our non-print business and make that much bigger. We think that the software and cybersecurity space is a very competitive market, but it’s a very big market so the plan is to keep growing those parts of the business. To this end, we’ve increased our sales and technical teams organically, as well as those people who joined us in the First Copy acquisition.” This growth will be alongside continued development of its print products and services, both Xeretec and First Copy, alongside their work as Xerox concessionaires. While organic growth is a focus, if an opportunity for an acquisition presents itself, then they will look at that too, as there is expected to be more consolidation in the sector, David says. n

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MFP SECURITY

Keep it safe With the threats from cybercriminals continually rising, businesses, including SMBs, must remain vigilant as they can come through any networked device – including MFPs. Resellers can help ensure customers are as protected as possible.

management solution is a must for any shared environment.” Rick Dove, pre-sales technical specialist, Epson UK, notes that MFPs are often underestimated in terms of security. “But they’re essentially networked computers with storage, processing power and connectivity which makes them an appealing target. Some even run on the Android operating system, which opens the door further since attackers can leverage familiar programming languages and tools. “Printer manufacturers are quick to issue firmware updates to patch vulnerabilities, but problems arise when devices are left running outdated software or are poorly configured. In these cases, an MFP can become a convenient gateway for cybercriminals to infiltrate the wider network, steal sensitive data or stage a larger attack.” Security available This means security should be a priority for SMBs, although as Gary Organ, head of device technology sales UK at Fujifilm, emphasises, security isn’t just putting the best and latest versions of technology in place to protect devices. “It’s also about the layers of complexity cybercriminals have to go through to beat the system,” he says. “The biggest threat to most MFPs is still the fact there are no or few security features enabled on the device. By adding basic features to a device, you are mitigating your risk more than if you had no technology or processes in place. “The key is to look at the lifecycle of documents produced as well as the

This year has seen multiple headline news stories about major businesses being hit by cyberattacks. But the threat to all sizes of business is rising too, with cybercriminals targeting any weak point in a business’ network – including multifunctional printers (MFPs) – something resellers and their SMB customers need to be aware of. Trevor Maloney, product marketing manager – Kyocera Document Solutions UK, says networked MFPs can pose a significant security risk. “Especially to those businesses where limited IT resources mean printer security often gets overlooked,” he says. “As network endpoints, unsecured MFPs can unwittingly give hackers access to the network, allowing them to intercept or access sensitive print data or even deploy malware. “Uncollected printed documents can still lead to data leaks or confidential information getting into the wrong hands, which is why devices with secure print onboard as default or a print

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Printer manufacturers are quick to issue firmware

updates to patch vulnerabilities, but problems arise when devices are left running outdated software or are poorly configured.

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MFP SECURITY

devices in isolation, as documents, whether electronic or printed, also pose threats to the business. Implementing basic print management or output management systems that work in the cloud from industry leaders such as PaperCut, MyQ and YSoft ensures the machines are locked down and minimises cross-contamination of documents, with the highest security levels through their public cloud solutions.” Ian Fox, UK channel solutions and services specialist at Xerox, says that initially, best-practice security strategies should be applied to minimise the attack surface. “This includes regularly updating and patching solution software and device firmware, enforcing strong password policies with scheduled changes, disabling unused ports, and establishing robust auditing and remediation procedures to address potential vulnerabilities,” he says. He adds that Xerox’s Cloud Fleet Management offers a robust and streamlined approach, ensuring devices remain updated and aligned with organisational security policies. “It enables centralised patching, password enforcement and configuration management,” he says. “Security audits can be scheduled and reviewed through a single dashboard, simplifying the identification and remediation of non- compliant devices. Additionally, Xerox partners can integrate this solution into their managed service offerings, unlocking new opportunities for recurring revenue and removing the burden of these tasks from their customers’ overstretched IT departments.” Rick notes that Epson Print Admin provides secure print release and user authentication. “This means sensitive documents only print when the authorised user is at the device,” he says. “Without secure print release, confidential files can end up abandoned on output trays; a small oversight with big potential consequences.

“Epson devices also integrate seamlessly with third-party platforms such as OptimiDoc and PaperCut Hive, giving customers flexibility to scale security and solution features to their specific needs. “Combine these solutions with regular firmware updates and device-level access controls, and SMBs can put a solid, layered defence in place, one that makes everyday printing secure and stress-free.” Tony Ko, vice president, Hardware and Business Solutions at Katun, says that SMBs should prioritise MFPs with robust, built-in security features. “Katun’s Arivia MFPs offer comprehensive protection with TPM 2.0 chips, secure boost capabilities and SSD encryption,” he says. “They support advanced user authentication, access controls, secure print release, WPA3 wireless security and Radio Equipment Directive certification. The Arivia platform supports OAuth 2.0 for scan to email security and Microsoft’s Universal Print for encrypted cloud print. These devices also integrate with Katun’s KDFM eXplorer platform, which is ISO 27001 and SOC 2 certified, for secure remote management, two-factor authentication, and GDPR-compliant data handling, making them a reliable choice for secure, scalable print environments.” Trevor says the security of the MFP needs to protect against the uploading of malware, access to the network itself and the retrieval of documents from the devices own HDD. “This security needs to be automatic, common and all-encompassing,” he notes. “Kyocera’s new TASKalfa MZ 7001 series have security at the core of their design. As such these devices come as standard with a data encryption and overwrite feature ensuring any files on the HDD are securely held. Other standard features include Simple Certificate Enrolment Protocol, on-line Certificate Status Protocol, firmware validation, Trusted Platform Module, Security Information and Event Management support and TLS 1.3

Contributors

Trevor Maloney

kyoceradocument solutions.co.uk

Rick Dove

epson.co.uk

Gary Organ

www.fujifilm.com/uk/eu

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