UC Advanced - issue #14

UC Issue #14

ucadvanced.com

News, analysis, insights and more

The next generation of HP|Poly is here! Available at

A partnership built upon 40+ years experience and expertise helping resellers.

Nimans - The UK’s No1 Distributor The largest and most reputable Mitel distributor, with a 14-strong knowledgeable Mitel team and 1-hour license turnaround.

The UC Solutions Experts £24m stock, 350+ brands, UC specialists, video conferencing, networking, infrastructure, telephony, and more.

AND

DISCOVER MORE

COMMENT COMMENT

And We’re Off!

I love January. It affords a brief point in time where planning comes to the fore, for quite a few of us anyway, regardless of when your company’s financial year end is. It’s that time in the year when we hear from vendors and suppliers about what we can expect from 2025 with products and services, and no matter how we crossed the 2024 finish line, whether limping or sprinting, we can put it behind us and start afresh. Globally, change is afoot, and we’re setting off at pace. Changes in leadership in the US and UK spell out fresh thinking, what we think of those “fresh thoughts” on taxing and tariffs is another matter. And the tide is not turning for AI, it’s making fresh inroads and infiltrating many devices and processes, enter ChatGPT with Tasks. By now, quite a few are us are navigating the world with Microsoft’s Copilot, and utilising the AI features in our PCs and printers, using our voices

done to those MSP smarties that made data centres their focus, 2024 estimates are the global data centre market topped US$125bn, by 2030 its estimated to reach US$407bn. In your 2025 SWOT analysis, spare a bit of time for some obstacles and hurdles. Cybersecurity is a hot topic, and for good reason. When a strike occurs, you feel it, and they come in all shapes and sizes. Speak to your service providers this year and improve your defences, and if this is out of your domain then select or recommend devices with in-built security as a standard feature.

Trish Stevens Guest Editor

to talk to our smart devices, and loving our integrated UC systems and out-of-the-box solutions. All enabled with investments

This issue is

in 5G, internet speeds in London reaching 3Gbps

packed full of advice and

for households and up to 100Gbps for businesses (it’s not a typo) and data centres that can store all that data crunching. Well

information, enjoy a brief point in time for reflection and planning.

CALLING ALL BRANDS

Support your Channel Distributors and Resellers by using the new FREE Stock in the Channel functionality: “Authorised Distributors”. Click here to learn more

ucadvanced.com

CONTENTS

UCC News • AI & Data Centres • Business News • Upcoming Events p6-10 Insights 2025 Outlook p14 Reseller Support Sam from Nimans p20 Communications Snom SRAPS p23 CEX Achieving 400% ROI p24 Network Connectivity Unlocking Potential p26 Device Security Fleet Peace of Mind p32 Product Review Jabra PanaCast 20 p34 Platform Tools Cobrowsing p38 Eagle Eye – BI Microphones p40 Video Games Gaming in Schools p42 Job Hunting Do’s and Donts p43 Cybersecurity Terminology p46 Events Seen at CES 2025 p48 People p50

2024 is past. What can we learn from it? And what do we expect from 2025?

CES sets the stage for 2025 device launches and gives a spectacular glimpse into future innovation.

p48

p14

p46

p20

We meet Sam Kay, Video Business Development Manager. She’s on hand to help any reseller with Meeting Room projects

Cybersecurity Rapid Fire Round,Missing the festive party games? Here’s one for January.

Reliable UC connectivity is pivotal for modern workplaces, enabling productivity, simplifying operations, reducing costs, and supporting organisations

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

p42

There are multiple petitions for gaming in schools, including petitions to make video games a compulsory part of the curriculum...

p26

The Jabra PanaCast 20 webcam deserves some column inches. This webcam is engineered to bring your image and voice to the forefront

p40

p34

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:

There is no shortage of innovation in the UC market, especially in microphone technology.

ucadvanced.com

UCC NEWS – AI & DATA CENTRES

AI Opportunities Action Plan On 13 January 2025, Prime Minister

Sir Keir Starmer launched the AI Opportunities Action Plan .

Feryal Clark MP, Minister for AI and Digital Government summarised the government’s AI roadmap, and a full commitment was given to take forward all of the 50 recommendations made by Adviser on AI Opportunities Matthew Clifford CBE.

How many? 13,250 estimated jobs to be created

The aim? A “decade of national renewal”

The gains? Could be an estimated average £47bn to the UK each year over a decade What’s in store? The 3 Pillars: 1 AI Growth Zones in areas across the country that will speed up planning approvals for the rapid build- out of data centres. The first will be in Oxfordshire, home to the UK’s Atomic Energy Authority, complete with a new National Data Library. Additionally, a new supercomputer build to increase compute capacity by twenty-fold by 2030. 2 Boosting adoption across public and private sectors with a new digital centre for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, which will scan for new ideas, pilot them in public sector settings, then scale them as far as they can go. The PM has tasked his entire Cabinet to drive AI adoption and growth in their sectors. 3 Keeping ahead with a new team that will be at the forefront of emerging technology and could include guaranteeing firms access to data and energy. A dedicated AI Energy Council

AI Minister Feryal Clark MP (centre) meets with tech industry leaders.

How much? £14bn investment from 3 major tech companies – Vantage, Nscale and Kyndryl. Plus £25bn in AI investment announced at the International Investment Summit. Building one of Europe’s largest data centre campuses in Wales, plans to invest over £12bn in UK data centres, creating over 11,500 jobs. Subject to planning permission and agreed connection timelines, is expected to support over 10,000 local construction jobs over 10 years, and create over 1,500 data centre operational roles Plans to create a new tech hub with up to 1,000 AI-related jobs in Liverpool over the next 3 years Announced a $2.5bn investment to support the UK’s data centre infrastruc- ture over the next 3 years. Will build the largest UK sovereign AI data centre in Loughton, Essex by 2026

chaired by the Science and Energy Secretaries is to be established.

WORLD’S

ucadvanced.com

UCC BUSINESS NEWS

Jabra launches Perform 75

Jabra have launched the Jabra Perform 75 headset, and stock is available now. The Perform 75 headset is designed for efficient communication in retail. It features a button for instant hands-free communication with Push-to-Talk (PTT) on handheld devices, perfect for tasks like staffing checkouts and stocking shelves. It’s compatible with platforms like Microsoft and Zebra Technologies, offering out-of-the-box functionality. The headset’s Bluetooth connection lets workers use voice-led apps, including AI assistants, to get real-time information without using their hands. This improves productivity and service quality, enhancing the in-store customer experience. Built to last, the Perform 75 withstands humidity, dust and extreme temperatures with a range of 60°C to –30°C, and has been drop tested to 2.1m. It features a 99% noise-cancelling microphone, ensuring clear communication even

in noisy environments. The Perform 75 features a modular design with interchangeable parts like headbands and batteries, allowing quick assembly and preferred wearing styles. The charging station keeps battery ready. Andrew Doyle, VP for Frontline Workers at Jabra, said: “We’ve channelled our expertise and worked closely with our Alliance partners to build a solution for the retail sector... By integrating with existing frontline worker applications, it empowers associates to work smarter, improve customer experiences, and adapt to the fast-evolving retail landscape. This is the kind of innovation that bridges the gap between operational efficiency and exceptional service.” Jabra Perform 75 comes as an addition to the in-market Perform 45, strengthening the Jabra Perform line of Bluetooth headsets built for the retail world. Find out more information at https://www.jabra.com/perform75 .

jabra.com

Exertis AV Partners with Sony PDS

Exertis AV has an exciting new partnership with Sony Professional Displays & Solutions Europe, renowned for its premium audio visual (AV) solutions. Sony’s reputation for cutting-edge design and quality aligns with Exertis AV’s commitment to offer best-in-class solutions. Together, the companies will empower customers to enhance communication and collaboration with state-of-the-art displays, digital signage and AV technologies that meet the demands of a modern, connected world. “I’m delighted to announce that from January we will be launching with Sony which further strengthens Exertis AV’s portfolio and specialism with a premium, globally recognised brand that delivers unparalleled innovation and quality,”

said Al Coyne, AV Commercial Director, Exertis AV. “This partnership reflects our shared commitment to sustainability and in delivering exceptional value and choice to our customers.” “We are very pleased to welcome Exertis AV as an accredited distributor for Sony Professional Display Products and Solutions. Building upon our existing partnership with Exertis in Europe, this new partnership will enable us to expand our reach across the UK & Ireland, delivering innovative professional display solutions to a broader audience. Together, we are committed to enhancing the experience for our clients and driving strategic growth of our B2B business in this dynamic market,” stated Moya Kelleher, Head of B2B Sales, UK & Ireland and Nordics at Sony Europe.

Moya Kelleher

sony.co.uk

exertis.co.uk

UCC BUSINESS NEWS

Nimans Partners with Intermedia

Nimans Ltd have proudly announced a strategic distribution partnership with Intermedia, specialists in AI-powered cloud communications, collaboration, and customer engagement solutions, expanding Nimans’ communication technology portfolio. The partnership provides Nimans’ partners with comprehensive training, technical support, and marketing resources to effectively sell and implement Intermedia’s solutions, all available now. Powered by Intermedia’s award- winning cloud platform, these solutions – previously offered through Nimans as NEC UNIVERGE BLUE – are now being provided directly from Intermedia under this new partnership. These include voice, video conferencing, chat, contact centre, archiving, file sharing and backup, Microsoft Teams integrations, and more. Paul Burn, Managing Director of Nimans Ltd, expressed his enthusiasm about

the new partnership: “We are excited to partner with Intermedia to offer their innovative cloud communications platform to our network of partners and customers. This agreement represents a strategic opportunity to deliver state- of-the-art solutions that help businesses enhance connectivity, collaboration, and productivity.” Philippe du Fou, EMEA Sales Director for Intermedia, shared his excitement about the collaboration: “Nimans is a respected leader in the telecommunications space, and we are thrilled to partner with them to expand the reach of our solutions in the UK market. With AI-powered insights and automation built into our platform, businesses can improve decision-making, streamline operations, and adapt quickly to changing demands. Nimans’ extensive network of resellers and deep industry expertise make them an ideal distribution partner.”

Paul Burn

nimans.net

Philippe du Fou

intermedia.com

Logitech Rally Camera Streamline Kit

Logitech have launched their Rally Camera Streamline Kit which is a video camera setup designed for classrooms and workspaces. It helps capture lectures and presentations so that people can watch them live or later. Users can quickly switch between different camera angles using simple buttons, keeping the focus on the presentation, not on handling complicated equipment. The camera can be installed up to 100 metres away from the computer using just one cable. The camera can be mounted on a wall, upside down, on a tripod, and keeps wires out of sight for a neat look. The Logitech Rally Camera Streamline Kit works with most computers and popular video apps, making it easy to use in different settings.

Logitech will be showcasing the new Logitech Rally Camera Streamline Kit at the BETT show, London ExCeL, 22 to 24 January 2025.

ucadvanced.com

UC UPCOMING EVENTS

LONDON

Leading event for IoT, Digital Twins & Enterprise Transformation, IoT Security IoT Connectivity & Connected Devices, Smart Infrastructures & Automation, Data & Analytics and Edge Platforms. Go Free or get a Gold Pass for £499: https://www.iottechexpo.com/global/ tickets/ Bringing tech leaders from every sector to share insights on how to help your organisation embed innovation, turn data into actionable customer insights, build products that excite, be risk smart and enable your team to collaborate from any place. Discover the latest solutions, connect with your peers, and learn from industry trailblazers. Register Free: https://bit.ly/4fQ4fIn A leading supplier of ‘last mile’ connectivity and hosted UC solutions across Europe and Asia, Sona provides high calibre network, datacentre, telecoms, IT and security solutions to the UK

What? IoT Tech Expo Where? Olympia, London When? 5-6 February 2025

MANCHESTER

What? UCX Manchester Where? Manchester Central, M2 3GX When? 2-3 April 2025

LEEDS

What? Sona Business Launch Event Where? Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds When? 28 January 2025

ONLINE

Revolutionise call recording for your customers – join Simon Peters and Anna Skolasinska-Barnett and learn how cloud-based, AI-driven call recording can transform compliance, enhance customer satisfaction, and streamline communication strategies for your clients. Register: https://nuvias-uc.zoom.us/webinar/ register/9017365101440/WN_ bzzjMKJuTK-7ct30ULILow

What? Nuvias UC and

CallCabinet Webinar

Where? Online When? 28 February 2025, 10am to 10.45am

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ucadvanced.com

INSIGHTS

2025 Outlook

2024 is past. What can we learn from it? And what do we expect from 2025? UC Advanced gathered some views from well respected business leaders across the channel.

Steve Rafferty, Head of EMEA, Zoom Hybrid Work and Equity in the Workplace: By 2025, investment in reliable, high-performance technology and AI-driven collaboration tools will create more inclusive, flexible environments. Businesses will increasingly adopt hybrid work models, giving employees the autonomy to choose where and when they work. This shift will be supported by AI-driven tools that enable seamless communication and collaboration across remote and in-office teams. These tools will not only enhance productivity but also increase equity by ensuring that employees, no matter where they are, feel equally involved in collaborative efforts AI-Natives and Human-Centric Leadership: The rise of AI-native employees, those accustomed to integrating AI into daily life, will push businesses to fully embrace AI tools,

reshaping workplace expectations. At the same time, leaders must prioritise human- centric qualities like empathy, creativity, and ethical judgement to complement AI’s capabilities and build trust in the evolving workplace. Use of AI will set businesses apart: The use of AI will set organisations apart by enabling them to deliver highly personalised experiences and ensure seamless and holistic engagement. By harnessing AI to analyse customer data in real-time, businesses can tailor offerings and communications, driving greater loyalty and retention. Additionally, AI-powered feedback loops will allow companies to continuously refine their services by quickly adapting to customer sentiments, helping them stay ahead of the competition and meet rising consumer expectations across all touchpoints.

Steve Rafferty

zoom.com

Rob Smith, Senior Director, Strategic Market Development, Shure The modern workplace is in constant flux, requiring organizations to adopt new tools and technologies to maintain culture, meet productivity goals, and support evolving workforce needs. From innovative office designs and flexible work arrangements to cutting-edge digital tools and AI, the landscape of work and collaboration is set to transform remarkably. in-person and hybrid experiences rival the convenience and user-friendliness of home setups, prioritizing intuitive, high-quality tech tools for seamless connectivity. Importantly, achieving meeting equity for both remote and in-person attendees will be crucial. This involves ensuring that remote participants have the same ability to contribute and

Office design will shift to meet the needs of hybrid work, transforming traditional spaces into technology- enhanced collaboration and learning hubs. Companies must ensure that

engage as those physically present, using technologies that provide crystal- clear audio, high-resolution video, and interactive capabilities to bridge the gap. Flexibility remains critical, with

Rob Smith

shure.com

41640

companies striving to create zero-friction collaboration experiences. Streamlining and standardization, while continuing to support multiple platforms will be essential for businesses planning investments in 2025 and beyond. As we look ahead, wide-ranging adoption of advanced collaboration solutions is on the horizon, with platforms like Microsoft Teams and Zoom evolving to offer more seamless transitions between video conferencing, chat, file sharing, and project management. Integration across these platforms will enable employees and clients to communicate more effectively, regardless of platform preference.

ride the wave of AI, but turning ambition into fruition is what will really matter in 2025. IT vendors need to access state of the art AI solutions, allowing customers to deploy AI faster, safely, and more efficiently. Key to this is providing access to a partner ecosystem, including AI Independent Software Vendors (ISVs), across various applications and services. Partnerships will be crucial here. One of the major roadblocks to wider AI adoption is the fact that even if companies buy the best software or hardware, there can still be issues harnessing the technology and ensuring employees have the right skills to maximise their AI investments. It is crucial that IT vendors have initiatives in place to combat these challenges. Privacy will emerge as a defining feature, with many systems adopting private cloud architectures to give users unparalleled control over their data. This evolution will sharply distinguish these secure, user-centric solutions from centralised corporate AI systems, signalling a paradigm shift in the AI landscape.” The growing use of AI will be a driving force, boosting productivity by streamlining communication, automating routine tasks, and enabling personalized follow-ups and task management. AI’s role in physical meeting spaces will also grow, with transcription and meeting summaries, identification of individual attendees in the room and corresponding note-taking, as well as automation of in- room experiences. However, performance of AI tools in a meeting room context will depend on designing effective spaces equipped with advanced audio and video solutions to enable AI to fully interact with the physical world.

Manon Dave, AI visionary and engineer In 2025, the convergence of advanced AI technologies will redefine personalisation, delivering tailored assistance that aligns

with individual needs and lifestyles. Far beyond generic AI systems, these companions will become deeply ingrained in our routines, mastering tasks like work management, health monitoring, and home automation.

Manon Dave

Ralf Jordan, Vice President Channel EMEA at Lenovo The channel landscape is undergoing significant change and in 2025 both hybrid and multi-cloud will open up unprecedented opportunities for resellers,

offering everything from platform to infrastructure and end-user services. They are reshaping IT modernisation and disrupting traditional reseller roles. As cloud services expand, resellers are shifting from product sales to managing cloud infrastructure and digital transformation projects. The multi-cloud trend, originating in large enterprises, is now penetrating SMEs, offering opportunities across platforms, infrastructure, and services. This evolution positions multi-cloud as a dominant strategy for businesses of all sizes. Channel partners are already keen to

Ralf Jordan

lenovo.com

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INSIGHTS

CONTINUED

Mary Jacques, Executive Director, Global ESG and Regulatory Compliance, Lenovo

“With e-waste generation outpacing the rise in formal recycling by a factor of almost 5, enabling increased repair, refurbishment and recycling of electronics will become critical for achieving net-zero goals and addressing raw material scarcity. In 2025, businesses will increasingly seek devices designed for longevity and maximum upgradeability, driving a stronger shift

cloud and ramp up their investments in GenAI projects. l Semiconductors: Will outgrow the overall IT industry again, at near 12% growth, due to AI compute adoption and a rebound in non-AI-related demand. l Network Equipment: Projected 7% revenue growth after a downturn in 2024. l Mobile Telecom Equipment: Modest growth expected after declines in 2023 and 2024. l Storage: Gradual recovery with 4% revenue growth. l PCs & Smartphones: Shipments to grow 2%-3%, but industry revenues should be higher given a gradual infusion of AI-enabled devices. l Servers: Shipments to grow 4%, with revenues rising 10%-20%. The Bottom Line: Despite geopolitical uncertainties, the tech sector is poised for robust growth, with AI and cloud services leading the charge. l Positive Long-Term View: We maintain a positive long-term view of the technology industry and believe the sector to become less cyclical, with increasing investments across industries. l AI & Cloud: Key drivers of growth, with as-a-service spending becoming more prevalent. toward a more circular economy and sustainability in the tech industry. Energy-efficient hardware and extended software support aim to further mitigate environmental impact. Repairable designs with accessible instructions and simplified disassembly will become more widespread, alongside take-back programs for material recovery and reuse.”

Mary Jacques

Andrew Chang, Technology Director, S&P Global Ratings We maintain a positive long-term view of the technology industry. Industries from health care to energy will increase their investments in IT, and AI in particular, to increase sales, hasten R&D, and achieve operational efficiency.

lenovo.com

Key Takeaways from the S&P Global Ratings Technology Industry Credit Outlook : l Global IT Spending: Expected to grow 9% in 2025, driven by AI spurring massive data center spending and traditional hardware investments. l Software & IT Services: Steady growth; semiconductors to see double-digit growth due to AI. l U.S. Tariffs: Potential risk to IT consumption, especially for consumer- focused and enterprise hardware. l Diversification: The tech industry is diversifying its supply chain but is still heavily dependent on China.

Andrew Chang

spglobal.com

2025 Outlook: l GDP Growth: Global 3.0%,

U.S. approx. 2.0%, Eurozone 1.2%, China 4.1%. l Hyperscalers: Continued strong revenue growth well above 20%, supported by gradual monetization of AI investments. l Software: Modest grow acceleration to 10%, driven by digital transformation and AI integration. l Hardware: Material improvement in 2025 as enterprises transition to the

CONTINUED

ucadvanced.com

INSIGHTS

CONTINUED

On the rise

On the decline

More company spend on AI

The cost of adopting AI should ease

AI disruption will affect Cybersecurity, Customer Service and CX

A fixed date for a UK AI act. There is no UK framework for responsible AI development and use (there is an EU AI act) Working in silos. Companies are making extra efforts to ensure employee equipment is provided for connecting and engaging Renewable energy costs, both implementation and provision, will continue to decline

Advanced AI assistants with natural language processing improvements and human-like interactions

Organisations will consume more power, and therefore spend more on it

Yousee is UC Advanced’s resident future gazer. Yousee’s thoughts:

Security continues to be a hot topic – firmware and software Companies and employees will continue to grapple with optimum hybrid working conditions

Windows 10 end of life on 14 October 2025

Monday to Friday 9 to 5. Whilst employees are asked to return to the office, they’re gaining ground on flexible working times

Chatbots

Operational costs, if chatbots are implemented correctly

More automation, especially in warehousing, and household devices

Warehouse inefficiencies

5G infrastructure developments delivering faster speeds

Latency

Mental well-being, if we keep checking our smart wearable devices too often 1 February 2025: Microsoft is expected to decrease prices for commercial cloud services by 5%, depending on what customers have installed Sales of physical firewalls. Companies using VPNs are shifting towards Zero Trust models

Health-monitoring wearable devices

Disclaimer: All Yousee’s forward-looking views are her own, for purposes of interest, and should not be

1 April 2025: Microsoft is expected to increase the price of Microsoft 365 by 5%

Firewall as a service (FWaaS) market is expected to grow. VPN sales are increasing due to work from anywhere lifestyles

relied upon for any other use.

More channel focus on software and services

Barriers to entry for software providers

27M2N8500

Gaming beyond innovation QD-OLED gaming monitor with 360 Hz & Dynamic Lighting

Whether your customers are in the standard or enhanced classification, and whether the Bill is passed or not, resellers should consider recommending devices that enhance communication between staff and customers.

CONTINUED

ucadvanced.com

RESELLER SUPPORT

Meet Sam from Nimans

They’ve got experts ready to help resellers and their customers of all sizes. In this issue of UC Advanced , we meet Sam Kay, Video Business Development Manager. She’s on hand to help any reseller with Meeting Room projects – from concept phase to post-installation.

Q What service do you offer? Sam: How much time have you got? I offer the reseller help with understanding the equipment, it’s selling features, specifications and performance. Additionally, we can compare various products against each other for compatibility, pricing, margins, performance and longevity. With over 10 years of experience, I know which products will offer the best value for the customers’ budget. I help prepare quotes and assist when customers do know exactly what they want and also when they don’t. Q What types of Meeting Room products are you familiar with? Sam: Video bars, PTZ cameras, hubs, room sensors, cabling or wireless, speakers, ceiling or desk microphones. Whatever you need for tiny meeting rooms or massive auditoriums and multi-purpose conference centres. Q What does a typical day look like for you? Sam: No two days are the same. I go where the reseller requires me. Sometimes I am demonstrating new equipment – which can be done in our state-of-the-art presentation and demonstration suites in Salford, or I could be in London or Edinburgh. A lot of resellers prefer me to accompany them when negotiating contracts and working with new customers.

Modernising meeting rooms is a strategic step that can enhance productivity, communication, and collaboration in any organisation. As companies put together their budgets for 2025, many IT procurement managers will be considering a refit, refurbishment or an upgrade to their existing facilities. Q How do you help resellers? Sam: I help any reseller that’s looking for advice or training on meeting room equipment, or I can help a reseller alongside their customer from scoping to quote and further. I’ll show them options, discuss both technical options, compatibility, brand choices and more. All within their budget. The sector is full of fast-changing technology, so is hard to keep up with. Luckily, I work with the major suppliers day-on-day, so can share what are the latest trends. Q How do resellers get in touch? Sam: Call me! Or better still – video conference me. I’m on Teams, Zoom, or whatever platform you use. Sometimes I travel to a reseller’s premises, or meet the reseller at their customers’ office, and of course I’m happy to meet online. I do online demos daily. We also regularly send out demo kit in professional flightcases and I’ll come out and show you how it works. There’s nothing like seeing technology, in action, in person.

Sam Kay Video Business Development Manager

nimans.net

TOP ADVICE Q What’s in your ideal meeting room? Sam: Chocolates or pizza! 😊

Q Do you recommend certain brands/products? Sam: At Nimans, we’re vendor neutral. It depends entirely on the reseller and the customer’s preferences. Some resellers have fixed ideas, and like working with certain brands, and sometimes budgets dictate just how much equipment can be purchased. It’s always best to have full and lengthy conversations with the customer, because trusting and happy customers always return. Many times, awareness, detailed questioning and exploring options changes the original framework of the customers’ project, and resellers can benefit from our knowledge. I love to help resellers deliver the projects that’s right for the customer, because we know they’ll come back. And that’s good for both the reseller and Nimans. Q What can go wrong? Sam: Lots! We’re on hand to help with compatibility with existing technology, acoustics advice, remote dialling facilities, connectivity, installation advice and more. Each meeting room is different from size, location, lighting, fittings and fixtures. Some meeting rooms need to be flexible for different uses and users, others can remain

largely dedicated to being a meeting space. We also advise on the remote user and noise-cancelling solutions. There is nothing worse than a room where participants are not comfortable and able to contribute fully to meetings. Q What is trending in meeting room designs? Sam: Future-proofing, compatibility and security. Future-proofing, both to use existing technology and being compatible with the new, is massively important. Smart features like room sensors, adjustable light sensors and technology that involve a sustainability element is becoming a priority on procurement agendas. Security credentials and certificates are also becoming more important. I’m being asked more questions about encrypted information and data hosting than in previous years. Q What is the cost? Sam: Our advice is FREE. Resellers are under no obligation to take our advice, but we offer a helping hand all the way. Resellers keep coming back for our help, mostly because they see a massive increase in projects won, which we all benefit from.

RESELLERS Nimans are big on choice, big on value,

and big on expertise. If you’re

looking to win Meeting Room business in 2025, contact Sam Kay. Sam Kay will be at ISE in Barcelona – meet up then to talk meeting rooms.

COMMUNICATIONS

It’s a snap with Snom SRAPS Configuring and maintaining a vast array of IP end devices has historically been a daunting and costly endeavour. Snom’s SRAPS, introduced in 2019, provides an automated provisioning service. Unlike traditional redirection servers, SRAPS allows for remote installation and management of IP phones. UC Advanced caught up with Mark Wiegleb, Head of Customer Success at Snom to find out more.

In contrast to a redirection server, which can only forward configuration requests, Snom’s SRAPS offers a hosted provisioning service. It enables automated installation and management of IP phones, even if it is accessed remotely. Around 95% of all installed Snom phones are now commissioned via SRAPS. “Drop-shipment models are based on systems such as SRAPS,” Wiegleb explains. “Service providers would not be able to offer and scale their services in the same way if service staff had to install the phones on site and configure them individually.” Snom has been working on optimising and developing the platform since its launch, investing heavily to ensure it is secure. Snom focused on creating a modern, secure and complete REST API for the provisioning service, which enables service providers to seamlessly integrate the platform into their systems and processes. Companies can now customise their IP end devices with individual settings even before they receive provisioning data from the PBX. Whether they are carrying out firmware updates, customising user interfaces or automatically importing client certificates or XML telephone directories, the platform’s uses are many and varied. To further protect user accounts and prevent unauthorised access, the platform also has multi-factor authentication.

Thanks to these features, SRAPS has massively increased the popularity of IP end devices over the last five years, especially in larger projects. Those using it can rest assured that it is GDPR- compliant and that all data is stored in Germany – which is an important factor for many organisations. “The advantages for providers and service technicians are obvious,” explains Wiegleb. “Automated configuration and provisioning of phones allows technicians to save time and money and focus on more demanding tasks. Many configuration issues can also be resolved remotely via SRAPS, reducing the time and cost of on-site visits and increasing customer satisfaction.“

Mark Wiegleb Head of Customer Success

snom.com

Companies can now customise

their IP end devices with

individual settings

even before they receive provisioning data from the PBX.

Further functions and integrations are planned, but unlike many competitors, the platform is offered to Snom customers free of charge. “This is our concrete contribution to increasing the efficiency and competitiveness of our partners,” Wiegleb concludes.

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CEX

Achieving 400% ROI with Exclaimer

Achieving 400% ROI and 100% customer satisfaction is no easy task. Ian Groves, Managing Director, and Josh Upton, Service Desk Manager, at Shropshire based MSP Start Tech explains how this was achieved.

that took up valuable time and resources. Josh Upton, Start Tech’s Service Desk Manager at Start Tech, explained: “Managing email signatures for our clients was a real hassle before we teamed up with Exclaimer. We had a tough time getting them right and keeping them updated, especially when customers wanted to change something like a banner. This inefficiency messed with our support metrics, like the mean time to resolution. Even though the tasks themselves weren’t technically challenging, they ate up a lot of time and threw off our performance stats.” Ian Groves, Managing Director at Start Tech, agreed: “Our customers expect more from us than just answering the phone and fixing problems. They want us to handle everything, make decisions on the best tools to use, and manage their IT setup without needing their input. So, we need the best solutions in our tech stack to cover all their needs. And with our support team under a lot of pressure to complete what should be a simple task, my first thought was that we needed a solution to automate this.” Exclaimer: The perfect fit Start Tech is very selective about the solutions they offer to their customers and they perform a rigorous process to assess which third-party service providers offer the most value to our portfolio while

Start Tech was looking for a fresh way to enhance its operational efficiency and improve our client experience. By bundling Exclaimer’s email signature management platform with any Microsoft 365 deployments, Start Tech achieved significant improvements in workflow efficiency, client engagement and strategic upselling.

Expansion challenges With over 20 years of experience,

Ian Groves Managing Director

StartTech is known for their commitment to customer support in IT and telecoms. They distinguish themselves by providing top tier Managed IT Support and Business Telephone Systems to customers across the country. They were looking for an effective way to tackle the challenge of managing their clients’ email signatures. As their customer base expanded, manually handling these signatures became more time-consuming. Too many challenges arose such as inconsistent image sizes and having to update signatures on multiple machines. Tackling repetitive workloads As an MSP, Start Tech handles multiple client accounts, each with their own unique branding and signature requirements. Manually updating these signatures for every new employee or change in branding became a tedious task

start-tech.co.uk

Our customers expect more from us than just answering

the phone and fixing problems.

keeping added costs minimal. That’s why Exclaimer was a perfect fit for the business. From the start, Exclaimer reduced the support team’s workload by streamlining email signature management. Any tickets raised for signature updates get resolved quickly, saving the team hours of time when compared to how they’d done things previously. Some clients could self-manage their signatures more easily, while those managed by Start Tech benefited from automatic updates for job titles, numbers, and roles based on their contact details in Microsoft 365. New customer onboarding no longer required manual Outlook signature setups, and mobile signatures didn’t need separate configuration. Josh noted: “Updating logos and banners now takes minutes with Exclaimer. With features like department- specific signatures, custom attributes, and conditional visibility, plus different signatures for internal and external use, end users can be confident their signatures are just right. This is especially true for our long-time clients. Exclaimer has truly been a game changer for us when it comes to enhancing our client relationships. Updating an email signature for a client now takes about 12 minutes, and smaller tweaks under 6 minutes from start to finish. Plus, our Service Desk Team spends about 90% less time on these updates.” Seeing its impact, we started including Exclaimer in our standard package for new clients, with options to upsell extra features during business reviews. This approach allowed Start Tech’s sales teams to demonstrate the Exclaimer platform’s capabilities beyond just standardising email signatures, highlighting additional value for clients and encouraging upgrades. 100% customer satisfaction Exclaimer has had a significant and clear impact on Start Tech’s operations. Now,

over 80% of their clients benefit from Exclaimer’s features, as it’s part of their standard service package. Over time, they’ve upgrading their legacy clients to a package that includes Exclaimer whenever they renew their contracts. This widespread adoption highlights Exclaimer’s reliability and easy integration with Microsoft 365, leading to 100% customer satisfaction and no service complaints about signature management. Integrating Exclaimer into Start Tech’s offerings has streamlined operations and created new revenue opportunities. Using Exclaimer’s features, Start Tech is achieving a 300-400% ROI compared to the initial cost of the solution. The Exclaimer advantage for MSPs Through streamlined operations, significant ROI, and satisfied clients, Exclaimer is now a key part of the services offered by Start Tech. Exclaimer can bring value to any MSPs looking to enhance their tech stack. As Start Tech continues to grow, they can depend on Exclaimer’s innovative solution to help improve their service quality and continue to surpass customer expectations. Learn more about partnering with Exclaimer here .

Exclaimer has truly been a game changer for us when it comes to enhancing our client relationships.

Josh Upton Service Desk Manager

start-tech.co.uk

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NETWORK CONNECTIVITY

Unlocking Business Potential: The Importance of UC Connectivity Reliable UC connectivity is pivotal for modern workplaces, enabling productivity, simplifying operations, reducing costs, and supporting organisations in an increasingly connected work environment. Andrew Blomley, Product and Solution Manager at TP-Link UK&I discusses the crucial role of reliable network connectivity in ensuring the success of Unified Communications (UC) systems

In today’s digital-driven world, seamless communication is no longer a luxury but a fundamental necessity for businesses to thrive. Unified Communications (UC) solutions, which integrate tools like voice, video, messaging, and conferencing into a single platform, have become vital for operational efficiency. Yet, the backbone of any successful UC infrastructure lies in one important factor: reliable and robust network connectivity. Without it, even the most advanced UC system’s fail to deliver on their promise. The Evolution of Communication for Business Over the past few years, professional communications have undergone significant transformation. The once- fragmented landscape of emails, phones calls, and video conferencing has converged into a sophisticated and comprehensive suite of UC platforms. This allows employees to work and collaborate seamlessly across a number of devices, integrating workflows, improving response time, and enhancing workplace productivity. However, as more and more organisations transition to hybrid and

remote working models, the demand and need for comprehensive connectivity has never been more important. Unreliable and unstable networks can have dire consequences for organisations, providing a number of challenges from dropped calls, delayed responses and lagging video conferencing – undermining the very benefits UC solutions aims to provide. The emergence of Wi-Fi 7 addresses these connectivity challenges. Building on the advancements of previous generations, Wi-Fi 7 brings unprecedented speeds, reduced latency, and improved capacity, which are essential for supporting the increasing demands of modern workplaces. This next-generation wireless technology represents a key step toward achieving seamless, high- performance connectivity for businesses embracing remote working.

Andrew Blomley Product and Solution Manager

tp-link.com

The Importance of Connectivity for Unified Communications The performance of UC solutions directly links with the quality of the underlying network infrastructure. Poor connectivity disrupts

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EAGLE EYE – BI

BI Reports

With live metrics continuously running and the channel in constant motion, our commitment to access to unbiased data ensures that there is always something fresh to report on. To meet this demand for real-time insights, we have curated specialised packages generated directly from our BI engine. Each report, signed off by our lead analyst monthly, is a critical tool for understanding and optimising your position in the channel.

CHANNEL POWER REPORT The Channel Power Report goes beyond surface-level analysis, providing a comprehensive understanding of a brand’s position in the channel. By evaluating market movement, stock status, and trend tracking – the three pillars of channel competition – we distil

this data into the crucial Brand Power Metric. Delving into each performance area, the report not only explains the factors influencing brand performance but also compares it with competitors. Gaining actionable insights into your brand’s journey in the channel landscape. and categories, and applying marginal analysis, we empower resellers with data-driven decision-making. Moreover, our predictive analysis, based on years of historical data, forecasts the state of the channel in the coming month, providing a strategic advantage in planning and pricing.

channel power report july 2023

category: scanners

brand: Canon

THE RESELLER REPORT For resellers navigating the

complexities of the channel, our Reseller Report is a game-changer. This report takes the guesswork out of finding opportunities, offering a consolidated view of the channel and product performance. By analysing search trends, top-selling products,

Contact our sales team today to discuss which report and categories align with your business objectives. Transform your decision-making process and embrace success in the ever-evolving channel landscape with Stock in the Channel ’s BI reports.

For more information about our Business Intelligence Services, email BI@stockinthechannel.com

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NETWORK CONNECTIVITY

UC TOPLOGY

business operations, hampers productivity, and can even impact employee satisfaction and customer experience. Reliable connectivity allows teams to collaborate effectively without interruption, whether brainstorming over a video call, coordinating tasks through Microsoft Teams, or delivering a presentation through screen sharing. This seamless integration across a range of solutions fosters a cohesive working environment, where collaboration is efficient and frustration-free. Simplifying Operations Through Unified Communications Advanced and comprehensive UC solutions offer a whole host of benefits and advantages for organisations to enhance and simplify business operations. Through consolidating communication tools into a single platform, businesses eliminate the inefficiencies associated with managing

multiple systems and the need to juggle between separate apps or devices, but instead access everything they need through a centralised interface. Advanced cloud managed Wi-Fi solutions further enhances organisations to transform their business operations and even reduce costs over the entire networking infrastructure, providing comprehensive monitoring and remote troubleshooting, freeing up IT teams, allowing them to focus on other areas that ensure businesses stay functioning, such as defending against cybersecurity threats, improving system scalability and enhancing user experience. Unified management solutions allow for quicker troubleshooting, efficient software updates and streamlined integration. Reliable network connectivity further improves this efficiency by ensuring these systems remain operational around-the- clock. Offering customers a complete end-to-end solution within the networking

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