A Total Workspace Provider is key to ensuring that organisations gain a competitive edge in the digital age

By Barry Venter, Chief Executive Officer at Nashua

In today’s digital age, technology is always evolving, and innovation is accelerating at the speed of light. This means businesses need a variety of products and services that are enabled by various software and hardware technologies to operate effectively and gain a competitive edge.

However, several key business challenges can potentially arise when companies partner with fragmented IT suppliers. This results in numerous contracts that must be signed, and conditions adhered to, in addition to an accumulation of siloed solutions that negatively impact business processes.

It also often results in organisations and understand different Service Level Agreements (SLAs). One of the biggest challenges that enterprises face is that while it is easy to purchase a product,

Traditionally, providers usually focused mainly on providing their customers with print and print-related products and software solutions to manage these products. However, with print volumes declining steadily, some providers recognised the need to diversify and developed a total workspace solution

These all-encompassing IT providers have evolved from focusing purely on product to positioning themselves as solutions and outcomes-focused Total Workspace Providers that operate alongside clients to help them realise their business goals.

Remote working solutions

Currently, many enterprises with distributed workforces need remote working solutions that will keep their businesses running as usual, and this is likely to remain a requirement for the foreseeable future, as many companies intend to continue with remote or rotational work models

This will compel organisations to look towards a partner that can not only offer an integrated solution but also provide services to proactively manage the offering. In essence, these companies will benefit significantly from a single solution provider that brings different technologies under one umbrella and can manage and maintain the entire offering. It is important for businesses to consider technology that features a built-in layer of Internet of Things (IoT) services that make products intelligent enough to manage themselves and learn from Artificial Intelligence (AI). This means that equipment can automatically send out alerts rather than waiting for the customer to report a problem, further reducing the requirement for support.

A common challenge faced today is budgetary constraints and having to purchase new technology can be costly. This technology can also ‘date’ fairly quickly which means a refresh will be required down the line. Identifying a technology partner that includes finance options is more than often a solution to this problem.

A solution provider should always supply its customers with the latest technology and offer it as a service, instead of selling it outright. This is particularly important with technology refresh cycles, where a provider can reduce the burden on its customers by ensuring that they always have current technology, while also removing the hassle of them having to get rid of legacy technology.

Ultimately, companies should look for an all-encompassing partner that will team up with them for the long term and take them down a path a technological transformation and innovation by providing relevant turnkey solutions that are end-to-end and structured for all areas of the business.

Business continuity is crucial as many companies will continue to work remotely, and a technology partner will look at the customers’ needs, ask all the relevant questions and provide not only hardware but also the solutions that go with it. Conversely, a diversified approach to IT can add a layer of complexity to business continuity.

Proactive IoT solutions

Managing the workspace and keeping it up and running is very important, so it is crucial that organisations use proactive IoT solutions and having back up power. The right partner will help customers plan more effectively, while multiple service providers will result in multiple contracts, which lead to multiple escalations.

Streamlining an organisation’s infrastructure is imperative to not only business continuity and increasing efficiency but boosting productivity and cutting expenses. By providing all-encompassing technology solutions, the process of sourcing technology and solutions is simplified, thus simplifying the management thereof too.

This approach not only underpins the customer’s ability to drive their business forward in a profitable and successful direction, but it also allows organisations to get back to their core business. The right partner will take charge of the tools that enable companies to do their business, allowing them to achieve business success.

Editorial Contacts:

Nashua

Karinda le Roux

Senior Marketing Officer

[email protected]

Evolution PR

Peace Maluleke

Email: [email protected]

Tel: 011 462 0628