{"id":19343,"date":"2016-07-25T04:56:31","date_gmt":"2016-07-25T11:56:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/?p=19343"},"modified":"2016-07-29T00:41:42","modified_gmt":"2016-07-29T07:41:42","slug":"the-new-normal-managing-expectations-in-a-changing-office-landscape","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/state-of-the-industry\/2016\/07\/the-new-normal-managing-expectations-in-a-changing-office-landscape\/","title":{"rendered":"The New Normal: Managing Expectations in a Changing Office Landscape"},"content":{"rendered":"

There\u2019s no doubt that greater familiarity with technology is affecting user expectations in the modern office space. A younger generation has entered the workplace and their understanding and attitude towards technology is much different than their predecessors. These millennials grew up with computers and computerized devices. They embrace technology and expect innovation, simplicity, ease of use, and even fun.<\/p>\n

However, beyond the obvious shift in the generational paradigm, there are other factors at play that govern these evolving expectations.<\/p>\n

We wanted to learn more from the people who actually encounter this phenomenon on a daily basis, so we reached out to several dealers and manufacturers to learn what they are experiencing, why they think it is happening and how they are positioning their offerings to support it.<\/p>\n

The Dealer\u2019s Perspective: Evolving Expectations<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Chris

Chris Taylor, Fisher\u2019s Technology<\/p><\/div>\n

What have dealers identified as the most significant changes in user expectations over the years? Chris Taylor, CEO of Fisher\u2019s Technology, told us that they have witnessed expectation shifts primarily with the user interface experience, system to system integration, and information security.<\/p>\n

When it comes to basic device operation, Taylor said that customers now demand interfaces that are simple, easy to learn, and familiar.<\/p>\n

\u201cOvercomplicated, non-intuitive UIs are no longer tolerated,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Taylor added that information security is a significant point of emphasis across all the technologies they implement.<\/p>\n

\u201cHealth information is perhaps the most obvious expectation increase in recent years, with HIPAA compliancy becoming a dominant concern for health IS professionals,\u201d he said. \u201cBut protection of information from theft, corruption, and being taken hostage spans all industry verticals.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Patrick

Patrick Layton, Impact Networking<\/p><\/div>\n

Patrick Layton, director of managed IT services for Chicago-based dealership Impact Networking, also cited increased security concerns and attributed our \u2018throw away culture\u2019 which sees customers quickly cycle through technology \u2013 especially mobile devices and computers \u2013 as the driver for these concerns.<\/p>\n

\u201cCustomers expect releases of new versions of technology, and updates to software much more frequently because consumer technology changes so rapidly,\u201d he explained. \u201cNetwork security has always been a concern of ours, but it has become a more prominent issue for our customers in recent years.\u201d<\/p>\n

Unsurprisingly, greater connectivity and speed of service were mentioned as one of the more significant expectation changes. Layton noted that customers today expect to be connected at all times and from anywhere. He added that most of them also want to be able to use a single device for both work and personal applications.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey don\u2019t want to carry around two phones or have multiple laptops or iPads,\u201d he maintained. \u201cFor all of the departments at Impact, we\u2019ve seen a demand for both a faster turnaround time on service and a more connected service.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Frank

Frank Grasso, TGI<\/p><\/div>\n

The customers\u2019 need for greater efficiency, connectivity, convenience, and greater speed is echoed by Frank Grasso, CEO of New York-based dealership, TGI. He believes that with equipment now being an integral part of business processes, dealers must anticipate issues and provide outstanding service to succeed.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the past, consumers accepted slower communication, lackluster equipment, and cumbersome workflow processes,\u201d said Grasso. \u201cWith evolving technology, this is now a thing of the past.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Dave

Dave Mueller, Modern Office Methods<\/p><\/div>\n

Dave Mueller, vice president of sales for Modern Office Methods, pointed out that as the industry has changed from product-based to service-based, the end user\u2019s sophistication has increased.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think clients are better informed today,\u201d he said. \u201cInformation is much more readily available for them. They do a lot of the research on the products themselves. Where they need help is how to put a program together that best fits their needs and their culture, along the products and services that we have to offer.\u201d<\/p>\n

Of course, new expectations also lead to disruptions. Jon Balter, COO of Houston\u2019s Seamless Solutions, noted how customers\u2019 expectations of increased remote support and less face-to-face time can adversely affect equipment sales.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey want instant contact,\u201d he said. \u201cIn the MFP work, it is coming down to cost and nothing else. Customers are picking based only on cost and the value sale is getting harder and harder.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Dawn

Dawn Abbuhl, Repeat Business Solutions<\/p><\/div>\n

What is no longer of great concern to users is also revealing. Dawn Abbuhl of Repeat Business Solutions said that they rarely discuss hardware features during a customer presentation.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is all about applications, ease of use and software,\u201d she said. \u201cCustomers are almost always interested in mobile printing. That never came up five years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n

Abbuhl added that they\u2019ve also seen greater interest in environmental concerns such as energy conservation.<\/p>\n

\u201cRicoh, the manufacture we carry, has an incredible program for being environmentally friendly and has won an impressive number of awards for this,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

The Root Causes of Change<\/strong><\/p>\n

The habits of millennials are certainly a driving force in these new expectations, but other factors were discussed. Taylor attributed the higher expectations of ease of use to a maturation process that naturally seeks higher levels of efficiency and simplicity. He compared the evolution of user interfaces to how programming evolved from machine language to increasingly higher levels of code.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe drivers of integration are similar, requiring higher levels of simplicity for cross-system communication and ease of working with those systems,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n

Taylor added that he thinks information security requirements have been driven by ever-increasing threat of exploitation of customer information.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs the interest in inappropriate use of information breaches increases, the demand on the technology and human processes around that technology increases,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Layton agreed and cited heavy media exposure as a contributing factor in driving greater security expectations. He maintained that security risks are neither new nor more substantial, but they\u2019re often presented that way in the media.<\/p>\n

\u201cMore people are paying attention to data breaches because everyone is aware of the incidents with such companies as Target, Sony, or Amazon that was felt personally by millions of consumers,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\"Jon

Jon Balter, Seamless Solutions<\/p><\/div>\n

Balter believes that the increase in home technology has played a role in the change of attitudes, particularly when it comes to remote support.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen end users have TV or cable issues they have to deal with support remotely more and more at home,\u201d he said. \u201cThis is creating a better understanding of remote support.\u201d<\/p>\n

Abbuhl thinks that the growing familiarity with software among many segments of the population has provided a different level of comfort and acceptance.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe hardware is now just a way to access an amazing array of workflow applications,\u201d she said. \u201cIn addition, people are more environmentally conscious and feel good about using products that support these initiatives.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ultimately, Grasso stated that it is the combination of technology improvements and a new generation that have contributed to today\u2019s expectations.<\/p>\n

\u201cExpedited information and service to consumers is what they are accustomed to,\u201d he said. \u201cThey expect an easy way to communicate and a quick and custom response.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Manufacturer\u2019s Perspective: Tailoring Solutions to Expectations<\/strong><\/p>\n

Clearly these new expectations are placing pressure on manufacturers to provide new and innovative offerings. Manufacturers today are thinking beyond the device by providing solutions, tools, training, and support to the channels. The manufacturers we spoke to gave us their thoughts on the impact of millennials, other new expectations and how they plan on supporting it. The most commonly discussed themes were mobility, workflow and education.<\/p>\n

\"Tom

Tom O\u2019Neill, Canon<\/p><\/div>\n

Tom O\u2019Neill, director of product marketing, Canon USA, acknowledged that the \u201cconsumerization of complex technology\u201d characterized by the millennials has brought a level of \u201ctechnology transparency\u201d and a new set of expectations into the workplace.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, he stated, Canon educates their channel partners to help them gain a full understanding of the business outcomes that their customers aim to achieve.<\/p>\n

\u201cCustomers are not acquiring technology for the sake of technology,\u201d he explained. \u201cThey expect technology to deliver measurable and positive improvements to their business. Once the sales person understands the business outcomes desired, they can then choose the most appropriate Canon technology and solution software or services to apply to help the customer get those outcomes.\u201d<\/p>\n

O\u2019Neill also explained how Canon is expanding its portfolio of software, services, and solutions to enable their dealers to support the evolving document workflows in the office.<\/p>\n

\u201cCanon understands that office workers today are more mobile, and are looking for innovative solutions to reduce output and streamline document workflow, and expect on-demand information on the care and feeding of their document output fleet,\u201d he said. \u201cOur approach provides sales and technical training and support, tools, and consulting to allow our dealers to capitalize on these trends without having to internally develop all of the assets and competencies normally needed to sell and support these solutions.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Doug

Doug Frazier, Lexmark<\/p><\/div>\n

Doug Frazier, solutions engagement manager, NA channel, Lexmark, said that they are seeing a fulfillment of the expectations discussed for the past few years, but possibly at a faster rate than originally expected.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn today\u2019s customer-driven environment, we all expect to exert minimal effort and enjoy a positive experience, from start to finish,\u201d he said. \u201cWe want it digitally. We don\u2019t want to deal with paper, scanning, faxing, frustration, complexity, or delays in the process. The challenge with this is that, today, the systems that run most businesses were not designed to meet customer demands for engagement and timely response.\u201d<\/p>\n

Workflow is a chief concern for Lexmark. In the last few years, the company has invested heavily in capture and print management solutions. Frazier said that they are supporting dealers by providing training and solutions support to help them transition to a consultative sales approach. He explained that this helps them better understand a broader set of customer needs around process and workflow.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith this information, the dealer can then build a set of recommendations and proposals that address the customer\u2019s specific needs and will reflect a clear ROI,\u201d said Frazer.<\/p>\n

\"Doug

Doug Johnson,
LMI<\/p><\/div>\n

Other companies now helping their dealers adapt to these evolving expectations include the major supplies manufacturers, such as Phoenix-based LMI. Chief Strategy Officer Doug Johnson believes today\u2019s decision makers are being driven by millennials who derive their knowledge primarily from the web and social media sources, which, he said, fundamentally changes the way they interact with their dealer base.<\/p>\n

In order to help their dealers support the evolving document workflows taking place in the office, Johnson said that LMI is expanding its portfolio of software, services, and solutions.<\/p>\n

Johnson also stated that LMI is looking for innovative solutions that reduce output and streamline document workflow. He said that LMI will be prepared to help dealers as they meet the expectations of on-demand information relating to the care and feeding of document output fleets.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur approach provides sales and technical training as well as support, tools, and consulting,\u201d he said. \u201cThis allows our dealers to capitalize on these trends without requiring them to internally develop all of the assets and competencies normally needed to sell and support these solutions.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Lou

Lou Stricklin, Muratec<\/p><\/div>\n

Lou Stricklin, director of marketing and sales support, Muratec, acknowledged that mobile printing and connectivity has been driven primarily by millennial habits. He said that they are addressing workflow by focusing on software that modifies print behavior and eases integration between mobile devices and MFPs for mobile printing.<\/p>\n

Stricklin also said that their integration with Papercut enables companies to work smarter and enhance their print environment by increasing efficiencies and controlling costs. He added that their MPH101 solution can be installed on a printer or MFP and enables instant, secure printing from mobile phones and tablets.<\/p>\n

\u201cSmart solutions such as these are enabling us to evolve to meet our customer\u2019s needs,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\"Mike

Mike Marusic,
Sharp<\/p><\/div>\n

Senior Vice President of Sharp, Mike Marusic, said that user expectations range across age groups, but he noted that as more millennials take over management positions, there are certain expectations that need to be met.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe first thing that comes to mind is that it is all about personalization,\u201d he said. \u201cMillennials not only expect you to know what their interests are, they expect organizations to address them accordingly.\u201d<\/p>\n

Broadly speaking, Marusic said that today\u2019s customers expect to not only purchase hardware from dealerships, but also to get the service, support and technological resources that are associated with them. He maintained that Sharp is making it easier for dealers to be a \u201cone stop shop\u201d for their customers through an alliance with Tech Data.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis initiative provides channel partners with cutting-edge technology, streamlined order processing and stellar logistical support along with access to a nearly endless combination of IT products and solutions,\u201d he explained. \u201cBy using these partnerships to provide solutions and technology that might not be available if they provided those solutions on their own, our dealers can, in turn, strengthen the relationships they have with their customers.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Robert

Robert Covington, Toshiba<\/p><\/div>\n

Robert Covington, product manager, Toshiba, said that millennials were top-of-mind when Toshiba created their 9-inch customizable tablet-style user interface (UI).<\/p>\n

To account for a wide variety of expectations, Covington said that they hold comprehensive online training sessions with their dealer community when they launch products.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe emphasize just how the products meet specific applications for the seven primary markets we serve,\u201d he says. \u201cOur training team additionally touches on our network document offerings. When introducing any new software, Toshiba provides an overview of the solutions\u2019 innovative elements while following up with how the software addresses many of our customers\u2019 specific needs.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beyond the online training sessions, Toshiba visits dealers throughout the United States and Latin America for in-person training sessions. Toshiba\u2019s training team typically sets aside half-day meetings to address any questions that their partners may have. They also outline the features and benefits that best streamline their customers\u2019 workflow.<\/p>\n

Covington said that Toshiba\u2019s product engineers work with their sales force to gain a deeper understanding of their dealer and end users\u2019 expectations while designing and incorporating features that improve business applications.<\/p>\n

\"Leah

Leah Quesada, Xerox<\/p><\/div>\n

Leah Quesada, vice president of content marketing and communications for channel partner operations, Xerox, noted that the chief concerns of millennials, which included flexibility, mobility and connectivity, were all being addressed by Xerox.<\/p>\n

Quesada told us that Xerox is helping their partners meet these new expectations in four principle ways: creating products that suit this demographic better; creating managed print service offerings; creating seamless product support; and helping their partners navigate the digital marketing space to reach customers.<\/p>\n

Citing one example, Quesada said that Xerox\u2019s managed print services provide their partners the opportunity to optimize document-related processes and reduce costs for their customers.
\n\u201cWith multiple managed print services to choose from, customers can effectively outsource management of their print fleet and infrastructure from their partners,\u201d she said. \u201cWe make it easy for customers to choose the right managed print provider that suits their needs.\u201d<\/p>\n

Under those four principle categories, Quesada also cited Xerox\u2019s automation capabilities, which includes remote tools, automatic supplies replenishment and document workflow applications. She said that Xerox\u2019s document workflow apps are default in the machine, allowing customers one-button access to frequently used scanning and cloud access as well as easy customization.<\/p>\n

These evolving expectations are certainly pushing the manufacturers to become increasingly innovative, often exploring areas beyond their traditional expertise. However, Chris Taylor advises that ultimately, it is the consultative approach that will help to better understand customers\u2019 expectations and anticipate their needs. He said, \u201cBeyond technology, our customers expect us to engage strategically with them\u2014not as a sales and service vendor, but as if we are the CIO\u2014taking a seat at the executive table with them and designing a technical infrastructure and support system to meet their needs now and well into the foreseeable future. This also includes our need to specialize in industry verticals\u2014so that we understand and can adapt to the evolving needs specific to our customers\u2019 industries.\u201d<\/p>\n

Whether millennial, baby boomer or whomever, it\u2019s clear that manufacturers and dealers have been working hard together to ensure that users\u2019 experience with office technology is what they have grown to expect. And as those expectations evolve, they will certainly continue to do that in the future.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There\u2019s no doubt that greater familiarity with technology is affecting user expectations in the modern office space. A younger generation has entered the workplace and their understanding and attitude towards technology is much different than their predecessors. These millennials grew up with computers and computerized devices. They embrace technology and expect innovation, simplicity, ease of use, and even fun. However, beyond the obvious shift in the generational paradigm, there are other factors at play that govern these evolving expectations. We wanted to learn more from the people who actually encounter this phenomenon on a daily basis, so we reached out to several dealers and manufacturers to learn what they are experiencing, why they think it is happening and how they are positioning their offerings to support it. The Dealer\u2019s Perspective: Evolving Expectations What have dealers identified as the most significant changes in user expectations over the years? Chris Taylor, CEO of Fisher\u2019s Technology, told us that they have witnessed expectation shifts primarily with the user interface experience, system to system integration, and information security. When it comes to basic device operation, Taylor said that customers now demand interfaces that are simple, easy to learn, and familiar. \u201cOvercomplicated, non-intuitive UIs are no longer tolerated,\u201d he said. Taylor added that information security is a significant point of emphasis across all the technologies they implement. \u201cHealth information is perhaps the most obvious expectation increase in recent years, with HIPAA compliancy becoming a dominant concern for health IS professionals,\u201d he said. \u201cBut protection of information from theft, corruption, and being taken hostage spans all industry verticals.\u201d Patrick Layton, director of managed IT services for Chicago-based dealership Impact Networking, also cited increased security concerns and attributed our \u2018throw away culture\u2019 which sees customers quickly cycle through technology \u2013 especially mobile devices and computers \u2013 as the driver for these concerns. \u201cCustomers expect releases of new versions of technology, and updates to software much more frequently because consumer technology changes so rapidly,\u201d he explained. \u201cNetwork security has always been a concern of ours, but it has become a more prominent issue for our customers in recent years.\u201d Unsurprisingly, greater connectivity and speed of service were mentioned as one of the more significant expectation changes. Layton noted that customers today expect to be connected at all times and from anywhere. He added that most of them also want to be able to use a single device for both work and personal applications. \u201cThey don\u2019t want to carry around two phones or have multiple laptops or iPads,\u201d he maintained. \u201cFor all of the departments at Impact, we\u2019ve seen a demand for both a faster turnaround time on service and a more connected service.\u201d The customers\u2019 need for greater efficiency, connectivity, convenience, and greater speed is echoed by Frank Grasso, CEO of New York-based dealership, TGI. He believes that with equipment now being an integral part of business processes, dealers must anticipate issues and provide outstanding service to succeed. \u201cIn the past, consumers accepted slower communication, lackluster equipment, and cumbersome workflow processes,\u201d said Grasso. \u201cWith evolving technology, this is now a thing of the past.\u201d Dave Mueller, vice president of sales for Modern Office Methods, pointed out that as the industry has changed from product-based to service-based, the end user\u2019s sophistication has increased. \u201cI think clients are better informed today,\u201d he said. \u201cInformation is much more readily available for them. They do a lot of the research on the products themselves. Where they need help is how to put a program together that best fits their needs and their culture, along the products and services that we have to offer.\u201d Of course, new expectations also lead to disruptions. Jon Balter, COO of Houston\u2019s Seamless Solutions, noted how customers\u2019 expectations of increased remote support and less face-to-face time can adversely affect equipment sales. \u201cThey want instant contact,\u201d he said. \u201cIn the MFP work, it is coming down to cost and nothing else. Customers are picking based only on cost and the value sale is getting harder and harder.\u201d What is no longer of great concern to users is also revealing. Dawn Abbuhl of Repeat Business Solutions said that they rarely discuss hardware features during a customer presentation. \u201cIt is all about applications, ease of use and software,\u201d she said. \u201cCustomers are almost always interested in mobile printing. That never came up five years ago.\u201d Abbuhl added that they\u2019ve also seen greater interest in environmental concerns such as energy conservation. \u201cRicoh, the manufacture we carry, has an incredible program for being environmentally friendly and has won an impressive number of awards for this,\u201d she said. The Root Causes of Change The habits of millennials are certainly a driving force in these new expectations, but other factors were discussed. Taylor attributed the higher expectations of ease of use to a maturation process that naturally seeks higher levels of efficiency and simplicity. He compared the evolution of user interfaces to how programming evolved from machine language to increasingly higher levels of code. \u201cThe drivers of integration are similar, requiring higher levels of simplicity for cross-system communication and ease of working with those systems,\u201d he explained. Taylor added that he thinks information security requirements have been driven by ever-increasing threat of exploitation of customer information. \u201cAs the interest in inappropriate use of information breaches increases, the demand on the technology and human processes around that technology increases,\u201d he said. Layton agreed and cited heavy media exposure as a contributing factor in driving greater security expectations. He maintained that security risks are neither new nor more substantial, but they\u2019re often presented that way in the media. \u201cMore people are paying attention to data breaches because everyone is aware of the incidents with such companies as Target, Sony, or Amazon that was felt personally by millions of consumers,\u201d he said. Balter believes that the increase in home technology has played a role in the change of attitudes, particularly when it comes to remote support. \u201cWhen end users have TV or cable issues they have to deal […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":127,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1641],"tags":[2656],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19343"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/127"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19343"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19343\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19364,"href":"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19343\/revisions\/19364"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19343"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19343"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19343"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}