2017 Trends and Predictions Continued: Cloud and Mobility

It’s hard to imagine technologies that have had a greater impact in the last few years on the way businesses manage their data and workflows and perform tasks than the cloud and mobile devices. The two are joined at the hip: The cloud is the central repository accessible from any location via any device. Most companies now have a cloud-first strategy when adopting new software and services, and part of that strategy’s goals is to enable mobile access.

Several industry leaders foresee cloud and mobile technology changing the way office technology is used and implemented in 2017. Dealers will need to do more, for example, to make MFPs and copiers more easily accessible from smartphones and tablets via cloud services. Those services will enable better remote service capabilities for the dealers.

Bill Melo, Toshiba America Business Solutions

“With the utilization of cloud applications and prevalence of bring your own device (BYOD) becoming more and more common, it is paramount for the dealer community to keep pace while optimizing these technologies within their clients’ organizations,” said Bill Melo, chief marketing executive for Toshiba America Business Solutions. For example, Toshiba offers an app to allow mobile devices to print direct to its e-STUDIO line, and its e-BRIDGE CloudConnect allows dealers to service clients’ machines remotely.

Stephanie Dismore, HP

BYOD policies present a bit of a challenge, because any mobile-print solution will need to work with a broad range of devices. That could been extra testing and development work. ompanies are moving toward a choose-your-own-device (CYOD) policy where employees may select from a preapproved list of devices. As Stephanie Dismore, vice president and general manager, Americas Commercial Channel at HP, pointed out in last week’s 2017 Trends and Predictions story, not every organization will be ready for the move to CYOD. “Many have just finished implementing and aligning processes around personally owned devices. So be ready for the trend, but don’t rush it – tread lightly in conversations with customers,” she advises.

Greg Chavers, Lexmark

More and more pages will be printed from mobile devices, and dealers need to be prepared to support the connection of those devices to MFPs and copiers. “Of the nearly 3 trillion pages printed in 2016, 242 billion of those pages came from mobile devices and those numbers will continue to grow in 2017,” said Greg Chavers, director of U.S. copier sales for Lexmark International. “Users expect fast, hassle-free mobile printing in this environment of always-on, barrier-free connectivity. Dealers who can meet this need will have a substantial competitive advantage,” he added.

A final consideration regarding mobile: Expect 5G mobile networks to start coming online in 2017. 5G promises greater reliability, lower latency, and much higher data transmission rates–up to 1 GB per second simultaneously to many workers on the same office floor. Although full deployment of 5G isn’t expected for a couple of years, it’s capabilities will accelerate the use of mobile and enable new types of applications. This is more reason to embrace mobile now to be better prepared for the future.