WEARABLES Why it’s time to be clear-sighted about smart glasses PAGE 22 SECURITY · CLOUD · ICT · SOFTWARE · HARDWARE PRINT · AV MANAGED.IT SECURITY · CLOUD · ICT · SOFTWARE · HARDWARE · PRINT · AV www.managedITmag.co.uk THE IT SERVICES MAGAZINE & NEWS SITE FOR IT MANAGERS, IT DIRECTORS & CTOS THE IT SERVICES MAGAZINE & NEWS SITE FOR IT MANAGERS, IT DIRECTORS & CTOS IN PRINT AND ONLINE MANAGED.IT SECURITY · CLOUD · ICT · SOFTWARE · HARDWARE · PRINT · AV www.managedITmag.co.uk IN PRINT AND ONLINE IN PRINT AND ONLINE www.managedITmag.co.uk SECURITY · CLOUD · ICT · SOFTWARE · HARDWARE PRINT · AV IN PRINT AND ONLINE Issue 73 · 2026 CYBER SECURITY AI is changing the CISO mandate, says Proofpoint PAGE 32 NOTEBOOKS Panasonic takes giant leap forward with 12.4in TOUGHBOOK PAGE 21 Secure the weakest link in your cyber defence – make PrintGuardian your print estate’s watchdog. www.kyoceracyber.com/printguardian
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3 www.managedITmag.co.uk Read Managed.IT online... www.managedITmag.co.uk ISSN 2055-3099 (Print) ISSN 2055-3102 (Online) Editor: James Goulding 07803 087228 • [email protected] Publishing Director, Social Media and Web Editor: Neil Trim 01732 759725 • [email protected] Advertising Director: Ethan White 01732 759725 • [email protected] Advertising Executive: Jeff Root 01732 759725 • [email protected] Sales Executive: Evan Jenner 01732 759725 • [email protected] Designer: Brian Cloke 07484 288189 • [email protected] MANAGED.IT is published by Kingswood Media Ltd., 7 Amherst House, 22 London Road, Sevenoaks TN13 2BT • Tel: 01732 759725 No part of MANAGED.IT can be reproduced without prior written permission of the publisher. © 2026 Kingswood Media Ltd. The paper used in this magazine is obtained from manufacturers who operate within internationally recognized standards and which is sourced from sustainable, properly managed forestation. CONTENTS @manageditmag facebook.com/BinfoMag SECURITY · CLOUD · ICT · SOFTWARE · HARDWARE PRINT · AV IN PRINT AND ONLINE www.managedITmag.co.uk THE IT SERVICES MAGAZINE & NEWS SITE FOR IT MANAGERS, IT DIRECTORS & CTOS ISSUE 73 · 2026 16 01732 759725 Kyocera Document Solutions UK has launched PrintGuardian, a managed security service developed by its cyber division to help organisations identify and monitor one of the least visible areas of the enterprise attack surface: network-connected Kyocera MFPs. As organisations work to secure increasingly complex IT environments, security teams are under growing pressure to understand every device that connects to the network, interacts with corporate data or communicates with critical business systems. Printers and multifunction devices are part of that environment. They have operating systems, process sensitive information, store data, use network services and often integrate with email, directory services and document workflows. Yet in many organisations, they remain outside the scope of day-to-day security monitoring. PrintGuardian has been developed to help organisations close this visibility gap by bringing modern printers and MFPs into the wider cybersecurity strategy. The service provides continuous monitoring, vulnerability detection, threat visibility and enriched telemetry that can be securely forwarded into established SIEM, SOC and SOAR environments, helping security teams gain a more complete view of activity across the print estate. Jim Rea, Group Technical Director, Kyocera Group UK commented: “Security teams have become increasingly effective at monitoring servers, laptops, cloud services and identities, but many organisations still have limited visibility of what is happening across their print infrastructure.” “Printers and multifunction devices should be treated as business-critical endpoints. They process sensitive information, communicate with multiple systems and sit inside the corporate network every day. If left unmanaged, they can become a foothold for attackers or a stepping stone for lateral movement. PrintGuardian helps organisations close that visibility gap and strengthen their overall cyber resilience.” Bringing print infrastructure into the SOC While print infrastructure is often managed operationally, it is not always monitored as part of the security stack. This creates a disconnect between the role these devices play in the business and the level of security oversight they receive. PrintGuardian is designed to close that disconnect by collecting security relevant telemetry from Kyocera printers and multifunction devices across the customer organisation. The service monitors device logs, configuration data and actively performs vulnerability scanning of print devices and reports on any known vulnerabilities. This telemetry is analysed and enriched to help security teams understand the nature, severity and context of potential risks. Findings can be routed into Kyocera Cyber’s UK-based AI powered, hyper-automated Security Operations Centre in Reading for investigation and a managed response service, or integrated into the customer-side existing SIEM, SOC or Kyocera launches PrintGuardian to close a critical endpoint security blind spot New managed security service brings print infrastructure into the SOC, helping security teams monitor an overlooked class of enterprise connected endpoint COVER STORY COVER STORY: Kyocera closes critical endpoint security blind spot with launch of PrintGuardian Page 16 Managed.IT GET YOUR FREE COPY To make sure you get every issue FREE, as soon as it is published, just visit www.managedITmag.co.uk, click the ‘FREE Registration’ button and add your details to our mailing list. If you no longer wish to receive Managed.IT magazine please email your details to [email protected] 04 Bulletin Are start-up factories the future of entrepreneurship? 10 What’s New A selection of the latest and greatest solutions for the modern workplace 14 Insight Omdia identifies four forces set to shape the world of IT in 2027 15 Workplace Stress levels rise as AI-driven workloads and employer monitoring put UK workers under pressure 18 Printers Canon introduces imageFORCE C1700 A4 multifunction printer series 20 Headsets Why bad audio is bad for business 21 Notebooks Panasonic launches new TOUGHBOOK with 12.4 inch screen 22 Wearables Claire Scanlan of Buckles Law says it’s time to be clear-sighted about smart glasses 24 Managed services AI-powered MSP comparison site launched to help SMEs find the right technology partner 25 AI Templafy research shows rework is limiting productivity benefits of AI 26 Contact centre New industry group formed to raise profile of contact centres 28 Cloud How Node4 is helping Oadby Plastics modernise its communications and IT infrastructure 29 Communications PPE-compatible headsets cut risk of lead exposure at HJ Enthoven 30 AI Cleaning services provider saves 25 hours a day on paperwork despite growth of 40% 32 Cybersecurity AI is changing the CISO mandate, says Proofpoint 33 Research Kaseya survey highlights cybersecurity’s people problem 34 Office culture The importance of compassion, employee growth and active trust, according to O.C. 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4 01732 759725 NEWS NEWS Are start-up factories the future of entrepreneurship? Could the future of entrepreneurship lie not with inspired individuals working single-mindedly on a pet project but with start-up factories using a repeatable, scalable process to build and launch multiple businesses concurrently? According to a new study by the University of East Anglia (UEA), there are now more than 1,000 so called ‘venture studios’ operating worldwide and their number is growing by 18% each year. Rather than focusing on a single startup, these organisations generate ideas, recruit founders, develop products and bring multiple new companies to market across diverse business sectors. Some venture studios analysed for the report are working on as many as 15 start-ups at a time. The average number of new businesses created by the companies surveyed was 10, but some have already set up as many as 120. Dr Davide Viglialoro, from UEA’s Norwich Business School, believes venture studios could play an increasingly important role in how companies are created, funded and scaled. He said: “Entrepreneurship is often viewed as something driven by individual founders working on a single idea. What we found is the emergence of organisations specifically designed to create multiple companies in a systematic and repeatable way. “Venture studios are taking the lessons learned from previous startups and embedding them into their organisations through shared teams, playbooks and structured processes. This means every new venture starts with a higher level of knowledge and experience.” Unlike incubators, accelerators, venture capital firms or angel investor groups, venture studios are directly involved in creating companies and often retain ownership stakes in the businesses they develop. They typically follow a common business creation process, moving from idea generation and market testing through to team formation, product development, launch and eventual sale or handover. Dr Viglialoro said: “Venture studios are emerging as a new organisational model for innovation and venture creation. Their ability to combine experienced founders, specialist teams and structured learning processes allows them to repeatedly generate and test new business opportunities. This has important implications for entrepreneurs, investors, universities and policymakers.” The paper, Institutionalizing portfolio entrepreneurship: the Venture Studio model, is published in the journal Technovation. www.uea.ac.uk … Indoor not-spots taking toll on business Poor indoor mobile connectivity could be costing the UK economy as much as £103 billion a year, according to C-suite and senior IT decision-makers surveyed by Freshwave for its Mobile Connectivity ROI Index 2026. In the public sector alone, the loss could be as high as £63 billion. The connectivity infrastructure-as-aservice provider surveyed 900 C-suite and IT decision-makers from UK public and private sector organisations to gauge their views on indoor mobile connectivity and potential gains from eliminating coverage ‘notspots’ within buildings. Almost nine out of 10 (89%) claim they experience indoor connectivity disruptions every day, in large part due to the building themselves and building materials such as energy-efficient glazing and insulation that can impact mobile signal strength. On average, 23% of decision-makers rate their indoor 4G or 5G coverage as average or poor, rising from 19% in London to 27% in the North of England, 28% in the Midlands, 34% in Scotland and Wales, 37% in the East Midlands and 39% in Yorkshire and the Humber. Simon Frumkin, CEO of Freshwave, says that improved indoor connectivity is essential as real-time, continuous data presents the biggest opportunity to drive efficiency gains, accelerate digital transformation and make the most of AI. He said: “AI presents one of the greatest opportunities we have to grow the economy, and the efficiencies it promises rest on the connectivity underpinning many of its functions. HPE to transform fan experience at Tottenham Hotspur stadium Spurs supporters can look forward to a better matchday experience as Tottenham Hotspur and HPE expand their long-standing partnership to transform the entire fan experience, from ticketless entry and cashless payments to mobile applications, digital wayfinding and high-density connectivity. As the club’s Official Hybrid Cloud and IT Enterprise Networking Partner, HPE will modernise Tottenham Hotspur Stadium’s technological capabilities through a combination of AI, hybrid cloud, networking, managed services, financial solutions and a simpler asa-service operating model. Matt Harris, HPE’s Senior Vice President & Managing Director, UK, Ireland, Middle East & Africa, said: “Sport and entertainment venues are becoming increasingly connected and data-driven, and this partnership reflects a shared commitment to building the digital foundation required to support that evolution. Together, we’re helping Spurs build an AI-driven technology backbone that powers every aspect of the stadium, from critical operations behind the scenes to the digital experiences supporters enjoy on match days and beyond.” www.hpe.com Dr Davide Viglialoro Simon Frumkin
www.managedITmag.co.uk 5 NEWS continued... Treating indoor mobile coverage as essential infrastructure is what turns that opportunity into results…Indoor connectivity is essential now, in the same bracket as power and water. AI is simply making that increasingly impossible to ignore.” Almost all those surveyed (96%) say AI adoption is influencing their investment in connectivity and seven in ten expect their indoor connectivity budget to grow over the next two years. More than half (57%) of organisations in the North-West are considering an indoor 4G or 5G upgrade to support AI applications. Freshwave partners with mobile network providers, central and local government and real estate companies to bring assured 4G and 5G connectivity to offices, public buildings, campuses and city streets. https://freshwavegroup.com/roi/ … AI recommendations no match for word of mouth Consumers are five times more likely to be loyal to brands, products and services they discover through word-of-mouth than those they find using AI, claims a new report from the Data & Marketing Association (DMA). Based on a national survey of over 500 consumers and marketers, the DMA’s Loyalty in the Age of AI report gives a net positive impact on loyalty of 56 percentage points to the former, compared to one of just 11 percentage points to the latter. These figures are skewed by a clear generational divide in attitudes to AIdriven marketing. While younger adults are broadly receptive to AI-led brand recommendations, the over-55s say they are more likely to weaken brand loyalty than strengthen it, producing a net score of -19 percentage points. Rachel Aldighieri, CEO of the Data and Marketing Association, said: “Human connection, in the form of word-of-mouth recommendations and reviews, still appear to be the most trusted methods to build brand loyalty. While new technologies and promotional tactics will continue to play an important role in the decisions customers and marketers make, brands cannot lose sight of the fundamentals. Trust, relevance and a clear understanding of what customers actually value remain at the heart of long-term loyalty.” The report also highlights a disconnect between marketers and consumers. While 70% of marketers believe brand loyalty has increased, the proportion of consumers sticking to familiar brands for everyday purchases has fallen to 67% from 76% in 2024. … AI slashes full fibre order cancellations Openreach says AI is helping to prevent more than 3,000 full fibre order cancellations every month by giving broadband providers and their customers faster, clearer and more interactive support when installations hit a snag. It has achieved this through two complementary AI capabilities, Crystall Ball and Ask Me Anything. Crystal Ball analyses available information when an engineer encounters a problem with an installation and predicts what work is likely to be needed and whether it will take more or less than ten days to complete. Within 24 hours of an engineer reporting an issue, the customer is sent updates via text message explaining what’s happened, what needs to happen next and when the job is expected to be completed. Ask Me Anything (AMA) allows customers to ask questions about their installation in everyday language and receive immediate and relevant answers without having to chase for an update. Ask Me Anything and Crystal Ball are enabled by Openreach’s AI-driven customer service platform CXone Proactive AI Agent, which also includes a Change My Appointment tool that lets customers book or adjust engineer appointments themselves, helping to reduce missed appointments by 30%. openreach.com Intelligent Garden relocated to Manchester The award-winning Intelligent Garden, first seen at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025, has been given a permanent home on a former traffic island near Manchester Piccadilly Station. Connecting the station with the wider Mayfield neighbourhood, the Intelligent Garden combines green spaces with Avanade’s AI-enabled tree monitoring technology which provides insights into how the trees are coping with rising temperatures and changing environmental conditions. Sensors embedded throughout the site capture live environmental data, enabling horticultural teams to understand tree health, identify potential signs of stress and make informed decisions about long-term tree care. Visitors will be able to experience the technology first hand through TreeTalk, an interactive platform that translates environmental data into accessible insights, allowing people to engage directly with individual trees and learn more about their health, growth and environment. Photo credit: www.markwaugh.net
6 01732 759725 ...continued NEWS continued... UK a pacesetter in integration of AI and physical security systems Organisations in the UK and Ireland are setting the pace when it comes to the use of AI within physical security systems, reveals Verkada’s 2026 State of Cloud Physical Security Report. In a survey for the report, 49% of organisations in the UK and Ireland say they are already using AI in their physical security systems – the highest level among the five European countries surveyed – and an additional 27% are piloting or testing the technology. Among those already using/piloting AI, the most widely deployed capabilities are AI-verified alarm monitoring (52%); real-time motion, loitering or line-crossing alerts (47%); AI-generated incident reports (44%); facial recognition (43%); and AIpowered proactive deterrence such as automated voice warnings (43%). Uncertainty about AI regulations is limiting the take-up of certain technologies, including facial recognition (restricted/avoided by 42%), real-time biometric identification (41%) and automated decision-making without human review (30%). The actual or predicted operational benefits of AI include faster incident investigations (cited by 58%), improved real-time threat detection (56%), proactive crime prevention (40%), fewer false alarms (39%) and lower security operating costs (36%). https://www.verkada.com/ ebooks/2026-state-of-cloud-physicalsecurity-global-edition/ … IT teams set to expand Nearly half of UK employers (47%) plan to expand their technology teams before the end of the year as businesses continue to invest in digital transformation, cyber security, AI and cloud infrastructure, according to new research from Robert Half. In addition to those planning to increase permanent IT headcount, a further 25% of the 500 hiring managers and 1,000 professionals surveyed are ramping up contract and project-based hiring. The most in-demand skills are cyber security (54%), agentic AI use (50%), generative AI solutions (48%), cloud (44%) and business intelligence (44%). Matt Weston, Senior Managing Director, UK & Ireland at Robert Half, said: “We’re seeing strong demand for professionals who combine technical expertise with strategic decision-making. AI is automating some tasks, but it isn’t replacing the need for skilled technology talent. In many cases, it’s making those skills even more valuable.” https://www.roberthalf.com/gb/en. … Poor planning sets the scene for AI disappointment Almost half (49%) of leaders in midmarket organisations believe their AI initiatives have failed to deliver value or been underwhelming, claims digital transformation business TXP. Its survey of 200 business leaders involved in AI strategy shows that despite organisations spending an average of more than £1 million on AI pilots and proofs of concept over the past three years, fewer than half (47%) of these initiatives have scaled into production. Cost (49%), governance and risk concerns (39%) and poor data quality or accessibility (38%) are the main barriers to scaling AI pilots. More than three-quarters (77%) of business leaders say that their organisation should have invested more time and budget into discovery before beginning their AI initiatives. Tim Hurst, Chief Operations Officer at TXP, said: “Underinvestment in the discovery phase that should underpin AI initiatives means many organisations lack a deep understanding of existing systems, dependencies, internal policies and business goals. Without knowledge of these, AI will never deliver its true value.” The report highlights three areas where mid-market organisations can drive greater value from AI: Turning individual expertise into shared capabilities: 69% of respondents say key knowledge remains with individuals rather than being documented and shared. More than half (58%) say poor collaboration is hindering AI projects. Designing workflows around AI: only 50% of respondents say their organisation has redesigned its workflows for AI, with more than a third (37%) bolting AI onto existing workflows. Orchestrating AI across the estate: while 59% of business leaders are very confident that their organisation has the data foundation to scale AI, 64% admit to technology Openreach full fibre network ‘listens’ for leaks in nearby water pipes The benefits of Openreach’s extensive Full Fibre network are not limited to faster broadband. As pilots with fibresensing company Lightsonic and Affinity Water show, it also has a role to play in reducing the 2.6 billion litres of water lost every day through leaks across the country’s ageing water network. Lightsonic’s leak detection technology transforms fibre networks into acoustic sensors that are able to ‘hear’ leaks in nearby water pipes, providing technicians with accurate location data so they can check and stop a leak quickly and efficiently. The technology can also categorise the most severe leaks to help maintenance teams prioritise repairs. Openreach says Lightsonic’s fibreoptic leak detection platform enables technicians to find four times as many leaks in fewer field hours than existing leak detection methods, and removes the need to install a separate system of physical sensors or carry out widespread excavations. In pilots with Affinity Water, Lightsonic used Openreach’s full fibre broadband network to monitor 650 kilometres of the UK water network and in just three months located more than 100 leaks, saving 2 million litres of water a day, equivalent to more than 700 million litres a year, enough to supply 10,000 people. So successful have the pilots been that Southern Water is now trialling Lightsonic’s water leak detection technology to help it meet OFWAT’s 2030 leak reduction targets and improve the drought resilience of its water supply network. Tommy Langnes, CEO of Lightsonic, said: “By utilising existing fibre optic infrastructure, we have a solution that can be quickly and effectively scaled across the UK to help utility companies get a handle on leaks, secure supply and generate savings that can be reinvested to upgrade our ageing network. The industry needs a quick and comprehensive response and that is what we offer.”
8 01732 759725 ...continued NEWS integration challenges that prevent AI orchestration across workflows. www.txp.co.uk … Fathers at greatest risk of home‑working bias Working from home may give you a better work:life balance. It might save you money and perhaps even boost your productivity. But what does it mean for your career prospects? That probably depends on your gender, suggests new a study led by King’s Business School. Researchers analysed 13,000 assessments of hypothetical candidates made by 5,300 people employed in the UK and Germany who were asked to rate candidates as they would when deciding on a promotion or appointment. Candidates described as spending most of the week at home received lower promotion or appointment ratings than office-based colleagues and those who spend only one to two days a week at home, suggesting a clear bias against homeworking in both the UK and Germany. Fathers and workers without children generally experienced larger declines in ratings, while mothers were penalised least. The researchers caution that this should not be interpreted as a straightforward advantage for mothers, pointing out that because office-based mothers in the UK already receive relatively low ratings, particularly compared with childless women, homeworking causes less additional damage. Because men start off from a higher position, they have more to lose when working from home. Professor Heejung Chung, Professor of Work and Employment at King’s Business School, said: “Flexible working has often been seen as a mothers issue, but this study shows that fathers also need protection from career penalties when they use it. Making flexibility safe and normal for fathers can support mothers’ employment while improving outcomes for fathers and children.” The study’s authors – Professor Heejung Chung (King’s Business School), Assistant Professor Senhu Wang (National University of Singapore) and Dr Yvonne Lott (Institute of Economic and Social Research at the Hans-Böckler Foundation) – advise organisations to review how employees are assessed; train managers to recognise proximity bias; place greater emphasis on results rather than time spent in the office; and present flexible working as a normal way of working for all employees, not just for mothers and carers. The paper, Flexibility stigma in the UK and Germany post-pandemic: intersectionality of stigma across gender and parental lines, is published in Community, Work & Family. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/ 10.1080/13668803.2026.2727053 … Costly AV/IT design flaws damaging worker productivity Fragmented decision-making, delayed technology integration and disrupted meetings are taking a heavy toll on staff productivity warns Logitech in a new Workplace Experience (WX) study based on a survey of 1,700 WX decision-makers in 11 countries. This shows that technical issues in meetings, such as failed audio or dropped connections, cause a median productivity loss of 12.2 minutes per person, per disruption, with 30% of IT leaders reporting a loss of 16 minutes or more. Only 31% of the 200 UK decisionmakers surveyed say their IT/AV teams are involved before space planning begins. In most organisations, technology is brought in after room designs have been finalised, rather than designing the space to get most from technology investments. UK leaders link strong workplace experience directly to improved productivity (86%) and collaboration (90%), but still only 56% feel confident they have the right ROI data to justify WX and technology investments. Just 29% treat WX as a core business strategy. Logitech is advising businesses to address these shortcomings by: involving cross-functional teams with shared metrics before space planning begins; treating tech downtime as a WX indicator and measuring ticket volumes, device performance and meeting start delays alongside standard employee experience metrics; aligning physical spaces to performance outcomes, such as deep focus and dynamic collaboration, rather than simple attendance tracking; combining sensor and sentiment data to prove ROI; and continuously adapting as business and employee demands shift. UK organisations turn to MSPs for CISO services With both cyberattacks and the use of AI growing, MSPs are increasingly being called upon to provide the cybersecurity leadership, governance and risk guidance that organisations do not have the resources or capabilities to manage in-house. According to the MSP Perspectives 2026 report from cybersecurity specialist Sophos, MSPs are already acting as defacto Chief Information Security Officers for almost half (46%) of their customers. More than four out of five MSPs (84%) expect demand for CISO services to increase over the next 12 months. Scott Barlow, Vice President and Chief Evangelist at Sophos, said: “Organisations require more than technology management to stay secure. They need trusted cybersecurity leaders who can help them understand their risk, navigate compliance requirements and translate security investments into meaningful business outcomes. MSPs are already stepping into this role for nearly half of their customers. The challenge now is delivering that leadership consistently and efficiently across a growing customer base.” Of the 800 MSPs surveyed, 99% provide at least one cybersecurity compliance service. However, just 6% offer the full range of compliance services evaluated in the research and only 33% are ‘completely confident’ in their ability to continuously monitor, manage and document compliance across multiple customers. To help MSPs turn the CISO role many already provide into a structured, scalable and billable cyber management service, Sophos has launched Sophos CISO Advantage. Delivered through Sophos Fusion, the company’s AI-native Cybersecurity Defense System, Sophos CISO Advantage uses agentic AIaccelerated assessment, reporting and roadmap workflows to support boardready insights and action plans across an MSP’s customer base. www.sophos.com
Secure Inside. Secured Outside. Most Managed Print Services focus on cost and sustainability. We go further. We include PrintGuardian - the first dedicated managed detection and response solution designed specifically for modern print estates to protect your business today, tomorrow and for the life of your contract. Secure inside. + Award winning MFP firmware + Packed with top security protocols Secured outside. + 24/7 vulnerability scanning + Enriched telemetry + Dedicated UK security experts Sustainable. + Carbon offset MPS (MFPs, toner & Kyocera services) + For the contract lifetime. Print security with teeth. Learn more. Kyocera Document Solutions UK – kyoceradocumentsolutions.co.uk/printguardian KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc. | www.kyoceradocumentsolutions.com
10 01732 759725 WHAT’S NEW keys switch automatically as a developer jumps between IDEs, Slack, Chrome or any other app, eliminating manual remapping and ensuring developers have the right tools ready for every task. The free Logi Options+ app enables users to customise keys, assign shortcuts, build macros and access ready to use plugins from the Logi Marketplace. Users can also build their own plugins using the Logi Actions SDK. Anatoliy Polyanker, VP and GM at Logitech, said: “Today, coding mastery depends on how easily developers can juggle between an ever-increasing range of AI tools. MX Keypad puts a physical control centre at your fingertips, allowing you to orchestrate your AI workflows faster and more intuitively.” www.logitech.com … Small footprint scanner Canon has added a third, higher speed scanner to its imageFORMULA DR-C300 Series. Featuring an ultracompact, narrow design (283mm wide), the imageFORMULA DR-C360 is designed for branch and remote offices, customer engagement points, reception areas and other locations with limited space. Despite its small footprint, it incorporates a larger iconbased display and physical buttons for easier operation, a 100-sheet Automatic Document Feeder and flexible media handling (including carrier-free passport scanning). The combination of 60 pages per minute (120 images per minute) scanning and Canon’s CaptureOnTouch Pro software enables users to digitise paper documents at speed and route them to multiple destinations, from SharePoint and network folders to cloud apps. Users can import files and convert them into other file formats and use a licence-free plug-in SDK to create customised integrations. www.canon.co.uk … Life in the Fast Lane BT Business has launched a new feature giving priority access to its the ability to track changing brand perceptions across ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Claude; benchmark up to five competitors; carry out sentiment trend analysis; and track brand perceptions over a 12-month period to identify patterns and demonstrate improvement. James Fry, Managing Director of Blue Frontier, said: “A single report can highlight where a brand stands today, but ongoing measurement is what reveals whether that position is improving, where competitors are gaining ground and which actions are genuinely making a difference.” https://ampullai.co.uk/ … Control centre for AI developers Logitech is helping AI developers spend less time navigating tools and more time building with the launch of the Logitech MX Keypad. Featuring nine customisable full-colour LCD keys and app-aware profiles, the control centre enables developers to trigger apps, docs and complex commands instantly. Because the keypad is context‑aware, New to the fold ViewSonic has launched its fourth generation foldable Mobile Direct View LED display. Supplied in a rugged flight case for easy transport and storage, the pre-assembled 136-inch Direct View LED video wall glides on 360-degree wheels, making it simple to move between rooms or venues. Thanks to its foldable design, it will fit into most elevators. New features include an extra 3.7 feet of motorised lift, giving everyone a clearer view of on-screen content, and easy-to-reach rear I/O ports offering direct connectivity. www.viewsonic.com … Managing perceptions Blue Frontier has enhanced its AI business intelligence tool Ampullai with new features that turn it from a diagnostics tool into a platform providing ongoing tracking of brand perception. Building on the three reports it offered at launch in July 2026 (Brand Report, Competitor Report and Consumer Sentiment Report), Ampullai has added Teams players Neat is bringing its AI-powered video technology into the Microsoft Teams Room and panel ecosystem after achieving Microsoft Teams certification for the Neat Board 32 and the Neat Pad Pro and Neat Pad Generation 2 meeting room controllers and scheduling panels. Signalling Neat’s entry into the Microsoft Device Ecosystem Platform, the certification unlocks enhanced security, unified management and video collaboration capabilities. Tormod Ree, Chief Product and Engineering Officer at Neat, said: “Receiving official certification with Microsoft Teams for Neat Board 32, Neat Pad Pro and Neat Pad Gen 2 unlocks the potential of the Neat portfolio for Teams users, allowing IT teams to deploy our award-winning hardware backed by Microsoft’s rigorous standards for security, device management and operational performance.” neat.no WHAT’S NEW
www.managedITmag.co.uk 11 WHAT’S NEW again is that the data is always very messy. We’ve used other sustainability platforms. Some were effective at certain things, some less so, but none really solved all of the challenges we were seeing with our clients. So, we decided to build our own!” www.tunley-environmental.com … It’s cool to be square Vieunite Pro has expanded its range of wall-mounted digital canvases with the launch of a square display offering a different way to present artwork, imagery and visual content. With its 1:1 ratio, the 33-inch Textura Pro Digital Canvas provides an alternative to the dominant 16:9 format for the display of digital artworks. The Textura Pro Digital Canvas also features a resolution of 1920 × 1920, real-wood framing and a slim 40mm profile, integrated speakers, cloud-based management software and access to more than 5,000 curated digital artworks in the Vieunite Art Library. https://vieunite.com/pro/textura-pro smart cards for applications such as access control, network login and smart card-based online transactions. Manufactured in Europe, it, too, is based on CHERRY’s new architecture. www.cherry.de … Easier carbon reporting Tunley Environmental is aiming to simplify carbon and sustainability data management and reporting with the launch of a new platform offering a structured way for teams to manage sustainability information. Instead of having to collect, organise and manage information spread across multiple documents, spreadsheets, inboxes, departments, sites and reporting periods, VerdaMetric brings together carbon and sustainability data, calculations, evidence, reporting activity and planning in one platform. This makes it easier to organise existing information, track Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, monitor data completeness, maintain clear audit trails, review performance and use targets, roadmaps and financial insight to support future planning. Dr William Beer, Founder and CEO of Tunley Environmental, said: “For years, we’ve worked with organisations on carbon accounting, sustainability reporting and environmental strategy, and the one problem that comes up again and 5G+ EE network during peak times, when networks are most congested. Described as ‘the UK’s first commercial network slice that gives both consumers and small businesses dedicated 5G+ connectivity at the busiest times’, Fast Lane anticipates congestion and moves the customer seamlessly into a dedicated section of EE’s 5G+ network so they can continue to stream, share and access their favourite platforms without slowing down. FastLane is available to consumers with a compatible 5G+ device through a new monthly handset plan, Full Works Plus, costing £5 more than EE’s current Full Works plan. It is also available to new and re-signing small business customers that take out an EE Full Works business plan on a 5G+ compatible handset. ee.co.uk … Security at your fingertips CHERRY is expanding its security portfolio with the Smart Board 1150 and Smart Terminal ST-1150. Both models are based on a new electronics and firmware architecture that gives organisations with demanding security requirements a reliable foundation for long-term use. This includes a flash-based controller that allows post-deployment firmware updates and support for Microsoft’s native CCID driver, as well as pcsc-lite for Linux and macOS, enabling integration into existing IT environments without the need for vendor-specific drivers. The CHERRY Smart Board 1150 (£43.99) combines a full-function keyboard (with Copilot key) and an integrated smart card reader for electronic signatures, user authentication, data encryption and access control. CHERRY’s second new product, the Smart Terminal ST-1150 (£31.99), reads and writes continued... Smart printing Brother has added two new inkjet printers to its Business Smart Series for small office, home office customers (the MFC-J5010DW and MFC-J5110DW) and two to its Business Smart X-Series for mid-sized workplaces with more demanding print requirements (the MFC-J5115DW and MFC-J5117DW). The all-in-one A4 devices leverage Brother’s patented MAXIDRIVE printhead technology to deliver print speeds of up to 28 images per minute and first-page-out times of 4.5 seconds, twice as fast as competing printers. They scan at speeds of up to 25 pages per minute for single-sided documents and up to 30 images per minute for double-sided pages, automatically capturing both sides in one pass. Running costs are kept low through high-yield consumables (up to 6,000 pages for black and 5,000 pages for colour), a maintenance system that monitors ink flow to prevent ink drying out and clogging nozzles, and a cleaning process that separates air bubbles from usable ink rather than flushing both out together. https://brotherzone.co.uk/j5000 William Beer
12 01732 759725 ...continued to essential calls and, where technically possible, linked broadband services after January 31 2027. James Lilley, Managed Customer Migrations Director at Openreach, emphasises that EVAc is just a temporary measure and that customers will still need to move to full fibre or SOGEA. He said: “Providers need to contact their remaining customers and help them move to a modern service now. But we also need a final safety net and preserving eligible broadband connections will reduce the risk of vulnerable people, businesses and essential services losing connectivity unexpectedly. EVAc is temporary, limited and more expensive than modern alternatives. It gives providers additional protection while they complete the job, but it’s not a reason to delay.” Openreach estimates that 1.2 million lines are still operating on the analogue, copperbased phone network, including around 350,000 business premises. www.openreach.com/big-switch-off … AI coworkers for marketing Optimizely, the AI platform for marketing, has launched role-specific digital co-workers to help marketers with their day-to-day workload. Available for hire and customisation from a directory, each Virtual Teammate has a defined role, responsibilities and permissions and proactively completes work without requiring task-by-task prompts. Marketers can assign work to them, involve them in conversations and workflows and configure recurring responsibilities triggered by schedules or events. Over time, agents retain relevant context from previous conversations, projects and decisions. The first Virtual Teammates are Chief of Staff, SEO & AI Search Analyst, Marketing Analyst, Personalisation Strategist and CRO Manager. www.optimizely.com/solutions/ virtual-teammates AI for SMBs With the launch of its AI from BT solutions portfolio, BT Business is aiming to help customers adopt AI with confidence. The first two solutions available are AI Adoption Hub, a free service offering practical guides, prompt packs, insights and examples of how businesses are using AI to work smarter, and AI Receptionist, which enables small and medum-sized businesses to answer calls and manage enquiries 24/7. As well as answering calls (with customisable voice and accent options) and handling routine enquiries, AI Receptionist schedules appointments (sending confirmations and integrating with Outlook and Google Calendar), captures and transcribes conversations and generates insights from customer interactions. business.bt.com/ai-for-business … PSTN safety net Openreach has announced details of a safety net for residential and business customers that fail to move to a modern digital service before the PSTN switchoff. Called EVAc, the last-resort phone service is designed to maintain access Broad appeal New from Philips Monitors, the 34B2U5900C is a curved 34-inch monitor designed for professionals with diverse workloads. A standout feature is Dual Mode functionality that enables users to switch between two performance settings: WUHD (5120 x 2160) at 120 Hz for detailed visual work, large spreadsheets, multitasking and content review; and WFHD (2560 x 1080) at 240 Hz for tasks requiring faster, more responsive interactions, such as live dashboard monitoring, training simulations and occasional gaming. Its many other features include a wide viewing angle of 178 degrees; USB-C docking with up to 140 W Power Delivery; and SmartKVM switching between two connected sources by pressing Ctrl on the keyboard three times. The 34B2U5900C is Calman Ready for colour accuracy and TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light (Hardware Solution) and eyesafe certified. https://www.philips.co.uk/ c-m-so/monitors Bye-bye dongles EPOS is enhancing its IMPACT 1000 and IMPACT 500 headsets with Native Bluetooth connectivity for Microsoft Teams. New firmware, available for download from the EPOS Connect app, allows users to connect a headset directly to a computer or laptop with no need for a USB dongle, providing plug and play convenience. EPOS has also strengthened native Bluetooth security through an RPA (Removable Private Addresses) feature that prevents device tracking and ensures only trusted, previously bonded devices can reconnect. www.eposaudio.com WHAT’S NEW One headset for everything Logitech is bringing out an all-day headset that enables hybrid workers to transition seamlessly between work and leisure activities. The Zone Vibe Pro for Business combines AI-powered voice isolation that reduces background noise for enhanced audability; Adaptive Noise Cancellation for focused listening; Microsoft Teams, Zoom and Google Meet certification; fleet management via Logitech Sync; and a comfortable over the ear, boom-less design. www.logitech.com
Shop the Brother colour laser range now ⎙ � High speed printing, no quality compromise A fully circular cartridge returns scheme Predictable monthly costs with Brother MPS When it’s worth printing, print it in colour. *T&Cs apply CASHBACK £100 UP TO (GO ON THEN) * PLUS 3 YEAR WARRANTY* Shop the Brother colour laser range now ⎙ � High speed printing, no quality compromise A fully circular cartridge returns scheme Predictable monthly costs with Brother MPS When it’s worth printing, print it in colour. *T&Cs apply * PLUS 3 YEAR WARRANTY* Shop the Brother colour laser range now ⎙ � High speed printing, no quality compromise A fully circular cartridge returns scheme Predictable monthly costs with Brother MPS When it’s worth printing, print it in colour. *T&Cs apply * PLUS 3 YEAR WARRANTY* Shop the Brother colour laser range now ⎙ � High speed printing, no quality compromise A fully circular cartridge returns scheme Predictable monthly costs with Brother MPS When it’s worth printing, print it in colour. *T&Cs apply UP TO (GO ON THEN) * PLUS 3 YEAR WARRANTY*
14 01732 759725 INSIGHT investment and momentum behind physical AI. The opportunity extends far beyond humanoid robots, spanning vehicles, buildings, energy infrastructure, workplaces and connected consumer environments. As intelligence becomes embedded in the physical world, organisations will face new questions around governance, safety, liability, integration and trust. Connected forces Omdia Chief Research Officer Evan Kirchheimer said: “The defining technology story of 2027 will not simply be what comes next, but what happens as the investment and innovation of recent years meets economic and operational reality. “AI needs to demonstrate returns. Supply chain disruption needs to be planned for rather than waited out. The perceived imperative of digital sovereignty brings difficult choices around cost and access. And as AI moves into the physical world, businesses face an entirely new set of opportunities and responsibilities. “What makes these forces particularly significant is how closely they are becoming connected. Decisions made in one area increasingly have consequences elsewhere, making it more important than ever for businesses to understand the wider technology landscape when deciding where to invest and compete.” These forces are addressed in more detail in an e-book authored by Evan Kirchheimer, Fiona Kyle (VP of Research, Integrated Tech), Maxine Holt (VP of Enterprise and Channel Research), Nicole Peng (VP of Research, Consumer) and Ronan De Renesse (VP of Research, Telecoms). For more details visit https://tinyurl. com/4tak45bw. geopolitical pressures, energy requirements and macroeconomic uncertainty are combining to create persistent volatility. Already hardware delays are impacting 60% of PC channel partners, highlighting the operational pressures businesses continue to face. Omdia predicts that navigating these pressures will increasingly become a measure of competitive strength. Companies that build resilience into their operations will be best placed to turn disruption into advantage, while less agile competitors risk losing ground. 3. Digital sovereignty: independence comes at a cost The question is increasingly shifting from whether organisations need more digital sovereignty to how much control they need – and what price they are prepared to pay for it. More than 100 countries are now pursuing digital sovereignty initiatives, reflecting the growing importance to government and business of gaining control over data, infrastructure, AI and digital supply chains. However, complete technological independence will rarely be practical or necessary, says Omdia. Instead, organisations will need to determine what they must control, where partnerships remain essential and where greater sovereignty creates enough business value to justify the additional cost and complexity it brings. 4. Physical AI: intelligence escapes the screen AI’s move beyond software and screens and into the physical world is accelerating. Advances in AI, edge computing, sensors and connected hardware are creating intelligent systems capable of perceiving, learning and responding to their surroundings. Global humanoid robot shipments alone are expected to exceed 700,000 units by 2030, reflecting the growing In 2027, the technology industry will face the twin challenges of turning years of rapid investment and innovation into sustainable value and moving the focus from what technology can do to what it can deliver – economically, operationally and competitively. So says Omdia in its Forces Shaping 2027 e-book. Experts at the technology research and advisory group have identified four forces that they believe will shape the world of IT in 2027: the need for AI to start demonstrating real returns; the need for businesses to navigate a way through persistent supply chain disruption; the need for organisations to weigh the benefits of greater technological control against the costs of IT sovereignty; and the need to address governance and safety as intelligence moves beyond software and screens into the physical realm. 1. AI: rebalancing from investment to monetisation The AI technology arms race will continue, but the measure of success is changing, says Omdia. With 59% of organisations expecting their AI budgets to increase by 10% or more in 2027, pressure to demonstrate tangible returns will intensify. Enterprises will increasingly judge AI investments by ROI and productivity gains rather than technical superiority alone. Across infrastructure, software, services and devices, attention will shift to where AI creates value, how that value is captured and which business models can turn adoption into sustainable returns. 2. Supply chain: crisis is the ‘new normal’ Technology companies can no longer assume disruption will end and supply chains will return to normal. AI infrastructure demand, component constraints, AI monetisation, persistent supply chain disruption, digital sovereignty and physical AI will challenge businesses in the years to come says Omdia Four forces set to shape IT in 2027 Evan Kirchheimer
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