01732 759725 20 INTERVIEW sure we can deliver something that genuinely works in the real world. And when we can’t provide a solution straight away, that’s just as valuable. It gives me the opportunity to feed those gaps back into development, collaborate with the team, and help shape new capabilities. We’re seeing challenges around things like Windows Print Protected Mode, AirPrint and the rise of mobile and remote printing. I welcome all of it. Bring it on. Each one is a chance to learn, to innovate, and to make the overall print experience better. PITR: What (or who) do you think has had the greatest impact in the sector in recent years? SS: For me, the channel has had the greatest impact in recent years. Building a strong channel, getting their support, and earning their trust is absolutely essential. If partners are willing to invest in your solutions and believe in what you’re doing, that’s massive, I honestly can’t think of anything more important. Outside of the channel, I think a lot of printer manufacturers have really stepped up when it comes to sustainability. Reducing the carbon footprint might sound like a cliché because everyone talks about it, but there are companies out there that genuinely put it first and do it better than others. And that’s huge for me. Seeing manufacturers truly commit to sustainability and make it part of their core message has had a big impact on the sector. PITR: If you could speak directly to someone who inspired or challenged you most in your career, what would you want to say to them today? SS: Early on in my career, my manager described me as having the ability to soak up information like a sponge and retain it. He has no idea of the impact that part of a wider feedback piece actually had on my growth. So, I’d want to say he set a standard that I’ve always tried to live by (and also that I’m still a Bon Jovi fan!). began. I started to learn more about print spoolers and driver management, and understanding the benefits of centralised printing rather than local printing. I quickly became the go-to person for anything print-related in my previous job. The pivotal moment came when I assumed responsibility for a project installing Thinprint at the bank I worked at. I saw the power of the solution and decided there and then I wanted to work there, so I kept an eye out on vacancies, applied and secured a job. I started out as a junior consultant, got promoted to senior technical consultant and now look after our partnerships on a global level. PITR: What excites you most about working in print today? SS: The recognition and trust I’ve earned within the wider end-user computing (EUC) community. I’ve been a regular public speaker at the Experts 2 Experts EUCDEX.Ai conference, it’s a global, non-commercial series of events for EUC professionals and over time I have established myself there as the ‘print guy’. The community awarded me the title of Chief Print Officer in 2022, which is something I’m incredibly proud of. The other thing is the evolution of the digital workspace. The way organisations work is changing constantly, moving from traditional on-premise environments to cloud. That shift creates new challenges for printing because print has to follow that journey and keep up with it. PITR: And what are the biggest frustrations or challenges? SS: Coming up with different print solutions for different scenarios and different use cases. Every customer scenario is different, which means we’re constantly having to design and position print solutions that fit very specific needs. For me, that’s actually part of the excitement, solving those problems, understanding the nuances, and making PrintIT Reseller (PITR): What was your first job in print? Scott Seddon (SS): My first job in print was with the Co-operative Bank in 1999. I worked on the helpdesk raising incidents when print servers went down, and witnessing the impact and importance of print was eye-opening. I assigned incidents to 2nd and 3rd line support, occasionally out of hours. Little did I know back then that I would eventually become that 2nd and 3rd line support engineer, travelling in the early hours to data centres to fix the very print servers I once escalated. Those same print servers I would later virtualise and eventually prove we no longer need at Thinprint. PITR: What led you to enter the sector? Did you choose print by design, or accident? SS: I spent 25 years in the end-user computing space prior to joining Thinprint. I started off as a help desk assistant taking first line calls for technical problems and then I moved into second line support which is when I started dealing with print and that’s really where my interest in printing Scott Seddon, Global Technical Partnerships Manager, Thinprint, shares details of his life in print, what he’s learned, and the highs and the lows of our unique and challenging industry My life in print Scott Seddon
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