PCR July/August 2020

GAMING

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CONTENT

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Printed by Buxton Press Ltd ISSN: 1742-8440 Copyright 2020

Biz Media Ltd • 4th Floor 44 Maiden Lane • London • WC2E 7LN All contents © 2020 Biz Media Ltd. or published under licence. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be used, stored, transmitted or reproduced in any way without the prior written permission of the publisher. All information contained in this publication is for information only and is, as far as we are aware, correct at the time of going to press. Biz Media Ltd. cannot accept any responsibility for errors or inaccuracies in such information. You are advised to contact manufacturers and retailers directly with regard to the price of products/services referred to in this publication.

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TheEditor Celebrating change

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he channel has adapted to a lot of change so far this year, with the country entering lockdown and people staying indoors and working from home. This means that some areas of the industry, such as peripheral manufacturers and software vendors, have been going full steam ahead to keep up with increased demand. On the flip side, many bricks and mortar retailers have struggled to stay afloat while the high streets closed down.

There now seems to be some end in sight, as more and more shops open up, and people feel more comfortable interacting with others. And so, this double issue is quite timely, as it is jam-packed with forward-looking content. We’ve have our annual 30 Under 30 list, celebrating the impressive talents of our future industry leaders. We speak to HANNspree, Acer, and Kingston about their new tech and plans for the future. And we have a bumper sector guide section looking at the latest gear covering everything from storage and networking, to gaming components and peripherals.

And to finish things off, there will be another new addition to the magazine next month, as this issue is actually the last one you’ll see my face on. Fear not, you will be in very safe hands with PCR’s new editor and I predict there will be some amazing content coming your way throughout the rest of the year.

It has been great working with you all. Stay safe and celebrate the change!

“There will be a new edition to the magazine next month. You will be in very safe hands...”

Laura Barnes, Editor

laura.barnes@biz-media.co.uk

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THE TEAM

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16 July/Aug 2020 06 Retail Analysis: Shift to online goes through the gears 10 Industry opinions 16 The Big Interview: HANNspree's Martin Kent 22 30 Under 30 28 Going green 32 Road to retail recovery 34 Sector Guide: Storage 42 Top 5 Tech: Tenda's Jamie Plumridge 44 Crowdfunding Corner 47 Sector Guide: Networking 51 Interview: Acer's Craig Booth 55 Sector Guide: Gaming Components 60 Sector Guide: Gaming Peripherals 66 Life in the Channel: Kingston's Ann Keefe

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Retail Analysis

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Retail Analysis

Shift to I online goes through the gears The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the retail landscape dramatically, with consumers switching to online shopping during lockdown. Catherine Kennedy considers the challenges facing brands and retailers – and what they need to do to survive with the shift to online potentially here to stay...

t’s been a big year for online shopping. As the country eases out of lockdown, most households have become more familiar with the thud of a parcel arriving through the letterbox – and it looks like the coronavirus-led shift to online purchasing isn’t slowing down.

In fact, experts suggest the Covid-19 pandemic may have changed consumer behaviour for good. A survey commissioned by global commerce services company PFS found that 60% of consumers have purchased more goods since the lockdown began, with 53% having shopped more online.

Critically, 77% of these said they will continue with increased online purchases after lockdown.

IDC Retail Insights Europe head Filippo Battaini explains: “The disruption caused by Covid-19 contributed to a change in attitude in those shoppers that were not accustomed to shopping online but that experienced the convenience delivered by the channel during the crisis.

“Those customers are expected to continue to shop online even in a post-pandemic environment, contributing to further growth of online spending in the future.”

If current figures are anything to go by, this could mean a big change for the industry. According to BRC and KPMG’s retail sales monitor for May 2020, online non-food sales increased by 60.2% in May, compared to a growth of 57.9% in April – a striking increase on the 4.4% growth reported in May of last year.

Meanwhile, ONS figures indicate that retail sales volumes did partly rebound in May, with an increase of 12.0% when compared with the record falls experienced in the previous month. However sales were still down by 13.1% on February before the impact of the pandemic.

Amid these challenges for retail, the ONS figures again highlight the shift to online shopping – online sales as a proportion of all retailing reached a record high of 33.4% in May – an increase on the 30.8% and 22.3% reported in April and March respectively.

According to market research company GfK, in week nine of this year – before lockdown hit – in the retail market, sales were 56% offline and 44% online. However by week 14, 91% of sales were taking place online, fuelled by consumers panicbuying items like keyboards and monitors to work from home, along with entertainment devices and DIY, gardening and home products.

“Covid-19 pushed a lot of people into a new habit of buying online” Carl West, GfK

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Retail Analysis

The most recent data available for week 25 of this year shows online sales at 80% and offline at 20%. Previously online sales would have remained steady at around the 40% mark aside from peaks on days such as Black Friday.

Meanwhile, online sales grew by 135% in April 2020 – compared to April 2019 – while offline sales fell by 71%.

“Covid-19 pushed a lot of people into a new habit of buying online,” explains GfK client success director Carl West. “They have formed a habit of research online and purchase online and that will concern the high street. If they can buy it online, what will get people back in store? That’s the challenge for specialist retail at the moment.”

GfK’s analysis does indicate that offline retail is starting to make a comeback.

“The question is whether it will go back to what it was before,” West says. “Some will say yes because people like going into shops. In speaking to brands, I’m seeing a lot more talking about digital first and with store closures and companies going into administration, I feel online is still going to be a major share through summer. As far as offline share, I don’t think it will be more than 50% for a while.”

West emphasises that for the high street, “experience and entertainment” are important considerations, with consumers already drawn to purchasing ‘experiences’ over products.

“Something that brings people in, draws them in” may prove to be crucial, he says, especially since the “digital first mentality” means that online, consumers can view videos and content at the click of a button.

“The high street has to get people thinking about a day out and being entertained while you do it. At the moment with the limitations, it’s very much functional shopping rather than entertainment.”

There has been an inevitable shift in how companies have worked to cope with these changing demands, with technology playing a key role in enabling firms to adapt.

According to omnichannel retail management system Brightpearl, order management and processing are a “crucial element of operations behind the buy button”. Good order management software enables automation across multiple platforms used by retailers – online, offline and third-party – and the firm says that streamlining or automating the procedure will give companies “an edge”. Essentially consumers will get goods more efficiently, important in an industry where customer satisfaction is paramount.

On the topic of customer satisfaction, a smooth returns process is also important. Experts have raised concerns that retailers do not have the systems in place to cope with the influx of returns likely to be generated by the increase in online shopping – both in terms of the volume and associated costs. Brightpearl describes dealing with returns as a “vital part” of operations, with the potential to boost customer satisfaction and retention.

“The acceleration of online commerce put pressure on retailers, which are increasingly confronted with more complex operations,” adds Battaini of IDC.

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“The acceleration of online commerce put pressure on retailers, which are increasingly confronted with more complex operations” Filippo Battaini, IDC

“For example, the fulfilment of a greater volume of online orders requires greater efficiency in the retailer’s supply chain and stock management capabilities and even a review of the role of the physical store, which becomes a node through which items available in the store’s inventory can be shipped to shoppers buying online from a local radius for faster lastmile delivery.”

According to Battaini, in order to compete, retailers need to invest in technology that “enables their operations to become more efficient and responsive to increasingly demanding customers that expect a seamless shopping experience across multiple touchpoints”.

He adds: “The disruption caused by Covid-19 and the new environment emerging from the crisis effectively accelerated a process of digital transformation that was already in place, particularly among the most forward-looking retailers which fared better during the pandemic.”

West similarly identifies a pandemic-led change in operations.

“You look at Covid and there’s very little good to say about what’s happened but one thing it has done is force through change in the sense of logistics,” he says.

“Distribution is helping retail a lot more. Vendors are supporting with stock. Some retailers just weren’t geared up for the logistic of supporting so much product online but they’ve adapted and taken on a better supply chain to get products to consumers. It’s been a shock to our traditional retail market. You have to adapt or you die.”

However, there is still hope for the high street. While some retailers have closed stores – realising that passing trade and the amount spent in store will be less – according to West, the nation’s habit of going into town on a Saturday or Sunday may still stick.

“That’s something that’s not going to go away,” he says. “I would argue as lockdown eases people will be driven to do that more. Retail is not dead, the high street is not dead. It’s challenged. Retailers adapting to the omni-channel approach will do well.”

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industryopinion

Lockdown has forced us all to rethink the way we work

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Chloe Schofield BDE at Brigantia Partners, shares her views of home working during the Covid-19 crisis...

f you are under the age of 25 then, like me, this is probably your first experience of working from home for a prolonged period of time. That is if you are still working. A lot of young workers have unfortunately been furloughed or lost their jobs completely.

While every industry has felt the impact of the pandemic in some way, the IT channel has continued to operate for the most part. This is mainly due to the growing need for remote working technologies and cybersecurity solutions to secure those new environments.

I am fortunate enough to work in this industry and for a company that has kept its entire workforce running. But the transition to working from home is not something I have found easy. Now that the country’s workforce prepares to return to the office, I wanted to share some thoughts on home working from a millennial’s perspective and what I, personally, would like the post-Covid ‘new normal’ way of working to look like.

Whether you are young or old, I think we are all experiencing a bit of ‘cabin fever’ right now.

But for young people, it might be that little bit harder to keep work and private life separate. Many of us are living with parents or in flats, meaning there is nowhere to escape to at the end of the working day. Not to mention the impact of working at the kitchen table has on your body posture!

Do not get me wrong, there certainly are perks to working from home – no travel, less expenses, and all-day access to snacks, to

name a few. But I do miss the office atmosphere. Applications like Microsoft Teams and Zoom have helped tremendously to keep in touch with co-workers. But can company culture really thrive through these means? Sometimes, it can be hard to communicate effectively with a floating head when there is no body language.

I work in a sales-based role and I would say the shift to remote working has had a positive impact on my overall performance. Fewer co-worker and general office distractions and reduced stress from commuting has made me more productive.

While the quantity of work I have accomplished may have dipped slightly, the quality of calls and delivery of other tasks has certainly improved. But the distractions of text messages, social media, the kitchen fridge can make it hard to focus.

There are some interesting surveys out there predicting what the ‘new normal’ way of working will look like after the pandemic. Like many, I predict a lot of organisations will be adopting a mixed style of home and office-based work patterns. And I am certainly looking forward to experiencing the hybrid approach.

For me, like other young workers out there, the forced adoption of working from home has proved to myself and my employer that I can work from home and still deliver results. It has given me the opportunity to reflect on my performance, focus on personal development, and even learn new professional skills. And with the right mindset, training, and technology, anyone can do it.

“The forced adoption of working from home has proved to myself and my employer that I can work from home and still deliver results”

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industryopinion

Online gaming’s need for speed Steve Miller-Jones, VP edge strategy and solution architecture at Limelight Networks, explains why consoles are still holding their own in the UK...

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Gen Z have been on the block for a few years now, and their or the last two decades, the gaming industry has predicted spending power is expected to grow and perhaps outstrip that of the world domination of console-less or ‘cloud’ gaming. the millennial generation. From our research, UK gamers spend Since the launch of Steam in the early 2000s we have been 1.73 hours watching online gaming – which rises to over 4 hours for waiting for the takeover of online gaming. As power and global gamers between the ages of 18 and 25. Half (51 per cent) of speed of consumer internet connections increased, it has long gamers globally are now watching other people play online weekly. seemed inevitable that gaming will go online only.

These figures are encouraging for the online gaming industry, While this has already come true for some regions, in the UK however this shift in viewing habits has already caused the there’s a different story, with platforms such as Xbox and industry some growing pains.

PlayStation still holding strong, and new consoles With the goal of attracting a young global being released by both industry juggernauts later audience comes the pressure to deliver fast, this year. Consoles have even been holding seamless and low-latency video quality. To onto their space in gamers pockets next to “As the online gaming answer these challenges, many are turning their mobile phones, with the advent of the industry prepares to to content delivery providers which can portable Nintendo Switch in 2017. In fact, offer proprietary networks which can when we looked into the state of online overtake the console, build out capacity within their existing gaming this year, we found that the the reality remains data centre footprint, offering platforms majority of global gamers surveyed (56 a flexible yet low-waste way to stream per cent) said they would not subscribe that they will be held to online gaming services to fans. to a live streaming console-less gaming the same standards of We know this space won’t stay empty service when available in their area. for long – with Amazon rumoured to be So, what is holding back the online video quality and game launching its own online gaming service gaming wave? The early industry test case responsiveness” in 2021 and Facebook having just recently of Google Stadia has shown that consumers launched the Facebook Gaming app (reportedly believe the new platform is playable enough, earlier than originally planned). But as the online but simply doesn’t quite live up to the audience’s gaming industry prepares to overtake the console, the expectations when it comes to quality. It will come reality remains that they will be held to the same standards of as no surprise that performance issues and delays are a video quality and game responsiveness as they have come to enjoy major turn off for British players when it comes to online gaming through our favourite offline platforms. Whatever innovative trend platforms, with 16 per cent saying concerns about this topic are the might come next for the online gaming industry, the support of a reason they wouldn’t sign up to an online service. resilient, low-latency content infrastructure that can deliver both With a new breed of gamers emerging, a higher standard of lowperformance and speed is going to be essential. latency, high performance and immersive gameplay is emerging.

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industryopinion

Learning from past financial downturns

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Tech Data financial solutions lead Rene Stuiver explores how the channel is being supported in the face of adversity...

usinesses are currently trying to navigate their way through a situation that no one has ever experienced. Some might say the short to medium term future is uncertain. For many, the priority is about maximising productivity and collaboration with a remote workforce. Others are trying to create a safe environment to return to work. Some are faced with the challenge of needing to do both.

The lesson from previous periods of financial difficulty, particularly the 2008 financial crash, is that liquidity is crucial to weathering hardship; cash really is king.

Naturally, organisations become highly sensitive to investment decisions. The difficulty on this occasion is that the rules of the game have been changed entirely. Businesses need to adopt new ways of working. Investment is needed in collaboration, productivity and return to work solutions. That’s the only way organisations are going to be able to maximise revenue opportunities.

For businesses negotiating this challenge of needing to invest while at the same time preserving capital, financing solutions are an attractive proposition. For partners and their end customers, finance solutions can enable them to innovate in order to meet business challenges without taking on irresponsible risks and leaving the business cash poor.

Instead, organisations can access the technology they need and pay for it on a monthly basis over an agreed time period. Considering the uncertainty around how parts of the economy will fare as they reopen, this ability not only to innovate but to do so with the agility needed to traverse difficult economic conditions is incredibly important.

At a time when everyone – both end customers and those in the channel – is facing increasing stress, economic uncertainty and trying

to comply with new safeguarding regulations, it is important that the process of financing technology procurement is simple. In short, finance solutions that create more headaches than they solve are not what is needed.

In order to simplify the process, partners should look for finance solutions that deliver a fully integrated process. By being able to wrap the financing agreement with the technology purchase, the process of acquiring technology can be expediated, allowing businesses to react more quickly and achieve their business objectives.

Moreover, by leveraging financing solutions that also allow partners and end customers to combine third party offerings, into the financing package, the whole procurement and billing process can be simplified further. By taking advantage of this simplicity and flexibility, partners can help their customers ensure that they don’t grind to a halt.

In order to meet short- and longterm challenges brought on by the new conditions that businesses find themselves operating under, they need to make adjustments now and then be prepared for when the situation improves. One thing they cannot afford to do is sit in a holding pattern and hope to weather the storm, because if they do more agile competitors will overtake them.

Making these adjustments is going to mean taking decisions and making changes that they almost certainly would not have made, but already we have seen the willingness of businesses of all sizes to take the necessary action whilst being ably supported by the channel to do so. By leveraging simplified, integrated finance solutions, the channel can help its customers negotiate the economic challenges resulting from the pandemic. This acceleration in digitalisation will also set organisations up for greater success in the future to come.

“In short, finance solutions that create more headaches than they solve are not what is needed”

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industryopinion

React, adapt, then thrive Kimerbly King, vice president of global partner strategy & programs at Hitachi Vantara explains why success hinges on having the right tools...

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n these challenging times, businesses are having to adapt quickly as they find their footing. Partners and vendors alike are having to rethink how they can best support customer needs, while grappling with their own set of challenges.

Businesses need reliable partners now more than ever. To solve their problems, customers need accurate, up-to-date information on the best solutions, at the right price-point. With customers demanding more, partners must act as trusted advisors.

They need vendors who offer a range of products to fit diverse customer needs and budgets, and the tools to deliver an outstanding customer service.

In the same way customers are having to modernise, so too must vendors and their partners – creating new digital tools and embracing new ways of working.

AI and automation are transforming almost every industry, optimising repetitive and labour-intensive tasks.

For channel businesses, digitalisation poses an opportunity to drive efficiency and deliver a superior service to customers.

But vendors should help them with this – equipping their partners with smarter digital tools and automated solutions for better performance in a competitive marketplace.

Channel marketing campaigns, crucial for boosting lead generation, are one area where this optimisation is most needed.

According to one survey, 8 in 10 partners say they’re committed to investing time into learning more about marketing, and have experienced increased business growth as a result. But vendors must offer a helping hand. Some have started to adopt through partner marketing automation to make it easier for partners

to access and use brand-approved marketing materials for lead generation.

There are plenty of other areas where automation can be leveraged to better support partners. Vendors should really think outside of the box, considering where they can address their partners’ pain points. For example, analytics can be used to expediate the quoting process, generating a market driven price straight out of the gate and reducing the back-office cycles spent by the partner and establish a fair value benchmark for the end customer.

Understanding a product inside-out is also key to finding and providing a solution that best meets customers’ needs.

At a time when customers are increasingly turning to their channel partners for consultancy and advice, your sales team should be able to analyse a customer’s challenge and put forward a solution that fits. Technologies that are built on an agile architecture, that allow for modular usage across a variety of use cases, customer types and sizes, aides in helping sales and presales teams to build true expertise. Incorporation of partner IP can also make an offering more unique and ensure it delivers the highest possible value.

At its core, the channel is a people business – and while that certainly won’t change, vendors and partners are having to quickly re-evaluate how they connect with each other and with their customers. My advice is to identify and collaborate with forward-thinking vendors who offer a suite of intuitive digital tools that make your sales team’s job that much easier – then make sure you’re leveraging those tools to work smarter and faster, not harder.

“In the same way customers are having to modernise, so too must vendors and their partners”

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Number

Here are some of the most interesting stats and facts from the tech channel…

CRUNCHING 100%

53.6M A record 53.6M tonnes of e-waste was generated worldwide in 2019, up 21% in five years, according to The Global E-Waste Monitor 2020. Consequently, the number of countries that have adopted a national e-waste policy, legislation or regulation has increased from 61 to 78 between 2014 and 2019.

54%

In April, the daily number of blocked attempts to direct Kaspersky users to malicious sites that exploit gaming themes increased by 54 per cent when compared to January 2020. In addition, for April, the number of blocked attempts to direct users to phishing pages for one of the most popular gaming platforms increased by 40 per cent compared to February 2020. www.pcr-online.biz

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In the week ending 14 March, computer monitor sales were up almost 100 per cent on the previous week, and had jumped 134 per cent year on year, market research firm GfK reported. Keyboard sales leapt 69 per cent while sales of “pointing devices”, such as computer mice and stylus pens, rose 30 per cent year on year.

500,000 During the peak of the Covid-19 lockdown, around half a million messages were being sent each day on Microsoft Teams by workers in the NHS. The average number of weekday remote meetings carried out in the NHS using Microsoft Teams also reached 90,250: more than a six-fold increase since the week it was rolled out across the NHS.

Brits are sitting on £16.5bn worth of unused gadgetry, working out at £598 per household. Research conducted by trade-in site musicMagpie found a UK adult owns 11 unused devices on average – including laptops, games consoles and mobile phones. But rather than sell the tech and pocket some cash, 32% keep them on hand ‘just in case’.

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thebiginterview

“Sales of displays doubled in one week in the UK due to the demand created by the sudden movement of millions of office workers to their homes�

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thebiginterview

Monitoring success PCR talks to HANNspree UK territory manager Martin Kent about overcoming Covid-19 demand issues and how the company is entering new sectors with an ever-evolving range of monitors…

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n difficult situations there are those who shy away from the challenge and others who rise to it.

Presented with a truly unprecedented challenge due to the Covid-19 pandemic, HANNspree has not only survived but it has flourished.

In March as the UK entered lockdown, demand for HANNspree products in the UK went through the roof as millions of office workers relocated to their homes. To make matters more complicated, HANNspree’s manufacturers are based in China, which at the time was still under strict lockdown measures. Despite the difficulties HANNspree was able to rise to the occasion to fit out home offices around the country.

And with the move to home working now set to become a prominent part of all our lives, HANNspree has already started exploring how it can create new products to help its customers improve their home office set ups.

Talking PCR through the challenges of recent months, HANNspree UK territory manager Martin Kent also shared upcoming opportunities for channel partners and lifted the lid on new products coming to market – some as a result of Covid-19 and others which were already well along the pipeline.

How has the past year been for HANNspree?

HANNspree has enjoyed a fruitful year. We have engaged new partners, reaped the rewards of sales spikes and increased our presence in various new sectors. That is not to say that there haven’t been challenges. Certainly, the past three months, as I am sure many will be able to relate to, have presented some hoops to jump through and hurdles to leap. With our offices closed we have had to adapt to working from home and

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embrace virtual conferencing with partners and our overseas colleagues, instead of the face-to-face relations that are second nature to us and we have always believed helps promote more personal relationships. Our manufacturing takes place in China, and supply was hit hard while China was in lockdown.

This was also around the same time that sales of displays doubled in one week in the UK due to the demand created by the sudden movement of millions of office workers to their homes.

Despite the supply difficulties, we were in the perfect position to kit out the new army of home workers as they sought hardware to accommodate home life during the coronavirus pandemic, with our business and consumer monitor portfolio offering the right solutions. From elegant monitors for modern home offices, to portable monitors for people looking to extend their mobile workspace.

Consequently, our partners’ sales increased as online sales sky-rocketed.

What are you working on at the moment?

Our focus over the past year has shifted towards our touchscreen and OpenFrame display business. We provide both bespoke and off-the-shelf displays that can be integrated into third-party hardware to create unique solutions for a variety of applications. We have worked closely with numerous large companies to tailor exact display specifications to fulfil their needs and even partnered on unique small projects that have adopted our monitors to create completely new concepts. Our introduction into this vertical sector began with large-scale projects to provide touch displays.

Recent examples include providing various display formats for a digital signage system that improves the customer

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thebiginterview shopping experience and optimises the pricing process in retail and commercial activities.

We have also delivered touch solutions to integrate into a computerised production system for companies specialising in the design and manufacture of hydraulic systems. These projects are having a significant impact on HANNspree’s bottom line and will undoubtedly, increasingly become a focus for our own manufacturing roadmap, and for our sales teams.

We have developed a strategy of leveraging our manufacturing strengths in touch technology to provide an attractive combination of high specification and competitive pricing within what was once a niche market but is now evolving to become a higher volume ‘off-the-shelf’ sector due to the increasing demand.

“Our channel partners are at the very heart of our sales strategy and remain the most important route to market for HANNspree” Most recently HANNspree has launched a new range of portable monitors which are ideal for a mobile workforce, providing instant extension of display workspace. Using a single Type-C USB connection, these new monitors can plugand-play with most laptops, tablets and smartphones and this single connection also provides power and simple data transfer. HANNspree portable monitors are designed to be durable to withstand the rigors of travel, are super lightweight, and perfectly proportioned to slip into a travel bag.

While many are working from home, these monitors are providing the perfect solution for a movable office when juggling workspace with family life. When workers get back on the road or hot desking, portable monitors are ideal for creating an instant dual-display presentation, increasing productivity.

What sets HANNspree apart from other display manufacturers?

HANNspree is part of the HannStar Display Corporation, one of the largest small to medium sized glass panel manufacturers in the world. We are also lucky to have access to the finest touch screen technology thanks to HannsTouch, also a subsidiary of HannStar, and one of the largest touch screen

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manufacturers in the world. HannsTouch supplies touch technology to some of the largest ‘A’ brands in the global market. The different hi-tech synergies of our Business Group have made it possible for HANNspree to achieve a leading position in the global display market. Thanks to our manufacturing capabilities we are able to deliver a comprehensive portfolio of carefully crafted monitors which is designed to provide for even the most specific requirements.

We are also happy to play in the entry level display sector. Our success in this sector, 12 years ago, gained our HannsG brand household recognition. We have since made the decision to combine our entire product portfolio to sit under the HANNspree umbrella and said goodbye to the HannsG brand to become a single super-brand.

The capacity and production flexibility of HANNspree combined with the commercial and business one, has enabled HANNspree to offer the bespoke display and touch solutions for business applications and the customised open frame touch display solutions for the vertical projects, that are spurring our new business spotlight.

We are immensely proud of our longstanding team.

Worldwide, we have dedicated professionals at all levels that go above and beyond to drive the company forward, most of which have been with HANNspree for as long as the company has existed. These familiar faces help make solid, durable relationships with partners, suppliers, and service providers.

Do you have any achievements you are particularly proud of?

We always intended to increase our business opportunities when we opened up our manufacturing capability to tailor commercial solutions. Now, our presence in new sectors is growing exponentially. In a noticeably short time, we have penetrated or increased our presence in countless business sectors previously untouched and are fast becoming a renowned and trusted brand to source bespoke displays from.

From the music industry, in-flight, care homes, education and leisure and hospitality, through to POS, industrial, machinery and warehouse solutions, HANNspree has a growing presence and we are exceedingly proud to have made this divergent business decision with so much lucrative success.

How will HANNspree fulfil the needs of the channel in 2020?

Our channel partners are at the very heart of our sales strategy and remain the most important route to market for HANNspree. We continuously expand our portfolio of standard and touch displays in order to provide distributors and retailers with the right solutions to support consumer demand.

We are particularly conscious of the increasing uptake of touch monitors and by the end of 2020 we intend on having more than 20 SKUs within our HT touch monitor and HO open frame touch ranges.

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thebiginterview

Tell us something about HANNspree we don’t know.

Our company president has recently opened a hotel in Taipei, called Hanns House. As well as a hotel to welcome business guests, it is also the perfect showcase of HANNspree’s display solutions in a hospitality setting.

A video wall in the lobby for example, featuring eighteen 55” large format displays, has massive visual impact for guests on entry. The hotel increases our brand presence and value in Asia.

What does HANNspree have planned for the rest of the year and beyond?

Thanks to our manufacturing capabilities, we are able to react quickly to market demand. The smart working concept has revealed a demand for specific features in order to help home office workers to remain productive and connected to colleagues via video conferencing applications.

The most dominant request is for a built-in webcam, and we endeavour to launch a new product series in a variety of display sizes to satisfy this requirement. These monitors will

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have a distinctly modern, frameless design to compliment the modern home office environment.

We will also be launching a number of new docking models with Type C USB 3.1 connectivity. These super convenient monitors will enable workers to power their laptop, tablet or smartphone, as well as transfer data at lightning speed, all using the same cable. With cabling minimised it is super easy to get setup and to keep a tidy workspace.

On top of this, we will continue to expand our presence in both the consumer and custom touch display arena to utilise our parent company’s, and more directly, HannsTouch’s core strength, and underline our position as a leader in this specialist monitor technology.

Our tablet business has also moved from supplying a commodity item sold in thousands through retail and shopping channels to offering practical, cost effective devices for integration solutions sold within POS, vending, industrial, museum, leisure, and education sectors. Looking to the future, we envisage that our business strength will certainly enable us to excel in these markets.

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APPOINTMENTS

This month’s movers and shakers in the tech industry...

Datto

Mindtree

Wired Productions

Roc Technologies

Datto has announced that Radhesh Menon has joined its executive management team as chief product officer. Working closely with Datto’s senior executive team and board of directors, Menon will oversee global product strategy to develop offerings that support MSPs and the small and medium businesses (SMBs) they serve.

Menon joins from Robin.io where he served as CMO. Prior to that, Menon acted as general manager at Red Hat where he bootstrapped the OpenStack business and established it as the market leader in open cloud infrastructure.

He has also worked at Microsoft where he held various leadership roles across Azure, Windows Server, Exchange Server, and Windows desktop products and technologies.

Datto chief executive Tim Weller said: “Across a competitive field of top candidates, Radhesh aligned with the Datto vision of easy-to-use MSP-centric products that integrate well with each other and support an open ecosystem. With his deep enterprisegrade product background, relevant Microsoft and open source experience, and startup mindset, he will bring fresh perspectives in leading our Product team.”

Leading video games publisher Wired Productions has announced a double hiring, with industry veteran Gareth Williams appointed to the newly created role of head of publishing, while Neil Broadhead has been promoted to head of marketing.

Williams has worked on some of the biggest releases across each platform generation. He brings a wealth of experience to the team, having previously worked at Barrington Harvey and Premier Public Relations before founding Little Big PR. Meanwhile, Neil Broadhead has worked in the games industry for over 10 years, managing campaigns for indie titles and globally recognised IP. He initially joined Wired in 2016 to lead communications strategies.

“The recruitment of Gareth shows our intent to deliver the best results for our developer partners and to seek out new and exciting products. I’m delighted to welcome him to the Wired family,” said Wired managing director Leo Zullo. “Likewise, Wired recognises the importance of developing our people and I’m very pleased to have Neil step up and lead the marketing team into the next generation of hardware.”

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Global technology consulting and services company Mindtree has appointed Vinit Teredesai as the Chief Financial Officer.

Teredesai will be responsible for providing financial leadership to Mindtree in its global growth journey. He will be based in Bangalore, India.

“We are excited to welcome Vinit to the Mindtree family,” said Mindtree chief executive Debashis Chatterjee. “Vinit’s financial acumen and broad industry experience will be a great addition to the team as we work towards maintaining business momentum and creating enhanced stakeholder value.”

Teredesai has over 25 years of experience in finance, accounting, auditing, taxation, fund raising, risk management, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate restructuring. He has previously served as the CFO and CIO of KPIT Technologies.

Teredesai said: “I am excited to join Mindtree and the L&T group.

As we experience unprecedented times, the role of finance becomes more strategic. I look forward to working with Mindtree Minds to contribute to the Company’s success in the journey ahead.”

Mindtree has also announced that Senthil Kumar has been appointed as the company’s finance controller.

Roc Technologies has announced a change at the top with the appointments of a new chairman and managing director as part of a wider management shake up.

Simon Derry joins as chairman, having previously worked Halcyon Corporation.

In his illustrious career, Derry has also held senior positions at Nokia and Snell.

Derry brings a wealth of experience and is an established media, broadcast and telco business leader in both private and public environments, with a track record of demonstrable shareholder returns through profitable growth development. His experience includes start up, growth and turnaround businesses in both manufacturing and technology.

Meanwhile Ian Furness steps into the managing director hotseat, after running MSP Claranet’s UK cloud and hosting business.

Roc has also promoted Esteem executive Richard Jefferies to chief financial officer, with Paul Hart departing. The influx of new faces comes 20 months after BGF-backed Roc doubled in size by acquiring Wetherby-based MSP Esteem Systems. The combined companies now generate annual estimated revenues of around £90M, employing 350 people.

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From retailers and resellers to vendors and distributors, the UK IT and tech channel is bursting with young talent.

PCR rounds up 30 rising stars under the age of 30 who are already making a mark on the industry (ordered alphabetically by surname)‌

30 Under 30

ALEX ATTWOOD Channel Key Accounts Manager Panda Security “Alex has worked his way up through the channel sales team, since starting with Panda Security in August 2017 as part of their graduate recruitment programme.

Alex is now a key member of the channel key accounts team, which he joined last summer. He manages a number of key Panda Security accounts including veteran distributor Northamber, and partners Zones, Storm and Servium among others. Alex is described as a ‘valued member of the Panda Security team’, helping to drive ambitious growth targets across all sections of the channel from distribution, MSPs, resellers, and specialist partners.”

JACK CASE Head of Channel CyberSmart “At the age of 28, Jack has already gained great channel pedigree and experience which has helped him flourish at CyberSmart. Starting at CyberSmart in September last year, Jack joined the company having already worked his way up to channel manager at Heimdal Security. Jack’s colleagues describe him as having a ‘dynamic personality’ which gives him a ‘strategic edge’. He is particularly known for his ability to drive change within the sector and takes great pride and ownership of his role and responsibilities, while working extremely well in a team environment.”

LAWRENCE COPMAN Account Manager Sherpa Marketing “In his role as account manager at Sherpa Marketing, Lawrence acts as an effective and diplomatic liaison between vendor and partner, helping to get partners on the path to self-sufficient, excellent marketing. At just 24 years of age, Lawrence is described as an ‘exceptional talent’ within Sherpa Marketing’s account team. Colleagues and clients alike describe Lawrence as a ‘pleasure to work with’ who makes a huge, positive impression both professionally and personally. Lawrence’s particular strength lies within his ability to deliver faultless channel marketing campaigns alongside channel partners.”

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PHILIPPA BRADY Product Manager Exertis “Philippa has been with Exertis for just over two years and she has made a great success of everything thrown at her, without complaint. Philippa has been an integral part of the team, taking on more brands, customers and rapidly expanding the business while remaining completely unphased. Philippa has almost doubled the business since joining the team, adding 96% growth to a multi-million-pound brand set. Clients regularly send in glowing testimonials praising Philippa for being ‘everpresent, diligent and flexible to their needs’. Philippa also received a special mention in this year’s Exertis people awards, a scheme that recognises employees that go the extra mile.”

RAMBO CHEN Product Manager MSI Computer “Rambo joined MSI Computer a little over three years ago as product manager looking after the company’s motherboard and VGA offerings. With his desire for success, professionalism and deep market knowledge, his contribution towards MSI has proven to be indispensable. Over the past few years he has helped to rebuild and elevate MSI’s motherboard and VGA business. Rambo’s hard work has created a strong core foundation for the business, which has allowed and enabled fellow team members to continue building on. Ultimately, the work Rambo has done in the last three years means MSI’s business will be able to expand for many years to come.”

ROBERT CUNNINGHAM System Builder Utopia Computers “Robert joined Utopia in 2015 as a B2B technician. His personality shone through in his interview and he gelled with the team straight away. He very quickly became popular with Utopia’s clients, and while still building his technical knowledge, he has shown an extraordinarily natural ability for fantastic over-and-above customer service. Over the last year, he has transitioned into one of Utopia’s key system builders, responsible for building some of the fastest systems on the market. Robert also provides valuable feedback to component manufacturers, like CoolerMaster and Kingston, on how to improve their future products.”

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30 Under 30

PRIYA DAYAL Account Director Sherpa Marketing “At 28 years of age, Priya has proven herself as a bright, rising star within the UK IT and tech channel. In her role as account director at Sherpa Marketing, Priya works tirelessly to ensure her clients’ marketing programmes are delivered with precision and innovation. Her attention to detail, dedication to her role and her clients, combined with her fantastic energy, ensures that she always delivers strong results and exceptional marketing campaigns. Priya’s colleagues and clients describe her as ‘a joy to work with’, whose humour and wit is ever present in everything she does.”

MARTIN ELLIS Service Delivery Manager Agilitas IT Solutions “Martin has only been with Agilitas since the start of the year, but has already proven to be a breath of fresh air. His positive and enthusiastic approach to his work, customers and colleagues make him a pleasure to be around.

He has thrown himself into a very important and evolving client account from day one and built strong relations and rapport with them and also his team. Using his previous experience in similar roles, Martin has immediately added value to the account and business. Martin has a ‘naturally enquiring mind’ which means he is always ahead of the curve in his delivery and ownership of his role.”

LUCY HOOD Marketing Communications Manager Exertis “During 19 months in her role, Lucy has transformed the internal communications department at Exertis by introducing and implementing best practice across channels such as employee emails, digital signage, posters and newsletters. Lucy has increased monthly newsletter views by over 1,000 unique views in a 12 month period and sees just under 10,000 visits to the internal SharePoint site each month.

Lucy strives to ensure that internal communications are inclusive and informative to all Exertis employees by featuring a mixture of business news, awareness campaigns and wellbeing tips. Lucy’s marketing knowledge, creative flair and passion for her role shines through in everything she does.”

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FRANKIE DEYNEM Product Delivery Team Leader Comms-care “Frankie quickly established herself as a natural leader within the team at Commscare even before officially becoming the project delivery team leader. Her ability to present forward thinking ideas is clear to see and, like any good leader, her communication skills are second to none.

Her passion and drive to ensure projects are delivered on schedule, within budget and to high standards is admirable.

Nothing is ever too much for Frankie and her desire to give Comms-care customers the best experience is testament to her ability and proves what an asset she is to the company.”

ADAM FOX Junior Marketing Manager Synaxon “Adam joined Synaxon as a marketing apprentice in 2017 and quickly took ownership of many of the digital marketing deliverables within the company. He juggled his studies with his job, quickly learning about the unique place Synaxon has in the IT and tech channel. Adam proved his value to the company by identifying gaps in the digital communication strategy. Since then he has been instrumental in developing and implementing a solution for that, which has proven to be very successful. At just 21, Adam now owns and delivers a complex media plan, servicing multiple vendor partners and over 800 members.”

HANNAH HUTCHINSON Vendor Alliances Executive eacs “Since joining eacs five years ago, Hannah has become a vital cog in the firm’s partner and alliances team. Hannah has embraced extra responsibility during the last 18 months, as a result of the long-term sickness absence of eacs head of marketing & alliances. This has involved Hannah working with partners for eacs Optimise IT event which attracts over 1,000 guests. Hannah played a key role, with limited previous exposure or experience, in ensuring that eacs were able to get the right vendors and presenters signed up early to ensure that we were able to maximise their exposure to registered delegates.”

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30 Under 30

“Katharina joined SEH technology as marketing manager in January after completing her marketing degree at Southampton Solent University. In this role, she is solely responsible for overseeing and coordinating the marketing strategies of both the UK and US markets. In a short period of time, she has already achieved great success by increasing the presence of key brand messages and improving media exposure with regular content creation and press engagement. Katharina has also been fundamental in guiding the company’s strategic direction and preparing marketing messages during this period of global uncertainty due to the Covid-19 pandemic.”

RIVER LEMONZIK Partner Account Manager Arcserve “River has been with Arcserve for a little over a year as a partner account manager, looking after the north of the UK and Ireland in support of EMEA’s largest reseller Softcat. He worked alongside account director Anthony Parry to grow revenues by over 100% from the previous year, in excess of $3m for the last financial year.

In terms of his own targets, River completely surpassed expectations and achieved 119% of his target. He’s developed key relationships and shown a committed effort to growing partner margins that ultimately played a vital role in achieving record success.”

SOPHIA MEOLA Content Marketing Manager Expandi Digital “With more than five years’ experience in marketing within the technology sector, Sophia is already a multi-award-winning marketeer. She is also a social media influencer and is now using her experience to mentor fellow rising stars and support women within the IT and technology channel. Having previously worked at distributor Ingram Micro, Sophia has transferred her skills and experience to her role at Expandi Digital. Sophia describes herself as ‘highly creative, enthusiastic and incredibly hardworking’. She specialises in content and social media marketing, as well as influencer marketing, PR, SEO and analytics.”

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JACK LEGATE Senior Sales Channel Manager Seagate Technology “Jack started at Seagate in 2017 and in under three years has been promoted to a senior sales role and now manages some of the biggest accounts in the EMEA region. Under his management, sales growth continues on an upward trajectory. He is also part of the site management team in the UK and contributes to Seagate’s social committee. Jack was the face of our Seagate UK channel training videos this year where he explains in layman’s terms some of Seagate priority products to enable channel partners to resell effectively. Jack is described as a ‘keen learner’, who continues to grow from strength to strength.”

RICHARD MACKEY BSC Marketing Executive BenQ “Only three years into his marketing career and six months into a role at BenQ, Richard has already made an impact in the world of technology. Joining BenQ in January 2020, he was quickly challenged with rapidly deploying a new marketing strategy to correspond with changes to the business caused by the global pandemic. Richard’s cross-industry experience, attained early on in his career, has allowed BenQ to make effective marketing decisions confidently and diligently in a time of great uncertainty. BenQ saw a spike in its sales as a direct result.”

DARRYL MERKLI Head of Creative and Digital Services Ingram Micro “At 25 years of age, Darryl has proven himself to be an outstanding professional, who has great marketing skills expertise, is fantastic at relationship building and brings astute business acumen to the virtual table. He is a highly creative and innovative individual who always brings out the best in the people around him. Darryl’s colleagues describe him as ‘a selfdriven marketeer, with a teamwork spirit’ able to deliver results with ‘intelligence, calm and confidence’. Darryl’s contribution to Ingram Micro’s marketing department has led to significant improvements in the company’s go-tomarket offerings, with ingenuity and business intelligence at the core.”

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30 Under 30

CASSIE NEWMAN Channel Marketing Lead Northern Europe Seagate Technology “Since joining Seagate in 2018, Cassie has risen through the ranks to a lead role for regional channel marketing. During her short time at Seagate, Cassie has effectively managed many structural changes internally and has successfully recruited to grow the Northern Europe team.

With a focus on the surveillance and enterprise segments, Cassie managed IFSEC 2019 successfully and delivered one of Seagate’s biggest UK surveillance event campaigns to date – she was awarded Best Surveillance Marketeer 2019 for her efforts. Cassie is described as a ‘highly driven and ambitious team leader’.”

LIAM PARKINSON Managing Director Turopium Sports & Entertainment “Having worked with some of the biggest tech and media companies in the world, including Google, BBC and Twitch, Liam founded influencer management agency Turopium Sports & Entertainment at the start of the year. Liam has already signed 15 of the largest gaming creators in the world in their respective niches. In the short time the business has been operating Turopium has collaborated with brands such as LG, Epic Games Huawei, Logitech, 2K Games, Amazon Games Studio and Elgato Gaming, generating six-figure revenue in less than five months.”

KATIE PINNOCK Senior Sales Account Manager Northern Europe AMD “In the two years since Katie joined AMD she has demonstrated a positive enthusiasm and determination which has helped to develop and grow relationships with partners to deliver industry leading products to customers. Katie joined AMD in 2018 and in the past year she has been instrumental in driving the success of AMD’s flagship products including its Ryzen processors and Radeon graphics cards in the Northern Europe region. At the age of 27, Katie has already cemented her position as AMD’s senior sales manager and she has big plans for 2020 and beyond.”

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JESSIE O’HIGGINS Product Manager Exertis “Jessie joined Exertis after successfully coming through the graduate scheme. Over the last 18 months, Jessie has undergone a complete transformation and she is now owning and driving one of Exertis’ most important vendor relationships. Jessie is responsible for the brand, its acquisitions and channel transformation, and has more than doubled the business year-on-year. On top of this, Jessie has also just completed her Training Managers of the Future Course (UPGRADE) – a structured programme of development covering a wide range of topics such as finance, project management, coaching and performance management.”

TIM PEARSON Customer Support Coordinator Agilitas IT Solutions “Tim has natural customer service skills and embraces everything that is passed onto him. He has proven to be fastidious, adaptable and always keen to learn, as well as being an incredibly friendly and approachable colleague. He sees things clearly and can articulate issues to his peers, whether they are senior or junior to him. He instils confidence in the customer and end-user, and provides them with fantastic, dedicated support. Tim is understanding and gives guidance to all members of the team regardless of their job title, making him an invaluable member of the team.”

WILLIAM ROBINSON Logistics Team Leader Cameo “Since joining the company in November 2019, William has shown how nothing is beyond his reach. He joined as logistics team leader but constantly goes above and beyond what is necessary, which is testament to his drive and determination. He has developed new processes and ways of working to ensure all logistics are efficient and watertight. Tim has managed and delivered an entirely new service offering for Cameo, spending many hours inside and outside of work developing and perfecting the model for asset repairs and now oversees it from start to finish. William is always thinking outside of the box to develop streamlined processes to ensure Cameo customers are 100% satisfied.”

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30 Under 30

KENDRA ROGERS Insight & Strategy Director PS London “In her role as insight & strategy director for PS London, Kendra acts as the strategic lead for all marketing across a wide array of tech clients. She brings a wealth of experience having previously worked for global, blue-chip tech companies to provide marketing campaigns on topics including quantum-inspired computing technology, robotic process automation, artificial intelligence, payments management and cyber-fraud. She describes herself as having ‘a passion for crafting big, brave ideas, telling the truth, and creating marketing strategies with heart’.”

TAMARA UNGAR Corporate Communications Manager Kaspersky “Since joining Kaspersky in 2019, Tamara has proven herself to be a valuable and innovative member of the team, spearheading a transformation of communication about the business, future technologies, and the wider cybersecurity industry in the UK and Ireland. Drawing upon her broad and varied prior experience across multiple industries, Tamara delivers a unique perspective on cyber security concepts. Tamara’s media pitches have resulted in coverage across national publications, including Sky News, The Daily Mail, The Telegraph, SC Magazine and WIRED.”

LEONARD YANG Business Strategy & Development Manager TP-Link “Leonard has risen through the ranks at TP-Link since joining as a management trainee in 2016. In the four years since, Leonard has taken on several critical operational roles to fully understand the complexities and interdependencies of each department. After just 12 months he became business strategy & development manager taking responsibility for channel development, pricing, product ranges, stock planning and promotion design for the UK. Working closely with the sales, technical and marketing departments, he has successfully implemented campaigns that have delivered new customers and increased the value of existing customers to the business.”

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OLI TUCKER Head of Design EZVIZ & Hikvision “At 29 years of age, Oli has already shown what an incredible talent he is. His production skills and design work have elevated both brands to another level, both digitally and physically with the work Oli has put in to rejuvenate in-store displays. Oli has a raw talent for design that he has developed across similar roles at other companies and he continues to draw on that talent and experience in his current job. In a crowded retail space, it is more important than ever to make security products and brands stand out from the crowd; Oli delivers on this with total dedication and results.”

SCOTT WALKER UK Operations and Technical Support Team HANNspree “As Scott’s knowledge and experience within HANNspree has expanded so has his everevolving role. He has become a major advocate for the brand, especially in the gaming world, where Scott is now the voice of HANNspree’s gaming displays. Most recently, Scott has played a pivotal role in helping to support customers with the technicalities of new hardware installations for HANNspree’s touch solutions, a large vertical market that HANNspree is rapidly expanding in. Scott’s practical skills have had a vast influence on several aspects of day-to-day business.”

HANNA ZEMZAM Event Manager EZVIZ & Hikvision “As shown with her presence in the PCR Women of the Year shortlisting already this year, Hannah remains one of the most talented event managers in the IT and tech channel. Her colleagues describe her as having ‘exceptional attention to detail and organisational skills’. Hannah oversees EZVIZ & Hikvision events, which attract thousands of people.

On top of this each event can have more than 50 staff to manage. The lead in time for these events can be as long as nine months, however Hannah’s future planning, logistics and decisiveness ensures all events run as smoothly as possible.”

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Sustainability

Going green As the UK plans its ‘green recovery’ from the Covid-19 pandemic, Rob Horgan investigates what the IT and tech channel is doing to become more sustainable…

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Sustainability

W

hen most people think of carbon emissions, they picture smoke mushrooming out of power plants, aeroplanes leaving trails dotted across the sky or car exhaust pipes spitting out harmful toxins.

What most people don’t realise is the enormous impact that the IT and technology sector has on our planet. In fact, the production of IT equipment accounts for about 1.4 per cent of total carbon emissions and powering devices uses about 3.6 per cent of global electricity consumption.

However, the impact of waste within the sector is much harder to calculate. There are currently 9.5bn mobile phones in the world.

Most of those will be discarded within 10 years and are likely to end up in landfill.

Likewise, the level of carbon emissions related to distribution within the channel is harder to put an exact figure on – but with most UK distributors taking stock from all over the world (Asia in particular), the associated air miles racked up are likely to be in the millions each year.

From carbon emissions associated with production and distribution to the energy used to power products during their lifecycle, the impact of technology is felt from the moment it is created until long after it has finished being used; when it will often end up in landfill (not to mention the plastic-heavy packaging which still comes with most products).

The UK government has recently declared a national climate emergency, as well as committing to cutting greenhouse gas emissions down to net zero by the year 2050. There has also been a lot of talk about a ‘green recovery’ from the Covid-19 pandemic, and so the need to be sustainable is greater than ever.

Synaxon managing director Mike Barron believes that the industry is currently not doing enough to address the issue with the channel so far failing to grasp the size of the task ahead of it.

“Sustainability is a massive issue for the IT industry. The componentry and materials used in the production of products; the carbon footprint of the manufacturing and supply chain; the energy consumption of products (and data centres); right through to the recycling and reuse of materials. These are huge issues, over which we on the ground here in the UK, would appear to have no influence, let alone control,” Barron said.

“At the present time, the industry is probably not doing enough to address these areas. Tech companies may well be doing things that will reduce their own carbon footprint – and with everyone working at home more now, we are at least, not using as much light and heat, or burning fuel on the commute to work. But that’s the same in every industry.

“I see little effective action being taken to address the bigger problems that I have mentioned above.

He added: “While all attention has been focused on Covid19 recently, this was probably the issue that was moving up the agenda at the fastest rate at the beginning of the year. It won’t go away now. People understand that we have to take better care of the planet. Vendors that start to make their products and processes more sustainable and recyclable – and provide hard evidence that they are doing that effectively – will start to gain favour in time.

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“Vendors that start to make their products and processes more sustainable and recyclable – and provide hard evidence that they are doing that effectively – will start to gain favour in time” Craig Hume, Utopia Computers “But I do think there is hope, the reason being that customers are starting to ask about sustainability and carbon footprints now.

In fact, sustainability is normally a requirement on most tenders now and often represents a large percentage of the score, so it is becoming important from a commercial standpoint.”

Utopia Computers managing director Craig Hume agrees that consumers are driving change within the industry.

“The fact is that consumers want to be able to buy sustainably.

They want the feel-good factor from doing business with businesses that are helping the environment,” Hume said.

“I see the opportunity for IT dealers to be two-fold. The first opportunity is to look for ways you can reduce your impact on the environment. From changing lighting to LED, educating your team about the damage short car journeys do to the environment, providing a water cooler in your store to prevent plastic bottle use, to more substantial investments like solar power.

“The next step is, of course, making these sustainable measures have a positive impact on the bottom line. For that, I would encourage retailers to talk about the changes they have implemented on their social media as well as in conversations with their clients, promoting business from consumers to whom this subject is a reason to shop local and avoid online retailers. From there, look at the products and services you offer and think about how they could be more attractive to consumers looking to make the right choice by the environment.”

To meet this demand, Utopia has started a ‘sustainable’ line of reconditioned products.

And Utopia is not alone in doing its bit to create a more sustainable IT and tech channel. At Exertis, a number of sustainability initiatives are already in full swing. Working in partnership with Macfarlane Packaging, Exertis has reduced the amount of stretch wrap and pallet top sheets material by 24 per cent – a total of 18 tonnes of plastic. This equates a CO₂ emission reduction of 45 tonnes.

The distie has also redesigned packaging for own brand products at Hypertec, eliminating plastic and using recyclable materials. Among a host of other initiatives, Exertis has also increased its drop ship services to retailers and resellers, thereby cutting down the amount of time goods have to be moved. Exertis has increased its service in the UK by 73 per cent (March to May YOY), delivering more than 611,000 units.

Meanwhile, cyber security vendor Kaspersky has launched a campaign around relationships in the channel, and restoring the “human touch” between vendors and their partners to lower

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their carbon footprint. The campaign specifically focuses on vendors and how they can respond to the call from resellers and distributors for greater education and empowerment.

Westcon-Comstor VP EMEA, Global Customers & International Sales Alastair Borissow agrees that vendors will have to listen to the demands of their supply chains to adapt to sustainable demands. He added that the Covid-19 pandemic has brought the issue of sustainability to the fore, especially for channel partners along the supply chain.

“Most organisations have been aware of sustainability for some time, but the shift we’re beginning to see now is a circular economy concept, where businesses are realising that there is an economic benefit rather than just the green agenda. Lockdown has accelerated this movement,” Borissow said.

“More remote working has reduced the amount of commuting, and virtual events and meetings have resulted in fewer people flying across the world for conferences. Moving forward, some businesses are even considering downsizing offices and will keep more of a remote approach to operations - further offsetting CO2 emissions produced in commutes.

“The green agenda is obviously much more visible than it used to be. It used to be about doing the right thing. Now it’s a case of genuinely having to address it because of climate change and the significant growth in focus on the subject.”

He added: “A key thing I’ve seen is that the supply chain is leading the conversation. What the current crisis has done is brought the supply chain front of mind. What was previously seen as a back-office operations role is now a strategic competitive advantage. A strong, resilient, agile – and cost-effective – supply chain is a business must-have, and supply chain is the biggest enabler for sustainability. If you don’t have sustainable processes in your supply chain and are looking for sustainability, it doesn’t matter what other business efforts you have, it’s almost impossible to deliver it.

“The pandemic is an inflection point for the supply chain.

The crisis has exposed some weaknesses but also unlocked an opportunity to build a future-fit supply chain that is resilient, robust and efficient. One that both drives success and advances the sustainable business agenda.

“Because the channel is the middle man, neither making or buying the products, we are the enabler. We need to make sure that vendors are aware that this is becoming more and more of a criteria. This is becoming a key requirement if you want to do business with us.”

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PCR-JUL20 Brother_Layout 1 16/07/2020 16:02 Page 1

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Gekko

Road to retail recovery As the UK eases out of lockdown, Gekko Field Marketing’s managing director Daniel Todaro spots signs of recovery for retailers who have finally opened their doors after months of turmoil‌

M

arketing activity has never been so prevalent, or important, within the retail space as it has in the last few weeks. As retail begins welcoming back customers old and new, cleverly targeted campaigns and innovations can assist brands on their road to recovery.

The pandemic and subsequent lockdown effectively shut retail down with zero footfall in non-essential stores, a situation never experienced before. However, this is now in the past and as I write, we are a number of weeks into high street trading postlockdown, which has seen footfall continuing to grow as more stores reopen. Wales has shown a particular increase with a 38% week-on-week increase. After two weeks of complete trading, England and Northern Ireland saw 6.6% and 3.5% increases week-on-week as footfall continued to build. In comparison with 2019, footfall figures across the UK are still down 55.6% overall,

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but the signs of recovery across the country are there.

The concerning factor for all is that the recovery is slower than anticipated due to consumer confidence dipping, but more importantly reflecting the safety concerns held by some consumers. This has meant that many shoppers still do not want to venture into public spaces without purpose. Safety, it seems, is the most important factor for people when going shopping. More than half of consumers, who would have been in a retailer, believe the risk to be high, which is posing a challenge for many retailers seeking to draw shoppers back to stores.

This is further compounded by the increase in online trading which enables those who are staying away to continue spending as they did during lockdown. Evidence shows some consumers intend to permanently change their shopping behaviour, including purchasing more online as a result of the ongoing risk

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Gekko

“Evidence shows some consumers intend to permanently change their shopping behaviour, including purchasing more online as a result of the ongoing risk of Covid-19” Daniel Todaro, Gekko of Covid-19 or a new found change in shopping habits.

Those people in society who have changed their habits were inevitably those who had been slow to adopt online banking and shopping. The pandemic forced change in habits not through choice and as a result, due to coronavirus, may have no intention or need to go back to old practices. Now for those with an omnichannel proposition it has assisted them to boost sales with multichannel retailers recording increases in online sales even as their stores opened up in June. Shoppers are now four times more likely to change their habits shifting to online in the long term, particularly if they have health concerns. This is the third month in a row seeing an increase like this, with a higher proportion of food sales (11.3%) and clothing sales (49.4%) happening online when compared to the previous month. Although the proportion of internet sales has increased again, the value of the sales has not jumped in the same way. This is due to the overall decrease in the value of retail sales due to the pandemic.

All retail sales in May 2020 had a value of £28,436,424,000. Of this around £9,611,511,000 was from online transactions. This contributed to an increase in sales, with the situation improving month-on-month (MoM). The volume sales grew 12.0% MoM indicating a gradual shift towards spending again, according to the Office of National Statistics.

The good news is that those who like to shop in person will continue to do so in order to have a customer experience worthy of their purchasing trends. This is more evident in considered purchases and in the CE category where we are seeing consumers shopping with purpose. They are travelling and entering retail with a clear determination to purchase and as a result we are seeing a +40% conversion rate of product demonstration leading to a sale. Naturally, this is determined by the experience and engagement they receive in-store and a bad retail environment or salesperson pre-lockdown isn’t going to change that postlockdown.

With an estimated 64% of people willing to queue for up to 20 minutes to enter sports, clothing or equipment stores, it’s

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important to note that 47% say that price promotion is their main driver of shopping in-store after lockdown. Consumer sentiment in the UK has remained particularly resilient over the past few months, according to surveys taken by PwC. Following the decline at the start of lockdown, the figures stabilised and have been consistent for the past three months.

June’s survey found sentiment at -11, an improvement on April and May, and a huge recovery from March.

In demographic terms, 18-24-year-olds are the most optimistic age group (+24) and 45-64-year-olds the most pessimistic (-24).

At a glance, these statistics are more important than you may give them credit for when you consider the categories that require a considered effort to drive the propensity to purchase at a ascertain price point to appeal to a specific target audience or demographic.

Every category is being re-forecasted for the second half of 2020 and retailers are cutting their forecasts to meet these changes. MDA in particular is one such category that has seen its estimates for 2020 updated to account for the current pandemic, with the forecast sales volume for the year now predicted to fall by 11% from 2019. Sadly, the forecasters predict that the MDA market will only return to 2019 levels in 2023.

This is also true of the TV category where sales this year are now predicted to fall by 6.9% from those achieved in 2019. As both are crowded categories with much competition offering products at the same price point, the battle to leverage every potential sale becomes greater. The emphasis retailers place on the shopping experience is essential to ensure these forecasts don’t slip further.

Coronavirus has definitely had an indirect impact on the smart home market, mainly due to the closure of retail but on the other hand, government ‘stay at home’ orders did lead to a growth on certain products. This created a 25% yearly spike for 2020 vs 2019 and despite coronavirus it is the one a few categories forecasted to grow globally by $31.7bn. Incremental growth in smart is a target area for retailers who should be tapping into the new found convenience of this category discovered predominantly by the inconvenience of lockdown.

In response to lockdown, the reality of working from home has meant a likely shift in the workplace dynamic for many on temporary or permanent basis. Therefore, many technology brands in the market have shifted focus to home productivity and accessories. Retail must take learnings from this to support the initiatives and messaging put out by brands to ensure they are able to engage consumers looking for technology to support their change in working habits and in turn grow with the trend.

This growth is expected to plateau as consumers kit out their home work environments, however it is still a positive market with future growth.

I remain optimistic. As we continue to ease out of lockdown, the results look positive for retail. While numbers remain lower than pre-lockdown, they are heading in the right direction again. This can only improve as retailers open increasingly more numbers of doors within their estates and find new innovative ways to engage their customers as they choose to shop in their stores.

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Sector Guide

Storage Solutions From USB sticks to portable hard drives and more, PCR rounds up the best storage products on the market…

Verbatim Store ‘n’ Go Portable SSD “Ideal for users on the move, the Store ‘n’ Go Portable SSD provides a fast and safe solution for expanding your storage and backing up your files. The USB 3.2 Gen 1 interface features data transfer speeds up to 5GB/s so you can move those large files and do high capacity photo editing when you need to. Compatible with both PC and Mac operating systems, the SSD handles large data transfers quickly, ideal for video editing, moving large amounts of data or maximising gaming performance.”

Specs: USB 3.2 GEN 1 with USB-CTM connection USB-CTM to USB-A cable and USB-C adapter included 5GB/s data transfer speed Contact: CMS Distribution, M2M Direct, VOW Wholesale

SanDisk Ultra Dual Luxe USB Type-C Flash Drive “With the SanDisk Ultra Dual Luxe, moving data from your mobile device or Mac to your PC no longer needs to be complicated or time consuming. With USB-C to USB-A connection, the Dual Luxe is equipped to transfer from the most modern mobile devices at read speeds of up to 150MB/s, providing instant relief for those running short on storage. A robust, metal body and swivel connector design make it a wise choice for carrying in a bag or pocket on the go, protected from wear to safeguard your data.”

Specs: Capacities from 32GB - 512GB Compatible with USB Type-C and Type-A devices Up to 150MB/s read speeds Automatic back up with the SanDisk Memory Zone app Contact: Hama

PNY CS900 240GB Internal SSD “The PNY CS900 internal SSD series are validated across applications and environments to ensure they meet the highest quality, reliability, and durability criteria.

With proven reliability, the CS900 undergo some of the most rigorous durability and validation testing in the industry, withstanding hundreds of qualification tests and over 10,000 hours of validation testing. Each SSD is guaranteed to meet the requirements of even the most demanding applications. The PNY SSDs reduce operating temperature and potential damage from overheating.”

Specs: Operating Systems: Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows VistaTM, Windows XPTM, Linux, Mac OS X, Ubuntu 14 Performance Optimization: TRIM (requires OS support) Service & Support: 3-Year Limited Warranty* Usable Capacities (IDEMA): 120GB, 240GB, 480GB, 960GB Box Dimensions (L x W x H): 13 x 10 x 1,5 cm Contact: Exertis, Ingram Micro, Tech Data, Terra Computer

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UNLEASH YOUR POTENTIAL

CU34G2X 3440x1440 (21:9)

Available at:

aocgaming.com

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@aoc_gaming

@aocgaming

@aocgaming

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Momentum

4K console gaming display / 278M1RY Low input lag

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Available at:

4K console gaming display / 558M1RY Low input lag

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UNLEASH YOUR POTENTIAL 0.55

C27G2ZU 1920x1080 (16:9)

Available at:

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@aocgaming

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Sector Guide Hama 4Bizz USB 3.0 Flash Drive “The professional Hama 4Bizz offers a fast and cost-effective solution for those looking to expand the storage space of their notebook or other USB 3.0 device.

Compact and lightweight, with sliding mechanism to protect the connector when not in use, the 4Bizz is ideal for those on the go, allowing important data and files to be safely transferred between locations and devices. Read speeds of up to 70MB/s makes the Hama 4Bizz capable of supporting the direct recording and playback of fullHD video, offering a range of capacities up to 256GB to meet the demands of large modern media files.

Specs: Capacities from 16GB - 256GB Data transfer rates of up to 70MB/s Supports fullHD video Compact sliding design USB 3.0 Contact: Hama

Verbatim Vi560 S3 M.2 SSD “Verbatim SATA III M.2 2280 internal solid state drives can revitalise the performance of your system. Using the latest 3D NAND technology and compact dimensions, they offer the perfect way to upgrade, particularly for small or thin form factor devices such as ultrabooks and notebooks. The Vi560 delivers fast system boot-ups, quick application responses and rapid transfer speeds, with read speeds of up to 560MB/s, which is 10 times faster than a standard hard drive.”

Specs: Read speeds of up to 560 MB/s 450 TBW (terabytes written) MTBF (mean time before failure) rating of 1.5 million hours Low power consumption for extended battery life Contact: CMS Distribution, M2M Direct, VOW Wholesale

PNY SSD Pro Elite USB The pro Elite USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C portable SSD is the next generation in mobile storage, boasting not only increased storage capacity, but also exceptional performance. It comes with a USB 3.1 Gen 2 interface and read and write speeds up to 890 MB/s and 880 MB/s respectively. Available in dark grey, brushed silver, dark blue, dark green, it also comes with a three-year limited warranty.

Specs: Service & Support: three-Year Limited Warranty Usable Capacities (IDEMA): 250GB, 500GB, 1TB Weight: 45g Read speeds up to 890MB/s Write speeds 880MB/s Contact: Ingram Micro, Tech Data

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Sector Guide Transcend JetDrive Lite (expansion for MacBook Air & Pro) SRP from £30 Addressing the number one complaint from MacBook users, Transcend’s JetDrive Lite expansion cards are a quick and easy way to gain the additional space you need without adding any bulk to your MacBook.

With a flush design for specific models, simply insert JetDrive Lite into the card reader slot on the side of your MacBook and instantly boost your storage capacity.

Specs: Capacity up to 256GB Read speeds up to 95MB/s Write speeds up to 60MB/s Contact: Target Components

dongleserver Pro The dongleserver Pro provides secure and reliable access to software license dongles via a network. It has four USB 3.0 SuperSpeed and four USB 2.0 Hi-Speed ports. The handy version of the dongle server has been designed for use in office environments. The lockable housing keeps USB dongles safe in accessible areas. With the optional Rack Mount Kit, the dongle server can also be installed in the server room.

Specs: 8 USB ports 4 × USB 3.0 ports (SuperSpeed) 4 × USB 2.0 ports (Hi-Speed) Contact: Bechtle Direct

Samsung – Portable SSD T7 Touch USB 3.2 1TB Whether you’re carrying games, movies or sensitive work files, the Portable SSD T7 Touch gives you speed and security in a palm-sized package. With 1TB capacity, the T7 Touch has read speed up to 1,050MB/s and write speeds up to 1,000MB/s. It comes with fingerprint and password security protection and a three year warranty to give users extra peace of mind.

Specs: 1TB capacity USB 3.2 Gen2 interface Read speeds up to 1,050MB/s Write speeds up to 1,000MB/s Contact: Exertis

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Sector Guide

dongleserver ProMAX

“The dongleserver ProMAX is the advanced solution for server rooms and provides access to software license dongles via a network.

Compared to the dongleserver Pro, the dongleserver ProMAX offers additional reliability and redundancy with two built-in power supplies and two network connections. Parameters, passwords, and certificates are automatically backed up to an integrated SD card.

The dongle server is also equipped with a multi-segment status and fault display for information at a glance. The optional telescopic slides facilitate device access in the server room.”

Specs: 20 USB ports 5 × USB 3.0 ports (SuperSpeed) 15 × USB 2.0 ports (Hi-Speed) 1 × SD card Contact: Bechtle Direct

Seagate FireCuda 520 SSD

“The Seagate FireCuda 520 SSD with PCIe Gen4×4 interface is our fastest solid-state drive - with nearly 45% faster sequential reads/writes than the previous generation. It provides plug-and-play compatibility with all PCIe 4.0 motherboards and delivers an extreme boost in performance with the latest 3D TLC NAND technology. Upgrading to the FireCuda 520 unlocks Gen4 speed and supplies up to nine times faster sequential reads than SATA SSDs.” Specs: 500GB capacity PCIe Gen4 ×4, NVMe 1.3 interface Contact: Exertis UK

Verbatim Store ‘n’ Go USB 3.0 Portable HDD

“The Verbatim Store ‘n’ Go portable hard drive features high performance storage using a USB 3.0 ‘Super Speed’ interface. USB 3.0 offers up to 10 times faster data transfer rates than USB 2.0 (based on USB bus speed) providing ultra-fast data transfer on the go. Its stylish design sits neatly on the modern desktop as the perfect accompaniment to your laptop. Store ‘n’ Go portable hard drive is USB 3.0 bus powered (1 x USB 3.0 interface) yet is backwards compatible to any USB 2.0 ports on your PC or notebook.”

Specs: USB 3.0 SuperSpeed Nero Backup Software Supports USB recording/ playback Contact: CMS Distribution, M2M Direct, VOW Wholesale

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Top 5 Tech

Tenda’s Jamie Plumridge Tenda commercial director Jamie Plumridge tells PCR what five pieces of technology shaped his personal and professional life‌

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Top 5 Tech

AMIGA 500 PERSONAL COMPUTER

This is where it all started for me! Or should I say for my dad, and therefore inadvertently for me. Our very first ‘educational’ piece of tech. He had somehow persuaded my mum that a PC would be an important investment for the kids, then proceeded to purchase a football game called ‘Kick Off 2’ and spent endless hours hogging the joystick while us Kids watched, and waited, and waited some more for our turn. Just a few years later I would start my career in the technology industry. So in a roundabout way my dad’s plan worked.

NOKIA 5110

And so it began. The new era of having a mobile phone glued to my ear. This phone was my very first mobile. I didn’t have a lot of money as an apprentice, and so when I saw they were basically ‘giving them away’ (subject to an expensive monthly contract), I eagerly signed up for two of them.

One for me, and one as an extravagant gift for my then girlfriend. Needless to say the monthly contract payment lasted a lot longer than the girlfriend! What a product though! The world would never be quite the same again.

SATNAV

During my first field sales job for one of the UK’s biggest mobile distributors I covered the whole south of England (including London) visiting the thousands of mobile phone shops that sprang up. I would have to print off routes using ‘multi-maps’, memorise the main turn offs, and constantly stop to consult my maps, particularly the London A-Z. Then in-car SATNAVs came along. Suddenly I punch in the address and seamlessly follow the route on the screen. This simultaneously decreased my stress levels greatly, while also allowing me to improve my car karaoke skills (very slightly).

SKYPE

For most of us online video conferencing has recently become an increasingly important part of our lives due to the necessary separation created by Covid-19. Skype played a similarly important role in my life a number of years ago when my wife and I had to maintain our relationship while being more than 5,000 miles away from each other for the majority of a two year period. Skype enabled us to see each other daily, share meals together, and even to have movie nights together.

Without it, both of our lives would have looked very different today.

TENDA NOVA MW6 MESH WI-FI During almost 25 years within the technology sector I have always been most passionate about tech that just works. That just solves a problem for the customer in an easy way. This is when I get my ‘Eureka moment’. Upon talking to Tenda about joining the business to set up the UK market, they sent me a Nova MW6 to test. Five minutes later, once I saw the impact it had on my home Wi-fi network, I had that ‘Eureka moment’ and instantly accepted the job. It proved to be a great career move!

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STREAMR social wireless audio device STEAMR believes the best moments in life are made for sharing and has created a unique social audio device that lets you stream your audio with an unlimited number of people around you via the latest Bluetooth technology.

STREAMR is made for sharing and has been designed in four colours.

It works by connecting to other STREAMR devices. The first STREAMR connects to your phone/laptop/tablet with Bluetooth like you would any other headset. And then the first STREAMR turns into, well, a streamer!

And other STREAMRS around it pick up on the signal with the exact same audio without any delay.

It allows you to share the audio for a movie, start an impromptu silent disco in the subway with your friends or huddle around a Zoom call with crystal clear sound.

STREAMR’s high-end Bluetooth chips and microphone give you crystal clear wireless audio, giving you perfect conference call audio on headphones that originally didn’t even have a mic. STREAMR is compatible with any regular set of headphones.

For more information visit https://bit.ly/3gMqq4d

Batband sound band The Batband is elegant piece of sound technology allowing you to listen to your private soundscape as well as the world that surrounds you.

Batband works via bone conduction, consisting of transducers that emit sound waves perceived by your “private” inner ear, thus freeing your “social” outer ear. Sound waves are transmitted at a frequency that can be conducted through the bones of the skull. Your ears remain free, therefore you get to hear twice as much, without compromising on comfort, quality or style.

Three transducers emitting sound waves are incorporated in the product: two touching the sides of your head (temporal bone) and one at the back of your head (occipital bone). Furthermore, its discreet use means that any vocal content you receive is nearly inaudible to outsiders.

Batband can be paired it to a mobile device through Bluetooth and is controlled via sensors on the outside of the band.

Its outer frame is made of spring steel ensuring a good grip around the back of your head and the inner padded lining guarantees maximum comfort and minimum sound leakage.

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FunKey S handheld console Ultra-compact, foldable, powerful and comfortable, the FunKey S is the world’s smallest foldable handheld device.

The FunKey S is small enough to fit on your keychain, while powerful and comfortable enough to let you play thousands of retro games.

It is now ready for production and only a few weeks away from bringing you a unique and awesome way to play your favourite retro games.

The foldable design brings two important features: Closed, the console naturally turns into a sturdy protective shell, no better way to protect the screen. Opened, the console doubles its size to offer the largest possible screen and controls.

It also has a sensor for detecting when the console closes or opens so that it will automatically save your game and power off or turn on the console and start back your game.

FunKey S supports classic games from NES, SNES, Gameboy, Sega Master System, Sega Genesis (Megadrive), Sega Game Gear, Playstation 1, Atary Lynx, WonderSwan and Neo Geo Pocket.

For more information visit: https://bit.ly/2W2zhqs

With so much talent in the channel, it can be difficult to sift out the freshest gear and potential tech giants of tomorrow. Stay ahead of the curve with PCR’s Crowdfunding Corner…

LVL hydration monitor LVL is the world’s first wearable hydration monitor that gives you the complete picture of your health by also tracking activity, sleep, mood and HR. LVL simultaneously tracks your hydration, heart rate, and activity to help you optimise every workout, training set and race. It then prompts you in real-time, alerting to exactly how much fluid you need (based on current levels and sweat rates) and what type of performance boost you can expect.

The LVL also tracks your daily calorie count and measures this against the amount of calories burnt due to exercise. It then suggest when and how much you should be drinking to achieve optimum hydration to remain focused and to help improve sleep.

LVL’s simple, clear interface provides the essential information at a glance on a rich full colour OLED touch screen, with side buttons for additional input. It connects via BLE to your smartphone, sports watch, bike computer and other devices for a truly connected experience.

For more information visit: https://bit.ly/2ZRz5eN

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WORK, PLAY, STAY MOBILE.

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TABLET PCS

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Sector Guide

Get networking From home Wi-Fi systems to point-to-point kits, PCR rounds up the latest networking devices keeping us all connected…

TP-Link Deco X60

“The Deco X60 Whole Home Mesh Wi-Fi System is currently one of the most secure mesh Wi-Fi devices on the market, delivering comprehensive security to every device on your network and protecting users from any cyber threats. Armed with next-generation Wi-Fi 6 technology, supporting MU-MIMO, OFDMA and 1024-QAM, Deco X60 dramatically increases whole network capacity and efficiency. With Wi-Fi 6’s revolutionary combination of OFDMA and MU-MIMO technologies, Deco X60 builds a more efficient network that quadruples the average throughput on connected devices in dense environments. The Deco X60 has been optimised for up to 150 connected devices without compromising the performance of devices. With ultra-low latency it also a sure fire pick for gamers as it enables a more responsive gaming experience and boosts video chatting.”

Specs: Wi-Fi 6 speeds up to 3,000 Mbps OFDMA and MU-MIMO technology Ultra-Low Latency Multiple units form a whole-home network WPA3 encryption Contact: TP-Link, CMS Distribution, Exertis, Tech Data, Spire Technology

Tenda Nova MW5C “The Tenda Nova MW5C (3 Pack) delivers a seamless roaming experience and offers corner to corner coverage for your home or business. With built in gigabit ports (2 per node) and a gigabit WAN port the Tenda MW5C is perfect for supporting all broadband speeds. Powered by Tenda’s true mesh technology, each node automatically connects to the others, creating a distributed network throughout an entire home, eliminating all dead spots and drop offs. Pre-configured out of the box, set-up is a breeze and as simple as plug-and-play by following the easy step set-up via the fully configurable Tenda Wi-Fi app. The MW5C is also compatible with all Nova series products.”

Specs: Nova mesh covers 3,000-3,500m2 area per unit Connect with 50+ without buffering Product dimensions: 8.9cm x 8.9cm x 8.9 cm Contact: Target Components, VIP UK www.pcr-online.biz

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Sector Guide

TP-Link Omada Software Defined Networking Solution (SDN) “The Omada range integrates access points, switches, gateways and more into a full software defined networking (SDN) solution, providing complete centralised cloud management to create a highly scalable network - all controlled from a single interface. Seamless wireless and wired connections are provided, ideal for hospitality, education, retail, office and more. Zero-touch deployment and AI driven network analysis via the Omada controller offers scenario-based products and benefits that can satisfy different needs in various environments. A smart cloud solution for business networking, WiFi-6 access points optimise every detail of your network connection to improve network performance and deliver optimal speeds. Guest networking can also be enabled with flexible authentication options.”

Specs: AI-driven Zero-touch provision WiFi 6 access points Guest networking enabled Contact: TP-Link

Ubiquiti UBB UniFi Building-to-Building Bridge “UniFi Building-to-Building Bridge (Point to Point Networking Kit) is the ideal solution for short-range, high-throughput connectivity. Integration with the UniFi Controller makes bridging two networks seamless. As a pack of two radios, UniFi Building-to-Building Bridge contains everything you need to get up and running within minutes. Enjoy simple, easy-touse gigabit connectivity anywhere. It features 1.7+ GB/s bi-directional plug and play, 60 GHz bridge with 5GHz radio redundancy, UniFi Controller Management, and it has a range of up to 500m. Integrating the UniFi Building-to-Building Bridge with the UniFi Controller makes bridging two networks seamless.

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Specs: 1.7+ GB/s bi-directional Plug and Play 60 GHz Bridge 500m range Gigabit PoE (48V, 0.32A) with mounting bracket (x2) Contact: Target Components

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Sector Guide

Tenda 4G09 “The Tenda 4G09 delivers a superfast 4G+ LTE experience anywhere.

This 4G+ Cat6 AC1200 wireless dual band gigabit router ensures users can stay connected even when broadband services are down with a 4G LTE mobile internet backup network with download speeds of up to 300MB/s. Simply plug in a SIM card and share your 4G LTE or 3G internet connection through a secure wireless network or any of the two ethernet ports. Also utilising powerful 802.11AC Wi-Fi technology, the 4G09 boasts wireless speeds up to 1,200MB/s making the 4G09 the ideal choice for lag-free HD streaming, online gaming and more.”

Specs: Wireless speeds up to 1,200MB/s 4G LTE mobile internet backup 802.11AC Wi-Fi technology Contact: VIP UK

TP-Link Whole Home Hybrid Mesh Wi-Fi System - Deco P9 “The award-winning Deco P9 combines the intelligence of a mesh network with the functionality of powerline (data transmission via the domestic power circuit). The Deco P9 allows a wireless connection transported across large distances and through thick walls, eliminating weak signal areas. As households continue to implement more connected devices, single networks are under more pressure than ever before, causing an average network to experience significant lag. However, the P9 is able to deliver network speeds three times faster than previous generation routers, thanks to 802.11ac wireless technology, making it capable of providing a lag-free connection for up to 100 devices.”

Specs: Wireless class: AC1200 + HomePlug AV1000 WiFi + PLC Hybrid Mesh Qualcomm Quad-core CPU Maximized Range: WiFi coverage up to 560m2 Contact: TP-Link UK, Exertis, CMS Distribution, Tech Data, Spire Technology

www.pcr-online.biz

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PCR-JUL20 Smithie 2 QVO_Layout 1 17/07/2020 10:40 Page 1

CALL SMITHIE UK SALES TEAM NOW

01256 844 028

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Interview

“There were some challenges with switching to a virtual way of working”

Full steam ahead As lockdown eases Rob Horgan talks to Acer UK country manager Craig Booth about adapting to a new way of working, the impact of Covid-19 and the gamingspecific announcements driving the company forwards…

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ockdowns around the world have affected each and every one of our lives and our businesses. And Acer is no different. The company’s flagship global press conference Next@Acer is usually held in New York with all the associated bells and whistles. However, due to the pandemic the event was streamed online instead – like many of our most-loved calendar highlights.

Despite moving to a virtual event, Acer still had plenty of products to showcase and news to share on the future of the company’s Predator Gaming line, ConceptD Creators range and consumer PC range. They even launched a new line of rugged laptops and tablets called Enduro. Talking to PCR, Acer UK country manager Craig Booth explains how the company has

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coped with the new way of working and lifts the lid on what we can expect from Acer’s award-winning gaming range.

How has Acer performed in 2020 so far and how has Covid-19 impacted its overall performance?

During the first six months of 2020, Acer has experienced a period of significant growth and increased sales in all areas. Our supply chain is agile, and we have been able to respond quickly to the market changes that Covid-19 has driven, both in consumer and commercial sectors.

Demand for Notebooks, Chromebook and Monitors has significantly increased as people moved to working from, and spending most of their time at home.

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Interview

“Our Predator gaming range has seen a refreshed design and has been upgraded”

The Predator Helios 300 has been refreshed with the latest CPU and GPUs

Can you tell us about the announcements from the recent Global Press Conference and explain the challenges behind running a virtual event?

This year the theme for the conference was ‘Rock, Paper, Scissors’ which represented our core business developments. Paper represents our thin and light Swift notebook range, the ConceptD range designed for creators was ‘Scissors’, and the rugged new Enduro range was represented as ‘Rock’.

Our Predator gaming range has seen a refreshed design and has been upgraded with all the latest Intel and AMD processors and Nvidia graphics cards and new cooling systems to manage this now immense power and technology.

There were some challenges with switching to a virtual way of working, but Acer has the technology in place and the team were equipped and ready to face this new way of working.

What’s the story of Acer Enduro? Who is the target audience?

Acer’s Enduro range addresses the need for technology and modern mobile devices in the field, A rugged, highly durable and top-spec range of notebooks and tablets aimed at first responders, field, and construction and warehouse workers.

What have been the success stories in the gaming sector in 2020 so far?

Beyond a record year for sales of gaming laptops, desktops and monitors, exceeding both the average market growth and our own ambitious internal targets, a major highlight has been the enthusiasm we have seen for both Acer’s Nitro and Predator gaming products when engaging with gamers, partners, industry experts and influencers throughout the gaming community.

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Acer’s dual brand gaming strategy has been the cornerstone of our success over the past two years, offering everyday gamers exceptional value with the optimal price-performance ratio for mainstream games across the Nitro portfolio, along with uncompromised performance and immersive gaming for the competitive gamer on our Predator suite of products. The success is largely due to Acer’s innovative thermal management solutions, which took another major leap this year.

What are the prospects for Acer and gaming for the rest of 2020?

With the gaming community and industry continuing to grow and expand beyond expectations, we at Acer have bolstered our range of gaming solutions with a number of exciting product additions and refreshes that will let gamers experience this year’s thrilling new gaming titles to the fullest, whether you are looking for a competitive edge in first person shooters, immersive RPG, beautiful cinematic open worlds, adrenalin pumping sport and racing games and even the most realistic simulators.

We recently announced a comprehensive line-up of new gaming products for the second half of 2020 that will be available as early as next week already. These include the new Predator Triton 300 laptop that packs a lot of performance into an ultraportable design, letting you take your gaming anywhere on the go by combining a new 10th Generation Intel Core i7 Processor with Nvidia RTX 2070 Graphics in a 15.6” laptop that is less than 2cm thin.

The new Predator Helios 700, on the other end of the scale, packs desktop grade gaming performance into a mobile form factor by combining an overclockable 8-core 10th Gen Intel Core i9-10980HK processor and Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER in a 17.3” laptop, only made possible by Acer’s patented thermal management solutions.

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Acer’s Predator range also includes a number of accessories such as a premium gaming chair

The very popular Predator Helios 300 range have also been refreshed with latest CPU and GPUs along with improved panel technology for the fastest refresh rates yet.

For the truly power hungry gamers we announced the even more impressive Predator Orion 9000 Gaming Desktop, which is both a behemoth and a beauty of gaming performance.

How is Acer standing out in the competitive gaming sector?

We believe that there is a fundamental difference between just designing expensive PCs and designing powerful gaming PCs, which is why you will notice that thermal management and cooling solutions are central to our product designs and innovations as we continue to push the boundaries to unlock the maximum gaming performance from every Acer Nitro or Predator gaming PC to give gamers the competitive edge and immersive experience they seek.

That said, the gaming sector is more than just a collection of powerful gaming PCs and we have been working on expanding our offering beyond gaming hardware like

“With the gaming community and industry continuing to grow and expand beyond expectations, we at Acer have bolstered our range of gaming solutions”

Acer’s Nitro gaming PC

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desktops, laptops, monitors and accessories to integrate a full ecosystem of esports partnerships and events as well as the recently announced Planet 9 project, which is a communityorientated platform designed to bring different esports communities together to share, practice, compete and learn from one another. Planet 9 will enable users to create and manage clubs, teams and tournaments, provide coaching solutions, track ingame data and statistics and share team stats as part of pre-game matchups for strategising.

Acer’s holistic approach of end to end gaming and esports solutions with our suite of Nitro, Predator and Planet 9 offerings, in combination with our strategic partnerships and events will continue to push our position in the gaming industry forward.

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ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS HERE AND REACH THOUSANDS OF READERS IN THE IT AND TECH INDUSTRY.

PCR is read throughout the channel, from store managers to leading executives. Put simply, PCR is the trade publication that everybody in the industry reads.

Print is still the most effective way to target an audience engaged with the content they’re consuming.

Find out more about advertising in PCR by contacting Sarah Goldhawk at sarah.goldhawk@Biz-Media.co.uk

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@PCR_Online 16/12/2019 17:17

Sector Guide

Under the lid From memory cards and motherboards to high-performance cooling systems, PCR rounds up the components giving gamers the edge…

ASUS ROG STRIX B550-E GAMING

“Asus ROG Strix B550 Gaming series motherboards offer a feature-set usually found in the higher-end ROG Strix X570 Gaming series, including the latest PCIe 4.0. With robust power delivery and effective cooling, ROG Strix B550 Gaming is well-equipped to handle 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen CPUs. Boasting futuristic aesthetics and intuitive ROG software, ROG Strix B550-E Gaming gives you a head start on your dream build.”

Specs: Full AMD 3rd Gen Ryzen CPU support Excellent power delivery AiMic, AI overclocking and other AI based performance enhancing features Contact: Exertis, Ingram Micro, Spire Technology, Tech Data

XPG Spectrix S40G RGB SSD

“With sustained read/write speeds of up to 3500/3000MB per second, customizable RGB lighting, and a slew of performance enhancing features, the XPG SPECTRIX S40G is a no brainer for those seeking amazing performance and exceptional reliability. With AES 256-bit encryption, the S40G also ensures data security and integrity. It also allows users to customise their gaming experience with programmable RGB lighting effects including patterns, pulse speed, lighting intensity, and preset modes.”

Specs: Capacity 256GB / 512GB / 1TB / 2TB / 4TB Form Factor M.2 2280 Interface PCIe Gen3x4 Performance (Max) read 3500MB/s, write 3000MB/s Contact: CMS Distribution, Spire Technology

ZADAK MOAB II Elite PC Case

“The Zadak MOAB II Elite PC case incorporates a custom adjustable ARGB CPU water block alongside a shiftable block which together makes it compatible with various gaming motherboards. The patented CNC-milled aluminium water distribution plate not only eliminates the need for the vast majority of hard tubings and fittings but also optimises heat dissipation. The case also features high graphics card compatibility of up to 280mm in length and features the world’s first capacitive touch on/ off switch.”

Specs: Adjustable CPU Water Block and a Shiftable Block Patented CNC-Milled Aluminum Water Distribution Plate High Graphics Card Compatibility Capacitive Touch Switch Digital Display for Real-Time Water Temperature Built-in Addressable RGB Lighting Contact: Terra Computer

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Sector Guide

Team T-Force Vulcan X 64GB 3200MHz DDR4 Gaming Memory

“With one reviewer saying ‘it’s hard to beat this level of value and performance’, the T-Force Vulcan X 3200MHz range has proved itself to be amazing value. Easily overlocked to beyond 3800MHz, Team’s 64GB (2 x 32GB) modules also remain cooler under stress thanks to its minimalist, single-piece heat spreader and 32mm low profile design.”

Specs: High thermal conductive adhesive Supports Intel & AMD motherboards Selected high-quality IC Supports XMP2.0 Contact: Target Components

ASRock B550 Phantom Gaming PG VELOCITA Motherboard

“PG Velocita is a brand new high end range in the ASRock Phantom Gaming family packed full of uncompromised performance and exceptional aesthetics. Designed for 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen processors, it features an aluminium headsink cover for improved heat dissipation, PCIe Gen4 x 4, Nahimic audio, Dr.MOS integrated power stage and high-density power connector (reducing power loss by 23%) and Phantom Gaming 2.5G LAN for the most reliable gaming performance.”

Specs: Supports 3rd Gen AMD AM4 Ryzen/ Future AMD Ryzen Processors 14 Power Phase Design, Digi Power, Dr. MOS Supports DDR4 4733+ (OC) 1 PCIe 4.0 x16, 1 PCIe 3.0 x16, 2 PCIe 3.0 x1, 1 M.2 Key E for WiFi Graphics Output Options: HDMI AMD CrossFireX Contact: Target Components

ZADAK Spark AIO Liquid CPU Cooler

“The dual-fan AIO liquid cooling system has been designed with the desires of PC modders and enthusiasts which offers excellent quiet, cooling, no-fuss installation, and a design that bears the hallmarks of ZADAK’s key brand focus on original design and exquisite craftsmanship. SPARK AIO offers optimized stability, compatibility, and functionality plus advanced 2nd Generation ARGB lighting effects all in one product.”

Specs: Block Material (CPU plate): Copper 2 Fan Slots (120mm) Fan Dimension: 120 x 120 x 25 mm Fan Speed: up to 1800 RPM Contact: Terra Computer

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Sector Guide

MSI GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER VENTUS XS OC Graphics Card

“Boasting a boost clock of 1830 MHz with 15.5 Gbps memory speed, refresh rates up to 240Hz and Nvidia G-Sync and HDR, the RTX 2080 Super Ventus XS OC is for the serious gamer or creative. Thanks to the latest Nvidia Turing architecture and built-in 8GB GDDR6, you get realtime ray tracing and AI to take VR to the next level and 25% higher clock speeds, with automatic overclocking and even in-game video recording.”

Specs: 15.5Gbps memory speed Nvidia G-Sync and HDR Refresh rates up to 240Hz 8GB GDDR6 Contact: Target Components

ASUS ROG Strix LC 240 RGB All-In-One Cooler

“ROG Strix LC is a series of high-performance CPU liquid coolers designed for compact and mid-sized gaming builds. Featuring an illuminated ROG logo with Aura Sync support, plus ROG-designed radiator fans, the ROG Strix LC series brings the performance, features and design details you expect from ROG to a vital part of your gaming system. Available in 240 and 360 Radiator Configurations.”

Specs: ROG-designed radiator fans Individually addressable RGB and NCVM coating pump Styled to complement ROG motherboards Reinforced, sleeved tubing for increased durability Contact: Ingram Micro, Spire Technology

Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro 16GB Memory Kit (2 x 8GB)

“VENGEANCE RGB PRO Series DDR4 overclocked memory lights up your PC with mesmerizing dynamic multi-zone RGB lighting, while delivering the best in DDR4 performance. Optimized for peak performance on the latest Intel and AMD DDR4 motherboards, the Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro memory kit requires no extra wires or cables for a clean and seamless install.”

Specs: Size2 x 8GB Speed: 3200MHz Compliance: PC4-25600 Contact: Spire Technology

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Sector Guide

ASUS ROG STRIX RTX2070 SUPER OC

“The ROG Strix GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER is stacked with more CUDA cores than its predecessor and paired with a host of features for a truly toptier gaming experience. Gargantuan power delivery provides the muscle to push overclocking boundaries, while cooling that’s honed to perfection keeps the spotlight squarely on Turing’s performance. And with an arsenal of utilities that allow you to customize and tweak this extreme hardware, everything AAA gaming has to offer is yours for the taking.”

Specs: 4000 MHz 2560 CUDA Cores 2 x HDMI 2.0b 2 x DisplayPort 1.4 1 x USB Type-C Contact: Ingram Micro, Spire Technology, Tech Data, Terra Computer, VIP UK

ASUS ROG Strix Z490-E Gaming

“The ROG Strix Z490-E Gaming motherboard is designed to cope with the demands of 10th Generation Intel Core processors, with boosted power delivery and an optimized cooling design providing more surface area for heat dissipation. ROG Strix Z490-E Gaming features AI enhancements and intuitive dashboards to help you overclock and tweak various parameters easily. Performance aside, ROG Strix Z490-E Gaming catches the eye, sporting cyberpunk inspired aesthetics including a mirrored stainless steel finish.”

Specs: Intel 10th Gen CPU Power Most awarded Z490 range in UK by media Excellent VRM and BIOS performance including AI Overclocking Contact: Ingram Micro, Spire Technology, VIP UK

Palit RTX2060 SUPER DUAL

“The Palit RTX 2060 SUPER is powered by the NVIDIA Turing architecture, bringing superfast all-around performance and graphics to every gamer and creator. Now the new GeForce RTX SUPER Series has even more cores and higher clocks, bringing you performance that’s up to 25% faster than the original RTX 20 Series.”

Specs: Memory Size: 8GB Memory Type: DDR6 Memory Interface: 256-bit Graphics Clock: 1470 MHz Boost Clock: 1650 MHz Contact: Spire Technology

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19/07/2020 14:06

If you want to maximise your exposure in the IT and tech channel, advertise in PCR’s monthly print magazine!

PCR’s print circulation is sent, by request, only to readers who meet our strict criteria.

They have to be the decision makers our advertisers want to reach.

Talk to our sales team today to find out how we can showcase your company.

Contact Sarah Goldhawk at Sarah.Goldhawk@Biz-Media.co.uk

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24/02/2020 14:23

Sector Guide

Gaming gear From top-of-the-range gaming monitors to state-of-the-art keyboards and mice, PCR rounds up the best gaming peripherals and monitors…

Phantom Tecware Gaming Keyboard

“The Phantom comes with customised Outemu mechanical switches to ensure best quality and are equipped with optical sensors for precise gaming and comfortable typing. Spare switches and switch remover are provided for easy replacement Built with SMD LEDs and FR-4 fiberglass printed circuit board, Tecware mechanical keyboard is able to withstand extended periods of intensive and hardcore gaming sessions.

Keycaps on Tecware mechanical keyboards are double-shot ABS which, guarantee high resistance against surface wear: markings that cannot be worn off as they are physically part of the keycaps.”

Specs: Size: 361.5 x 133.5 x 40.1 mm Weight: 1.14kg 1.8m Braided USB cable with cap Black Plastic Body / Gunmetal Alloy Backplate Contact: Terra Computer

AOC C27G2ZU

“The AOC C27G2ZU boasts a 240Hz refresh rate, 0.5ms response time and low input lag to provide a perfectly smooth performance. With its curved design, height adjustment and swivel ability, the monitor can be adjusted to individual needs. It comes with FreeSync Premium and G-Sync compatibility.”

Specs: 27” curved VA display 240 Hz refresh rate 0.5ms MPRT FreeSync Premium and G-Sync compatible Contact: Exertis, Tech Data, VIP UK

XPG Primer Gaming Mouse

“Introducing the XPG PRIMER gaming mouse. Whether you’re a veteran that likes a simple mouse with attitude or a novice looking to up your gaming prowess, the XPG Primer is for you. Sporting Omron switches with a 20-million-clicks rating, an optical sensor with up to 12000 DPI, and a plethora of design touches for comfort, accuracy, durability, and flair, the XPG PRIMER is ready to up your game.”

Specs: Interface USB Type A Switch Omron with 20-million clicks rating Resolution 400/800/1600/3200/6400/12000 dpi Dimension 126 x 65.6 x 37.9 mm Contact: Spire Technology 60

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Sector Guide

Philips Momentum 558M1RY

“The Philips Momentum display boasts sound by legendary audio experts Bowers & Wilkins, creates a new-level console gaming. Players get immersed in the performance of this beautiful 55” display - with optimal sound and visuals. The newest addition to the Momentum family, specifically designed for console gamers, offers extremely low input lag – a significant advantage compared to TVs, 4ms GtG response time and 4K resolution at 120 Hz via DP.” Specs: 55” VA display Exclusively designed sound bar by Bowers & Wilkins DisplayHDR1000 certified Contact: Exertis, Midwich, Tech Data, VIP UK

ASUS TUF Gaming H7 7.1 Gaming Headset

“The TUF Gaming H7 headset is designed to provide incredible comfort for gamers who play or stream for extended periods, featuring upgraded ear cushions made with a specialized cooling fabric and softer channels positioned to reduce pressure on eyeglass frames. Boasting iconic ASUS drivers, an airtight chamber design and virtual 7.1 surround sound, TUF Gaming H7 upgrades your in-game audio experience with rich, immersive sound.”

Specs: Braided headset cable 1.2m Virtual 7.1 USB dongle 0.14m Platform Compatability: PC, Mac, PS4, Nintendo Switch, Mobile phones and Xbox One Contact: Spire Technology

Marvo Scorpion KG909 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

“The KG909 successfully combines the features of a competitive keyboard in a great-value package accessible to any demanding gamer.

Animated by 104 blue Outemu mechanical contacts, doubled with a powerful NKRO anti-ghosting support that allows all keys to be pressed without causing the keyboard to lock, the KG909 is ready for those who prefer a consistent resistance when pressing keys with a specific tactile/ auditory click.”

Specs: Rainbow lighting system uses individual LEDs for each key 104 blue Outemu mechanical contacts NKRO anti-ghosting technology Contact: Target Components

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Sector Guide

HANNspree HG324QJB 32inch curved 2K gaming monitor

“The HANNspree HG324QJB 32inch curved 2K gaming monitor offers gamers a combination of stunning 2K, 3,000:1 high contrast, ultra-fast 144Hz refresh rate, 2ms response time, AMD Radeon Free-Sync and 178 degree wide viewing angles. Furthermore, this 32” gaming monitor looks fantastic and is practical too. The 1800R curved panel makes everything more engaging while a super narrow bezel design makes for seamless multi-display gaming arenas.”

Specs: 31.5” screen 1800R Curve AMD Radeon Free-Sync 2xHDMI Contact: Exertis, Ingram Micro, Westcoast

Cherry MX BOARD 1.0

“The MX BOARD offers, precise, proven CHERRY quality. Durable CHERRY MX switches with consistent linear or tactile operating feel and the support of the palm rest provide comfort and ergonomics when working. High-speed key recognition accurately captures every keystroke. Sturdy mounting feet enable a perfect adjustment in three steps with a non-slip grip. The adjustable, white key illumination means the keys can be read clearly even in challenging visibility conditions. All inputs are reliably and precisely executed, and input errors are prevented thanks to anti-ghosting and full n-key rollover and Win-Key lock prevents unwanted game interruptions.”

Specs: Corded keyboard with CHERRY MX switches and palm rest CHERRY MX technology (Brown or Silent Red) Full N-key rollover, Anti-Ghosting & WIN key Lock Contact: Exertis, Westcoast

Marvo Scorpion Pro HG9053 7.1 Virtual Surround Gaming Headphones

“Part of Marvo’s Scorpion Pro range of gaming peripherals, the HG9053 headphones are designed for those upgrading their setup without wanting to break the bank. Featuring 50mm speakers, 7.1 virtual surround sound for immersive gameplay, a detachable omnidirectional microphone and in-line remote control, this well-built and comfortable headset also boasts a wide headband and soft, cushioned earcups for extended use.”

Specs: 7.1 virtual surround sound 50mm speakers In-line remote control Contact: Target Components

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Sector Guide

ASUS ROG Strix GO 2.4 Headset

“The USB-C wireless dongle and detachable mic make this gaming headset perfect for the commute or for the office. The AiMic hardware built in will block all background noise to create a clear audio for your ingame chat or work calls. The design makes it fully portable so it can be used anywhere and provides 2 hours use from a 15 minute charge.”

Specs: Wireless headset compatible with Nintendo Switch AiMic noise cancellation technology Contact: Exertis, Spire Technology

piXL 28” 4K Widescreen Monitor with HDMI & DisplayPort

“The piXL range has grown to include this amazing-value 28” 4K monitor complete with three HDMI and one DisplayPort connections and 5ms response time, making it ideal for gaming, video and picture editing, watching Ultra HD/ 4K videos and web browsing with superior realism. And, thanks to its VESA mounting holes, you can attach it to a wallbracket or monitor arm for the ultimate 4K display. The 28” 4K model is in addition to piXL’s range of full HD monitors with more, including curved and high-response rate models, due later in the year.”

Specs: 28” 4K monitor Three HDMI ports VESA mounting holes Contact: Target Components

Acer Predator Cestus 330 Gaming Mouse

“Different games call on for different playstyles – which means different settings. Make use of five DPI settings from the Pixart 3335 sensor which will switch at the click of a button. Pick your palette. With 16.8 million colour combinations and four lighting patterns to play with, the choices are practically endless. The most comfortable design for long hours of play.”

Specs: Pointing Device Host Interface: USB Pointing Device Connectivity Technology: Cable Pointing Device Cable Length: 1.80 m Movement Detection: Optical Number of Programmable Buttons: 7 Contact: Exertis

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Sector Guide

Playseat Challenge

“The Playseat Challenge foldable racing seat is highly adjustable, so it is suitable for both children and adults. The seating is coated with Alcantara, the material they use in real race cars! Thanks to its unique foldable design, it uses little space when not in use, so you can store it easily, for example in a wardrobe or under a bed. Ideal for people who have little space, but want a fun, realistic racing experience! Step up your racing game with Playseat Challenge.”

Specs: Dimensions (LxWxH): 136x54x96 cm Weight: 9 kg Recommended length of the driver: 120 - 220 cm Recommended weight of the driver: 20 - 122 kg Contact: Exertis

BenQ TH685 gaming projector

“The TH685 console gaming projector from BenQ provides everything a desktop monitor has to offer plus the flexibility of a display size up to 100” diagonal. With an impressive response time of 8.3ms, its low input lag ensures very little interruption to game play. Supporting stunning HDR 1080p graphics at 3500 lumens, the 95% Rec. 709 colour performance is intensified with BenQ’s exclusive gaming settings. Game mode enhances dark scenes for greater clarity and precision, while the Game Sound mode creates immersive audio.”

Specs: Resolution: 1080p (1920x1080) Brightness (ANSI lumens): 3500lm Contrast Ratio (FOFO): 10,000:1 Speaker: 5W Chamber Speaker x 1 Contact: BenQ

Acer Predator XB3 monitor

“Get clearer gameplay with NVIDIA G-SYNC as tears become a thing of the past. Make frame tears and blur a thing of the past with an overclocked refresh rate up to 144Hz1,3 and a response time of 4ms on an UltraHD monitor. See the purest details of your surroundings. With the latest DisplayHDR 400 color technology colors are more accurate than ever.”

Specs: Screen: 68.6 cm (27”) 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) 120 Hz Panel Technology: IPS (178°x178°) NVIDIA G-SYNC, VESA DisplayHDR 400 Inputs: DisplayPort, HDMI Response Time: 4 ms GTG Contact: Exertis

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Interview

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Interview

LIFE IN THE CHANNEL

Kingston Tecnology’s Ann Keefe The memory product manufacturer’s Regional Director for UK & Ireland talks about Kingston’s commitment to creating the best hardware encrypted products, and how it is supporting its customers throughout this difficult year...

T

ell us a bit about your work history in the channel and your current role.

I joined Kingston in 1996 and prior to starting my current role in 2000, I was the team leader for the UK Business Development team. Before joining Kingston, I worked as an account manager for several hardware vendors including Compaq, AST and Datrontech.

I am currently the regional director for UK & Ireland at Kingston Technology. I am responsible for driving the business for all Kingston product lines, HyperX internal component products and for managing the Business Development team for UK & Ireland.

What is Kingston working on at the moment?

Last year we launched the campaign ‘Kingston is Everywhere’. Most people currently use devices in their daily lives which need memory components on them, but they are not aware of how many times they touch Kingston a day. From smartphones, dash cameras, smartwatches, digital cameras to vacuum cleaners and many other touch points, Kingston’s memory products can be found inside many devices and we are aiming to

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create awareness of that with this campaign.

We now have a full range of superior enterprise-class data center storage solutions in the market to cover different data center clients’ needs. We have worked with data center partners for many years with our DRAM products, so it was a natural progression when we launched our first SATA SSD solutions for data centers.

In 2020 the range expanded with our NVMe SSD drives and we have recently upgraded our SSDs with a higher capacity addition for some of our drives – up to 8TB for

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Interview

our DC500R, DC450R and DC1000M to be able to cope with the higher demand of data storage as Cloud computing continues to grow at unprecedented levels.

This year marks the 2nd anniversary of the implementation of the GDPR in Europe and there is still a long way to go in regards to data security. We have observed that while some companies have applied all the necessary measures to be compliant, others are still engaging in risky practices when dealing with customer data or are still struggling on how to be fully compliant with it.

Meeting all these obligations is leading to a greater demand for encryption, both on SSD and USB. Whether by hardware or software, encryption is a valuable additional solution to an overarching cybersecurity policy.

Kingston is committed to creating hardware encrypted products to protect data at rest and when

mentoring schemes in place within different parts of the organisation.

What are some of the most challenging aspects of the storage industry at the moment?

2020 would have been an interesting year anyway but with Coronavirus this was amplified! With the rush to work from home we saw an increase in the requirements of our products for both personal use and within data centers. As the working from home requirements now move from functional to long term, we need to ensure that we are educating partners on security and performance.

Kingston has won a number of awards over the past year – including PCR’s Components Vendor of the Year 2020. What do you think Kingston does differently from its competitors?

“We think it is very important to get young people to join the tech industry. We have strong alliances with local schools where we support them with products and they join us for work experience” using devices on the go, such as those built into our own SSDs and USB drives. Education on data security is also part of our agenda.

We continue to produce content aimed to cover topics such as recommended solutions for an easy data security deployment or how to solve mobile workforce security challenges. Whether it’s through our eBooks, webinars or our social media channels, we have experienced a huge interest in how we can help organisations protect themselves from data security threats.

How important is it to Kingston to encourage young people to join the tech industry?

We think it is very important to get young people to join the tech industry. We have strong alliances with local schools where we support them with products and they join us for work experience. We have

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At Kingston, we have always put our customers first; our customers know they can trust us for the quality and reliability of our products. Our team of experts provide a free of charge service through Ask an Expert to ensure that Kingston is offering the best solution for the customer’s needs.

What are Kingston’s plans for the rest of the year and beyond?

Our plans are to help support our customers get through a very difficult year, be that our channel partners, corporate end users or data centers. Working from home is here to stay, so we are helping to make this long term by ensuring that systems are efficient and secure. We will also continue to educate customers on the importance of security and optimising systems to ensure they are operating as efficiently as possible for data centers be that with NVMe or with their existing infrastructure.

www.pcr-online.biz

22/07/2020 14:38

<Logging off>\\| Out and about in the industry

< Jagex and RuneScape players show support for mental health > Jagex, alongside players of its iconic games RuneScape and Old School RuneScape, have together donated a total of £204,000 to Jagex’s three official charity partners.

Phil Mansell, Jagex CEO, announced the total in a video, thanking players for the support they have provided to mental health charities CPSL Mind, The Prince’s Trust, and Rise Above the Disorder.

In April, Jagex donated £100,000 to its charity partners to support the services they offer during the pandemic.

Now an in-game charity event, held in RuneScape during Mental Health Awareness Week, combined with the donation of proceeds from Solomon’s General Store over the course of that week, has raised a further £104,000 for the charities. The £204,000 total is being shared equally between Jagex’s partnered charities with each receiving a donation of £68,000 to help fund their services.

www.pcr-online.biz

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“It’s amazing and humbling to see RuneScape players being as supportive of our mental health charity partners as everyone at Jagex is,” said Mansell.

“The work of CPSL Mind, The Prince’s Trust and Rise Above the Disorder is more important than ever right now and all three need all the support they can get to help people through these testing times and champion better mental health.

“The combined £204,000 total from the £104,000 raised by players during the Mental Health Awareness Week in-game event on top of Jagex’s original £100,000 donation, will make a big difference in enabling them to help others during this time.”

For more information on Jagex’s mental health charity partners visit jagex.com/en-GB/charitable-giving

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20/07/2020 18:18

<Logging off>\\| Out and about in the industry

<Biggest tech news from… August 2011> Now you’re up-to-date with the latest issues in tech retail, let’s take a trip down memory lane to some interesting stories from yesteryear…

Report warns of British tech ‘brain drain’ Research released in August 2011 found that a majority of UK medium sized tech companies feel they were at risk of losing skilled employees Insurance outfit Zurich published a Technology Hazard Warning Report that urged companies to ‘develop’ remuneration packages, Eg. pay more for skilled staff.

“The research shows that employers in the technology industry are suffering from brain drain and fear this even more for the future, losing skilled employees to overseas competitors, which provide a richer, more challenging environment for them to work in,” said Zurich’s Geoff White at the time.

PC ‘going the way of typewriters’ says IBM Nine years ago, IBM – the co-inventor of the first ever model – believed that the PC has “had its day”.

Mark Dean, the chief technology officer of IBM Middle East and Africa, hailed the tablet as his new favourite computing device.

He said: “When I helped design the PC, I didn’t think I’d live long enough to witness its decline.

“But, while PCs will continue to be much-used devices, they’re no longer at the leading edge of computing. They’re going the way of the vacuum tube, typewriter, vinyl records, CRT and incandescent light bulbs.”

Razer launches quiet BlackWidow Stealth Edition keyboards

Gaming peripheral specialist Razer announced a new model of its BlackWidow keyboards in 2011, which featured mechanical keys that make less noise when typing than normal mechanical keyboards.

The high end peripheral featured ‘extreme anti-ghosting’, which allows for up to six key presses at the same time.

“Where the first Razer BlackWidow can be likened to a barbarian ploughing through enemies with ease, the Stealth Edition of this mechanical keyboard is the ninja who sneaks up on opponents unexpectedly to take them down in a quick blur,” said Razer boss Robert Krakoff.

Three to offer free mobile broadband in rural black spots In August 2011, mobile operator Three announced plans to give away 3G broadband service to those in rural areas that cannot get access to fixed line services.

Under the plans, the firm initially gave away 3G dongles with a year of broadband access for free to over ten rural communities including North Nottinghamshire. The move appeared to be aimed at boosting their case for access to additional radio frequency spectrum to operate services wider afield.

“We’ve built the UK’s most extensive 3G network using highfrequency spectrum, if we gain access to low-frequency spectrum like 800Mhz we will be able to significantly improve both indoor and outdoor rural coverage for the UK’s smartphone and mobile broadband users,” said Three boss Dave Dyson at the time.

NEXT MONTH SEPTEMBER – Diversity The next issue of PCR will look at diversity in the channel, including our Top Women in Tech 2020 list. We will also look at the growing tech refurb market.

The following sector guides will be included in the next issue: – Creative Software & Tech – Refurbished Tech If you would like to get involved in our Diversity issue, please contact Sarah Goldhawk at sarah.goldhawk@biz-media.co.uk

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July/August 2020

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20/07/2020 18:18

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19/07/2020 16:02

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