You only have to look at some of last year’s biggest headlines to get an inkling of what we can expect ahead of us. With Sir David Attenborough headlining Glastonbury and teenage environmental activist, Greta Thunberg, being named Time Magazine’s Person of the Year, it’s clear that the green movement has become a huge phenomenon – and we can certainly expect to see this growing effort impact the channel.

In a similar vein, we’ve now started seeing some of the biggest businesses on the planet being reprimanded by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and data privacy will likely have a dominant role to play for Value-added Resellers (VARs) throughout 2020.

With 2019 having already thrown up a wealth of change, technology innovation and new thinking across the channel sector, we’re definitely in shape for another year of exciting developments in 2020. With both the environment and data protection in mind, it’s down to organisations within the channel to adapt in line with customer needs – but how can they address these issues and still set themselves apart from the crowd in 2020?

The customer (experience) is always right

One of the main moves tipped for 2020 is a shifting focus from User Experience to Customer Experience amongst channel partners. Business are well trained to use the devices they are receiving; instead, the focus is now on making hardware service more enjoyable. Improving the customer experience also aids retention. Where previously, the key focus was to initially engage customers, the challenge now is to keep them engaged for a sustained period of time. Providing an exceptional customer experience only adds more depth to a reseller looking to add value.

At Cameo, we put a great focus on customer experience, promoting an ideology of ‘One Attitude’ where customers can expect the same level of assistance, and the same appropriate manner, whatever their need for us might be. We want to be able to not only grow our customer relationships but then maintain and retain those relationships, with customers knowing they’ll get the same level of service whenever they come to us.

Data privacy

2019 was a big year for data privacy developments, and 2020 isn’t expected to be any different. In just the first six months of 2019, 4.1 billion data records were compromised, setting last year to be the worst year on record for data loss and cyber-breach – despite the introduction of GDPR.

GDPR is expected to evolve even further in 2020. Companies have only really started to feel the sting of the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) in 2019. VARs can take advantage of a general lack of industry knowledge around data, positioning themselves as experts in data management and adding more value to their service in handling it.

We take data protection very seriously, devising a foolproof plan when we transport hardware – and the subsequent data – by ensuring that the hardware is transported in secure vehicles, stored in secure locations, and that hard drives are cleaned and cleared by the best and most up-to-date technology. We also guarantee that every step from collection to cleaning is managed entirely by Cameo, to ensure the system is as secure as possible.

The only way is UPS

In 2020, we can expect to see greater demand for uninterruptible power supply (UPS), with a stronger emphasis being placed on more efficient and environmentally friendly energy supplies. In turn, we are also seeing growing popularity in lithium-ion rechargeable batteries, which are significantly growing in popularity due to their low maintenance, quick charging, and utility in a fast-paced business environment.

The rise in the use of UPS is in part due to the focus on energy efficiency, focusing on the green movement and the need for alternative, energy efficient powers. Such is the importance of this trend that the UK Government is even offering tax breaks and rewards for small businesses who buy energy efficient technology.

With growing environmental concerns, coupled with rising energy costs and government incentives, UPS could play a pivotal role in 2020. Cameo is ahead of the curve in providing full in-house UPS services on behalf of our channel partners, delivering support, installation, maintenance, and disposal, as well as having engineers at your disposal 24/7.

2020 is clearly going to be a big year for the channel, and businesses need to be ready. With our range of services and expertise, Cameo can support channel partners with the premium level of hardware support now required to keep both your business operating effectively and customers satisfied.

 

To find out more about how our services can help you, please get in touch at salesteam@cameouk.com, or call us on +44330 0584 224.