When it comes to eco-friendly practices in the office, is the UAE still restricted to merely switching off equipment when it’s not in use? Though such practices have miles to go before they can match similar activity in the West, offices in the UAE are now consciously undertaking measures to slash the environmental impact of their operations.
In the US, commercial buildings represent nearly a fifth of all energy consumption, according to its Department of Energy. In most developed countries, these buildings consume the biggest chunk of energy, what with numerous PCs, phones, printers, fax machines and copiers. And while choosing energy-efficient building management systems (BMS) and turning off power-hungry devices when idle can help companies boost their energy quotient, choosing efficient office automation products can help reduce power bills substantially and improve workplace appearance.
“Inefficient office IT equipment is one of the main culprits that adds to a business’ carbon footprint,” says Raj Varma, General Manager IT Division, Samsung. “We are, however, in the midst of a green revolution in this region, as consumers are becoming more eco-aware and are searching for products that can help cut their carbon footprint and promote greener lifestyles.”
UAE businesses go green
Companies in the UAE, no matter how big or small, are now aligning their operations with environmental best practices. A key driver of growth in the intelligent office automation sector is greater awareness about the benefits and ease of realising a greener environment. “Being environmentally friendly is a new trend in the region. Running parallel is the simple requirement of customers to manage their assets and costs more efficiently,” says Andrew Horne, General Manager, Xerox Emirates.
When it comes to business solutions that can help optimise the office environment, companies have two goals in mind: reducing total cost of ownership (TCO) and boosting productivity. “They look for high-performance products that help to solve office management issues and support for ongoing improvements in the office,” says Abdullah Hamayoon, Marketing Manager Office Products, Konica Minolta Business Solutions Middle East.
Minimalist solutions
Another trend in office automation is the demand for systems and tools that are modest and minimalist in design, which can help save space and reduce unwanted noise. For large-scale projects, a growing trend is the need for every device within a network to be wired in, so companies are spending big on hardware and data integration, says Kristian Stinson, Business Development Director, Studio Em. “Modern workspaces need integrated solutions that allow employees to access data anywhere on their smartphones or handheld devices,” he says.
“Clients are constantly asking for minimal cabling and avoiding the standard office wire mess as much as possible. This is where clever office automation comes to the fore,” he says.
Multidimensional options
With more firms in the UAE looking at cost-cutting, Managed Print Services (MPS) is fast becoming a popular choice. “MPS is the biggest trend in the office automation sector,” says Hendrik Verbrugghe, Marketing Director, Canon Middle East. “Organisations have begun to understand the benefits that can be achieved by outsourcing the management of their print services to a specialist third party. It is an effective way to lower print costs, heighten productivity, improve the security of critical information and reduce a firm’s carbon footprint.”
Office equipment companies regularly introduce new ranges that can help firms reduce their environmental impact and improve their bottom line over time. Canon’s new expanded range of Image Runner Advance devices provides black and white printing, copying, colour scanning and sending capabilities in a space-saving and user-friendly design. Each device also has recycled materials and bio plastics from plant-derived resources.
Horne of Xerox Emirates has noticed a demand for the Xerox Color Qube, a solid ink technology that produces up to 90 per cent less printing waste and significantly reduces the carbon footprint. Solid Ink cartridges are non-toxic and do not create a mess as compared to toner cartridges. Samsung has unveiled the environmentally friendly CLX-8640 and CLX-8650 colour laser printer series that can help reduce expenses by lowering power consumption. Both feature an Eco Driver Function that offers various printing options and simulation to save on toner usage.
Companies in the UAE have been quick to adopt this technology; this has subsequently driven demand for office automaton products that can support cloud technology. “Canon supports technologies that reduce the environmental impact of office activities and cloud computing is considered green as it enables lower energy use and carbon emissions. We have perfectly integrated cloud computing into our image Runner Advance series,” says Verbrugghe.
Hamayoon of Konica Minolta says: “The rapid adoption of smartphones and tablets in offices and the rise of cloud computing have prompted us to provide applications that can link iPhone and Android smartphones to company computing resources and enhance operational efficiency and flexibility.”
Short term vs. long term
This sector faces a few challenges. The prices of green products and high initial investment are considered the biggest threat to the sector’s growth.
“We are operating in a very transient work environment in the UAE and the wider region. Employees or companies are more concerned about saving costs in the short term or at the beginning of a project rather than five years down the line,” says Stinson.
