Not long ago, when it came to using technology in business, having a fax machine was seen as walking ahead of the curve.
Today, the fax has been replaced by a photocopier, which is equipped with an integrated scanner that speeds up the transfer of files while eliminating waste and reducing costs.
Similarly, advances in video conferencing have significantly reduced the time and cost of face-to-face travel for staff membersto-
Meet with other colleagues or clients located across the country or around the world.
One of the top companies in helping companies keep up with this progress is Dublin-based Digicom.
Founded in 1997, the company has 36 employees with an annual turnover of more than 8 euros.
"Our business can largely be divided into two main areas," said Greg Clark, the company's headquarters general manager in Dublin.
"First of all, we focus on office printing technology, including the supply, installation and service of all products from printers, photocopiers to scanners, document management systems and software.
These address the needs associated with running modern office facilities, from capturing and importing documents to managing, storing, indexing, archiving and delivering documents throughout the organization.
We also provide security systems that protect these files from unauthorized access.
Greg went on to point out that recent research has shown that workers can spend up to 20 PCs filing or searching paper documents.
They can also spend up to 10 hours a week searching for files that are not properly archived or re-created where they are misplaced.
"By implementing document management in digital format, he said:" Employees can now retrieve documents immediately in the digital repository through a simple search function, the feature allows companies to allocate more time to use information while trying to find information
"The second part of our business involves the supply, installation and service of all audio-visual products from large-format LCD displays for video conferencing and unified communications to digital signage and digital room reservation systems, Greg said.
His client base includes large companies in the financial, technical, professional services and pharmaceutical industries such as Bank of Ireland, North trust, HP, Mason, William Fry, Mazar and MSD.
In addition, he works with various clients of the local government, including Cork County Hall and rosconey County Council, as well as various small and medium-sized enterprises
Enterprises of scale.
"While most of our work is in Ireland, we are also working abroad, mainly in the UK and Europe," he said: "typically represent companies that are based in Ireland but have employees and businesses in other countries. ".
Greg is from Co. Dun Laoghaire, Dublin, who has been helping the fruit and vegetable wholesale business at home in his teens.
There, he is often asked to do everything from unloading a bag of onions to cleaning up the fallen fruit.
"This gives me a valuable lesson about how you either sell it or smell it when dealing with a product with a short shelf life," he said . ".
After school, he completed his degree in marketing at Trinity College and then came back for a family business.
However, he quickly concluded that due to the emergence of supermarket chains with specialized fruit and vegetable sectors, his future in business was limited.
With that in mind, he started looking for a different career.
He began selling electric typewriters, and later began selling photocopiers and faxes.
Driven by the desire to experience life outside Ireland in 1988, he first went to man Island and then to Los Angeles, where he sold IT and computer software for the next seven years.
At 1995, he was ready to return home and set up his own company, which was officially established two years later.
"I can see that all the technology is" digital ", so I called the Enterprise Digicom, which represents digital communications," Greg said . ".
His biggest challenge at the time was learning how to manage cash flow.
This is due to the fact that investment in equipment is usually prepaid, and the payment of customers is often slow.
After years of working abroad, he joined the Dublin Chamber of Commerce as a way to develop contacts and new opportunities.
This is a very valuable move.
In 2001, Greg hired the director of sales, and Peter Fox, the current shareholder, LED audio development.
Visual aspects of the business.
Peter, originally from Cabinteely, has accumulated considerable in the sale of franking machines with Pitney Bowes, paging systems with Eirpage and telco, and Internet services from World Communications Inc.
"We can see that technology is growing fast and the nature of the work itself is changing, and many people now choose to work remotely," Peter said . ".
"The company has employees in multiple locations and in different countries and they need to work together on a regular basis and we believe video conferencing and live webcast will be the next big thing," he added . ".
They start targeting young companies with growth potential because they can grow with them if they join early.
Their strategy worked.
The same is true of their contact decisions with foreign direct investment clients, recruitment companies and offices --
Help the businesses they built in Ireland.
"Our main advantages in the industry come from the various print and audio-visual brands we stock, but more importantly, we are sincerely committed to providing impartial advice on the customer's individual most suitable solution needs, Greg said.
Looking into the future, both Greg and Peter see great opportunities in the print and audio-visual fields as the company continues to seek more efficient and cost-effective ways of doing business and communicating with its employees, customers and a wider range of stakeholders.
"We plan to continue growing at home and abroad and have the confidence to double the turnover over the next three years," Greg said . ".
"We have been looking for the right acquisition to help speed up this process and are currently looking at developing a whole new department within the company that we would like to launch in 2017, he added.
After taking advantage of his expertise in developing abroad, Greg, who is committed to giving back to society, became the chairman of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce last year.
He is also a member of the board of directors at www. The strange thing is. org, a not-for-
A profitable organization that teaches startup skills to primary school students.
"This is my effort to help develop the next generation of Irish entrepreneurs," he added . ".
For more information: www. digicom.