​​A Counterpoint to Ray's "Desert Mirage": Rethinking Industry Innovation

By Robert G. Jordan

In a fiery critique delivered in "It's the End of the Day with Ray," the discussion leans heavily into skepticism, dubbing industry efforts toward modernization as misguided quests fueled by emotional fervor rather than rational business strategies.

​This response article aims to explore the opposite side of the coin, advocating that the pursuit of innovation, despite risks and occasional missteps, is not only justified but essential for the evolution of any industry.

Year-End Predictions: Familiar Ground and Bold Frontiers

Year-end predictions are like sales forecasts — they are always wrong.  Well, most of the time. Predicting what will happen in our little niche is more and more difficult with every turn of the calendar. This year is no different.

With AI reshaping everything — industry consolidation, people in offices, the ongoing decline of print, and dealerships merging into larger conglomerates — predicting the future of the copier industry, even just 30 days from now, let alone in 2025, is inconceivable. Anyone who says differently is selling something.

But we’ll do just that. There is much to look forward to in office technology and good tidings in the future. I hope to cover a few of them here today.

​Gar's 2025 Twelve Predictions for the Future of the Copier Industry

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By Gareth P. Tenet

The office technology industry is on the brink of a transformative shift, powered by Ai’s rapid advancements and the relentless push for digitization. For example, global Ai investments in business operations have surged by over 50% in the past three years, reflecting a widespread recognition of its transformative potential.

The Mission: Selling Copiers in the Sunshine State

By Grok 2, December 2024

The sun beat down on the sprawling concrete expanse of a distribution center just outside of Miami, where the hum of forklifts and the chatter of workers filled the air with a sense of urgency.

Here, in the land of logistics and supply chain intricacies, I found myself, not in the midst of a covert operation, but in the thick of a different kind of mission: selling copiers.

The Delicious Dish: "Nobody can resist my Schweddy..."

Margaret Jo McCullen: Hello. I’m Margaret Jo McCullen.

Teri Rialto: And I’m Teri Rialto.

Margaret Jo McCullen: And you’re listening to..

Together: The Delicious Dish, on National Public Radio.

Margeret Jo McCullen: Now, Teri, it’s Christmas season again, our favorite time of the year.

Teri Rialto: Actually, Margaret Jo, holiday time is when the most culinary wishes can come true. Now, what’s on your list this holiday season, Margaret Jo?

Margeret Jo McCullen: Well, Teri, I got real freaky this year. I’m asking Kris Kringle for a wooden bowl, some oversized index cards, and a funnel.

Teri Rialto: Ooooh, a funnel! That’ll be great for funneling!

Margeret Jo McCullen: I know. I feel like a glutton! What’s onyour list, Teri?

Teri Rialto: Well, I’m only asking Santa for one thing – a big box of glue traps to help me with my excessive rat problem? Are you, Margaret Jo, gonna leave any treats out for Santa this year?

The Death of RPA: From Managed Print Services to Intelligent Automation

Reading "RIP to RPA: The Rise of Intelligent Automation" by Kimberly Tan has been a lightbulb moment—a new way to see the Managed Print Services (MPS) platform. Tan’s insights on how AI is replacing traditional labor-heavy tasks with intelligent automation struck a chord. MPS has long wrestled with the repetitive and manual, but imagine if we could take it beyond managing print jobs to actually reshaping entire document workflows. 

Xerox Reinvents Amidst Major Layoffs: 3,000 Jobs Cut as the Era of the Copier Nears Its End

Xerox. 

That name used to mean something. It meant every office you walked into had the same reliable, slightly greasy machine in the corner—the hum of paper moving through rollers, toner dust filling the air, and the glow of fluorescent lights casting shadows over a maze of cubicles. For a long time, the copier was as much a fixture as the water cooler, the breakroom coffee pot, or the company fridge with someone's yogurt. But times change, and so do the tools we rely on. Now, Xerox is shedding nearly 3,000 jobs—about 15% of its workforce—as it leans into a future that has little room for the copier’s slow, mechanical heart.