Choosing the right IT partner is no easy task, yet it has never been more important. In the age of digital transformation, this decision is all the more important, so ask yourself the right questions.
QUESTION 1: "WHAT ARE THE BUSINESS OBJECTIVES OF MY COMPANY? IS MY IT INFRASTRUCTURE ADAPTED TO MY OBJECTIVES? "
This may sound a bit trivial, but it is important to start by asking some very basic questions about the specific needs of the business in order to define the scope. This first step is crucial.
QUESTION 2: "WHAT ARE THE COMPANY'S INTERNAL HUMAN RESOURCES? "
The analysis of the internal human resources available within the IT team is just as important as the analysis of the existing technologies. Don't just count the team members, assess their skills and analyse the resources on which you can build.
QUESTION 3: "HOW DO I SEE THE FUTURE OF MY BUSINESS? "
This can profoundly influence the recommendations you will need for solutions and approaches. At the risk of sounding superfluous, telling your supplier your long-term goals can actually be extremely useful. If the IT supplier is aware of the company's long-term vision, they can recommend a scalable solution.
QUESTION 4: "ARE THE SUPPLIERS AND THEIR PARTNERS FINANCIALLY STABLE AND RELIABLE?
In order to form an opinion on a supplier, you should not rush into anything. This means carrying out an audit of your suppliers to find out more about their relationship with their partners.
QUESTION 5: "HOW GOOD IS YOUR SUPPLIER'S CUSTOMER SERVICE? "
Analysing the supplier's service infrastructure is fundamental to getting an idea of what your collaboration might look like in the future. Ask the supplier if they have a solid service infrastructure, a strong support team and a commitment to guarantee the level of service provided through agreements
QUESTION 6: "WHAT IS YOUR COLLEAGUES' OPINION OF THIS PROVIDER? "
When evaluating a potential supplier, it is important to take into account the supplier's past performance and the level of satisfaction of its customers (current and former). It is necessary to research and analyse thoroughly the available information about the supplier's customer experiences.
QUESTION 7: "IS THE SUPPLIER A SECTOR DRIVER AND VISIONARY LEADER? "
It is also important that suppliers have a clear vision of the future, are able to demonstrate thought leadership and are recognised for it. Studies have shown that this is also important for its future customers.
QUESTION 8: "DOES THE SUPPLIER SEEK A LONG-TERM PARTNERSHIP? "
Whether it is an IT infrastructure, CRM solutions, information management, service platforms or integrated collaboration tools, IT projects usually have a significant impact on the business. That's why it's essential to find an IT supplier who is not looking to make a short-term profit by selling products or services, but to build a long-term relationship.
Since 1946, CK Charles Kieffer Group, a company constantly in search of novelty, follows the evolution of document processing and image. Today, on the threshold of the digital age, our priority mission is to guide our current consumers by providing digital solutions and technologies
Abdu Gnaba is an anthropologist. As the founder of SocioLab, he examines company development from the perspective of beliefs, myths and imagination. In his view, what makes two economic stakeholders different from each other is no longer just purely technical criteria, but also the values they assert, the identity they express and their social commitment. As he likes to say, the future belongs to missionaries rather than mercenaries or functionaries.
″ People with a mission feel that they are working for something larger than themselves. Their satisfaction is not limited to quantitative goals, but also leads them towards qualitative criteria, key success factors that ensure both collective and individual progress.
″
Abdu Gnaba : Without a doubt, the qualitative value of human connections. During the lockdown and this current period of social distancing, the thing we are missing the most is spending time with other people, seeing their faces, watching their expressions – all of that non-verbal communication and sharing of emotions. Humans are social beings and the pandemic has reminded us how much we are connected with each other, for worse (contagion) and for better (cooperation).
Abdu Gnaba : The crisis has merely sped up changes that were already taking place. The days of buying a product or service for its functionality alone are over. We differentiate between things not just on technical criteria, but also in terms of goods’ material and immaterial value through what they represent to the community of purchasers and consumers. For example, the shock absorption system used in Adidas shoes is scientifically proven to be more efficient than that used by Nike, but the latter inspires greater desire and thus sells more products. Similarly, a brand now sells not just tangible items but also a view of the world, values, and imagination, and even ways of doing business have significantly changed. In the modern digital era, you could say that the core of a business relationship is now the ‘relationship’ itself. As Warren Buffett jokingly put it, the difference between two $20 bills is the cashier. The human side comes to the fore.
Abdu Gnaba : The creation of expertise specific to the company, the expression of a culture that makes it a unique entity. Whether designers, suppliers, partners or customers, more than ever we all want to feel part of the same tribe. Today, we are no longer trading just products, but also a way of working, a method of production and a desire to serve that reflect a larger undertaking than just immediate commercial interests. For example, social responsibility and consideration of human relationships are essential pieces of data.
What does this mean in practice?
Abdu Gnaba : The creation of expertise specific to the company, the expression of a culture that makes it a unique entity. Whether designers, suppliers, partners or customers, more than ever we all want to feel part of the same tribe. Today, we are no longer trading just products, but also a way of working, a method of production and a desire to serve that reflect a larger undertaking than just immediate commercial interests. For example, social responsibility and consideration of human relationships are essential pieces of data.
How can a company define its expertise?
Abdu Gnaba : By showcasing the markers of its identity. As a social anthropologist, I take the same approach as my biological anthropology colleagues who unearth the traces of ancient civilisations. Like any human group, a company is based on a founding myth and an original reason for being, which we might call the ‘initial reasons for its creation’. This foundation then gives rise to values – not abstract categories, but rather ways of behaving, a mindset regarding business relationships and life within the company. An organisation’s dynamic is based on these two initial factors that enable it to set out its vision and growth system. Founding myth, values, vision: three steps to defining a company’s expertise and ensuring its consistency.
So if I understand you correctly, the health crisis has highlighted our need for connection, and this need for connection is determining how we work because it reminds us that suppliers and customers share more than just financial interests?
Abdu Gnaba : Precisely. They share a culture. What makes a company unique is how it forms a connection, and its point of difference is human beings. And since human relationships represent the core of all forms of exchange, we can see that the companies coping best with the crisis are those that make humans the focal point of their strategy. And to draw on the teachings of a philosopher whose name often inspires fear, a healthy economy is one based on Kant’s categorical imperative: ‘Act in such a way that you always treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any other, never simply as a means, but always at the same time as an end.’ Replace ‘humanity’ with ‘customers and employees’, and you get what we have found to be the case in the highest-performing companies.
What have you learned from your corporate experience?
Abdu Gnaba : That we are no longer differentiating by product, but rather by relationships, by the expertise that shines through even more in difficult moments. The difference between Fnac and Darty is no longer just about products, but also the relationships that each entity maintains with its customers. Surprisingly, the hunt for a qualitative relationship is even more important for B2B than it is for B2C. A company that understands its culture can share it, and unite its internal and external ecosystems with its own particular spirit.
Discover all the services offered by CK | Office technologies in connection with our products and solutions.
C.K. S.A.’s privacy policy (hereinafter referred to as “Privacy Policy”) provides information about the collection, use, sharing and processing of personal information by C.K. S.A. (hereinafter “C.K.” or “we” or “us”). This Privacy Policy includes your use of our website but also any processing of your personal information (as defined below) when we provide services such as technical support, Cloud or other services.
This Privacy Policy was last updated on 04-01-2021. However, it may be amended from time to time in the future, in particular in order to comply with legal requirements or to meet the evolving needs of our business.
This Privacy Policy complies with the current regulations applicable to the processing of personal data and, in particular, with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (hereinafter “GDPR”) as well as any Luxembourg regulations deriving therefrom.
In this Privacy Policy, the term “personal information” or “personal data” refers to information that relates to an identified or identifiable natural person. For example, this personal information may include, depending on the type of service concerned, your name, e-mail address, business contact information, personal information about your employees, collaborators, customers, or information collected during your interactions with us via our website.
C.K. does not process any personal data without your consent in connection with the provision of any service, when you use our website or when you contact us by any other means. Specific data processing arrangements may be put in place depending on the provision of a particular service or services. In this case, you should also refer to the general terms and conditions of use of these services.
Certain services offered on our website can only be provided if C.K. is able to contact you (e.g. requests for products or services). In this respect, the possibility to use these services depends on your provision of specific personal data (contact information). C.K. collects, uses and processes this data only to the extent necessary to provide you with the corresponding service. C.K. does not use or process the data in any way whatsoever unless this is permitted in accordance with the legal provisions or you have expressly consented to this. You can revoke your consent at any time. To do so, please contact the contact person indicated in section IX.
The following data will be collected as part of the registration process and will be processed in order to prepare the application: company address, customer status, title, first and last name, telephone and fax number, e-mail address. If you have explicitly consented to this, your e-mail address will also be used to send you a regular newsletter. C.K. collects personal data on www.ck-group.lu and/or on the occasion of organized events, in order to optimize our communication with you.
C.K. is committed to always provide you with the most interesting marketing content on C.K. solutions according to your needs and profile. Therefore C.K. stores the following information: name, first name, e-mail address, company name, company address, telephone number, company size, business sector, function, workstation, user behaviour on the basis of the e-mails sent and on the use of the following website : www.ck-officetechnologies.lu.
C.K. ensures that this information will only be used for the creation of user profiles, will not be shared with third parties and will not be commercialized..
We may also process personal information for the following purposes:
By interacting with our website or using our services, you may also be able to link or connect to websites, services or other features that are not part of our services. As a result of the activation of these features, third parties other than C.K. S.A. will process your information. C.K. S.A. has no control over the activities of these other parties. We strongly encourage you to consult their privacy policy before using these features.
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The main recipient of your data is C.K.
However, C.K. is likely to communicate your personal data to certain subcontractors.
All our subcontractors are established in the European Union and are committed to respecting the GDPR. Upon written request, C.K. will provide you with a complete list of its current subcontractors. C.K. and/or the subcontractors have put in place technical, physical and organizational measures to protect personal information against accidental or unlawful destruction, accidental loss, damage, alteration, unauthorized disclosure or access, as well as any other form of unlawful processing.
Generally, C.K. does not transfer personal data internationally. The data is stored on a local and private server.
Nevertheless, C.K. or any other third party may transfer, consult and store personal data in connection with the provision of services within the European Economic Area if this is necessary for the execution of specific services.
C.K. will retain your personal data for the purposes for which it was collected, generally for the duration of a contractual relationship or for a maximum period of 10 years, except for certain data for which the law requires a retention period of less than 10 years.
When C.K. processes your personal data following an online application, this data will be deleted as soon as the recruitment procedure is completed, i.e. as soon as the position is actually filled. However, if C.K. considers that there is a particular interest (such as a similar position soon to be opened within C.K.) to keep your personal data for a longer period of time, not exceeding two years, C.K. undertakes to ask for your consent for this retention, with the possibility for the unsuccessful candidate to request the immediate destruction of his file.
C.K. examines and deals with incidents that suggest or indicate unauthorized access or use of personal information related to specific services as soon as possible.
If C.K. becomes aware of and determines that an incident involving personal information related to specific services is considered a security breach resulting in misappropriation or accidental or unlawful destruction, loss or alteration, unauthorized disclosure or access to personal information related to specific services transmitted, stored or otherwise processed on third party systems made available by C.K., compromising the security, confidentiality or integrity of such personal information related to specific services, C.K. will promptly notify you of such breach.
As information relating to the breach is collected or becomes reasonably available to C.K., and to the extent permitted by applicable law, C.K. will provide you with additional relevant information it has about the breach.
You have the right to request information at any time about the data C.K. holds about you, their origin and recipients and the purpose for which they are stored. To do so, please contact the contact person indicated in section IX. She will investigate and attempt to resolve complaints and disputes arising from the use and disclosure of personal data in accordance with this privacy policy and in accordance with applicable laws.
In the event of difficulties in exercising these rights, you may file a complaint with the National Data Protection Commission (www.cnpd.lu ).
The data controller is C.K., represented by Mr. Tom FRISCH, member of the management. His contact details are as follows:
CK Charles Kieffer Group
Mr. Tom FRISCH – Partner / General Manager – Administration
2 Léon Laval Street
Z.A. Am Bann
L-3372 Leudelange
Tel: 00352 – 26 380 1
rgpd@ck-group.lu
C.K. has appointed a Data Protection Officer who is responsible for ensuring compliance with the provisions of the GDPR. It concerns
BONN & SCHMITT S.à r.l. represented by Gabriel BLESER, Managing Partner – Avocat à la Cour, established at L-1511 Luxembourg, 148, avenue de la Faïencerie.
The Data Protection Officer ensures that the rights of the natural persons whose data are processed by C.K. are respected.
His contact details are: dpo@ck-group.lu
If you wish to report data privacy issues or if you have any questions, comments or complaints, please contact :
– the data controller C.K. via the following address: rgpd@ck-group.lu
– or only our data protection officer via the following address: dpo@ck-group.lu
C.K. undertakes to handle complaints in connection with the collection and use of your personal data with due diligence.
C.K. reserves the right to correct, modify and update this privacy policy at any time. Please check our site regularly to ensure that you are aware of the most recent version.
Benefit from a local and Luxembourgish service. Working with CK means working with a long-term partner, which is why we pay particular attention to the quality of our services.
Print, copy, scan documents, all without touching the printer!
The return to the office requires companies to enforce corporate barrier gestures to ensure the safety and health of their employees. If some of them are well known to all, such as wearing a mask, physical distancing, hand washing or even the provision of hydroalcoholic gel... What about printing systems?
Printing, copying and scanning documents are recurring tasks carried out hundreds of times a day by all the employees of a company. In other words, all the employees of a company touch the printing system hundreds of times a day. So how can we avoid the maximum risk of exposure to COVID-19? Here are some simple but effective solutions that we can help you implement to avoid tactile interactions with printing systems:
It is possible to remotely manage the MFP's control screen with a smartphone, tablet or computer, simply by activating certain features available for all Konica Minolta printing systems.
With the printer control panel, which is displayed directly on the screen of the mobile device or computer, users :
To find out more about the different functionalities available for your printer or multifunction, please contact us.
We offer you two possibilities to free up your print jobs without having to touch the printing system :
For each printing system, it is possible to generate and print a QR Code to be glued near the respective device. With the help of an application downloaded to the users' smartphone (which must be connected to the company's wifi network), they can then release their jobs to any of the company's printing systems.
The majority of printing systems are compatible with our additional badge readers, allowing all pending prints to be triggered as soon as the user authenticates.
Contactless authentication, via a badge reader, eliminates the need for the user to touch the MFP screen to authenticate and release their jobs. The user will not need to be in contact with the MFP under any circumstances and the risk of exposure will be limited or even non-existent.
To find out if your printer or multifunction is compatible with a contactless badge solution, please contact us.
Charles Kieffer Group, thanks to its range of solutions, also offers you applications that will allow you to digitize your documents from your mobile terminals (phone, tablet, etc.). All you have to do is take pictures of the documents and inject them directly into a document search tool.
The solution we offer also has a mobile application capable of managing dematerialization workflows directly from your smartphone.
Here are some recommendations to keep clean the parts of the printing system that are regularly touched : the panel (screen and keys), the document feeder or the display glass, the handles of the paper trays :
VDo you have Konica Minolta printing equipment and want to know what features are available to secure and remotely manage your equipment? Fill out the contact form below and one of our experts will contact you to propose the most suitable solution for your company.
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