Canon offers SMEs free IT seminars

Canon is offering SMEs a series of free seminars around the UK on how to make the most out of IT infrastructure.

The printer, camera and copier supplier launched the series in Edinburgh on 13 November. Canon will travel to five other venues around the UK during the rest of the month.

In conjunction with Microsoft, Hewlett Packard and 3Com, the so-called Know How seminars aim to provide SMEs with plain English explanations of how to make cost savings, and improve productivity and communication within companies by more efficient use of IT.

Canon has released results of a survey of SMEs, which shows that 62 per cent of SME employees consider themselves to have only average to poor knowledge of technology. It also found that 41 per cent of staff surveyed do not have internet access from their desk.

Canon's results show that many small businesses are struggling to make use of IT, as they cannot afford resources dedicated to managing IT infrastructure. It says that 36 per cent of offices do not have one person specifically in charge of IT requirements, and - as a consequence - a whopping 20 per cent of each working day is wasted due to lack of reliable IT equipment.

In the seminars, Microsoft will discuss its Small Business Server 4.5 software, while 3Com will cover developments in networking - particularly the coming convergence of data and telephone systems.

Canon, which now focuses its sales on "imaging across networks", will explain how to audit your IT infrastructure and decide what your future needs may be.

The half-day seminars will run from 9.30am to 1pm, and will also take place in Harrogate, Warwick, Reading, Reigate and London.