Blackroc continues to raise the standards

After 20 years in the AIDC market, Blackroc Technology and sister company Blackroc Distribution have practically grown up with the data capture industry.  Through the years both companies have expanded and diversified to supply an extensive range of hardware and develop cutting- edge technology solutions for resellers across the UK. In this issue IT Reseller spoke with Tony Jephcott, CEO of the Blackroc Group, to find out how resellers can leverage the companies' technological expertise to deliver unique solutions to the end user.

In an industry such as ours where competition has never been tougher, it is technical proficiency and extensive industry knowledge that differentiates Blackroc from the basic 'box shift' model of hardware distribution. With over 50 years of combined experience in the AIDC space, Blackroc has a specialist team of developers and technology experts to help resellers deliver not only hardware but unique applications to the end customer.

Expert services
Blackroc provides a wide range of expert services to all its resellers, from pre-sales support and implementation, through to product development that can add new functionality to existing hardware helping resellers to meet the requirements of even the most unusual applications. Earlier this year Blackroc unveiled just one example of this product development, its new C32M camera for the Psion Workabout Pro. "The camera was specifically designed for parking applications where enforcement officers need to capture an image to prove the parking offence," explained Tony Jephcott. "Furthermore the peripheral device was developed to include an enhanced GPS capability that records accurate geo-fixing of images to within two metres confirming where the picture was taken."

In addition to its pre-sales technical support, Blackroc can also provide resellers with a range of maintenance and repair services for a number of hardware makes and models and can even support devices that have been discontinued by the manufacturer. As an authorised Repair Centre for Intermec and M3 Mobile product ranges our service team has undergone comprehensive product training to ensure that all our repairs meet the rigorous standards set out by the industry leading vendors.

Blackroc's in-depth knowledge of the AIDC industry covers all areas, including more complex technologies such as RFID. Two decades of experience in RFID combined with close relationships with the world's leading vendors and independent experts, including AIM UK, enables Blackroc to identify appropriate RFID solutions for the most advanced applications and we are sometimes required to assist resellers in integrating hardware on site. To share some of this high level of technical expertise, Blackroc partnered with some of the world's leading providers of RFID solutions and created RFIDReader 2010, a must have guide to radio frequency identification for  resellers and end users.  

Finding new ways to share our expertise
To improve interaction with our customers further and communicate the latest news on products to a global audience, Blackroc Distribution and Blackroc Technology have recently joined social networking tool, Twitter. "We have made a decision to join the social media platform in order to interact and share information with a wider audience of personal contacts and give everyone the opportunity to leave feedback and ask questions about the services and technology that Blackroc can offer," commented Jephcott. "Many businesses within the industry are already present on social networks and social media is clearly becoming a popular method of discussion and an essential part of marketing mix. According to the latest statistics from Twitter, there are 105,779,710 registered Twitter users, with 180million unique visitors per month and 300,000 new users signing up every day. By following both, Blackroc Distribution and Blackroc Technology on Twitter, resellers can learn more about our product range and obtain access to valuable resources from Blackroc and its partners."

Improving access to information
Another valuable tool for Blackroc's resellers is its recently developed e-commerce website, providing customers with access to the latest information and pricing on a complete range of data capture products from industry leading manufacturers including Intermec, M3 Mobile, Psion Teklogix and Sato. Blackroc is committed to meeting customers' expectations and delivering solutions and services at the right price, with the right attitude, time and time again. "Using new mediums, such as Twitter, is a great way to keep in touch with our customer base, we are confident that when combined with good old-fashioned customer service, it will contribute to our future growth and success," concluded Jephcott.