Blog, News & Events

We’d like to thank our partner, Checkmarx for visiting our HQ on Tuesday 4 October and delivering Sales Enablement training to our sales team and providing a buffet lunch. It was great to meet Naseer from the partner success team and discover the latest updates and developments in the Checkmarx One product suite.

Checkmarx is constantly pushing the boundaries of Application Security Testing to make security seamless and simple for the worlds developers and security teams.

Adele Hope-Urwin, Head of Vendor Alliances said

“I’m really excited to host Checkmarx at our head office for our Sales Enablement session. Checkmarx solutions help our customers build tomorrows software securely at speed. It’s really important for the team to engage with our partners through these sessions and educate ourselves on this advanced technology. I can’t wait for the team to learn more about how this great technology can help our customers”.

Naseer Ahmed, Channel Sales Manager at Checkmarx said

“ASM is one of our most valued and trusted partners. Sessions like today allow us to build on our existing partnership in a mutually beneficial way and grow together. I’m a people person and getting in front of the ASM team helps to strengthen personal relationships and work better together. Although our partnership with ASM is in its early stages, I think the future is bright and I’m looking forward to our shared success.”

We’d like to extend a huge thank you to the team at GoTo who visited our office to deliver Sales Enablement sessions. We enjoyed meeting the partner team at Goto and learning more about the capabilities of the products and building on our existing strong partnership.

The team enjoyed a lunch provided by Goto through the Wildfire Pizza Company.

Adele Hope-Urwin, Head of Vendor Alliances said

It’s great to host GoTo for our Sales Enablement session at our Cheshire HQ. It’s brilliant to see so many of the team opting to join the meeting.

Goto software is designed to support end-users’ unified communications & collaboration and IT management & support needs.

Liselott Maidment, Senior Partner Manager at Goto said

It’s really important to us to develop our strong partnership with ASM and to understand how we can continue building on our shared successes. Running these Sales Enablement sessions ensures that we continue raising awareness for GoTo across ASM and foster great working relationships.

We’d like to thank Russell Harpham, Enterprise Development Manager from Bose Professional who visited our office to deliver the first in-person Sales Enablement session. The team enjoyed meeting Russell and understanding the Bose Work initiative and developing our partnership further.

Adele Hope-Urwin, Head of Vendor Alliances said

”It was my pleasure to host Bose for the first in-person sales enablement session at our new head office. Bose offer a fantastic product range of high performance audio systems for all environments, to suit all businesses. It was great to learn more about the solutions with such a valuable session for our team”.

We wanted to share some exciting news with you.

We are delighted to announce that for the third consecutive year the ASM Group has delivered double digit growth. Turnover has increased across all three of our businesses (UK, Germany and France) driven both organically, and through the strategic expansion into more regions and acquisition of new customers.

Our growth demonstrates the resilience of our footprint across EMEA and continued commitment to our customers. We continue to be the partner of choice to Global System Integrators and Value-Added Resellers. ASM’s unique business model continues to support a fulfilment infrastructure across 4 continents and 55 countries globally.

Through our team’s work on a variety of exciting projects, we have expanded our ecosystem of Partners and forged new relationships with vendors whose technologies are truly disrupting the market. To recognise the dedication of our excellent collaboration with our vendors, we’ve received numerous awards.

During the year, we opened the doors to our prestigious, state of the art office at Gadbrook Business Centre which was built with sustainability, innovation and collaboration at the forefront. Our expansion has also created new positions within the business, and we are delighted to welcome our new colleagues to the team.

2021 also saw the launch of series 2 of the ASM Connected podcast, in which hosts, Iain Tomkinson and Stephen Dale, collaborated with key speakers, futurists, and business leaders from across the globe to explore emerging technology trends, innovation and more.

I’m incredibly proud to work with such a dynamic, resilient, and dedicated team” said Iain Tomkinson, Sales Director.

“In September, ASM will be 30 years old and I believe that our ability to adapt to everchanging landscapes and customer demands has been key to our success. As we look ahead, this coming financial year is really about developing robust, long term relationships with our customers and partners to equip us for strong growth in the future. After two years of remote working, video conferencing and virtual events, we’re really looking forward to coming together with our customers, partners, and team to celebrate our joint success over the last two years”.

Something exciting is coming, watch this space for more updates…

Financial year end 2021-22

2021 Emerging Tech in Review. It’s not really a panda burger!

We talked about emerging tech a lot throughout 2021. Series 2 of the ASM Connected podcast has been a great success and our esteemed guests have told us how far we have come and where we are going next. Futurist Matthew Griffin of the 311 Institute, who started out in distribution, even talked about as far forward as 30+ years from now. But in order to predict the future, we must look at the past, said Brett King in episode 3, so we have looked back at 2021 to see how our business has aligned with what the futurists have been talking about.

Starting off with Enterprise Content Delivery Network (ECDN). This has moved rapidly from emerging to essential and we’ve enjoyed this journey with our partner, Kollective Technology. It’s no surprise that big companies are using more video for internal communications and the need for scale has challenged many. In episode 2 of ASM Connected, Richard Potter from Microsoft discusses their focus and commitment to the hybrid and remote working future which Kollective are supporting. Together we’ve helped deliver a greater ROI for users of Teams throughout 2021.

Biometric Authentication reminds us of this year’s challenges, when making payments using facial recognition on our phones was thwarted by our face masks. It was back to entering a passcode which is so last decade. Thanks to our partner, Idenprotect, we’ve seen some great steps forward this year towards eliminating all passwords. In episode 3 of ASM Connected, Futurist, Brett King explains a whole new future of payments technology which will change our in-store experience entirely. Goodbye passwords, hello responsible proactive finance.

Virtual Reality has been building for a few years now. You may have seen a virtual reality tour of Tottenham Hotspurs new stadium before it opened in 2019 or enjoyed the TV show “Your Garden Made Perfect” which introduced many of us to the practical uses of VR during lockdown 1.0, when we all got into gardening. Oculus seem to be leading the charge, but if you listen to ASM Connected episode 5 with Futurist, Amelia Kallman, you’ll hear how Ray Bans, Microsoft and obviously Apple will all be in the race for our brand loyalty in the future. VR has been the most popular answer this year when we’ve been asking our podcast guests about their favourite tech gadgets.

Internet of Things is another buzzword we have all heard a lot about this year. Other than our connected home devices, the enterprise use cases have been slow to emerge outside of the manufacturing sector. However, it’s picking up pace and we may even see a leap directly to the Internet of Everything next year. We’ve seen significant development with our customers in IoT in the utilities and in the facilities management sector this year, but don’t rule out the progress that has been made in the retail and supply chain sectors. In podcast episode 7, Cate Trotter gave us some great insights into the massive transformation in retail. Subscribe to ASM Connected to be the first to hear the episodes with Brett Phaneuf and Inma Martinez; due out early next year, as they discuss IoT projects ranging from autonomous boats to smart cities and cars that are superior to humans.

Robotic Process Automation is the trend that has probably been talked about more than any other.  We all can’t decide whether to fear it or embrace it. I think on every podcast this series we have talked about how AI, machine learning and RPA are supposed to be bringing about the leisure society, but I haven’t seen many people work less hours in 2021, so I think there is some distance to go yet. Even automating simple tasks has been a challenge for many of our customers, but we have been really impressed with our partners at Keysight Technologies, Eggplant who are leading the way in automated software testing. It’s our favourite application of automation as it’s adding value in every sector our customers work in.

3D Printing is an interesting one. The tech is not so new, but it’s the use case and application that have advanced this year. We’ve come a long way from printing that missing Lego brick to solar roof tiles, replacement human body parts, and DNA matched meat free food. In Episode 4 of ASM Connected, Futurist, Matthew Griffin shares his thoughts on 3D printing and is a huge fan. You’ll soon hear our podcast with Dr Ruchi Pathak Kaul who is changing people’s lives with the use of 3D printing as a pioneer of maxillofacial surgery.

API Security is nothing new to us at ASM Technologies. We’ve been working with the industry leaders and pioneers at Forum Systems who have worked in this emerging space for the past 18 years. Everyone is integrating via API’s now. They are like digital glue, but any interface is a threat in a zero-trust world, so the more interactions we create, the more API Security becomes significant.

Device Management sounds a little less sci-fi than some emerging trends, but don’t underestimate the important role it has played in empowering and connecting people during the Covid pandemic. Our partners at Jamf have gone from strength to strength this year with use cases across health, education, business, and public sector bringing the familiar Apple user experience to enterprise and so much more. In the first series of the ASM Connected podcast, episode 2 with Elizabeth Lucas from Jamf covers the important role this technology has played in patient visitor communication in hospitals.

Big Data Security and Analytics has been one our most active trends this year. Our partners at Grafana have been super busy as their open-source platform delivers impressively on the observability imperative. In ASM Connected episode 6 of series 1, podcast legend Dave Russell explains the complexity of the layers of big data, in a way that even we understand.

Finally, Human Insight AI is an exciting trend, even if it sounds a little more niche than the others we’ve reviewed. In fact, the human and societal impact of new tech and our curiosity about AI have been consistent threads during Series 2 of ASM Connected. Keep a look out for our soon to be released podcast with Inma Martinez where we learn how emerging technology in the transport sector is already superior to humans and is improving further to keep us safe. Subscribe here to ensure you don’t miss an episode. Our partners at SmartEye are ones to watch in this emerging trend.

We’ve really enjoyed our contribution to emerging tech trends throughout 2021 and would like to thank all our excellent customers, vendor partners and podcast guests for joining us on this journey.

You’ll have to listen to episode 4 of ASM Connected with Matthew Griffin to hear the story about the panda burgers!

We wanted to share some exciting news with you. After an uncertain year that will go down in history for many reasons, we are extremely proud to announce that ASM Technologies has again seen double-digit, organic growth across our UK, German, and French businesses.

Like most businesses around the world, we entered the financial year with an uncertain view of what the pandemic would bring for the business, coupled with the economic concerns of entering a national lockdown and having to enable our employees to work from home securely, all within a matter of days.

Through the technologies of the strategic vendors that we partner with, the robust systems we have in place and the hard work and dedication of our Business Systems team, we were able to mobilise quickly and secure our remote workforce, and continue to provide an excellent, valued service to our customers who were also facing the same uncertainty.

We feel incredibly fortunate to have been in a position this past year where we have been expanding the business and have successfully recruited and filled many new positions. We’ve continued to be the partner of choice for Europe’s largest System Integrators and Value-Added Resellers and have not only retained existing customers and expanded into new regions, but also acquired new international customers too.

“I’ve always been extremely proud of the team’s ability to adapt and work in a way that best suits the needs of our customers and the projects at hand, but even more so this past year”

said Iain Tomkinson, Sales Director.

“The dedication and resilience that has been shown whilst working from home in delivering some really important projects has made me incredibly proud to work for ASM. I wanted to pay a special thank you to the team at our warehouse facility, who have quickly adjusted to social distancing whilst consistently making sure our customers are receiving their orders. I look forward to continuing to work with our customers on some great projects this coming year and welcoming the challenges that are thrown at us and am reassured in knowing that we have the best possible team to navigate what comes our way”.

We have lots to look forward to in this coming financial year, including moving into our brand new, state-of-the-art Cheshire HQ office. Watch this space for more info on this soon.

Digital Marketing Executive, Molly Oakley started with ASM in July and is working from home for the first time. In this blog, she shares her experience of remote working for the first time, her thoughts of starting a new job during lockdown and the advice she would give to others looking to start a new role remotely.

How did you feel about starting a new role from home during lockdown?

I was quite apprehensive about starting a new role from home during lockdown because I had never worked from home before so didn’t know what to expect. I was however very excited and very lucky to be starting my new role during this uncertain time and was looking forward to getting back to doing what I love and learning even more about the IT industry.

How did ASM support you starting your new role working remotely?

Any worry I was experiencing ahead of starting my role quickly disappeared when I spoke with my manager as she assured me that I would have my induction completed in person (socially distanced of course) and I would learn about the policies and procedures at ASM and receive all my equipment that I needed to fulfil my role. On my first day, I was introduced to both founding directors of ASM and was greeted with a warm welcome which was lovely. My manager got me set up with equipment and arranged for skype calls with each member of the management team and various other colleagues. It was lovely to meet the different people I would be working with and gain an understanding of their role. I also attended virtual coffee mornings with colleagues from different teams who I wouldn’t be working as closely with which helped me gain a better understanding of the wider business but also broke the ice and allowed me to have more informal conversations and get to know them much better.

Were there any challenges you faced starting a new role remotely and how were these overcome?

I was quite worried initially about how the communication with colleagues would be, specifically if I was unsure about a task I had been set or something was not working. In previous roles, I had never worked at home so I’d never needed to use video conferencing systems and although I vaguely knew how to use them, I didn’t realise how sophisticated they were and how many features they had. Upon discovering these features and receiving training on how best to use them, my mind was instantly put to rest as I had the confidence that I could communicate easily with my colleagues and raise any issues I had with ease and efficiency.

How did you find the process of building relationships with your new colleagues remotely?

I really enjoyed getting to know my colleagues and building relationships with each of them. I was assigned a buddy when I started who was someone I could go to (aside from my manager) who could answer any questions and be a friendly face/voice. My buddy was Sam Scott who you’ll hear from in another new starter blog and he started at ASM just as we went in to lockdown so aside from the two people he met at his interview, he met all colleagues virtually too. My manager thought that he would be a good fit as a buddy for me as he had been through the same recruitment process as me and could answer any questions from first-hand experience. Technology has played a vital part in making it possible for me to build strong personal and professional relationships with colleagues and partners. There is something much more powerful about a video call compared to a voice call in being able to build relationships with people. I’ve found it easier getting to know people in their natural home environments. Without technology, I think my remote working experience would have been very different and felt a lot more isolating.

What advice would you give to someone starting a new role remotely?

I would say keeping an open mind is important because my experience has been amazing and although I had my worries at the start, the support from all my colleagues at ASM has been amazing and any worries I had very quickly dissipated.

Sam Scott, Business Development Manager, started with ASM during the first UK lockdown. In this blog, he shares his experience of remote working right from the start, building relationships with colleagues and customers and any challenges he faced along the way.

How did you feel about starting a new role from home during lockdown?

I’d worked remotely and, on the road, previously, so the idea of home working wasn’t alien to me. I think what I really felt was excitement for the new challenge and a responsibility to become a tangible part of the business. Metaphorically becoming another oarsman, rowing our way through the unprecedented and complex seas of Covid-19.

How did ASM support you starting your new role working remotely?

If ASM was an act on Britain’s got talent, I’d of swiftly slammed my hand down on the golden buzzer!

I had the warmest of welcomes, warmest as a word doesn’t really do it justice. The support I’d received prior to my start, on my first day and throughout my time here has been incomparable to what I’ve experienced before. I guess, also, that we all have a sense of wanting to be a part of something. I can safely say that thanks to the family feel and outstanding support I’ve had, ASM have really made me feel part of something! More so than I would have expected.

Being forced to work remotely due to Covid can put you in that fight or flight mode. Adapting to a landscape that changed seemingly every week can be challenging and mentally draining. I remember having probably similar thoughts to many other people that; come the end of June, well be back to normal, then thinking the same about the end of July and so on. Thanks to the planning and support from my team I’ve been able to negate those challenges and focus on how we can help each other adapt whilst we meander our way through the new normal.

Were there any challenges you faced starting a new role remotely and how were these overcome?

No specific challenges work wise. Although, my work laptop and mobile phone were delayed by a day which was only natural whilst the country dealt with the surge of demand and difficulties of adapting to lockdown. Easiest first day of my life! I would like to point out that I am part of the single screen brigade and anytime I’m asked what my ‘set up’ is, I’m greeted with revolt and disbelief that I can work with less than three!

I enjoy working remotely as there are so many clear benefits of doing so. Less hours in the car, flexibility, saving time and money, more quality time with the Guinea pig! But of course, there’s a glaring obstacle we all face in the form of a pandemic.

Yes, there are days where the amalgamation of work and home becomes mundane and things we all enjoy don’t quite feel the same. However, remote working is what you want it to be and I’m thankful I’ve been able to lean on a team for inspiration and guidance.

With that said, I’d simply add that yes there are challenges BUT there always will be wherever you work.

How did you find the process of building relationships with your new colleagues remotely?

Some that know me will say I’m an interesting character baring any other descriptions that may not be suitable for this blog! I learnt a very important lesson at a very young age that I should know my audience which I’ve taken onboard but would still stand by the fact that we are all human and our faces were born to smile. If I can do nothing else apart from blessing you with crow’s feet in later life, that’s a job well done in my rather worn and unkept book! I’ve enjoyed the whole process of virtually meeting my team but I’m bleeding to meet my team in the flesh as soon as possible!

What advice would you give to someone starting a new role remotely?

Genuinely be interested in what you are doing! Being interested and intrigued by your work makes the days more enjoyable whilst working remotely. Also sip from as many fountains of knowledge as you can; grab a pint glass and fill it up!