13 Feb Interview with John McPhillips, Managing Director

What has been a highlight of the last 30 years?

There have been many highlights, far too many to list, but some stand out. Working with incredible customers who have trusted us to deliver solutions and services has been truly rewarding. Seeing dedicated team members reach milestones of 28, 26, and 18 years of service, taking pride in their work, is something I deeply appreciate. One of the most fulfilling aspects has been having my family join me on this journey, knowing they will be the ones driving the business forward in the future.

What excites you about waking up for work everyday?

It has been incredibly rewarding to see our staff take the business to new heights, constantly pushing boundaries and embracing innovation. Their dedication and enthusiasm are evident in the way they seize new opportunities, expanding our reach across the entire portfolio. The excitement and sense of achievement they feel when securing new business reflect their hard work, commitment, and belief in what we offer. Watching them grow in confidence, build strong relationships with clients, and contribute to our continued success is truly inspiring. Their passion and drive are the backbone of our business, ensuring that we not only meet but exceed expectations in an ever-evolving industry.

What separates Digital Office Group from its competitors?

As a family-owned, nationally recognised company, we are dedicated to our customers and measure our success by consistently exceeding your expectations. Our team embraces the philosophy that customer retention is essential to maintain success and we actively engage in community efforts, striving to make a positive difference in the lives of others. 

How has COVID 19 effected Digital Office Group?

Covid convinced us to push our plans forward. With the dip in print across the whole market space, we saw our consistent revenues decrease between 15% to 20%. At the time this felt fortunate as some other businesses within our sector have seen a fall of between 30-40% and are still yet to return to those pre-covid figures. Our revenues are now starting to get back to pre-pandemic levels, and with the introduction of our IT Services and Tetra, we are seeing growth in additional areas that were outside of our original business mix.

How has the industry changed since you started your career, and how have you had to adapt?

When we started, the standard photocopier was stood in the corner. That’s all it did, copy. Now it is an essential part of everyday business life, it will print, copy and scan, along with apps to link to various systems on customer networks, shortcutting laborious tasks and speeding up many business processes. Working in sales, we have had to learn and understand systems that make us technically aware of customer needs and requirements, not just speed and feeds as was par for the early days.

Fast forward 3 years, what does it look like?

Digital Office Group and Tetra Communications will have grown substantially, supplying customers with photocopiers, MFD’s, telecoms, networks, CCTV and IT support contracts.

Sum up the last 30 years in 3 words.

Exciting, Emotional, Brilliant!