e-knows Consultants were established in 2005. Founded by James Shand edp who has more than 30-years experience in the digital printing industry with service bureaus and consultancy.

Business Philosophy
Our goal is simply to use our experience, knowledge and skills to educate others so they can benefit. The approach to projects is very much hands-on working with you to deliver solutions.

People 
    James Shand edp - Managing Director. 

James has been involved with IT technology for more than 30 years starting in the Operations department of an IT Service Bureau RHM Management Services providing computing outsource services.  His career progressed throughout the organisation in various management positions to become its youngest Director.  He spent some 14 years at the executive level managing all functions within the business.  He was responsible for the introduction of laser printing technology into the data centre with Xerox 9700s in the late 70’s which led to the creation of a business unit providing print application outsourcing for clients creating a Service Bureau for the company.

After 24 years with the same Service Bureau James then decided to achieve a long desired ambition and create his own consultancy business, Paper Jungle Limited.  He provided strategic management to organisations around the document as a communications channel.  It was this successful development that led him to find edotech as a client whilst they were still an operational division of Barclays Bank.  It was his involvement with the management of edotech that helped identify the market opportunity which contributed the leverage for the MBO which took place in May 2000.  James was invited to participate in the MBO as part of the founding management team.

Following the MBO and its independence edotech Limited became one of the fastest growing companies in the UK developing its client base from £20 million ($37m) turnover, predominantly from Barclays Group being 96% of turnover, in 2000 to some £80 million ($149m) in 2004, where Barclays were only 29% of turnover and no reduction in spend.  Client successes in which James took the lead commercial role were British Telecom; MBNA; Legal & General and FirstAssist who contracted for total outsourcing of their document facilities to edotech.  In April 2004 edotech was acquired by the Astron Group for £130m making them the largest UK provider of transactional solutions specialising in the financial and telecoms markets. 

James left Astron in June 2005 after a period of 12-months on gardening leave during which he continued to support members of Xplor and undertook a research project into the ‘True Cost’ of Digital Colour Printing - which was published in June 2005.  In October 2005 James created another strategic consultancy business, e-knows Limited.  His consulting activities have been with the Canadian Government working on a strategy for digital colour; Israel Service Bureau seeking investment in Europe for digital printing; Jersey Post (ProMail) developing strategy for full colour digital printing and expanding the service bureau operation; European Research for USA Software company; Canon UK & Europe in supporting their drive into the colour digital market with the launch of their new C7000VP series printing technology; Supporting a Swiss company in their strategic review for document management services and numerous educational presentations at industry forums such as Xplor International, Canon Europe, BPIF, HP, Xerox and IPEX.

James’s involvement in supporting the industry started in 1980 when he created the UK Xerox Users Group and discovered the start of Xplor International in the USA.  Following his first conference in 1982 he was elected to the Xplor association board of directors for the International Region where he was an active participant until 1989.  During this period he served on a number of JTCs (Joint Councils on Technology) and Xplor Committees with the final accolade being his election as the first non-American President in 1987 then the first to hold successive terms by winning the election in 1988.  He was responsible for the creation of Xplor Europe which has led to the development of a number of local Regions and Chapters.  He has been an officer for the UK Region since its creation.  His return to the mainstream of Xplor was in 1999 where he was elected as the UK ABOD representative.  James became Chairman (President) again in 2001 for a further 3-year period.  Following this he maintained a board position until his resignation in 2006.  The last three years have seen significant change in the structure of Xplor and the creation of a strategy to ensure its financial survival and as a leading organisation for the benefit of the membership and the industry so James has continued to work with the President of Xplor International on the strategy for the association.

In 2007 e-knows Limited took management responsibility for Xplor UK & Ireland with the aim of developing a stronger curriculum and program for the membership as digital technology enters a new paradigm