With the continued growth of hybrid working, employees increasingly need reliable ways to transport laptops and other equipment safely and securely. This shift presents a clear opportunity for resellers to add value by pairing devices with the right protective accessories.
With mobile working continuing to be popular for many employees, equipment such as laptops and phones are now often transported between offices and home. But with this comes risks as the hardware needs to be protected – and specialist bags can help.
“Carry cases play a critical role in protecting business assets,” says Joseph Opebiyi, strategic sales manager at DICOTA. “Organisations invest heavily in mobile and stationary devices, typically across a three-to-five-year lifecycle. While warranties and repair services are important, the role of physical protection is often underestimated.
“Providing a device with a high-quality bag or sleeve reinforces its value and helps extend its usable life. It’s much like the instinctive decision to protect a new phone the moment it comes out of the box. As a manufacturer focused on protection and sustainability, this is a consistent message we share with our partners and customers.
“Different users work in different ways, which is why our portfolio is designed to support a broad range of environments, from frontline workers, hybrid roles through to office-based professionals.”
DICOTA continues to strengthen its presence across the channel, following a renewed focus on market engagement. “One of the key highlights has been forming new relationships across the channel and increasing awareness of the DICOTA brand,” says Joseph.
“Reintroducing the brand, sharing our sustainability story, and demonstrating the breadth of our portfolio has been a very positive and rewarding journey.”
Upsell opportunities
Peripherals such as bags present upsell opportunities for resellers. “I often say: why eat half the pie when you can enjoy all of it?” says Joseph.
“Thinking ahead for customers and protecting their devices helps create stronger, longer-term relationships. If these conversations don’t happen, someone else will have them. Attach-led selling is a simple way for resellers to add value while strengthening partnerships.
“We’re seeing growing demand for carry cases, driven by hybrid and mobile working. At the same time, there is an increasing focus on protecting sensitive information on devices, which is where privacy solutions come into play. Data protection is no longer optional, and customers are actively looking for practical ways to address it.”
Personalised business bags are also in demand, Joseph adds. “This is especially the case among larger organisations as these products serve a practical and branding purpose,” he says.
“A bag carrying a company logo reinforces brand identity, supports employee engagement and increases visibility outside the workplace. DICOTA offers a unique customisation solution called Doming, which allows customers to replace the standard metal DICOTA plate with their own logo. It’s a clean, professional and sophisticated way to associate the product with the organisation.”
Chargers and privacy filters
As mentioned, in addition to bags, there is also a growing market for privacy filters, which are also supplied by DICOTA. “Organisations are investing heavily in cybersecurity and asset management to protect devices internally, but there is an equally important need to protect data externally,” Joseph adds.
“Privacy filters play a key role in preventing visual hacking and safeguarding sensitive information, particularly in shared or public working environments. This area continues to grow in importance as mobility and flexible working increase.”
Chargers, docking stations and USB-C adaptors are also important. “The need for these accessories will always exist as technology continues to evolve,” says Joseph.
“Changes in connectivity standards have reshaped how users’ power and interact with their devices. At the same time, workspaces are no longer fixed. Where desktop-based solutions once dominated, today’s hybrid and field-based roles require more flexible, portable accessories that work across multiple environments.”
“While accessories are not our primary focus category, we ensure our portfolio stays aligned with technological advancements. Workspaces are also evolving. Where traditional desktop docking solutions were once the norm, today’s hybrid and field-based roles require more flexible, portable solutions that work across multiple environments.”
Future
Looking to the future, Joseph is confident about the prospects for DICOTA and the market more widely. “The market will continue to grow, particularly around sustainability and hybrid working,” he says.
“DICOTA is positioning itself for this future by deepening its commitment to responsible manufacturing, with the majority of our carry cases now made from recycled materials.
“We continue to evolve our designs to support modern working practices, balancing protection, usability and security. Alongside this, ethical manufacturing remains a priority through recognised industry frameworks that promote transparency and responsibility across the supply chain.”
Joseph ends enthusiastically: “The future is positive. By building on the foundations already in place and working closely with our channel partners, we’re confident in our ability to deliver long-term value and sustainable growth in the UK market.”
This article first appeared in News in the Channel magazine issue #36.
