ON THE MOVE
Innovative Digital Solutions is in the midst of big changes with new acquisitions, new headquarters and a fresh chapter for the Bay.
PHOTOS KATIE COX
In Tauranga, if a business needs its printers to work, its digital workflows to run smoothly or its office tech to just behave, there’s a good chance Innovative Digital Solutions (IDS) is behind it. For more than 20 years, the company has become a backbone for businesses across the BOP, Coromandel and South Waikato, evolving alongside technology and local business needs.
Every story has a beginning, and IDS’s is modest. In 2005, co-founders Jim Tavendale and Dan Martin opened their first office with “just our name on the door and a phone number,” Jim recalls. With one technician, one office staffer and no clients, their mission was simply to listen and solve problems. That hands-on, practical approach became the company’s guiding principle.
The early days demanded improvisation and a willingness to tackle whatever came through the door.
As the company grew, its systems and team grew too. Continuous improvement became a steady foundation that would allow IDS to expand without losing its personal touch.
But IDS didn’t just stick with printers. As workplaces evolved, so did the company. Today, it offers everything from print management and advanced scanning, to digital signage, workflow automation and interactive smart screens for schools and businesses.
“We’re not selling machines, we’re helping businesses work smarter,” says Dan. “Whether it’s scanning documents efficiently or reducing unnecessary printing, it’s about making processes simpler and more sustainable.”
Despite expanding its services, IDS has remained staunchly local. Operating from Tauranga with a dedicated Rotorua office, the company ensures clients always talk to someone who knows their business and their challenges, not a call centre on the other side of the world.
Recent years have seen IDS grow through the onboarding of new clients and carefully considered acquisitions. In 2025, the company purchased Insite Technology, a BOP print supply business, adding a number of new clients. Then, in early 2026, IDS acquired Bay Copy, an exclusive Canon authorised partner with 16 years of local presence, further increasing the IDS customer base. Together, these acquisitions have strengthened two established local businesses, forming a powerful, community-based organisation. Alongside experienced staff and specialist expertise, they have enhanced the company’s local footprint and expanded its range of solutions.
To accommodate growth, IDS moved into a purpose-built headquarters a year ago. The space is modern and collaborative, a reflection of the company itself, which is practical and designed for people first.
But the company’s biggest strength is its team. Some employees have been with IDS since day one, and many long-term staff are approaching a decade of service.
Others take opportunities abroad and return with new perspectives, creating a blend of experience and fresh thinking. It’s a culture built on respect and a shared commitment to the local business community.
Two decades on, IDS is now a local story of growth and connection. And with a solid foundation, a new modern headquarters and a team that values people as much as technology, the next chapter looks just as promising.