Digital Transformation of Print Business: Seven Things You Should Know

1. Digital Transformation of Print Business: Seven Things You Should Know        Our summer blog post series on different analog and digital printing technologies revealed how ongoing                 advances in digital printing technologies are creating major shifts in how printing businesses are             operated. Here are seven points to consider as your print shop continues to evolve.                                 The digital transformation of the print business is part of a much larger transformation of how products                 are manufactured, marketed, and sold. All types and sizes of products are likely to be ordered online and               manufactured in smaller batches closer to the point where they will be used. On-demand manufacturing               will reduce shipping and inventory costs, minimize inventories, and decrease waste.                                                            Different types and sizes of digital printing devices can produce short and medium runs of almost any                 type of product formerly printed exclusively with offset, flexographic, screen printing, gravure, or pad               printing.                                  Production inkjet and electrographic presses can produce the types of labels, folding cartons, books,             catalogs, magazines, and billing documents traditionally produced by offset lithography.                    Digital label printers and electrographic presses can complement flexographic printers in making labels             and flexible packaging.                 Direct to garment and ​digital textile printers can replace or complement the screen-printing presses                 traditionally used to decorate garments and print rolls of textiles.               Grand-format and ​roll-to-roll and flatbed wide-format are replacing automated screen printing presses           used to make large-format signs and display graphics.                 Direct-to-object and direct-to-shape presses are reducing the use of pad printing or specialized screen           printing equipment have traditionally been used to add text and logos to three-dimensional and cylindrical               objects.                                     

2. Dye-sublimation printers can print fabrics for apparel, upholstery, stage backdrops, curtains, and soft             signage as well as photo gifts and custom decor products and large-format photo, art, and decorative                   panels, tabletops, signs, and displays.                              Specialized industrial digital printers can be dedicated to printing wallcoverings, aluminum siding,             architectural glass, ceramics, wood laminates, containers, and other products.                Large-format 3D printers can be used to print custom mannequins for store displays or props for theme                 parks, experiential marketing, and stage productions.                    Analog presses will continue to be used.   While digital printing devices eliminate the prepress, setup, and job-changeover time associated with             using plates or screens for each ink color, analog printing methods are still more cost-effective for                 high-volume runs.                                 Print businesses equipped with both analog and digital presses can sell all sizes of print jobs, and route               each job to the printing device that best meets the cost, quality, and turnaround requirements of each                   project.                                          The equipment your shop uses will be determined by what niche markets you serve.   Although many digital-printing devices are extremely versatile, it makes sense to develop a marketing           focus that helps your print shop stand out among targeted groups of customers.                      While printing is a manufacturing process, buyers don’t choose a print-service-provider based on the type               of equipment you use. Instead, they look at the full range of services your business can provide. They look                     for providers that can help them solve specific challenges such as:                                    Data management for integrated, personalized online and print marketing campaigns;  Order fulfillment for a mix of print-on-demand products;   Design and production of corrugated packaging and displays;  Production and sewing of fabric graphics and fabrication and set-up of custom displays;  Planning and coordination of event graphics that combine printed and digital displays;  Fabrication and installation of permanent museum exhibits;  Publication and shipping of books and magazines in specialized markets;   Design, fabrication, and installation of printed and digital signage;  Production and installation of graphics for out-of-home advertising campaigns  Design, production, and installation of customized interiors    ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Workflow automation and web-to-print storefronts are essential.   As more of your customers use artificial intelligence and automation in their marketing and operations,               they will expect print service providers to do the same. Business buyers are also growing accustomed to                   purchasing more products online.                                    If your shop isn’t currently putting automated systems in place to improve efficiency, reduce errors, and               enable online ordering, you risk falling behind. Look for versatile, easy-to-use, scalable systems that               enable you to manage a growing number of multi-part, short-run, fast-turnaround jobs on a changing mix                 of printing and finishing devices.                                                   

3. Digital communications will continue to affect the demand for printed graphics.   Magazine, newspaper, and book publishers were the first printing business to feel the impact in electronic               forms of communications. Now, digital signage and displays are being incorporated into a museum and               trade-show displays, experiential marketing activations, and all types and sizes of events.                                     Some sign and visual-communications companies now offer a mix of indoor and outdoor sign fabrication,           digital sign management, and sign installation services. Buyers of on-premise signs prefer not to go to             two different suppliers when seeking advice about what types of signage is best for different areas of               large hospitals, universities, schools, and office buildings.                                                              Staying on top of new developments is critical.   Innovation is rampant in the printing business today. It’s important to pay close attention to new products               that can help you reduce costs, improve customer service, and prevent disruptions from innovative               business models or unexpected sources of competition.                                     Follow us on social media  If the changes in the printing business seem overwhelming, Ordant will continue to publish posts that help                 you understand the changing vocabulary, materials, and costs associated with running a printing           business. To serve the changing needs of our customers, we work hard to keep abreast of both changes                 in the printing business and changes in automation and software. Follow Ordant on ​LinkedIn​, Facebook​,                 or​ Twitter​.