The Impact of 2018 Trends, from Mega Deals to the Generation Shift in 2019
Is it really the time of the year again to look back at the year that was? Let’s start with a brief recap of 2018, and then consider what 2019 may bring to the imaging industry.
Mega deals. A big one buys a smaller one, like the HP acquisition of the U.K. dealer Apogee, or not, like Fujifilm and Xerox. Throughout 2018, the news tickers wouldn’t stand still with all the local and global mergers and acquisitions in all print-related industries.
Gone forever. When Chapter 11 (that is, administration) hits, traditional printing becomes an endangered species. Consider the paper industry. Many printers/mills didn’t make a good match for a merger or acquisition.
Smarter SMBs. OEMs finally realized what the backbone of the industry is. They all finally rolled out initiatives for SMBs, including smart devices and smarter software solutions.
Digital Disruption. Inkjet printers are ruling the printing floor. Transactional, label, packaging, on-demand, catalog, textile, direct object””anything goes””and it goes best personalized and at unseen high speeds.
What’s cooking for 2019?
Is print still print? Let’s take a look at the word we used before imaging, “printing.” Isn’t it about time to re-write the definition of the word print/printing? As digital documents replace paper documents, and on the other side of the spectrum, print conquers material after material with devices that print on stone, wood, glass, other materials beyond paper, and 3D, shouldn’t we liberate the word print from paper, multiple copies of a documents, and books?
Free document composition from paper size or publishing format. Imagine, depending on the delivery requirements, some intelligent output engine makes the content look sexy and off it goes via email, an archivable or printable attachment, web presentment, or classic printed document. I know, there are first experiments out there, but nothing that’s 100% ready for everyday use.
Analytics for everyone. As artificial intelligence (AI), deepens learning, and algorithms grow up and become more reliable, we will use them for advanced analytics””predictive and prescriptive. Only with insights and precise forecasting can businesses stay competitive as analytics will help them make better-informed decisions.
What can we learn from 2018?
Smaller dealerships live in a shark pond, and the pond is getting smaller by the day. But, is buying each other the best thing to do to survive in this overly competitive world of print? For some, it might be. Going forward, we need to see more synergies. Hardware needs more software and services than ever to survive. For example, managed print services needs managed services, cybersecurity experts, and change management experts, for example. In simplest terms, start cross-breeding.
Production printing will grow to new dimensions. Packaging, labels, textile, personalized, individualized, enhanced, and augmented. The hardware is ready to go, the software is catching up, and the market is hungry. You can 3D-print a house, and customize or individualize, if you will, wallpaper, tiles, and floors. You can print books-of-one, personalize catalogs, highly personalized direct mail, enhanced statements””everything with added personalized augmented reality, video, and audio.
What’s the catch with all the new options?
Workflow and assets. Workflow and asset management with sophisticated, easy-to-use software will become more and more crucial to surviving in this battle of the fittest.
Education. Only highly skilled teams and teams of teams will make it. Employers need to wake up and make sure their teams have access to the best training possible.
Customer relationship management. The more we are surrounded by technology, the more honest and respectful personal relationships will impact business success.
Data privacy. Personalization everywhere. This means solid data protection and security for all processes involved. Data leaks will soon be the number one reason to break up a business relationship.
The generation shift. Just embrace it. Don’t overthink it. Just like 2019, the next, upcoming generation is just around the corner, and also like 2019, it should be a great one.
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