WhatTheyThink

Premium Commentary & Analysis

It’s 2012… and the Transformation of the Printing Industry is Happening NOW!

It’s a brand new year and a great time for predictions about what the future holds for the production printing market. This article outlines InfoTrends’ top seven predictions for 2012 related to digital technologies within the printing industry.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Well, 2012 is upon us already. It’s time for us to contemplate what is in store for the production printing market and make a few predictions. One of my favorite quotations comes from Yogi Berra, who stated, “It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future." While this may be true, predictions are fun for writers and readers alike. My crystal ball dedicated to the intersection of the printing industry and digital technology has brought forth seven predictions for 2012.

During drupa 2012, no other technology will receive more attention than inkjet.

First and foremost, the year 2012 will be all about digital color. Digital color represents a market growth opportunity for technology vendors as well as users. InfoTrends continually measures the retail value of print—the dollars that change hands between your customers and their customers. Projections indicate that while digital black & white will decline, the retail value of digital color will experience a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.4% between 2010 and 2015.


Continue reading your article
with a WhatTheyThink membership.

WhatTheyThink Annual Membership

Less than $4/week.

Get unlimited access to in-depth commentary and analysis covering the latest trends, emerging technologies, operational strategies, and key events across every segment of today's printing industry.

Stay informed. Stay competitive. Stay ahead.
WhatTheyThink Day Pass

$5 for 24 hours

Unlimited access to all of WhatTheyThink. Get your Day Pass

Already a member?
Sign In

About Barb Pellow

A digital printing and publishing pioneer, marketing expert and Group Director at InfoTrends, Barbara Pellow helps companies develop multi-media strategies that ride the information wave. Barb brings the knowledge and skills to help companies expand and grow business opportunity.

Please offer your feedback to Barb. She can be reached at [email protected].

Recent Articles from Barb Pellow

It’s an Omni-Channel World… Especially During the Holidays!

This holiday season, savvy retailers are working to meet customers on the channels where they are shopping and buying, whether it’s in a physical store, online, or via social media. This article highlights how various retailers are driving sales and encouraging engagement with multi-channel integrated campaigns. Read More

Differentiating Your Business with Wide Format

Wide format printing is a profitable and complementary product offering for print service providers that are seeking new markets and higher-margin businesses. This article discusses the three key practices for success in this market. Read More

It’s Time to Take the 15 Page a Day Challenge… and Share it with Friends!

This past July, the Paper and Packaging Board launched its 15 Pages a Day Challenge, which encourages everyone to commit to reading 15 pages each day. This article cites recent research to highlight the benefits of reading on paper and also provides information on the challenge. Read More

Industry 4.0 Will be Everywhere at Print 2017

Many historians agree that there have been three industrial revolutions to date, but interconnected digital technology might be triggering the fourth. Print 2017 is nearly upon us, and the concept of “Industry 4.0” will likely be a major theme at the event. This article discusses some of the Print 2017 advancements that are expected to change how print is manufactured, what service providers produce, and who print service providers will become as they transform their businesses to better align with digital technologies. Read More

Pricing Strategy: Labor Theory of Value versus Value-based Pricing

Companies within in the printing industry have historically had a manufacturing mentality—they subscribe to the labor theory of value, which states that the value of a service is determined by the amount of labor that goes into production. Now, thousands of firms in a variety of industries are pricing their services according to the external value created—as perceived and determined by the client—rather than the internal costs incurred in generating services. This article explores the concept of value-based pricing and highlights some real-world examples of companies that are embracing this strategy. Read More