ROCHESTER, N.Y -- In-plant print providers surveyed by Xerox Corporation reported their biggest challenge was being viewed as a "must-have" function within their company. Other issues facing the group ranged from establishing new services, declining print budgets and meeting demand without sacrificing quality.

The survey, offered to In-plant Printing and Mailing Association (IPMA) members, also collected views about the economic climate, environment and expectations for the future of the industry. Respondents were asked questions ranging from what applications present opportunities to generate new print volume to how their businesses are affected by the current economic climate.

The majority of survey respondents reported:

    •    the best opportunity for generating new print volume is with direct mail, photo specialty products, transactional promotional materials and book publishing

    •    there is increased demand in applications such as full-color and black-and-white variable-data printing, Web-to-print and wide-format printing

    •    digital print allows expansion into new areas and improves the speed and productivity of their in-plants

    •    driving business from internal departments, establishing new services and proving strategic relevancy to their companies are critically important to the survival of in-plants

IPMA 2009 Conference

As part of IPMA's annual conference being held in Rochester, N.Y., Xerox hosted a panel titled "Key Attributes to a Successful In-plant Operation." Panel members included Peter Muir, president, Bizucate and John Meyer, director of HUB print and postal services at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Panelists discussed techniques and strategies to help in-plants thrive during these difficult economic times.

"The panel spoke to the tremendous value in-plants provide to their companies and institutions," said Debbie Pavletich, president of IPMA. "In-plants combine cutting-edge print services with a vested interest in their organization's success."

IPMA members also toured Xerox's Gil Hatch Center for Customer Innovation and participated in a number of workshops.