Leading inkjet and digital print analyst, Marco Boer, expects business models will shift to high value digital printed content and highlights the importance of workflow automation, production tracking and cost analytics to help printers thrive in a post COVID-19 world.

Westford, Mass. – Ironsides Technology, a leading provider of automated production business intelligence for the printing, mailing, fulfillment, and packaging industries, recently hosted a webinar with IT Strategies’ Marco Boer discussing digital production printing in a post COVID-19 world. As offset print pages shift to digital and customers tighten SLA requirements, printers need to embrace workflow automation, track and trace technology, and costing software in order to thrive over the next five years. 

“We will see less print as a result of the coronavirus crisis,” said Boer. “Business models that focus on the lowest cost per page will disappear and printers will shift to producing higher-value digital printed content. Customers will expect an Amazon model. They will only buy what they want, when they want it and will expect two-day turn arounds and greater accountability.”

According to the webinar, higher frequency, short-run jobs mean that production facilities will not be able to rely on staff alone to track each job and keep operations running smoothly. This will require workflow and production tracking automation tools that integrate into existing digital production environments. This will allow staff to focus on data management tasks such as variable data, micro-runs, and just-in-time manufacturing. With automation and tracking, printers will also be able to meet customer accountability requirements.

Boer adds that “digital printers who want to thrive in a post coronavirus marketplace, it won’t be about having the next new digital press. It will be about understanding production costs. As business owners become better at tracking each job and its true costs, they can develop dynamic pricing models based on margins and supply and demand. In a few short years, I believe the digital printing landscape will look better than we have ever seen it before.”

“The technology is available today to help digital printer understand production costs of each job,” said Bill Riley, CEO and Founder of Ironsides Technology. “Our Nor’Star System combines automated production tracking with business analytics to understand the true costs of each print job, from prepress through production, finishing, bindery, sorting, packaging, shipping, and mailing. Management gains valuable insights into their margins to improve facility profitability, efficiency, and even identify new application opportunities to grow their business. This helps business owners stay resilient and weather any storm.”