As more businesses begin to emerge from the disruption caused by the ongoing pandemic, decision-makers are beginning to look for ways to generate the kind of adaptability, flexibility, and productivity that contribute to deeper profits — and a healthier bottom line.
One of the significant ways thought leaders in the print and imaging industry are tapping into increased efficiency is through using automated workflows in their production print environments.
In short, automation equals simplicity — the kind of simplicity that encourages efficiency, reduces errors, and produces specific, goal-oriented outcomes.
While automation has been used as a business strategy for years, the changes wrought by COVID-19 have served as a catalyst to push more organizations to adopt it as a way to reduce the overall complexity of a variety of business processes. Advantages associated with a simpler, leaner environment are plentiful and allow businesses more room to scale — and pivot in response to market changes and shifts in consumer behaviors and demands.
In a print production environment, this ability can provide a solid strategy for improving your company’s overall financial health.
The production print market is forecast to expand to $7.74 billion by 2022, driven in part by increased interest in the industry by publishers and advertisers.
Advances in technology have allowed commercial printing to be faster and more affordable than ever before, causing companies wishing to compete successfully in the market to adopt emerging technologies to keep pace with competitors.
One of the most significant ways to make measurable gains in quality, output, and profitability is to automate print production workflows. Automated workflows can not only streamline business processes, but in a production print environment they can also result in:
Bottlenecks caused by processes, people, machines, and other factors can adversely affect bottom line profits.
This tendency is why many companies have moved toward a digital transformation in recent years, using artificial intelligence (AI), predictive analytics, and other technologies to remove profit-sapping bottlenecks.
In fact, studies show that areas in print production that are reliant on heavy labor or high-touch activities are more likely to cause bottlenecks than highly automated areas. Using workflow automation to resolve bottlenecks caused by subpar processes helps increase production and reduce the errors that slow down efficiency.
As managers of commercial print services understand, more customers are looking for companies that will cater to shorter print runs — some of which are of a highly complex, custom nature.
Printers that invest in digital production print equipment and couple it with smart workflow automation processes can expect to see an increase in customer satisfaction and revenue.
In addition, companies that concentrate on processing a high number of smaller work orders rather than relying on erratic, high-volume jobs often see fewer bottlenecks — an extra benefit.
Using workflow automation software to improve processes in your print production environment is a key element of a smart competitive strategy.
By leveraging the considerable power of automation, you can:
These advantages can help your business refine processes and shift easily with emerging market trends and consumer demands.
Whether you own a large print facility or are a smaller business looking to take advantage of the surge in the digital print marketplace, our team at Edwards Business Systems (EBS) can help you harness the power of automation to improve your workflows — and your profitability.
We have a wide range of state-of-the-art production presses that have workflow automation technologies built right into them. From self-ordering options like web-to-print to pre-press and color management solutions, our products have what it takes to simplify and power-charge your production print environment.
Our team of print specialists has the deep knowledge it takes to help match your business requirements and future needs with the right technology to help you grow your production business successfully.
Take advantage of automated print production. Contact an EBS representative now and learn how our leading-edge products can revolutionize your production environment.