As the print industry struggles to recover from the perfect storm of disruption from the pandemic and a shaky economy, print businesses looking to thrive in 2023 will be using innovation to strengthen their market position.

Every cloud has a silver lining and the crisis faced by players in the print industry is no different. The challenges posed by operating through the pandemic — lockdowns, a greater reliance on digital technologies, a need for greater security, and a push toward hybrid or remote work environments — all combine to assist the printing sector in reaching even greater targets.

With a new playing field wide open, printers who opt for new technologies and lucrative options will thrive. For example, with eCommerce on the upswing, print shops can capitalize on the need for small-run packaging materials. Purchasing next-gen wide format printers that print on multiple substrates can help, as can forging new partnerships with retailers. For example, installing printing presses in conjunction with eCommerce centers to assist e-retailers with their print and marketing solutions. 

Take Your Print Business to the Next Level with Innovative Technology

After a bumpy ride in 2022, the print industry is poised to evolve. Advancing technologies are helping to shift the quality and efficiency of print upward and changing consumer demands are bringing new opportunities for print shops to improve customer loyalty. Here are some of the trends your print business can capitalize on in the coming months:

3D Printing Comes of Age

With the implementation of Industry 4.0 and the surge of smart factories, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and other technologies, 3D printing has taken pride of place as a highly adaptable, profitable piece of the print sector. In fact, it is currently growing at a rate of 24.3%, and is predicted to be worth at least $83.9 billion as early as 2029.

Customization is Key

Consumers and even business clients are looking for personalization and customization in their selection of print products. In fact, there has been a rise in the production of custom books recently. With new digital print technology, there is no need to process covers and backing at a different site or on different machines, resulting in cost-effectiveness and efficiency — even for short run projects. Investing in a commercial digital press that can handle various types of binding, sorting, and processing can help your print business take advantage of this trend. 

Sustainability + Security Continue to Trend

Given the current state of our planet’s health it’s no surprise that consumers are demanding that the companies they work with have sustainable initiatives in place. And, given that cyberattacks are on the increase around the world, your clients are concerned about cybersecurity as well. 

Fortunately, modern printers have the ability to conquer both of these consumer pain points. Many print devices are being manufactured with an eye toward sustainability — using eco-friendly inks, adopting features that help to control energy efficiency and resource usage, and even being manufactured in a sustainable manner. In addition, most printers today come with pre-installed security features that assist in protecting digital and hard form data as it moves through the system. 

If your print shop works with a Managed IT partner, you can increase your security even further. A competent managed service provider (MSP) will ensure your print machine hardware and software is properly patched and updates and your network is configured for the greatest safety and security. 

Blue Technologies is Your First Stop for Innovation

As a print provider, you want to start the new year at the head of the competition. To do so, you must start thinking about what innovative strategies you will adopt in the coming months that will set your business up for productivity, efficiency, and ultimately, profitability. 

At Blue Technologies, we have a full range of technologies that can help you take your commercial print business to the next level. Not only do we offer a variety of print devices to suit every application and budget, but we can bring our expertise to the table as well, helping you successfully manage and control your print environment from cradle to grave. 

Move to the forefront of the competition with innovative new technologies. Contact a Blue Technologies consultant to discover how our next-generation products and services can help.