Print 2025 https://print2025.com/ The future of the print industry in the evolving digital workplace Tue, 28 Jan 2020 11:21:28 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://print2025.com/wp-content/uploads/cropped-Print2025-Fav-32x32.jpg Print 2025 https://print2025.com/ 32 32 Sustainability: Five ways the print industry can apply circular economy principles https://print2025.com/5-ways-sustainability-print-industry-applying-circular-economy-principles/ Wed, 15 Jan 2020 12:02:49 +0000 https://www.print2025.com/?p=1209 Sustainability is not a new initiative for the print industry. From concern about paper consumption, to reducing energy use and developing recycling programmes, the print sector has frequently embraced environmental issues. That said, sustainability considerations have never attained the profile and urgency that we see today. The transition from a more peripheral issue to a […]

The post Sustainability: Five ways the print industry can apply circular economy principles appeared first on Print 2025.

]]>

Sustainability is not a new initiative for the print industry. From concern about paper consumption, to reducing energy use and developing recycling programmes, the print sector has frequently embraced environmental issues. That said, sustainability considerations have never attained the profile and urgency that we see today. The transition from a more peripheral issue to a primary concern is clearly demonstrated in our Global Print 2025 Second Edition market insight study, where more than half of IT decision makers stated that reducing the environmental impact is the top challenge associated with the managing the print infrastructure.

Those IT decision makers expect that print manufacturers and suppliers will play a role in helping them gain environmental performance improvements – 57% believe that suppliers should be taking a leading position around sustainability by 2025. At the same time, pressure is being exerted from consumers and investors for print companies to earn their status as good corporate citizens, making a sustainable approach an important part of maintaining corporate reputations. Finally, the commercial benefits of pivoting business models towards a circular economy approach are becoming clear and compelling. Both HP and Xerox last year included in annual reports revenues they attribute directly to sustainability programmes. This combination of factors is driving the industry towards embracing circular economy principles. It is widely recognised that natural resource scarcity and impacts during use mean the traditional “take, make, waste” production model is not sustainable and must be rejected in favour of a circular, regenerative approach that strives to maintain products at the highest value and utility for as long as possible. This axiom can be – and indeed in many cases is already being – applied by the print industry in several ways:

 

1. Incorporate reused materials and circularity potential at the design phase

The incorporation of non-virgin materials into new products is gathering pace. An example is
HP’s Elite DragonFly notebook, which uses 50% post-consumer recycled plastic, including 5% made from ocean-bound plastic, and Xerox, whose products contain up to 5% post-
consumer recycled plastic content.

Manufacturers are focusing on designing products on a modular basis, with fewer parts
overall and consideration given to end-of-life disassembly and reuse. In this way the value of
raw materials is retained post-consumption.

 

2. Design to minimise energy use, emissions, consumables and product failure

Designing products that last longer and fail less often is another essential part of the
rejection of “throwaway” philosophy. This ranges from improving durability in existing
products to a complete rethink of technology approaches that employ long-life materials,
such as Kyocera’s 1992 introduction of ceramic print drums designed to last the lifetime of
the product.

Continuously improving energy efficiency and reducing emissions is another way to minimise
the impact of products in use. The almost ubiquitous Energy Star and Blue Angel ratings act
as a baseline on which manufacturers should strive to improve, while the provision of “eco”
modes allows consumers to reduce resource consumption still further during the use phase.

 

3. Use big data to develop service innovations

A key opportunity for driving circular advantage is applying intelligence to the wealth of data
generated by smart connected devices, in this case MFPs. IoT sensors can deliver up to the
minute reporting on the status of assets, and enable real-time optimisation. Notably, such
data can deliver new insights into key performance indicators (KPIs), by-products and
wastage. This can help suppliers to develop support and maintenance programmes that
minimise unnecessary interventions and ensure that products last longer and are
functioning at their most efficient.

IoT devices can also integrate into platforms such as smart buildings, delivering and receiving
data that contributes to the more sustainable operation of the entire environment.

 

4. Further enhance subscription-based services and help clients embrace cloud print management

The shift from the purchase to the subscription model is already advanced in the print
sector. However, our recent MPS survey found that many businesses are still failing to
achieve the desired efficiencies in cost, performance and sustainability. By improving fleet
management, monitoring and maintenance, suppliers can increase customer satisfaction
and help them meet environmental goals at the same time.

Some manufacturers are directly seizing the sustainable consulting opportunity, such as
Ricoh, which has launched sustainability management services that include carbon balanced
printing, energy efficient products and management software.

Cloud print management has yet to see widespread adoption, although momentum is
growing. By helping clients move to the cloud, MPS providers can deliver a more flexible
print environment that supports greater resource efficiency and the potential of big data
analysis to drive performance improvements still further.

 

5. Maximise ease of recycling and recycled value of components

End-of-life takeback, recycling and reuse schemes are already a common feature of
manufacturers’ circular economy approach. Starting with toner cartridges in the 1990s and
spurred on by the implementation of the WEEE Directive, which became EU law in 2003, the
industry has had plenty of encouragement to develop intelligent waste management
programmes. These have progressed over the years from add-on initiatives to become
foundational elements of sustainability programmes.

However, there is always more to do, and opportunities for not just environmental, but also
commercial advantage. The reuse and recycling economy itself is growing – it is estimated
that circular activities such as repair, reuse or recycling generated almost €147 billion in
Europe over the three years to 2019. As recovery and re-use technology continues to
develop, manufacturers will need to build these advances into their recycling programmes
to further embrace circular economy principles and benefit from the commercial benefits.
Quocirca’s latest Executive Briefing explores in depth how the print industry is applying
circular economy principles and contains recommendations of what buyers should be
looking for when selecting suppliers.

Download the executive briefing on Sustainability and how the print industry is applying circular economy principles here.

The post Sustainability: Five ways the print industry can apply circular economy principles appeared first on Print 2025.

]]>
Global Print 2025 2nd Edition Key Findings https://print2025.com/global-print-2025-key-findings/ Mon, 25 Nov 2019 18:29:32 +0000 https://www.print2025.com/?p=1143 Quocirca’s Global Print 2025 second edition report reveals a significant gap between office workers and IT decision makers in their expectations of the future converged print and digital workplace. The second edition Quocirca’s landmark Print 2025 study extends research to include the perspective of office workers as well as re-visiting the views of IT decision […]

The post Global Print 2025 2nd Edition Key Findings appeared first on Print 2025.

]]>

Quocirca’s Global Print 2025 second edition report reveals a significant gap between office workers and IT decision makers in their expectations of the future converged print and digital workplace.

The second edition Quocirca’s landmark Print 2025 study extends research to include the perspective of office workers as well as re-visiting the views of IT decision makers. The results indicate a significant difference of opinion between those who use print technology and related services, and those who specify, purchase and run them.

Collaborative mobility versus a conventional print-reliant workplace

The study reveals that, while office workers are pushing an agenda of smart mobile working and digital collaboration, most IT decision makers still envisage a print-reliant workplace to 2025 and are making investment decisions accordingly. This suggests that an IT workforce tied to traditional technologies may be one of the main barriers hindering increased productivity in the digital workplace.

The disconnect between IT decision makers and office workers is borne out through the following research findings:

  • 65% of IT decision makers believe paper will still be important to the workplace by 2025, compared to just 36% of office workers
  • 62% of office workers rank investment in digital collaboration tools as a priority, compared to 45% of IT decision makers.

This disagreement between stakeholders may prove ominous for the print industry, which is at a critical point where it must build momentum around ‘as-a-service’ IT-centric offerings. Identifying what customers want and need will prove difficult in this conflicted environment. The result is a satisfaction gap where office workers don’t get the productivity tools they want, and IT decision makers see their investments failing to have the impact they anticipate.

Significantly, 58% of respondents said print vendors must become a strategic partner to IT decision makers and lines-of-business. They must help identify what business units really need, offering services that satisfy those requirements, while also responding to the security and control requirements of IT decision-makers. Failure to do this will see print vendors continue losing influence with both IT decision-makers and lines-of-business at the crucial point where digital transformation focus is turning towards digitising paper-based processes. 49% of respondents believe that this will be very important to digital transformations initiatives in 2025, compared with 25% who say it is important today.

Sustainability climbs the corporate agenda

A key issue on which IT decision makers and office workers agree is sustainability, which has leapt up the corporate agenda since the first edition of the research in 2017. 83% of all respondents expect sustainability to be highly important to their business by 2025, while 52% of IT decision makers state that lowering environmental impact is the number one print management challenge they face, outweighing cost reduction and security. By contrast, in 2017 reducing environmental impact was in 7thplace in the list of print challenges.

57% of respondents expect suppliers to adopt a leading position on sustainability by 2025, while one fifth have sustainability projects in the pipeline for the coming 12 months.

Analysis reveals that the sustainability drive is focused on initiatives that will deliver measurable results. Print vendors need to quantify the environmental improvements that their services deliver and work in partnership to help businesses reduce their impact. The planned investments in environmental projects represent an opportunity for those print vendors who can deliver the right sustainability messages, backed up with robust evidence.

Mobility and cloud-based print management accelerating

Quocirca’s research found organisations expect 66% of their workforce will be mobile by 2025, up from 49% today. This has accelerated from 2017, when 36% were mobile and it was anticipated 56% would be mobile by 2025. Mobile working was viewed by respondents as one of the key factors that will reduce print volumes between now and 2025, alongside greater use of collaboration tools and document capture and workflow solutions.

More organisations are taking advantage of cloud-based print management, with 73% expecting to increase usage by 2025. A quarter of respondents felt that print vendors should be investing in cloud printing to increase their relevance to the workplace. Unsurprisingly, security services and solutions topped the list of areas for vendor investment (30%), followed by print-to-digital integration platforms (28%) and energy monitoring (27%).

Complex and challenging times ahead

The path to print and digital convergence is growing more complex and less linear, especially when increased environmental concern is added to the mix. The transition from the printed page in the context of broader digital transformation offers diverse options for businesses and this is creating tension between IT decision makers and lines-of-business.

To succeed in this market, vendors must develop deep strategic relationships with customers to unpick their needs and devise a route to meeting them. They must anticipate the continuing shift to cloud-based print management and be prepared to articulate the benefits to clients, as well as building strong messaging around sustainability.

The full market insight study offers in-depth insight and analysis of the state of print and digital convergence and the views of key stakeholders. It includes an analysis of how organisations’ print dependence, digital maturity and sustainability focus can be interpreted by vendors to inform key messaging. It is designed assist print industry vendors, managed service providers and channel companies in strategic decision-making to drive future success in a disrupted sector.

Research notes

This research is the second edition of Quocirca’s Print 2025 market insight study, which examines the drivers, opportunities and challenges facing the print industry. It explores changing buyer requirements, user demands and the place of print in the evolving digital workplace.

The 2019 research expanded upon the IT decision maker research undertaken in 2018 to include those using print technologies. Quocirca undertook 1625 interviews across a range of organisations across different verticals in France, Germany, Italy, the Nordics, Spain, the UK and the US.

975 interviews were with end users and 650 were with those who influence decision making on acquiring or purchasing print-related services in the organisation. The research took place in May 2019.

To purchase the report or download a complimentary copy of the executive summary, click here.

The post Global Print 2025 2nd Edition Key Findings appeared first on Print 2025.

]]>
Print 2025: The IT and Office Worker Print and Digital Divide https://print2025.com/print-2025-office-worker-print-digital-divide/ https://print2025.com/print-2025-office-worker-print-digital-divide/#comments Mon, 25 Nov 2019 17:12:32 +0000 https://www.print2025.com/?p=1137   Quocirca’s Global Print 2025 second edition report reveals a significant gap between office workers and IT decision makers in their expectations of the future converged print and digital workplace. The second edition Quocirca’s landmark Print 2025 study extends research to include the perspective of office workers as well as re-visiting the views of IT […]

The post Print 2025: The IT and Office Worker Print and Digital Divide appeared first on Print 2025.

]]>
 

Quocirca’s Global Print 2025 second edition report reveals a significant gap between office workers and IT decision makers in their expectations of the future converged print and digital workplace.

The second edition Quocirca’s landmark Print 2025 study extends research to include the perspective of office workers as well as re-visiting the views of IT decision makers. The results indicate a significant difference of opinion between those who use print technology and related services, and those who specify, purchase and run them.

Collaborative mobility versus a conventional print-reliant workplace

The study reveals that, while office workers are pushing an agenda of smart mobile working and digital collaboration, most IT decision makers still envisage a print-reliant workplace to 2025 and are making investment decisions accordingly. This suggests that an IT workforce tied to traditional technologies may be one of the main barriers hindering increased productivity in the digital workplace.

The disconnect between IT decision makers and office workers is borne out through the following research findings:

  • 65% of IT decision makers believe paper will still be important to the workplace by 2025, compared to just 36% of office workers
  • 62% of office workers rank investment in digital collaboration tools as a priority, compared to 45% of IT decision makers.

This disagreement between stakeholders may prove ominous for the print industry, which is at a critical point where it must build momentum around ‘as-a-service’ IT-centric offerings. Identifying what customers want and need will prove difficult in this conflicted environment. The result is a satisfaction gap where office workers don’t get the productivity tools they want, and IT decision makers see their investments failing to have the impact they anticipate.

Significantly, 58% of respondents said print vendors must become a strategic partner to IT decision makers and lines-of-business. They must help identify what business units really need, offering services that satisfy those requirements, while also responding to the security and control requirements of IT decision-makers. Failure to do this will see print vendors continue losing influence with both IT decision-makers and lines-of-business at the crucial point where digital transformation focus is turning towards digitising paper-based processes. 49% of respondents believe that this will be very important to digital transformations initiatives in 2025, compared with 25% who say it is important today.

Sustainability climbs the corporate agenda

A key issue on which IT decision makers and office workers agree is sustainability, which has leapt up the corporate agenda since the first edition of the research in 2017. 83% of all respondents expect sustainability to be highly important to their business by 2025, while 52% of IT decision makers state that lowering environmental impact is the number one print management challenge they face, outweighing cost reduction and security. By contrast, in 2017 reducing environmental impact was in 7thplace in the list of print challenges.

57% of respondents expect suppliers to adopt a leading position on sustainability by 2025, while one fifth have sustainability projects in the pipeline for the coming 12 months.

Analysis reveals that the sustainability drive is focused on initiatives that will deliver measurable results. Print vendors need to quantify the environmental improvements that their services deliver and work in partnership to help businesses reduce their impact. The planned investments in environmental projects represent an opportunity for those print vendors who can deliver the right sustainability messages, backed up with robust evidence.

Mobility and cloud-based print management accelerating

Quocirca’s research found organisations expect 66% of their workforce will be mobile by 2025, up from 49% today. This has accelerated from 2017, when 36% were mobile and it was anticipated 56% would be mobile by 2025. Mobile working was viewed by respondents as one of the key factors that will reduce print volumes between now and 2025, alongside greater use of collaboration tools and document capture and workflow solutions.

More organisations are taking advantage of cloud-based print management, with 73% expecting to increase usage by 2025. A quarter of respondents felt that print vendors should be investing in cloud printing to increase their relevance to the workplace. Unsurprisingly, security services and solutions topped the list of areas for vendor investment (30%), followed by print-to-digital integration platforms (28%) and energy monitoring (27%).

Complex and challenging times ahead

The path to print and digital convergence is growing more complex and less linear, especially when increased environmental concern is added to the mix. The transition from the printed page in the context of broader digital transformation offers diverse options for businesses and this is creating tension between IT decision makers and lines-of-business.

To succeed in this market, vendors must develop deep strategic relationships with customers to unpick their needs and devise a route to meeting them. They must anticipate the continuing shift to cloud-based print management and be prepared to articulate the benefits to clients, as well as building strong messaging around sustainability.

The full market insight study offers in-depth insight and analysis of the state of print and digital convergence and the views of key stakeholders. It includes an analysis of how organisations’ print dependence, digital maturity and sustainability focus can be interpreted by vendors to inform key messaging. It is designed assist print industry vendors, managed service providers and channel companies in strategic decision-making to drive future success in a disrupted sector.

Download an executive summary of Quocirca’s Global Print 2025 Second Editionmarket insight study

Research notes

This research is the second edition of Quocirca’s Print 2025 market insight study, which examines the drivers, opportunities and challenges facing the print industry. It explores changing buyer requirements, user demands and the place of print in the evolving digital workplace.

The 2019 research expanded upon the IT decision maker research undertaken in 2018 to include those using print technologies. Quocirca undertook 1625 interviews across a range of organisations across different verticals in France, Germany, Italy, the Nordics, Spain, the UK and the US.

975 interviews were with end users and 650 were with those who influence decision making on acquiring or purchasing print-related services in the organisation. The research took place in May 2019.

To purchase the report or download a complimentary copy of the executive summary, click here.

The post Print 2025: The IT and Office Worker Print and Digital Divide appeared first on Print 2025.

]]>
https://print2025.com/print-2025-office-worker-print-digital-divide/feed/ 1
Mastering the Internet of Things – the big data opportunity for print manufacturers https://print2025.com/mastering-internet-things-opportunity-print-manufacturers/ Tue, 07 May 2019 14:59:15 +0000 https://www.print2025.com/?p=992 As businesses prioritise efficiency and productivity, they are looking to technology suppliers to deliver data-driven insights and value-added services. This data is being generated by the rapid evolution and maturing of the Internet of Things (IoT), which has seen the number of connected devices growing exponentially. The vast quantities of data collected by those devices, […]

The post Mastering the Internet of Things – the big data opportunity for print manufacturers appeared first on Print 2025.

]]>
As businesses prioritise efficiency and productivity, they are looking to technology suppliers to deliver data-driven insights and value-added services. This data is being generated by the rapid evolution and maturing of the Internet of Things (IoT), which has seen the number of connected devices growing exponentially.

The vast quantities of data collected by those devices, including those in the print ecosystem, offer significant opportunities for vendors and channel partners to distil intelligence around device activity, user behaviour and workflows. All of this can be applied to make the print ecosystem more cost-effective, productive and secure for customers. Mastering the IoT and exploiting the big data opportunity should therefore be a priority for vendors and channel partners.

Industry 4.0 – embracing the platform economy and open data culture

The IoT is a key factor driving Industry 4.0, heralding increasing automation, data exchange, cloud and cognitive-based computing. The challenge for print vendors is to identify where the IoT offers them opportunities to increase relevance with customers as they journey towards a data-rich environment.

A transformational aspect of industry 4.0 is the changing business models that are seeing purchasers move away from buying proprietary, standalone technology designed by a single organisation for use by a single organisation. Instead, customers are embracing a platform economy where multiple sources of external, non-proprietary data can be aggregated and analysed centrally, with the resulting intelligence integrated into the corporate ecosystem.

However, the sheer quantity of potential data sources means vendors must look beyond the immediate print sector and instead build cross-sector partnerships to draw intelligence from diverse sources. Vendors must be willing to share their own data – suitably anonymised – as part of the bargain. This represents a significant culture shift for many print organisations, who for decades have zealously guarded their IP and installed base insights, tending to look inwards, not outwards, for inspiration.

Transforming to an open data-driven architecture can offer opportunities for market differentiation and revenue generation, but only if print vendors can successfully undertake the culture change required.

The rise of the intelligent MFP and its role in the IoT

MFPs have always carried a lot of computing power – the average device contains 20 million lines of code, more than the Android Operating System. In addition, MFPs already contain a variety of sensors that collect and interpret information. However, to become part of the smart, connected ecosystem, each MFP has to become not just a peer with MFPs on the same platform, but capable of accessing and analysing data from other platforms, while sharing its own data in a standardised way.

The scale of possibilities, from Human Interface Devices to smart building platforms, means that vendors and MSPs will certainly need to take a partnership approach to integrating intelligent MFPs into IoT networks that achieve more than the sum of their parts.

Applying data across the print environment

Aside from the role of MFPs in the wider IoT, the data they generate must be intelligently applied in order to build a smarter customer print environment. Applications include optimising everything from device placement, energy usage and maintenance, through to streamlining workflows and improving the business processes that involve print. Cybersecurity is a growing area where data analytics can offer insight into potential vulnerabilities around the print network and MSPs can add value by helping organisations manage risk effectively.

All of the above are factors in the evolving IoT big data landscape and must form part of vendor and MSP strategy.

Challenges and opportunities

Our latest Executive Briefing report ‘Mastering the IoT, the Opportunity for Print Manufacturers’ looks at the opportunities and challenges that embracing an IoT, open platform-based economy offers the print industry. It also assesses the impact of AI and the shift to cloud-based operating models and concludes with strategic recommendations to help OEMs and MPS providers expand out of the core print ecosystem, unlock new revenue streams and ensure continued relevance to customers.

Click here to purchase this Executive briefing.

The post Mastering the Internet of Things – the big data opportunity for print manufacturers appeared first on Print 2025.

]]>
Betting on Blockchain: the opportunity for the print industry https://print2025.com/betting-blockchain-opportunity-print-industry/ https://print2025.com/betting-blockchain-opportunity-print-industry/#comments Tue, 26 Mar 2019 10:25:53 +0000 https://www.print2025.com/?p=858 As the hype around blockchain begins to subside, cooler heads are starting to examine the prospects for this undoubtedly powerful concept for their specific industry. The financial sector, insurance, retail and cybersecurity are some of the sectors already starting to invest in unpicking reality from hype to unlock the features of blockchain, but its broad […]

The post Betting on Blockchain: the opportunity for the print industry appeared first on Print 2025.

]]>
As the hype around blockchain begins to subside, cooler heads are starting to examine the prospects for this undoubtedly powerful concept for their specific industry. The financial sector, insurance, retail and cybersecurity are some of the sectors already starting to invest in unpicking reality from hype to unlock the features of blockchain, but its broad relevance means every sector needs to pay attention to its disruptive and evolutionary potential; that includes the print industry.

At this critical stage in the lifecycle of blockchain, it’s important to look at how it can help achieve specific business goals. Our latest report, The Blockchain Opportunity, takes a balanced look at where it can add value and solve industry issues and also examines barriers to adoption and challenges to be faced.

This balanced approach is warranted. In the face of widespread disruption and rapidly evolving technology and market conditions, print companies are acutely aware that they need to pick the right technologies and strategies for investment in order to drive the innovation that is essential to their survival. So, is it time to board the blockchain train?

The fundamental power of blockchain

Practically every aspect of business and daily life involves a transaction of some kind. These are conducted between multiple entities across an untrusted network, which means guaranteeing the trust and integrity of a transaction is a significant challenge that is typically undertaken by parties such as financial intermediaries. Blockchain is a distributed universal ledger that offers trust and validation of transactions via a peer-to-peer transaction network.

The ledger contains a single version of the truth that is validated by all participants in the transaction chain. Each ledger update is provided with a unique footprint via digital cryptography. The algorithmic hash function that sits at the heart of the blockchain ensures that a new record is added only when previous transactions have been verified by consensus from all the nodes involved. This delivers a level of integrity and, thanks to encryption, security that surpasses current standards, making it a desirable transaction basis for any activity that requires a high level of authenticity and traceability.

So far so valid, but what are blockchain’s current and future applications for the print industry?

Managed Print Services and adaptation to the ‘as-a-service’ economy

From its origins in hardware, print has now largely matured as an ‘as-a-service’ provision. As providers bid to build out their MPS offerings around security, maintenance and workflow optimisation, blockchain represents an inflection point around which digital transformation projects can pivot.

In particular, growing awareness of the threat posed by IoT-enabled devices such as MFPs means controlling, patching and monitoring the print ecosystem will require an enhanced degree of security and integrity, which blockchain can offer.

The secure storage and authentication of business-critical documents is another key driver for investment in blockchain. Protecting intellectual property is increasingly important in an environment where corporate espionage and cyberthreats are escalating. Ensuring that documents are protected from unauthorised modification or exfiltration is a useful application for blockchain within corporate workflows.

Protecting innovation and IP
3D printing is arguably the most exciting and disruptive advance in print technology for a generation. Leading industry companies are investing heavily in additive manufacturing and, as they do so, coming up against challenges due to its complexity. The highly collaborative nature of additive manufacturing models requires multiple CAD designers and engineers working on single CAD data files at different points in time. This can result in issues with version control and file permissions. Distributed, time-stamped CAD data files managed by blockchain would prevent tampering and provide chronologically secure accounts of all updates in real time, which will be increasingly useful as projects grow in international scope.

Blockchain also offers a pathway to resolving the challenges of digital rights management and licensing inherent in additive manufacturing processes. IP theft is a growing issue in a world where anyone with a 3D printer and access to CAD files can potentially create products and components. Safety concerns and commercial risks require a solution that creates a “chain of trust” between licensee and service provider and also delivers visibility over the production process, which block chain could provide.

Blockchain blockers
There are undoubtedly challenges for print sector companies planning to incorporate blockchain into their company roadmap. Scalability and the costs of running enterprise blockchain networks are still in question, and the relative level of knowledge around the technology remains low. Similarly, its birth as the foundation technology for bitcoin has led to risk perceptions that are higher than might really be merited, leading to reticence from decision-makers.

While the initial hype is settling, blockchain remains a new technology, with the attendant risks and opportunities that accompany all disruptive forces. Our report contains expert analysis and strategic recommendations for companies in the print industry that are seeking guidance on how best to respond.

For more information and to purchase the report please visit: https://www.print2025.com/reports/the-blockchain-opportunity/

 

The post Betting on Blockchain: the opportunity for the print industry appeared first on Print 2025.

]]>
https://print2025.com/betting-blockchain-opportunity-print-industry/feed/ 1
Digitisation: The key to SMB success https://print2025.com/digitisation-key-smb-success/ Mon, 24 Sep 2018 10:28:26 +0000 https://www.print2025.com/?p=607 Quocirca’s Print 2025 Spotlight report Digitisation: the key to SMB success reveals that SMBs are accelerating their digitisation initiatives through the use of digital workflow services and solutions, as they seek to drive business efficiency and employee productivity. Digital technologies are transforming the SMB landscape, creating opportunities for businesses of all sizes to compete on […]

The post Digitisation: The key to SMB success appeared first on Print 2025.

]]>

Quocirca’s Print 2025 Spotlight report Digitisation: the key to SMB success reveals that SMBs are accelerating their digitisation initiatives through the use of digital workflow services and solutions, as they seek to drive business efficiency and employee productivity.

Digital technologies are transforming the SMB landscape, creating opportunities for businesses of all sizes to compete on a level playing field. Increasing mobility, changing workforce expectations and customer preferences for seamless interactions, are pushing SMBs to improve efficiency, agility and productivity to stay ahead.

 

Heading towards a “paper-lite” workplace

The majority of SMBs expect to remain reliant on printed documents, with 76% of SMBs saying that printed documents are important to their business. However, this reliance comes at a cost, with over half of respondents indicating that they are struggling to reduce paper usage, consumables costs and enhance security. Consequently, fewer SMBs (66%) expect to be reliant on printing by 2025, reflecting that a transition, albeit gradual, to a paper-lite workplace is underway.

Although often hampered by budget and resource constraints, SMBs are positive about the impact of digitisation. Overall, 81% of SMBs believe digitising paper-based processes will be important for driving their organisation’s digital transformation by 2025. In fact, 49% expect paper digitisation to be very important, compared to 13% today. Over 60% of SMBs believe all paper documents should be scanned and over two thirds (67%) expect greater use of document capture, workflow and collaboration tools to lead to reduced printing between now and 2025. There are some regional variations – 90% of large US SMBs see increased document capture and workflow as the biggest driver, compared to 64% of large European SMBs.

However, despite a drive towards improving employee productivity and business efficiency, today, less than 50% of SMBs are using digital workflow solutions such as document capture, mobile data capture or ECM solutions. However, there is certainly an interest to increase digital workflow adoption, with almost half expecting to expand usage of solutions in these areas. For more key findings download the Print 2025 SMB Digitisation Infographic.

The opportunity for MPS suppliers

The appetite for digitisation, coupled with a continued need to use paper in certain circumstances, is a significant opportunity for managed print service (MPS) providers to articulate a clear proposition around integrated paper and digital workflow services and solutions.

By incorporating document workflow solutions that leverage existing investments in smart MFPs – such as document capture, document management or document collaboration, a managed print service (MPS) can provide the foundation for digital transformation. Most leading MPS providers offer a broad portfolio of digital workflow solutions – from simple tools for scanning and routing expense receipts directly at the MFP to more sophisticated business process automation and digital workflow services.

As SMBs look for guidance in supporting digital initiatives, MPS providers that offer the skills and expertise to drive efficiency and productivity improvements through paper and digital workflow
automation will be best positioned to succeed.

The Global Print 2025 Spotlight Report Digitisation: key to SMB success contains detailed analysis of the trends and opportunities amongst European and US SMBs. The report provides essential guidance for suppliers to help plan and position MPS and digital workflow products and services for SMBs.

The post Digitisation: The key to SMB success appeared first on Print 2025.

]]>
Millennial decision-makers’ attitude to print in the workplace https://print2025.com/millennial-decision-makers-attitude-print-workplace/ Tue, 10 Jul 2018 13:28:21 +0000 https://www.print2025.com/?p=557 Millennial decision-makers are less sceptical about printing and printed documents than those in other age groups and believe that paper documents will continue to play a significant role in the future workplace, according to the latest Print 2025 Spotlight Report: Millennials Matter. By 2025, one of the largest generations in history will leave the workforce […]

The post Millennial decision-makers’ attitude to print in the workplace appeared first on Print 2025.

]]>

Millennial decision-makers are less sceptical about printing and printed documents than those in other age groups and believe that paper documents will continue to play a significant role in the future workplace, according to the latest Print 2025 Spotlight Report: Millennials Matter.

By 2025, one of the largest generations in history will leave the workforce as the last baby boomers reach retirement. They’ll be replaced by Generation X, millennials and those just entering the workforce, Generation Z. Already the largest generation at work, millennials are expected to account for approximately 75% of the workforce by 2025.Comprising those born between 1980 and the mid-1990s, millennials are not only the largest demographic in the multi-generational workforce, they are also the first to grow up surrounded by digital technology—smartphones, broadband services and social media.

While millennials are shaping the digital workplace today and moving into leadership roles, Generation Z, born between the late-1990s and early 2000s, will play an increasingly influential role in shaping the future workplace. Together, millennials and Generation Z are demanding workplace technology that mirrors the mobility, simplicity and convenience of their personal lives. This digital native generation values the opportunity to collaborate securely from anywhere, anytime and on any device.

So, what does this mean for the role of traditional office printing in the workplace? The Print 2025: Millennials Matter report reveals that, contrary to popular perception, millennial decision-makers will continue to place significant value on paper documents between now and 2025. At the same time they’ll demand major improvements in cloud and mobile printing solutions and services. However, this generation also recognises the importance of paper digitisation in their organisation’s digital transformation initiatives. While print is not disappearing, the role it plays in the digital workplace will undoubtedly change.

The research reveals that overall 77% of millennial decision makers believe that print will still be important in 2025, compared with just 54% of respondents aged 45-54 years old. More than half of millennials believe that office print volumes will increase between now and 2025, with 55% expecting to see an increase in mobile printing. Overall, 69% of millennials think that important documents should be printed and 63% consider that printed documents are more durable than their digital counterparts.

These findings challenge the perception that millennials are dismissive of print – in fact they are less sceptical of the value of print than the older generations. However, there is no room for complacency and, while the paperless office is not expected to materialise any time soon, digitisation efforts will continue to increase between now and 2025. Consequently, print suppliers must develop propositions that bridge the paper-to-digital gap, providing solutions that enable today’s multi-generational workforce to collaborate effectively – whatever their print/digital preference.

Millennial decision makers have high expectations for their print suppliers, citing a need for improved capabilities around cloud printing, mobile printing and security. Notably, millennial decision makers expect the strongest relationship for print to be delivered by IT service providers rather than traditional print manufacturers and partners by 2025. This is a wakeup call for traditional players to reposition and adapt their offerings and build more IT expertise – either through acquisition or partnerships.

Access the Print 2025 Spotlight: Millennials Matter report and gain crucial insight and actionable intelligence on the millennial attitude to print in the changing digital workplace.

*Research note: The Millennial spotlight report is part of the Global Print 2025 study examining attitudes to print in the digital workplace from now to 2025. Please note that in this research, the millennials category may contain some Generation Z respondents. 83% of respondents were aged 25-34 at the time of the research; they had to be decision makers or influencers to qualify, which resulted in the majority falling into the upper end of the age range.

The post Millennial decision-makers’ attitude to print in the workplace appeared first on Print 2025.

]]>
What can the print industry learn from Tesla? https://print2025.com/can-print-industry-learn-tesla/ Wed, 27 Jun 2018 07:34:39 +0000 https://www.print2025.com/?p=547 Can leading print industry players truly reinvent themselves to drive disruption in their industry and harness the entrepreneurial, start-up spirit and design thinking that Tesla has brought to the auto industry? Quocirca’s Print 2025 Study revealed that 70% of global print industry executives are concerned about market disruption, and just 39% feel they are prepared […]

The post What can the print industry learn from Tesla? appeared first on Print 2025.

]]>
Can leading print industry players truly reinvent themselves to drive disruption in their industry and harness the entrepreneurial, start-up spirit and design thinking that Tesla has brought to the auto industry?

Quocirca’s Print 2025 Study revealed that 70% of global print industry executives are concerned about market disruption, and just 39% feel they are prepared to respond to the changes ahead. A poor culture for innovation is cited as the top challenge stifling progress, yet print companies know that it’s the most important strategy for success in the future. Overall, 93% of print industry executives said that major changes were needed to their business processes, and 77% agreed significant changes to corporate culture were needed.

The disruptive innovation that Tesla is bringing to the auto industry may seem a world away from what is happening in the print industry. However, both industries share common characteristics. Like the auto industry, the print industry is steeped in traditions of long manufacturing cycles and engineering perfectionism. Despite both industries having access to huge amounts of capital and enormous economies, they are saddled with corporate inertia.

While print manufacturers continue to innovate their core product portfolios, there is little disruptive technology and business model innovation. Typically, their corporate cultures are not conducive to pushing new products and services at the expense of an old one. Shifting buyer priorities and a rapidly evolving technology landscape, where print and digital technologies are converging, means that print industry heavyweights can no longer be sure that they will be the leaders of tomorrow. They must reinvent themselves and undergo rapid cultural change.

While it is unlikely to be possible for any print manufacturer to completely replicate the Tesla direct sales model – there are no dealers, no commissioned sales people, there is no inventory – there are still lessons to be learnt:

  • Driving brand innovation in a millennial world. The Tesla brand is indelibly linked with Elon Musk and a bold mission “to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy”. For Tesla, it is about the cause. Print manufacturers all have a story around sustainability, but it is rarely core to their brand which is still largely associated with print and paper. For now, and the immediate future, ink and toner is the fuel of the print industry. But as print volumes diminish and digitisation increases, the print industry needs to drive sustainability messaging to resonate with an increasingly socially and environmentally conscious buyer. Tesla is already proving that there is money to be made in sustainability and that one company can make a difference in shaping the future.
  • Fully leveraging IoT data and connectivity. Tesla has invested in artificial intelligence and IoT. Using the sensor data it collects from its vehicles, it is the only car manufacturer providing automatic over-the-air firmware updates that improve safety, performance, and infotainment capabilities remotely – at no extra cost. The use of software and connectivity has made it possible for Tesla to fix many problems remotely and to update its cars with new features every few months. Although print manufacturers offer remote monitoring and predictive maintenance, most are not fully exploiting the opportunities around IoT. Learning more about customers by analysing data allows print manufacturers and their partners an unprecedented opportunity to deliver better products, services and superior customer experiences.
  • Open innovation and collaboration. In 2014, Elon Musk famously announced that Tesla was joining the open source movement and giving its patents for free. Musk said that Tesla would not pursue lawsuits against anyone who wants to use their technology to improve sustainable transport; “we believe that Tesla, other companies making electric cars, and the world would all benefit from a common, rapidly-evolving technology platform”. While print manufacturers pride themselves on their patents, in a traditionally closed and proprietary industry, there must be more collaboration to thrive in tomorrow’s open ecosystem. We are already seeing some print manufacturers, active in open innovation. Konica Minolta is one key industry player that is pursuing open innovation as it moves to a “platform-led business”.
  • Shaping the future of service.Tesla has turned the car sales model on its head. It uses a direct sales model and has combined many sales centres with service centres. Most auto manufacturers, like print manufacturers, manage service as a profit centre. So, could the rise of software-controlled functions within devices chip away at the service and repair business? Tesla has taken a different approach to reliability issues, through over-the-air updates. Predictive analytics are already used by print manufacturers to identify when service or repairs are needed. While service and supplies (ink and toner) will remain a key source of profit for the print industry, the potential of more efficient servicing through software connectivity could reshape the current channel model in the future.

Tesla has its sceptics and is still a small player compared to traditional automakers, which are responding with their own viable electric initiatives. However, Tesla has led a paradigm shift and proved that a legacy industry can be disrupted through both technology and business model innovation.

In the print industry, disruption may not come from an upstart but from existing players. Ultimately the print manufacturers that are the most agile, software-centric and innovative will be best positioned to succeed. Print manufacturers’ past success is perhaps the biggest hurdle to taking their companies in a new direction; strategies that were successful over the last several decades are not likely to succeed in the next.

Print manufacturers need to position themselves now for the future and evaluate how they can disrupt their own industry. However, this requires innovative leadership and it remains to be seen if a visionary like Elon Musk, will emerge to force the pace in the print industry.

The post What can the print industry learn from Tesla? appeared first on Print 2025.

]]>
Quocirca Print 2025 Spotlight Report highlights the challenges of print security and compliance in the IoT era https://print2025.com/quocirca-print-2025-spotlight-report-highlights-challenges-print-security-compliance-iot-era/ Mon, 21 May 2018 11:40:31 +0000 https://www.print2025.com/?p=526 A growing threat environment and stricter privacy regulations drive tighter focus on print security but fewer than half of enterprises are currently protecting Personal Identifiable Information specifically relating to printing-based processes 22nd May 2018: Analyst Group Quocirca today released its latest Print 2025 Spotlight Report, examining the trends, challenges and opportunities surrounding print security in […]

The post Quocirca Print 2025 Spotlight Report highlights the challenges of print security and compliance in the IoT era appeared first on Print 2025.

]]>
A growing threat environment and stricter privacy regulations drive tighter focus on print security but fewer than half of enterprises are currently protecting Personal Identifiable Information specifically relating to printing-based processes

22nd May 2018: Analyst Group Quocirca today released its latest Print 2025 Spotlight Report, examining the trends, challenges and opportunities surrounding print security in the Internet of Things (IoT) era. It examines how the evolving cyber threat environment, where networked MFPs are vulnerable endpoints in a growing attack surface, plus compliance with the General Data Privacy Regulation (GDPR) are exerting pressure on enterprises to protect their print infrastructure from cyberattack and physical compromise.

With 64% of organisations expecting to remain reliant on printing in the workplace, the inherent risks of poor print security cannot be ignored. Not only can printed documents fall into unauthorised hands without the correct controls, but today’s advanced MFPs are increasingly a target for external hackers using them as a foothold to access corporate networks. In today’s growing age of compliance, with GDPR forcing organisations to tackle data privacy issues, they cannot afford to be complacent. Yet fewer than half of those surveyed are currently protecting personally identifiable information (PII) specifically relating to the printing environment.

Research Director Louella Fernandes comments: “Networked MFPs are critical endpoints in today’s ever-expanding threat landscape. From malicious external cyberattack to sensitive documents being left on a shared device, networked MFPs have a variety of vulnerabilities. Securing them and the processes in which they’re involved is a multi-layered exercise that must be a critical element in any organisation’s compliance programme. It’s therefore surprising that we didn’t find more enterprises protecting data in the print environment.

“There is a tendency to focus on data privacy as if it’s predominantly a digital issue, but there’s a risk that, by focusing on the digital threat organisations overlook the more mundane, but no less potentially damaging risk from poor control of print-reliant processes and working culture.”

Quocirca’s Print 2025 Print Security Spotlight report examines the ways print vendors need to develop their offerings to meet the growing security demands of customers. 46% of businesses see the need for security to be built-in to devices by 2025 and the same percentage want to see vendors apply machine learning to printers and MFPs to enable them to identify and recover from security breaches. Customers will also seek out specialist expertise to oversee print security as part of a continuing shift towards managed services. This will require both print vendors and current managed service providers to develop greater proficiency and pursue innovation in all aspects of print security in a race to maintain as large a share of print budgets as possible.

Louella Fernandes concludes: “As the IoT era evolves and the impact of data privacy regulation is felt, we’ll see increasing focus on securing data on endpoints such as MFPs. The successful vendors will be those who can demonstrate that security expertise is at the heart of their provision and who actively help organisations limit risk and demonstrate compliance.”

Quocirca’s Print 2025 Print Security Spotlight report offers strategic recommendations for enterprises and print manufacturers that will enable them to thrive in the era of GDPR and the Internet of Things.

Find out more about the research findings

-ends-

About Global Print 2025

Global Print 2025 is a global market insight study delivered by leading analyst firm Quocirca, led by Research Director and industry expert Louella Fernandes. Quocirca produces independent research and thought leadership on a broad spectrum of IT trends. Through primary research across Europe, the US and Asia Pacific Quocirca delivers strategic insight to technology vendors across the globe.

Research Director Louella Fernandes is globally recognised as a leading authority on market trends in the print, imaging and managed services industry. With 25 years’ experience in the sector, she provides an unparalleled insight into the evolution of print in the digital age and is a highly respected authority on digital disruption in the print industry.

A valued source of market intelligence and strategic insight for print manufacturers, channel partners and ISVs, Louella’s expertise is widely sought on issues concerning the future of the print hardware, software and managed services sector.

Global Print 2025 brings together international primary research, in-depth analysis and market-leading sector expertise to deliver the definitive insight into the global future of print in the digital workplace.

www.print2025.com

The post Quocirca Print 2025 Spotlight Report highlights the challenges of print security and compliance in the IoT era appeared first on Print 2025.

]]>
Why print channel partners must shift gears and build IT expertise https://print2025.com/print_channel_it_expertise/ Fri, 23 Mar 2018 09:10:35 +0000 https://www.print2025.com/?p=483 Quocirca’s Global Print 2025 report reveals that print manufacturers are set to lose their influence on customer relationships in favour of IT service providers that deliver print services as part of a broader offering. Businesses are increasingly looking for suppliers that can demonstrate IT expertise and be strategic partners to both IT and various lines […]

The post Why print channel partners must shift gears and build IT expertise appeared first on Print 2025.

]]>
Why the channel must built IT Expertise

Quocirca’s Global Print 2025 report reveals that print manufacturers are set to lose their influence on customer relationships in favour of IT service providers that deliver print services as part of a broader offering. Businesses are increasingly looking for suppliers that can demonstrate IT expertise and be strategic partners to both IT and various lines of business (LOB). Building IT services capabilities would present print manufacturers with the opportunity in the small and mid-sized business (SMB) market, helping to offset declining legacy revenue. However, to do so manufacturers must ensure the right mix of channel and technology partnerships.

Changing channel dynamics

The changing ways SMBs wish to purchase, consume and pay for their IT is redefining the role of the channel, fundamentally changing business models and relationships. While print channel partners are gradually transitioning to a managed print services (MPS) model, extending this to other aspects of IT will be the key to sustaining growth.

While printing is not set to disappear any time soon – overall 64% of businesses expect to still rely on printing by 2025 – digitisation efforts are also accelerating, and security is a top concern. This convergence demands a new breed of supplier that can support the business transformation needs of SMBs.

In the SMB market, print vendors have an opportunity to offset diminishing revenues from traditional hardware-centric business models by advancing services portfolios. The Global Print 2025 study reveals that by 2025, 26% of SMBs expect their organisations to have the deepest relationship with IT service providers, increasing from 23% today. This is at the expense of print manufacturers, which see their influence drop from 27% today to 13% in 2025. A further 17% of SMBs expect a stronger relationship with MPS providers in 2025, up from 14%.

The evolving technology needs of SMBs

SMBs are diverse, ranging in scale and ambition, from fast-growth start-ups to stable, medium-sized businesses. SME technology investment plans vary depending on business focus and size, but according to the Global 2025 report IT security and cloud top the agenda.

Just like larger companies, SMBs are interested in deploying new technology, but are constrained by budget and limited IT expertise. This lack of expertise is good news for suppliers which understand their customers’ business and industry needs and have the technical expertise to deliver a broader array of solutions and services. SMBs are increasingly adopting low-cost, cloud-based services and managed services to reduce operational costs, remain competitive and improve efficiency. Consequently they are placing increased demands on suppliers.

Quocirca’s Global Print 2025 research reflects these changing requirements. In organisations with 100-249 employees, 57% are looking for a provider that can be a strategic partner to both IT and LOB – this rises to 60% in organisations with 500-999 employees. Over half of SMBs expect a supplier to have strong IT security expertise, rising to 65% in SMBs with 500-999 employees. Other top requirements are industry specific expertise, business process automation capabilities and providing analytic insight.

Can the channel shift gear?

Although some print-focussed channel partners have successfully made the transition to managed print services (MPS), the majority remain focused on hardware-centric transactional sales. When it comes to IT services, traditional print partners often lack the skills, experience and capabilities to be credible providers. There may not be the incentives or knowledge in place to sell broader IT solutions, and provide a consultative sales approach which is a core capability of many broader IT service providers. As a result, many print channel partners may view a move to IT services as high risk requiring too much investment and time.

Typically, SMBs do not typically look to traditional print channel partners or print vendors as a source of innovative services beyond print. They are more likely to turn to existing IT service providers focused on business outcomes, rather than speeds and feeds.

So how can the print channel step up its game, and build IT services credibility and reputation? Consider the following recommendations:

  1. Change the conversation. Channel partners must change their expertise, shifting from the outdated print-centric reselling model to embrace a new role as trusted and strategic advisors to their customers. They must change the nature of the conversation they have with SMBs, engaging with the influential business decision-makers responsible for strategy. The conversation must be around the how to drive efficiency and productivity – not just about technology or products. As businesses turn to them for guidance and support, channel partners will need to be able to deliver consultative services and expertise. This also means tapping into adjacencies such as digitisation and security, which are increasingly part of the broader printing proposition.
  2. Partner for IT expertise. Partnering with accredited and experienced IT service providers gives print channel partners access to both a broader product portfolio and provides a direct route into the IT services market, supported by specialist technology sales and support resources. For instance, this enables partners to potentially offer print security services and solutions as part of a broader managed security service offering. For manufacturers or large channel organisations, acquiring IT providers can be an effective means of gaining specialised expertise to develop and augment IT services in-house. It is also a direct means accessing experience in selling or supporting IT services. Some manufacturers including Konica Minolta, Ricoh and Sharp have already made the shift, expanding their managed IT service capabilities largely through acquisition.
  3. Become specialised. The shift to margin-rich services means developing industry specific expertise. Invest in the skills needed to deploy and connect a range of technologies – both across hardware and software – and consider developing vertical specific offerings.
  4. Focus on delivering business outcomes. As SMB purchasing decisions are increasingly influenced by non-IT decision makers, channel partners will need to expand their influence to multiple stakeholders. For larger businesses, the channel needs to focus on building skills in delivering business outcomes to LOB buyers, while retaining a strong relationship with the IT department.
  5. Monetise solutions. Channel partners that invest in software development to expand their offerings should consider monetising and building the resultant intellectual property (IP) through delivering applications. Building a portfolio of applications wrapped around the core business – for example, MPS or document workflow – should lead to new opportunities. Consider including assessment or consulting services as well as integration services.

The channel must shift gears and change its business model in order to increase engagement with SMBs. Repositioning as an IT services and solution provider may seem high risk, but by developing credible converged IT offerings, channel partners may be able to increase their relevance, create differentiation and create longer term and more profitable relationships.

Learn more about the changing SMB printing landscape.

The post Why print channel partners must shift gears and build IT expertise appeared first on Print 2025.

]]>