There are only a few tradeshows that attracts not only printers and print buyers, but an entire range of hardware and software providers. This year the organizers for Print 17 attracted new and existing exhibitors and in the neighborhood of 20,000 attendees to browse the show floor, meet with their current suppliers, identify potential new partners, and take advantage of the broadest array of education we have seen for some time. The most prolific education space was The Printerverse, where the sheer volume of high quality panels, vendor events and networking opportunities outpaced everything else available. And, it was all free!
That quality is one of the reasons Keypoint Intelligence partners with Print Media Centr, and when it came to workflow, it was one of the most important places to be. For me, it was the chance to hear from a range of software vendors about what they thought were the most important features of their solutions, and it was a chance to meet some new vendors just entering the market. If you are responsible for workflow at your shop and you couldn’t make it to Print 17, consider taking advantage of one of the most amazing libraries of video available for free: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGxiQOMI6OL5FYl-C3kHdU1kyssQNS4BM
Pay particular attention to:
- Welcome to the Family: Marrying Tech for the One-Stop Print Shop
- The Automated Print Shop: Overcoming the Implementation Fear Factor
- The Architecture of Integration: Laying the Foundation for Workflow Success
- X Marks the Spot: The Rise of the Next Generation Print Shops
And if you are wondering about how bring more profit to your bottom line, look at:
- Fold Long and Prosper, with Trish Witkowski
- Opening the Box to Profits: Packaging and the Future of Print
- The In-House Advantage: Upping Your End Game with Finishing
- POP! Culture: Shining a Spotlight on Specialty Print
- Personifying The Print Experience: Customizing for the Masses
I’m not posting the individual links because I am hoping that you will click on the link above to the playlist and do what I did, watch them all! It is rare that this much education is available at a show, but it is even more rare that it is all captured on LiveStream and made available on YouTube at no cost. Let all of your staff know it’s there! Maybe put it on the TV in the break room at lunch time so everyone can take advantage of it!
The workflow wisdom I came away from Print17 with is that there are myriad opportunities to optimize and automate your workflow. There are vendors for every type of print shop, every level of sophistication, and every type of workflow methodology. The vendors in the workflow space have some of the smartest people on the planet because they see so many different things during their implementations. Whether you need a powerhouse solution like the suites from EFI, you need something right-sized for your shop like PrintIQ, or you need an omnichannel workflow that will allow you to add e-delivery, Augmented Reality, and enterprise reporting like those shown by Solimar, there are solutions for you! Don’t be afraid to invite vendors in and show them what you have. You aren’t under any obligation to buy.
For more on how to keep your work flowing, check out the other blogs in this series and stop by my Workflow Blog for the step by step guide on how to evaluate the workflow you have!
Pat McGrew is the Director and Evangelist for the Production Workflow Service at KeyPoint Intelligence/InfoTrends. As an analyst and industry educator, Pat works with InfoTrends customers and their clients to promote workflow effectiveness. She also has a background in data-driven customer communication, and production printing with offset, inkjet and toner. Co-author of 8 industry books, editor of A Guide to the Electronic Document Body of Knowledge, and regular writer in the industry trade press, Pat won the 2014 #GirlsWhoPrint Girlie Award for dedication to education and communication in the industry, and the 2016 Brian Platte Lifetime Achievement Award from Xplor International. Find Pat on Twitter @PatMcGrew and on LinkedIn.
