Print.IT Reseller - issue 50

PRINT IT RESELLER.UK 39 RESEARCH the US and Europe. The report shares the findings of these PRINT 2025 studies, highlights the views of end-user organisations and industry players around the changing print landscape, and discusses the challenges and opportunities ahead in the digital workplace of 2025. The findings reveal that while the industry is optimistic about the future, it recognises that significant changes are needed across business structure, culture and innovation to respond to the threat of digital disruption. The good news is that print simply is not going to disappear any time soon, however, while many organisations expect to remain reliant on paper in 2025, its overall importance will diminish as digitisation is set to accelerate. The research discloses the areas where end-user organisations believe print vendors should be investing more to increase their relevance in the digital workplace. Key strategies for success So, is this change a revolution, or an evolution? Fernandes believes it is both. “Some industry players are enhancing existing products and services, creating new ones, and deepening their expertise in areas such as the Internet of Things (IoT), AI and analytics. In an industry that has historically been slow to change, if manufacturers and their partners can truly master the key strategies for success outlined in the PRINT 2025 report, it could certainly be revolutionary for the industry.” The print industry has operated a structured and tight ecosystem with clearly defined boundaries, for decades. “Print manufacturers have ruled a largely proprietary market, with little challenge from new entrants,” said Fernandes, adding: “However, the industry is in a state of flux. The primary disruptive forces challenging the status quo are the rapid rise in mobility, the acceleration of digitisation and the shift to the ‘as-a-service’ economy. This is causing industry borders to be redrawn and sets the stage for a new era of connectivity, collaboration and innovation.” Major industry players face the dilemma – as many legacy industries do – of how to protect their traditional core business, which still represents the lion’s share of revenue, while finding new revenue streams. “Constant innovation has seen the industry make massive strides in print quality, functionality, cost and energy efficiency, but this innovation has been targeted at the core business,” Fernandes said. “While the smart connected multifunction printer (MFP) is now integral to many workplace environments, manufacturers and their partners must develop products and services that increase their relevance in the digital workplace.” Optimism for the future The study highlights that there is optimism for the future amidst a declining print market, one of the research findings was that almost two- thirds of print manufacturers feel positive about future revenue growth. Quocirca believes that innovation is the key to success for manufacturers, however the report points to the fact that fostering an innovative culture is the top- rated challenge amongst manufacturers. This is less of a challenge for channel organisations, who rate the transition to a service-centric business as their top challenge. Managed print services (MPS) providers are expected to deliver the most strategic value by 2025. This is largely because as the industry moves towards digital transformation, it will need to become more software and services led. MPS providers have proven expertise in this area and the industry recognises that they will be key to future success. Yesterday’s innovation is today’s commodity The print industry is in the middle of a significant identity change, needing to protect legacy business while delivering new innovative products and services. “For many manufacturers, their brand heritage is based on technology which revolutionised the workplace yesterday – but yesterday’s innovation is today’s commodity,” Fernandes argues. “The good news is that traditional print vendors can use their legacy footprint to deliver new business value, without straying too far from their core brand DNA. In today’s fast-moving technology landscape, the trust and authenticity of these long-standing brands will be a powerful asset,” she added. One of the research findings was that almost two-thirds of print manufacturers feel positive about future revenue growth. The report states that the industry acknowledges the surmounting challenges ahead, even if the future is not certain. “Every player – from manufacturers to channel partners – needs to get ahead of these challenges now and make some hard choices about how to reposition their businesses to lead in 2025,” Fernandes said. She added: “While the industry will continue to evolve, a revolution in approach is needed in order to thrive. Manufacturers need to become more agile, innovative, collaborative and adaptable to execute effectively – and ultimately do things differently. Together, the industry can be much larger than the sum of its individual parts.” In conclusion, print businesses must consider the posture they wish to adopt: do they want to shape this future, be a fast follower or put off change completely? “One thing is certain, staying the same is not an option,” Fernandes stated. To purchase the PRINT 2025 report and view the full findings please visit www.print2025.com Global Market Insight Study The future of print in the digital workplace www.print2025.com Evolution or revolution?