business inkjets. These have made
big inroads into the printer market
in the last two years and further
growth is expected. Yet, most
vendors are downplaying the threat
with twice as many giving them a
ranking of 6, 7 or 8 as 1, 2 or 3.
“HP has three exciting technologies
that underpin its printing portfolio,
and our customers have the option
of building a fleet with products
from the OfficeJet Pro line up,
LaserJets and the new OfficeJet
X series products powered by
PageWide Technology. This choice
includes business inkjet options
that can transform print costs for
many customers. In addition, many
businesses are moving their print
management to 3rd party providers
who can provide the servicing,
solutions and support to optimise
the way a business prints. These
two factors are shaping the way that
business print.”
Gary Tierney,
HP
n
PRODUCT MATURITY/LACK OF
INNOVATION
Total: 83
Average: 5.9
Range: 3-8 Median: 5.5
Mode: 7
Product maturity/lack of innovation
is seen as the least serious threat,
receiving no first or second place
rankings.
n
OTHER THREATS
In addition to the factors suggested
by
PrintIT
, contributors highlighted
a few game changers of their own,
including MPS.
“With the continued evolution of
Managed Print Services (MPS), the
demands of print-savvy customers
are becoming increasingly
sophisticated. They are demanding
tighter controls, reduced printing
costs and better service delivery,
whilst insisting on improved security
and mobile print functionality. These
requirements, compounded by ever-
tightening control of what is being
printed, will have a big impact on
printer sales and we anticipate that
consumable sales will continue to
decline. A supplier’s ability to deliver
effectively against a customer’s
MPS needs will be key to combating
declining print and consumable
sales.”
Steve Hawkins,
Xeretec
to trouble industry insiders. Steve
Hawkins of Xeretec put it in first
place, tied with MPS (see below).
n
LONGER REPLACEMENT
CYCLES
Total: 62
Average: 4.4
Range: 2-7 Median: 4.5
Mode: 4
No one picked longer replacement
cycles as the main challenge
facing the industry, but it was
seen as a middle-ranking threat
by almost all contributors. This
gave it a higher overall ranking
than factors with a broader
range of scores like third party
consumables and business inkjets.
n
THIRD PARTY CONSUMABLES
Total: 63
Average: 4.5
Range: 1-8 Median: 4.5
Mode: 6
Third party consumables turned
out to be the Marmite option.
It divided people like no other
choice, generating as many Top 3
rankings as Bottom 3 placements.
“For all vendors, consumable sales
are the main source of profit. The use
of third party consumables can have
a big effect on a business model.”
Carlos Osuna,
Panasonic
“Third party consumables continue
to grow with more manufacturers
looking to make a quick profit. But
the reality is that these companies
don’t invest in extensive product
Research & Development, as money
spent can’t be recovered unless there
are genuine OEM sales. As a result,
third party consumables are often
of poor quality. The public are often
unaware of this and understandably
focus on getting a cheaper product.
It’s our job to educate them on the
benefits of purchasing consumables
from the manufacturer of the device.”
Mark Ash,
Samsung
n
BUSINESS INKJETS
Total: 73
Average: 5.2
Range: 1-8 Median: 4.5
Mode: 6
Another threat that divides opinion,
though not to the same degree
as Third Party Consumables, is
ones. The colour laser market is
already split 50:50 between the two
and in 2016 we expect multifunction
to take the lead, with the mono
market following soon after.”
Andy Johnson,
Brother UK
“Our customers’ desire to go digital is
the biggest factor likely to impact the
industry. They are starting to become
more efficient and will be looking for
further cost reductions and efficiency
gains. Printing is seen as one of
the quickest and easiest ways to do
this. At a high level, our customers
are looking to become more like
Information Brokers, with a strategic
vision to make information their main
asset. Digitisation allows them to do
more business with fewer physical
assets.”
Ziyad Hareshe,
Danwood
“As organisations look for ways to
lower costs, increase productivity
and maintain organisational security,
they will continue to add, evolve
and enhance processes to digitise
content. Digital content is easier to
access, automate and secure, as it
can be better incorporated into BPO
and other organisational automation
processes. It makes it easier for users
to find information and incorporate
it into their work streams, while
maintaining the ever increasing
security regulations and mandates
applied to business.”
Simon Hill,
Nuance Communications
n
MILLENNIAL PRINT HABITS
Total: 42
Average: 3
Range: 1-6
Median: 3.5
Mode: 2
Many of those who see Digitisation
as the main industry threat, put
Millennial Print Habits in second
place.
“Millennials will make up over 75%
of the global workforce by 2020 and
already we are nearing the halfway
mark. These digital natives have
workplace demands that will need to
be fulfilled for them to achieve their
full potential.”
Jason Cort,
Sharp
n
ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY
Total: 57
Average: 4.1
Range: 1-7 Median: 4
Mode: 4
Economic uncertainty continues
24
PRINT.IT
01732 759725
PRINT 2016
...continued
Carlos Osuna
European
Marketing
Manager,
Panasonic
Ziyad Hareshe,
BPO consultant,
Danwood
Steve Hawkins,
Group Managing
Director,
Xeretec
Tony Burnett,
Altodigital
