In 2020, there were more data breaches and cyber-attacks on companies, governments, and individuals than ever before. The sophistication of threats has also increased due to the application of emerging technologies like machine learning and 5G, and because of greater tactical cooperation among hacker groups and nation state actors.

The primary cost of cybersecurity is alarming, but the associated costs don’t often make it into the headline statistics. Due to a weekend-long cyber attack in October 2021², Tesco had thousands of customer orders disrupted and lost millions in missed sales, and we can assume the losses won’t stop there. They will now have to react quickly to implement more cybersecurity tooling and work hard to repair and restore brand reputation with its customers – potentially costing more money.

By not regularly reviewing your cybersecurity strategy, you are leaving your organisation open to a multitude of complex threats. These have the potential to destabilise your operations and affect business outcomes for years to come. It isn’t enough to invest in one endpoint AntiVirus or Firewall solution, cybercrime is at a level of maturity where there is not one single product that can eradicate all threats.

What makes a good cybersecurity strategy? 

Your cybersecurity strategy should be proactive rather than reactive and take the approach of ‘when’ an incident occurs rather than ‘if’. Instead of focusing on preventing a cyber attack, the most effective strategies stress the importance on how to detect, respond and recover from an inevitable breach. That said, any robust cybersecurity strategy should put you in a better position to respond to an attack. A comprehensive strategy aligned to a recognised industry certification such as Cyber Essentials Plus can make the difference between a minor incident and a major one.

Cybersecurity also needs to be tailored to your needs, challenges and digital journey. Each organisation is unique and requires a customised approach to strategy.

Step 1: Review your cybersecurity setup

By reviewing your cybersecurity position, you can identify high-risk areas and any redundant tools which can be shelved. It is also essential to understand where the threats are deriving from and if there is a fit for purpose solution to plug the gap. By undertaking this process, you could identify some quick wins to unlock improvements and improve cyber resiliency.

We often find that our customers are renewing existing ‘legacy’ security solutions which were developed and selected several years ago when the landscape was very different. Many of these tools are not able to respond to the latest emerging and “zero-day” threats. Today, cybersecurity isn’t about investing the most money. It’s about making tactical moves and spending budget intelligently.

Step 2: Layer up with cybersecurity 

To prevent and mitigate cyber-attacks, your strategy must employ a range of technologies and solutions to cover all bases. And as the threats change, the bases can also change. Much like digital transformation in general – cybersecurity is a continual process that involves monitoring, threat hunting, training, and cultural change.

Some solutions to consider are perimeter security, endpoint security, back-up and disaster recovery, authentication protocols, real-time monitoring and threat intelligence.

Step 3: Make testing a priority

For any company undergoing a period of digital change, it is vital to promote a culture of continual security testing. Any new application rollout, change to IT infrastructure, or merger or acquisition activity can potentially expose new security vulnerabilities that threat actors can and will exploit unless these changes are tested proactively to ensure any holes are identified and remediated. Over the past two years, we have seen this frequently as organisations were forced to implement years of transformation rapidly. To make sure their workforce could work successfully from anywhere. Many fell victim to cybercrime due to poor implementation.

Step 4: Scrutinise your resource 

Over recent years, the escalation of cyber-attacks has seen organisations rush to employ skilled professionals. As a result, leaving the market depleted of cybersecurity experts. There is currently a shortage of over 1.2 million. Your organisation might be feeling this impact directly. When considering your cybersecurity strategy, it is important to review resources and identify where you need extra expertise or whether tactical outsourcing is more appropriate.

Ricoh Cybersecurity Practice

Working with a collaborative partner is a fantastic way to fortify your business against the risk of cyber-attack. Our team is innovative, forward-thinking, and works with a range of global clients across both the public and private sector. By taking advantage of our experience and expertise, you can build a cybersecurity strategy built to protect your business against new and evolving threats.

Read about our proactive Ransomware product and how it might benefit your organisation.

1. https://cybersecurityventures.com/hackerpocalypse-cybercrime-report-2016/

2. https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/finance/city-snapshot-tesco-website-back-online-after-weekend-cyber-attack/661110.article

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Accounts receivable processes are central to an organisations’ financial health – it’s vital that they are as visible, streamlined and dependable as possible.

Automated cash collection is proven to save accounting staff one hour a day, save organisations €13 per invoice, and pay themselves back within six to eighteen months.

They can also provide more accurate financial reporting. Financial Directors need accurate data at their fingertips at all times, with total visibility of cash flow and outstanding invoices. This helps them and other senior decision-makers to make important business continuity decisions.

We’ll look at reasons why now is a good time to review manual accounts receivable processes.

Financial management

Central to effective accounting is managing cash flow and reducing the amount of time it takes for you to get paid.

Cash flow problems make it harder for businesses to ‘ride out’ unstable market conditions. They can also damage your creditworthiness and make it impossible to pay staff, suppliers, and creditors.

Automated cash collection makes accounting processes more efficient and less error-prone. Removing time-consuming tasks will help your team to focus on maintaining the financial health of the organisation. Improving the performance of accounting processes, instead of issuing, sending and chasing invoices.

Accurate and centralised reporting

If you don’t have trust in your data, you can’t make the right decisions. Being able to provide the Board, C-Suite and, lines of business with accurate financial reporting is essential.

Your reporting is only ever as accurate as your financial data. Automation removes the human element in accounting processes, making the data less error-prone and more accurate. It can also help analyse the data, spotting trends, identifying problems and quickly exporting reports. Making it easy for stakeholders to understand and use.

Improved reporting can also help organisations control and reduce their spending by providing a single, centralised view.

Enhanced business continuity

Automated cash collection tools are more operationally resilient than processes that rely on hardcopy documents and people being in the office. It’s vital that accounts receivable processes keep moving, even when ordinary working processes are disrupted.

Cloud-based platforms are accessed on a range of devices from any secure location. As a result, this helps to ensure that your accounting processes won’t grind to a halt if something unexpected happens.

What’s the answer?

Shifting to automated accounts receivable will not only help your organisation through a crisis, but help protect it for the future. It’s a sensible investment with a clear and immediate ROI.

Our Accounts Receivable Assessment gives you a clear picture of your current situation and a roadmap for the steps you need to take in order to implement an automated, digital solution.

CLICK TO READ:

If you’d like to learn more about Ricoh’s automated accounts receivable processes, check out the document above. Inside you’ll find guidance on how to minimise the risks of manual account receivable processes and how Ricoh can help you find a better solution.

And if you have any questions, feel free to get in touch with us on LinkedIn.

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Many forward-thinking organisations are looking to the future and working on plans to facilitate growth. Yet to make mission-critical decisions in a challenging world, leaders with a growth mindset need a clear financial picture. Without a real-time view of their cash position, investment decisions are difficult to make. A manual accounts payable process cannot provide CFOs with this vital information in real-time.

Automating the accounts payable process will not just provide immediate access to cash visibility, forecasting, and reporting. It will also transform what has historically been a very manual, time-consuming business administration process. 

Staying competitive in this new economic environment requires smart practices in all areas, even the unobvious ones. This is where our automated accounts payable system comes in.

Where’s the real value in accounts payable? 

Most likely you have a dedicated accounts payable function or employees who take care of this process. It is their job to receive purchase orders, delivery notes, invoices, process payments, and remittances. In some organisations, this all still exists on paper with records kept in messy in-trays and bulging filing cabinets.

Neither of these approaches provides you with a real-time view of what’s really going on in your business and an actual cash position that you can rely on getting, anytime you need it. And this is exactly what’s required if your business is to make better quality investments, see better ROI on those investments and make better savings.

What can Ricoh’s automated accounts payable system offer you?

Investing in a robust and resilient accounts payable system now will unlock massive value within your business. Helping you to scale up your internal operations for a robust future. And if the quantum leaps made in digitisation recently have proven anything; transformation doesn’t take as long as we may think.

Within each step towards digital accounts payable, there are also opportunities to save money, time, and resources. Costly mistakes and miscalculations are the last things any growing business needs. Especially if a slip-up leads to an easily avoidable risk.

Complete visibility for your executives 

Automated accounts payable revolutionises cash visibility, forecasting, and reporting. Users are given access to a dashboard, which offers a real-time view of their cash position, allowing leaders to make high-level business decisions with all the knowledge at their fingertips.

The system implements seamlessly with business operations within a few weeks at no delay – a big selling point for your C-Suite. Finance teams are also trained ahead of the system going live, giving the right people immediate value.

All-around cost saving

Investing in an automated system means a lower cost across the lifetime of your business. There may be an upfront price to pay, but in the future, it will cut processing time and labour requirements. We found our system makes the process twice as fast, from 48 hours plus to under 24 hours.

Having a system in place can also empower accounting staff to focus more on strategic business goals and cost-saving activities. Which can only stimulate growth and fill individuals within your organisation.

Streamlined remote working

Suppose your accounting team has been fighting a losing battle with paper-based remote working. In that case, our secure cloud-based solution can offer you flexibility and continuity, no matter where your team members are based. And let’s be honest, it seems unlikely that we’ll be 100% office-based ever again.

As the system uses self-learning technology it also automates live feeds and batch approvals, easing workloads for your team. Task lists, notifications, and recorded version control also make the process faster and easier to manage from multiple locations. Keeping the entire team updated and on task.

The technology 

Our process automation allows you to digitally receive and process invoices and purchase orders with complete efficiency. With a powerful search function for instant retrieval of information when needed regardless of the source. The technology makes it possible for everyone to access the exact version of the same document anytime and anywhere.

The self-learning data input also means the system is able to auto-extract and populate invoice data. Therefore, it can be indexed against its original purchase order. No scrolling through endless records, no scope for human error, and certainly no need for staples.

And it doesn’t stop there if the system works well in your accounting department. You can also consider integrating the same solution to other departments within your organisation. In manufacturing, and especially sales, this technology provides huge potential for growth.

Integrating automated accounts payable into your business

We’re confident our solution can help a range of sectors. But we don’t operate with a one-size-fits-all approach. We tailor the solution to you and put together a package that fits your needs.

Once we have the solution in place. Our team will provide training to all who require the use and visibility of the system. And if issues and queries pop up, there will be reliable, and reachable after-sales care on hand.

Find out more 

Are you ready to ramp up those processes that are ‘done that way, because they’ve always been done that way?’

The gap between those keeping up and those falling behind is growing. It’s time to match your internal operations with your external growth ambitions.

Use our ROI calculator and find out what this means to you

The post Why automating accounts payable should be your next strategic goal appeared first on Insights.

A modern organisation needs to keep up with increasing demand for their print infrastructure. It can get difficult or expensive when trying to deliver the latest techniques. Equally, without an effective system in place, managing requests for a large group of users can also be challenging. In this post, we discuss how addressing certain key digital print transformation trends can make a major difference. We also show how Ricoh help the University of Leeds achieve just this by using specific expertise and technology.

What are the key trends? 

The below insights should form the basis of your considerations when it comes to digital print transformation:

Digitise your processes.

Use an all-in-one software application – such as Ricoh’s Digital StoreFront – to make it as easy as possible to get new projects into your print room.

Customers will be able to remotely submit their print jobs via an online booking form that’s available 24/7. The software will track the project, invoice it, place it onto an appropriate digital press and print it. All they’ll have to do is collect their order.

A complete end-to-end process provides a much friendlier experience – one which meets consumer’s expectations in today’s market.

Level the playing field with better quality work.

You could be missing income if your print room is unable to meet the high standards and requirements for departments like marketing.

Replace your old equipment with the latest digital print devices to provide a new level of quality assurance. This will ensure you deliver on processes and techniques that are in-demand in 2021 and beyond.

This prevents your organisation from looking externally for certain print requirements, which gives you the opportunity for more business.

Remove the potential for human error.

Mistakes happen. Especially when we’re trying to micro-manage a lot of detailed information. Paperwork, forms, re-keying facts and figures, applying settings to devices and machines. All of these administrative assignments carry the risk of error.

By allowing a streamlined digital process to manage these tasks, you add greater reliability and ensure a better customer experience. 

Improve security.

Switching to a digital print infrastructure increases the security around an individual’s information. Their personal data is managed within the software solution that adheres to the latest security and processing standards.

Contrast this a paper-based system where items can be mislaid and are often disposed of incorrectly It’s easy to see the benefits. Especially as each print job is also managed more efficiently and seen by fewer people.

How do they make your print room profitable?

The combination of streamlined processes, quality, greater variety, and improved customer experience is an effective force for profit in your print room.

Automating certain administrative tasks frees up your staff. Allowing them to provide a better level of service to customers and process more print orders.

Improving the quality and variety of the work you produce will encourage a wider range of customers to your print room over your rivals.

And an improved customer experience will help you match the standards today’s consumers have come to expect.

Ricoh and Leeds University.

“Leeds had a vision for their print room. Ricoh took that vision and turned it into reality.”

The challenge.

With over 70,000 students, plus the large staff resources required to teach a broad subject curriculum the demands on internal services at the university is considerable. One of the most important support services for the University of Leeds is their ‘Print and Copy Bureau’ which provides print and document production services.

But the Bureau was facing several challenges. Old equipment, poor quality, and efficiency, outsourcing of work and a lack of the latest print techniques. It was falling behind rivals – and costing a lot of money to operate.

The University of Leeds turned to Ricoh for help. The solution involved more than just implementing modern print equipment. It facilitated an end-to-end digital print transformation that would improve the university’s print service across the board.

The solution.

Before Ricoh began to install its cutting-edge technology in the university print room, it worked with the Bureau to rethink the area’s layout and redesigned it into a more efficient work environment.

Then, analysis of Bureau operations showed processes and workflows could be improved further. So Ricoh helped select a new management and information system, and eCommerce web-to-print software solution.

They also held several workshops to educate the staff on how best to use Ricoh technology, particularly the advanced 5^th colour capability, litho printing, and white and metallic inks.

The benefits.

The transformation has already seen success, which is continuing to grow as further processes are implemented.

The print unit has turned into a more efficient operation. It is attracting work from outside the university and particularly their neighbouring university, Leeds Beckett.

Staff are also offering feedback. They are enjoying a more productive, happy and streamlined work environment that meets their needs.

The quality of the new print techniques is building greater trust internally among students and staff that the university.

Turn your print room into something that makes money.

By applying these trends to your costly print room, you can turn your print room from an ageing dinosaur to auspicious operation.

If you’d like to learn more about how Ricoh worked with Leeds University to transform their print infrastructure, watch this short video.

Or if you have any questions please feel free to ask me directly.

The post Commercialise your print room by addressing these key trends. appeared first on Insights.

The increasing digitisation of printed documents is just the latest challenge to vex service diversity within the print industry.  But it’s no real surprise, either to Evans – who has been the DesignPrint Manager at Swansea Council for 19 years. He also engages with other public sector print unit managers, through his role as President of APCOM. APCOM is the organisation for print and communication managers employed within the UK public sector.

“This is something we have seen coming for a long time, both from an APCOM point of view and from print units across the country,” he told Ricoh in an exclusive interview.

“But it was only really when austerity kicked in that the change was forced on print units. Print volumes started dropping with letterheads and business forms going online. This was a natural progression. The print rooms had to change.”

And change many of them have. Service diversity has become a desirable attribute. Public sector print units are now doing much more than print and design. On top of those core services, they are adding electronic forms of communication. Such as email and URL production, as well as ancillary services such as shredding and scanning/archiving. More specialist print services such as wide-format print production have been added in some cases.

“These are all areas that councils need,” he continued. “Print units are pulling things together that are associated with print, rather than printing directly, and keeping these things in-house also has benefits in terms of data security.”

High standards

Evans would refute any suggestion that public sector print rooms operate to lesser standards than those maintained by commercial printers. He can point to a number of areas where the public sector performs just as capably.

Marketing is one, customer service another. “There are public sector print facilities out there that have a really good marketing strategy. They work very hard on their image and make sure they engage with customers.

“We tend to work as partners with internal stakeholders, ensuring they get the best value for money. To ensure the product they asked for is suitable for their requirements. We aim to work with people and add value.”

Although the relationships between a public sector print room and those it is producing work for – who mostly work for the same organisation – might seem fundamentally different to a commercial printer attracting clients on the open market, in fact, many of the same rules apply.

“I really try to push the importance of customer satisfaction and service diversity across my unit, and within APCOM,” Evans continued. “There’s nothing new here. You just need to engage with customers and understand what they require and make sure they understand what we can produce. Setting expectations and hopefully beating them, if you can. It’s all about trust at the end of the day. If you can produce good quality, on time and on price, they will keep coming back.”

Colour standards

He goes on to field a question about the colour management demands of public sector organisations with ease. Seeing different levels within the subject area. Colour consistency is of course important. You want the last leaflet to look like the first. Colour matching is less of an issue for an organisation such as a council, compared to say an FMCG manufacturer such as Coca-Cola.

The skills needed to colour match are still called upon though. “Our logos are relatively small, and it may be that this is the only thing that is critical for us to colour manage. That said, when we have an exhibition that’s open to the public, the exhibition stand needs to match the leaflets and brochures. That’s where it becomes more important.”

Investing in high-end digital equipment is therefore essential for service diversity. Doing so cost-effectively requires shrewd choices and an ability to put together a good business case for the technology. This should be the case for any print operator.

Evans concluded: “Our stakeholders rely on us as professionals in this field to advise on those kinds of things and show a return on investment that works for them. People talk about public sector printing not being on a level with the private sector, but in reality it is. In the public sector, we have a professional print outlook. We can produce the same quality and the same products. We must justify what we do to our directors and board of managers; the private sector must justify things to their stakeholders or shareholders. Similar sorts of issues – there’s not much difference between the two.”

About Anthony Evans:

DesignPrint Manager at Swansea Council for 19 years, and before that Design Studio Manager at DW Jones (Printers) in Port Talbot, where he worked for more than 13 years. Anthony has been a member of APCOM for many years and has served as President of the Organisation, between 2010 and 2012, and again since September 2017.

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In the corporate printing sector workflow automation helps to deliver visibility and control of printing costs. This may also go hand-in-hand with streamlined document output processes, helping to free up staff to concentrate on their core duties.

Not only can these result in better efficiency and profitability within your organisation, but they can also lead to better service provision to your end customers.

Additionally, a high number of respondents said they could use this technology to:

• Enforce new print rules to specifically control high-volume print jobs to better track their organisation’s print
• Gain visibility of print costs to enable fairer charging of print costs between departments

These benefits are achievable, whether or not your organisation has an in-house print facility for handling jobs which are more complex than everyday office print activity.

For print rooms and CRDs, automated technology will alleviate the inefficiency, lack of accounting control and the poor communication that occurs when these jobs are typically delivered or transmitted from within the company.

For the company itself, it could put an end to the maverick salesperson armed with a company credit card, buying ad hoc printing needs externally and with little oversight. The result will be better control of both cost and data security.

With 2020 now upon us, many major corporate companies are increasingly keen to accelerate these digital printing prediction trends. They want to enjoy the twin benefits of cost control and process improvement, and they want it now. Early adopters are already putting in place workflow automation technology that ensures print jobs are routed to the most suitable and most cost-effective output device, based on an intelligent and automatic assessment of the parameters of the job itself.

By streamlining processes and optimising document output they can enhance the performance of their people and their workplace as a whole. The organisation will gain visibility and control of digital printing costs, reduce unnecessarily and repeating expenditure. This delivers a clear and accurate answer to the question “how much do we spend on print?”.

The realisation of this digital printing prediction adds up to better productivity and better customer service; the challenge for in-house print rooms and CRDs is how to ensure a smooth path to these wins through their own enhanced operational capabilities.

Feel free to drop me a line on LinkedIn to carry on the conversation or check out more insights here

Are you in the public sector? Previously we spoke to Anthony Evans, President of APCOM for his insights on how in-house public sector print room can embrace service diversity. Hear what he had to say here.

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As we approach the end of another year, we have a natural desire to look back and consider how the next twelve months will pan out. But 2020’s COVID-19 pandemic has turned any forecasts – and how many businesses in our industry operate – on their head. For this reason, it’s even more important to learn from the changes we have experienced this year. So we can prepare, as best we can, for 2021. Here are some lessons and predictions for the future.

COVID-19 large format signage and the impact of floor graphics

Coronavirus, and its associated restrictions and guidance, has resulted in simultaneously more and less demand for signage and graphics. Travel, retail, and events and exhibitions have shrunk as profitable markets for print service providers (PSPs). Many businesses and organisations in these sectors simply closed in the spring and some are yet to reopen their doors. But at the same time, signage for informational and directional messages – for instance designating distances of 2 metres or one-way systems – have been in exceptionally high demand. Floor graphics, in particular, experienced incredible sales.

In 2021, there will be – hopefully – less requirement for directional floor graphics. However, their effectiveness has proven its potential for influencing consumer behaviour. So we expect to see more creativity in this application, while PSPs and designers will be keen to create incredible quality output with their digital printers and cutters. A formerly under-utilised canvas, the floors of retail, commercial and public spaces are likely to receive a lot more attention.

Application-led diversification, backed by technology

Since digital large-format printers became affordable investments, most PSPs have found more than enough work to keep them busy; there was little need to look for new markets to explore. When COVID-19 hit, of course, all that changed. All kinds of business had to shift gear and see what else, and to whom else, they could sell. This lead to rapid diversification, principally driven by a demand for specific applications and the application of today’s versatile digital printing technology.

For instance, thanks to large format printers suitable for multiple applications, exhibition specialists may have switched to floor graphics, while T-shirt printers normally busy with personalised tees for events perhaps shifted production to reusable fabric face masks. This type of exploration, experimentation, and entrepreneurialism is expected to drive a new era for print businesses. One where operators and owners will be looking at what else their print room can do and where it can take them, not just during a crisis, but long term.

This extends beyond printing hardware. Inks and substrates are more specialised and yet more versatile and user-friendly, while the software is making more things possible than we could have ever predicted. PSPs now have the tools to integrate their printing operations with e-commerce and marketing platforms, giving them more control and direct access to new markets.

Forging and retaining connections for large format print

Interacting with customers more directly is part of the new normal. This year has been emotional, with much emphasis on staying connected with our loved ones and our communities. Relationships between businesses and their customers, and their suppliers and service providers, are more important than ever before. It’s likely that the companies that succeed in the next twelve months will be those shown to be reliable and responsive to everyone in their supply chain.

For PSPs, these connections established in 2020 may prove incredibly useful in showing customers what’s possible with print in 2021. Social media and e-marketing create more opportunities for engagement and interaction; print businesses can DM or tag their way into the focus of potential customers or show their existing client list their latest application innovation via their inboxes. Trade shows and training have gone online – and are expected to stay there for the time being – giving more people outside the large-format print world unprecedented access.

Watch our webinar about incorporating large format into your print operation.

Personalisation – at home and out

We expect personalisation in the consumer market to grow as a market segment. Custom wall coverings are already an exciting vertical market for PSPs but until recently were typically restricted to schools, colleges and offices, often to display motivational messages, and in hospitals where colour and design can create a more welcoming, less intimidating environment for patients. But now – judging by the demand for home decorating and DIY products in 2020 – there is an opportunity for PSPs to enter the domestic market armed with the ability to create bespoke wall coverings and other interior decor items.

Again, this is enabled by the unceasing R&D in our industry: the material versatility of large format printing technology, the development of low-VOC inks suitable for domestic settings, and new substrates and adhesives that make DIY installation easy for the end-user. Also, software and social media make it possible for PSPs to sell directly to the consumer. Established graphics companies have the skills to succeed in custom home decor.

Back in the commercial sector, we may see more localised marketing messages online, in OOH and on printed output. Many retailers and brands sought to connect with their customers on an emotional level during the pandemic. And have now seen the value of adding localised elements of their marketing to retain that bond with their demographic. The nature of digital printing technology allows unlimited personalisation for businesses with one site or thousands.

Sustainability and reducing costs with large format

Sustainability, in the eco-friendly sense, has moved down the list of priorities for many businesses and their customers. But ‘sustainability’ also means financial security with longevity. And these two definitions often go hand in hand. Reducing waste, transport miles and energy is all to the benefit of the bottom line as much as the environment.

The trends of 2020 and 2021 discussed here come into play when talking about sustainability and reducing costs. The evolution of technology has resulted in direct-to-substrate printing with latex and UV. Which uses fewer materials and is faster than traditional multi-step methods. Personalisation and greater customer involvement mean buyers get exactly what they want, adding value and reducing waste. Reaching the local market can improve turnaround speeds. Therefore margins while reducing transport emissions and fuel costs. By connecting with customers more directly, PSPs can also educate. About the sustainability of the materials they use, which is far from a black and white subject in our industry.

Sustainability, of course, is all about surviving and growing. All of us could benefit from taking some time to stop, take a breath, and consider what 2020 has taught us. This knowledge can help us thrive in 2021 and beyond.

Please click here for further information on Large Format.

The post Large Format Print – the lessons learnt from 2020 and predictions for the future appeared first on Insights.

So what’s next? This is a question that we’ve all been asking ourselves a lot this year.

Initially, we may have been quite rightly asking that question in relation to our personal freedoms and immediate business prospects. With restrictions continuing to evolve questions need to be refocused around longer-term business perspectives.

As a print service provider, it has always been vital to understand the evolving print needs of your customers. Ensuring that you can meet them efficiently and cost-effectively. The events of 2020 have made this more critical than ever.

So, for printers, the simple question of what comes next becomes a series of interlinked questions:

• How will the pandemic and the “new normal” affect the kind of printed products my customers want to buy?
• And their expectations of realising a return on their marketing spend?
• How well-suited to producing these products is my existing operation?
• What steps do I need to take to put right any gaps in my ability to provide them?

Application-specific

It’s too early to know what the long-term impact of COVID-19 will be on print demand. It may be that in certain scenarios, people have learned to live without print. But it isn’t clear that such a change is permanent. What is clear is that the impact on the print industry has been application-specific.

Printed products such as business cards and brochures have been hit hard. Harder than labels and packaging. Wide-format signage took a hit but has bounced back as sectors such as retail and hospitality have reopened with new needs.

According to early coronavirus, impact reports from IT Strategies and Keypoint Intelligence by InfoTrends. Print buyers and marketers will want their spend to work harder. They will order smaller quantities looking for every item to be more relevant.

This all sounds very familiar, and that’s because it’s a simple acceleration of trends that were already imparting an influence upon the printing industry. There was already a migration from offset to digital print taking place. Already pressure on run lengths. As well as a demand for higher quality, higher value print that could cut through.

Post-lockdown

Coronavirus has given many printers an opportunity to think hard about their business. And how they can position themselves best to thrive in the post-lockdown market. Without doubt, digital printing capabilities are going to be vital within that market. Enabling economical short runs, and versioning and personalisation of printed products. The varying impact of COVID-19 on different applications also highlights the desirability for printers to be adaptable.

They need to have a flexible mindset.  As well as production capability that extends that mindset into a varied product offering. This means deploying printing presses that are designed to print onto a wide range of media. As well as finishing equipment to handle varied formats in small quantities. Equipping themselves for the quick supply of such high quality, high-value applications will become a key commercial advantage.

Investment may be required to gain these capabilities. But the latest entry-level digital production presses represent a low risk, high reward path towards this digital transformation. Such technology delivers high-quality print as a matter of course, allied to high application versatility, finishing options and production reliability.

In uncertain times and a fast-changing market. Printers are understandably reluctant to risk investing heavily in big-ticket technology.  While also acknowledging the need to seek out solutions that allow them to pivot quickly and enter new application segments.

With offset volumes also migrating to digital print at an accelerated rate.  There are affordable options in the marketplace that will better set them up for whatever the future holds.

Check out our new entry-level colour press, the Pro C5300 series.

All of our digital print solutions can be found here.

The post Low risk, high reward: how digital print holds the key in the new normal appeared first on Insights.

When we wrote that piece, the Widthwise 2017 report highlighted “the continued take-up in alternative technologies to solvent-based printing” as a key trend. This years Widthwise is here and if you compare ownership of latex printers in 2017 to now, you can see an increase of around 10% in just two years.

That’s a pretty impressive leap in a short space of time. But why are more printers choosing latex over solvent and UV? In this piece, we’ll look at three reasons why. But before we do that, let’s quickly recap the basics.

What is latex printing?

Latex inks are water-based. The printer’s printheads apply the inks to the media and the printer heats the ink. When heated, the resins in the ink fixes it the colours to the surface, with no further gassing off or drying required.

Why is it growing in popularity?

• It uses fewer chemicals than solvent
• The output is high-speed and high-quality
• You can achieve bold designs using a wide range of colours
• There’s no drying time and printers can be left unattended
• It can be applied to a wide range of coated and uncoated media
• The final product is very durable with a high level of scratch resistance

Here are a few of the key reasons that latex printing continues to grow in popularity.

Rapid turnaround

Customers expect faster turnaround than they used to. In fact, the market expectation has dropped from around 48 hours to just 24 hours in the space of a few years.

One of the downsides of solvent ink is the ‘gassing off’ time it takes for the inks to fully dry. This is typically around six hours. But with heavy ink coverage, this can take up to 24 hours. With a latex printer, the prints come out of the printer ready to distribute. The lack of manual intervention required means that latex printers can be left on overnight and arrive in the morning with your order ready for post-print finishing and dispatch.

A wide range of applications and media

UV-curable and latex inks can be applied to a wide range of applications and material. This helps printers to keep the business in-house and expands the range of applications they can offer to clients.

The fact that they’re digital gives printers much more flexibility in terms of taking on short-run jobs and personalisation, both of which are key priorities for modern print customers. Textile and direct-to-garment printing are another key trend for print customers, with promotional t-shirts, hoodies and tote bags becoming increasingly popular.

Latex printers can handle a huge range of applications, including:

• Outdoor posters and adverts
• Backlit signs
• Billboards
• Vehicle wrapping
• Indoor posters
• Pull up banners/exhibition stands
• Point of sale advertising
• Soft signage and interior fabric signs
• Canvas and fine arts applications
• Window graphics

If you’d like more information on the full range of print applications available using latex inks, watch the video below:

Ease of use and setup

Latex technologies don’t emit hazardous gases or ‘Volatile Organic Compounds’ when drying off. VOCs are a form of greenhouse gas that used to be part and parcel of the printing process. Some VOCs are hazardous and some aren’t. Thankfully, latex inks don’t rely on either. This is not only better for your health and for the planet, but it also means that you don’t have to invest in expensive ventilation or air extraction equipment for your premises.

How the Ricoh L5160 Pro helped Gilmex unlock new opportunities through quick turnaround times and higher quality of work 

Gilmex International is a forward-thinking digital print organisation. They adopted Ricoh’s latex wide-format print technology to win new business. Its latex printers are used to produce a variety of display materials, including all-weather banners, window graphics and pop-up displays.

Their major objectives were:

1. Expand service portfolio
2. Increase sales turnover
3. Produce high quality indoor/ outdoor display graphics

Terry Mills, Operations Director at Gilmex: “Wide Format is needed for a fast turnaround. We used to have 48-72 hours to turn jobs around. The Ricoh L5160 pro has made a massive improvement to production speed and we are able to meet our deadlines.”

Ricoh’s products can help you achieve a quick turnaround time too, click here to view our range of industry-leading hardware and software products.

And it’s not just customers that are impressed. Our Ricoh Pro L5160 large format printer recently won a Keypoint Intelligence – Buyers Lab’s seal of approval:

“The dual CMYK Pro L5160’s fast speed lends itself to being an ideal choice for busy print shops needing to deliver large format print jobs under tight deadlines. It also produced a majority of halftone images that were vibrant, sharp and 3D-like in appearance.”

Discover the Ricoh Latex Pro L5100 series

If you want to see how latex printing can help you meet your customer’s needs and achieve greater efficiency and profitability, take a look at our Latex Pro L5100 brochure. For more information on the latest trends in the print market, you can read the 2019 Widthwise report. If you have any questions on anything mentioned in this article, feel free to drop me a line on LinkedIn or learn more about latex format print here.

The post Latex ink printer ownership is up almost 10% in just two years – here’s why appeared first on Insights.

What print size and workspace is required for your wide format printer?

These two factors are linked and depend on the type of printing you will be doing. Do you envisage printing large billboards and wallpapers or small displays and stands? Don’t just limit this to what you can do now. Think ahead to where you see your business growing in the future. This will also impact the decision.

Very simply, the wider the printer the more space is required. But there are other factors to consider.

Roll-to-roll, hybrid or flatbed?

Latex and solvent roll-to-roll printers come in various print widths, with 1.6m being the most common. Most of these printers are roll-loaded from behind so they cannot be permanently placed against a wall to save space.

UV printers come as hybrid or flatbed and when printing boards, this takes up a lot of room. How much depends on the physical size of the printer the size of media and where this media will be stored before and after printing.

Solvent prints need to be gassed off

After using solvent inks, the prints need to be gassed off for a number of hours so you will need to allow space for the drying racks. Latex and UV-cured prints are dry immediately and can be finished straight away by cutting or laminating.

Finishing tables

Big finishing tables are a must for solvent and latex printers to finish prints. You will also need to take into account the amount of storage space for the boards and the transportation of the media to the printer and to the finishing area.

Ventilation

Some full solvent printers require specially-installed ventilation units to remove the Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) produced as a result of the printing process. The amount of ceiling space will ultimately depend on the size of the printer. Generally, latex and UV printers do not require any special ventilation.

What media can be printed?

In solvent and latex printing, the media, its profile and surface finish play a vital part in getting the best out of the printer.

There are a bewildering amount of substrates to print onto. Each one tries to deal with a certain application and finish of print, meaning the combinations are numerous, including:

• Outdoor/indoor usage
• Finishes such as matt, gloss, silk
• Thickness
• Reinforced
• Quick-drying
• Coated/uncoated

In UV printing, the media surface and colour is less important especially if using white ink. UV printers can print onto almost any flat surface as long as the surface has good ink adhesion.

The thickness of the media is dependent on the printer but thicknesses of 110mm are not uncommon.

Indoor v outdoor use

Items are created for either indoor or outdoor use and can have a big effect on cost and price. Some printed products can be used for indoor depending on the application. Solvent, Latex and UV prints can last two years or more outdoors before there is any print/material degradation. If customers require their product to last a lot longer than this, then it is recommended that the prints are laminated.

Lamination adds costs in terms of purchasing a laminator, the laminating material and the space required to laminate and hold the materials that need consideration. In return, lamination offers customers piece of mind and value-added protection and surface finish effects.

Media profiles

Media profiles can be found within the printer menus but can also be profiled manually. In some cases, manually inputting profiles can be a time-consuming process. It’s important to check what is available as standard when buying a wide format printer and weighing up how much time it will take to upload the profiles you need.

Quality prints for the minimum cost

Choosing the right medium and profile for the application can greatly reduce the cost of printing. Knowing what works best on each printer is crucial to getting good quality prints for the least cost.

What is the cost of printing?

There are two main cost factors you need to be aware of:

• Consumables such as ink, media, replaceable print heads and cleaning accessories
• Service contract or service charges

Consumable costs

Ink consumption

In consumption varies from printer to printer and depends on the ink configuration and the printhead type (such as grayscale printheads). Generally speaking, the more ink colours the printer has the higher the ink consumption, but it will produce a wider gamut of colour, which is especially important with fine art printing.

Power consumption

Power consumption should also be considered when evaluating costs. On the whole, solvent printers use the least power. Latex printers need additional electricity to run the heaters that are used in the drying process. UV printers require vacuums and powerful UV mercury lamps to cure the inks, however, LED UV lamps are available and can greatly reduce power consumption.

However, LED UV lamps do increase the initial purchase price of the printer as they are costly to manufacture. But in the long run, will save money as they will not need regular replacing like UV mercury lamps do.

Maintenance

All printers need daily maintenance to keep the printers in optimal condition. Some printers have self-cleaning mechanisms to manage the day-to-day cleaning and it is good practice for print operators to carry out a daily short cleaning routine, first thing in the morning and last thing before shutting down. This will use cleaning materials and takes time. Although the cost of this can be small, it should not be neglected from an overall cost point of view.

Leaving printers on at night is also good practice as it uses very little power, ensures that the inks are circulated around the printer and minimises the risk of head blockages.

Service contract or service charges

If the printer is a vital part of the business, a service contract that ensures it is backed up and running as quickly as possible is recommended. One significant benefit is less downtime and being able to continue to fulfil job requirements, but this does come at a cost and needs to be factored in. It’s important to make sure the service contract meets with your required service levels such as response times, parts and labour.

Latex, UV and Solvent printers need a RIP to print files. Some good RIPs have cost indicators built into them, which indicates the amount of ink used per print and subsequently the cost. When weighing up all the options, this may be worth considering as cost control is vital if you are to stay competitive.

Do you need help choosing the right wide format printer?

If you’re struggling to make a decision or need more advice, please get in touch with me on LinkedIn or download our Large Format Buyer’s Guide to use as a step-by-step evaluation tool. You can download your copy by filling out the form to the right, or below if you’re on mobile.

Would you like to read more on this topic? I recently wrote an article that took an in-depth view of whether solvent, UV or latex will be the post popular in five years’ time.

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