Trends in the Print Industry for 2021

Post-pandemic, market developments are reshaping the printing industry trends in 2021. See how Konica Minolta’s solutions stay ahead of the curve. Read more

Trends in the Print Industry for 2021

Marked by a year of massive change, 2021 brings new opportunities and challenges, influenced by the paradigm shift in consumer purchasing patterns and business models. Moving out from a state of paralysis, businesses now need to focus on rising above the crisis to meet new demands.

Signalling Trends

 Covid-19 has not only disrupted how organisations globally conduct business, but also effected a cascading chain of impact down to the specifics, of which print production is one. Approximately 70% confirm that the pandemic is severely disrupting the digital printing industry. No longer can a defense of past successes support future ways of working, the printing industry will reflect transformative change necessary for relevancy and survival.

Provisioning of touchless technology

Touchless technology – from printers to common office equipment – will be part of back-to-office strategies. In balancing the need for profitability and employee safety, the importance of a digital printer that leverages touchless tech will be pervasive as general concern over cleanliness permeates.

Offering touchless technology to operate the digital printers is a step ahead in mitigating future virus transmission risks. A post-crisis workplace spells new demand for more secure, remote printing capabilities. Konica Minolta’s range of multifunction peripherals (MFP), such as the bizhub C650i/C550i/C450i offers touchless connectivity, allowing users to use their mobile devices to access the printer through bizhub Remote Access.

 Leveraging Variable Data Printing

Despite dips in physical retail shopping and in-person experiences, there are some industries that still rely on print production capabilities during the pandemic. Labels for healthcare products such as masks and medication are where digital printers continue to subsist.

Variable data printing (VDP) technologies employ customised messaging for different recipients. Examples include personalised mailers with individual customer names, headers and images used. The AccurioLabel 230 lets you produce high quality labels and stickers at incredible speeds and flexibility, without compromising efficiency and quality.

Relying on Artificial Intelligence

Stockpiling food items and toilet supplies indicate a growing demand for more flexible print management. With these items flying off shelves at remarkable speed, producers need to keep pace with short run print production.

In fact, printing social distancing stickers and banners became an essential need for specific industries, such as supermarkets and clinics, around the world. Printers still need to continue their work, while keeping workers safe at the workplace. Using the Intelligent Quality Optimizer IQ-501 with the AccurioPress C14000, businesses can leverage on Artificial Intelligence to reduce human intervention and while helping to achieve high quality short run prints productively without print wastage.

With digital printers, businesses can carry out short-run print jobs without compromising on cost and labour. This allows industries, like healthcare and food companies, to continue printing on-demand at lower costs, all while keeping their workers safe.

Redefining The Future of Printing

 With Covid-19 having affected most industries, businesses globally are undergoing dramatic transformation and the digital printing industry is no exception. Speak with one of our consultants to see how Konica Minolta’s solutions can help you navigate the new normal.