FuturePrint Vision Report 2022 Launches
We are really happy that our Vision Report is now available and ready for download! The report is superbly written by Karis Copp and features contributions from a number of our expert FuturePrint partners. We think it contains some great insight and compelling analysis!
Turbulence, change and uncertainty are all set to continue. The only certainty right now is uncertainty. Supply chain problems remain, not just in the UK, but globally. The war in Ukraine is already adding pressure onto fuel supply and prices for energy and already increasing. There is also the issue of paper becoming a scarce commodity. Just two years ago nobody would have believed us if we had predicted this to be one of the key issues confronting the print industry!
Economies have remained remarkably resilient. Demand for consumer goods remains strong and out of the darkness, there is light. The latest COVID variant has not had the impact of its predecessors, and there is plenty of opportunity for those of us who are flexible and able to adapt their offerings. Yes, inflation is an unwanted byproduct of strong consumer confidence and demand, but this was inevitable and a result of the past two years.
As we reported in 2021, digitalization is now centre stage. Agility in production is no longer
a USP but an essential characteristic. Any business that produces anything of value must be able to solve problems quickly, respond to demand instantly and deliver for customers with a service that excels regardless of the pervading climate and restrictions. Digital print technology, therefore, is an incredible enabler.
Sustainability is an ‘ability’ that we must all now embrace, and this emanates throughout every market that print technology touches. We must do more with less, waste less, and then be able to prove that we are genuinely doing what we say we are. Granularity is important. Greenwash is not good enough. Being environmentally committed is no longer an ethical side issue, but an integral strategic imperative.
Visitors to events will be far more forensic with their decision making and far less speculative in their intentions. The shift to an omnichannel model is an irreversible trend, thus being underlined in this report and in a recent Gartner report which predicted that over 60% of decision making is anticipated to move to digital channels. We have learned we can do more by moving less, and while events have a future, they may no longer be the dominant format they once were for the print sector.
In 2021, our theme was adaptability and this ability will remain an essential cornerstone of any business in 2022 and beyond. But in order for all of us to continue to evolve at the necessary speed, inspiration is required. We need to see and hear of how people and businesses have succeeded during these fast-changing times. It is the rocket fuel to get things done, to help us all step confidently out of our comfort zones. This report provides some great insight from our innovative partners who have supported and inspired us throughout the past two years and we look forward to sharing more inspiring stories to power our energy into the year and beyond.