Inkjet & Digital Printing
Services for the Graphic Arts industry: Océ unveils Graphic Arts Leadership Program at drupa 2008
Wednesday 14. May 2008 - Group-targeted or individualized content, cost-efficient production, short runs, excellent output quality in black & white or color, wide format or standard - the advertising industry often lacks the big-picture overview on just what opportunities are available through digi-tal printing.
The Graphic Arts Leadership Program from Océ is set to change this, giving innovative print service providers the tools to drive their business forward and convince their own customers of the opportunities inherent in digital printing.
The program is designed for print service providers who already specialize in digital printing, as well as for classic offset-press operations. “We want to help these organizations develop and expand their digital printing busi-ness,” says Peter Wolff, Vice President Graphic Arts. “This will raise their competitive strength; we also stand to benefit, through the better system utilization.”
The basis: software and hardware
Two segments of the program – Digital Process and Digital Production -comprise Océ software and hardware solutions for the Graphic Arts Indus-try. Continually optimized through ongoing feedback and collaboration with customers, the solutions include the Océ PRISMA for Graphic Arts software suite and the new Océ JetStream 1100/2200 and Océ ColorStream 10000 digital presses, all of which set new benchmarks in the production of TransPromo documents and individualized direct mail. And of course the solu-tion portfolio includes the Océ VarioPrint 6000, the worlds fastest cutsheet printer with the outstanding Gemini Instant Duplex technology.
The core: supporting services
The core of the Graphic Arts Leadership Program is the Digital Business Model with consulting and support services. “Most print service providers have neither the time nor personnel resources to monitor and analyze the development of the market and technology,” explains Peter Wolff. “Thats our job as a customer and service-oriented company.”
The services are centered round the Business Innovation Process (BIP) which comprises in-depth analysis of the clients specific job structure, sup-port with decisions on strategic direction and with defining appropriate solu-tions and service portfolios, marketing support, and ongoing assistance in operationalization. “The selling point for digital printing is not so much the technology as the new opportunities and products,” explains Peter Wolff. “Thats why a strategically consistent business model, flanked with commu-nication to customers, is a key success factor for print service providers.”
Training, seminars and knowledge exchange
Going beyond BIP, Océ produces training courses, offers a database with innovative reference applications, stages special graphic arts seminars and supports customers in complex projects. The Océ Quality Center also pro-vides opportunities for certified partners to meet and exchange knowledge. Also part of the portfolio are special consulting packages and marketing support. Peter Wolff explains, “The tools of the Graphic Arts Leadership Program give our customers the expertise to make better use of their sys-tem capacity and become a digital print leader.”
Focus on print costs
Key to the service offering of Océ is the cost-benefit consideration, which plays such a major role in the everyday business of print service providers. It is precisely on print costs – a key consideration for print buyers – where the substantial benefits of digital printing are becoming increasingly appar-ent. This is down to a variety of reasons, affecting both buyers and service providers. The benefits become obvious in automation, for example, in in-tegration into IT-based procurement processes, and in substantially lower inventories, made possible by shorter print runs. Its even possible to gen-erate shipment papers and invoices automatically and cost-efficiently at the end of a print order. “If you factor in the effort for the supporting workflows, for data composition, finishing and personnel,” outlines Peter Wolff, “you can easily back up the technological benefits of digital printing with a num-ber of economic arguments.”
Some elements of the Graphic Arts Leadership Program have already been implemented; others are due for rollout shortly. Océ will be presenting the Graphic Arts Leadership Program at drupa 2008.