The Unique Challenges of In-plant Printers

In-plant printers face many of the same challenges as other printers. But while that holds true across the board, the fact is, they do have some unique challenges that must be overcome.

In-plants have a built-in audience. After all, their purpose is to service their organization’s print needs, from producing business cards or documents, to signage or promotional products. But as the equipment costs increase and budgets decrease, many in-plants are starting to look outside of their core audience.

“In-plants greatest challenge is to expand their services beyond their existing base and become more relevant to attract outside business,” says Reuben Quesus, President and CEO, Web to Print Shop Solutions.

To do that, he notes, in-plant printers should be thinking about how they can use the various technologies on display not just to meet their immediate needs, but how they can leverage that same technology in other ways, which can then be sold to outside parties to generate revenue.

“The products that they will see with us, as an example can be leveraged beyond their immediate needs,” says Quesus. “For example, our technologies are typically used to design and/or modify paper products such as envelopes, letterhead, business cards, brochures etc. But the same technology can be used for the design or the personalization of promotional products, to create wide-format, etc.”

But just getting additional work in the door is only the first challenge. “In-plant printers and print-for-pay printers face a similar challenge: the need to keep their customers satisfied and coming back to them for all their printing needs,” notes Joe Bondonna, Product Manager at Spiral. “The key to customer satisfaction is to work smarter, rather than harder.”

To do that, Bondonna urges in-plant PRINT 17 attendees to specifically be walking the show floor with automation on their minds. Products that streamline the print process can save time and reduce labor costs, which, for in-plant printers, can mean the difference between staying on budget while still exceeding expectations, or having to sacrifice either budget, quality, or speed along the way. “Traditionally, the latest innovations have been debuted in North America at the PRINT show,” he notes, making it the perfect opportunity to make small upgrades that will have a big impact.