Tag Archives: graphexpo

GraphExpo exposed some new opportunities for In Plant and commercial and hybrid operations.  The print services provider of the moment is fast becoming the communications provider of the future.  There are incredible opportunities.

New opportunities:  More than one spot featured what I will call, “Talking Paper”.  Ricoh featured this and DocuMobi (now loaded on my Android and I hate loading new apps). It is the image that is recognized instead of a barcode.  A good idea if the readers become  integrated I can just use one scan and my device figures out which source I need quickly.  The interactivity of the quick video with documobi is  a blast.  Print with a smile.  In fact, DocuMobi was using Direct Smile in the mix.

Next up was a great development.  More than one press manufacturer had mixed roll paper feed into multiple option feeders.  How I wish I had this six years ago when 75% of the paper I was using was one type. The inability to mix roll and cut sheet is frustrating for most shops. Kudos to the front end company that is making this possible.  I did not delve deep enough to know which one it is.

Social interaction. Not social media. Social social.  IPMA and Print Media Centr both had open booths.  The playability at the PrinterVerse was oustanding.  What a refreshing step away from the vendor hawk areas.  Vendors take note.  Provide a place where no sales people are allowed and people can just enjoy.  One of my great friends in life is Emerson.  No, they have nothing to do with printing or communications.  They provide power systems.  Every once in a while they provide a few days in a non typical convention town where only their engineers are communicating with customers.  They mix education on trends and build great relationships.  Kudos, GASC.

More fun?  Ricoh gets the all out award for creative display.  That town center was a blast. I wish I had four hours just to walk around.  I sure hope you caught it on pictures so I can redo a virtual tour with easy drill down into the shop windows.  Wow.

As Gomer would say, “Surprise, surprise, surprise!”  Right in the middle of Konica Minolta is EngageIT.  I love EasyPurl and Mindfire and InfusionSoft and Interlinkone and Xmpie, and, and… anyone who mixes up the channels in easier ways for printers.  This product looks to be a game changer.  Written by a gaming ad agency, it has simple abilities to make it happen based on realistice patterns of interactivity.  And you  don’t need rocket scientists in your shop to make it work.

In Plant education was a phenom.  Much thanks to GraphExpo for courting this audience that makes up a bigger and bigger portion of the industry.  Sorry commercial guys, if you don’t learn how to in plant, you are going to go away.  More and more companies get it.  The digital revolution brings ability for volume, quality, variability and impact in smaller and smaller and more affordable packages.  The need for mass volumes and monster equipment is waning.  Companies that have never thought about In Plant operations will start thinking. Those that have them have begun serving others.   The education options were superb and dead on.  The In Plant folks had fun, learned, and were exposed to new possibilities. I talked to many of them.  They are ready to grow and take a bigger portion of the market.

That’s enough for today.  Just a little reporting on the fun side.