News
More firms driven to outsource print, key industry figure claims
The economic slowdown will see more companies outsourcing print and multi-channel marketing services, a leading figure in the industry has said.
In an interview with PrintWeek, Mike Gordon, managing director of UK and Ireland, RR Donnelley Global Document Solutions (RRDGDS), said the company had experienced an upturn in demand for its outsourcing products over the past three months.
He said the company saw the current climate as an opportunity because a lot of current and potential clients are looking at what they can outsource.
"Businesses are also aggregating different services that traditionally would have been tendered separately, resulting in large, multi-service bids," he said.
"Clients also want closed loop solutions that manage both inbound and outbound communication with their customers. Suppliers will need to be able to manage and integrate both of these components."
Interest in transactional mail services, traditionally confined to banks and utilities, is also being expanded, he claimed, as markets such as the pharmaceuticals sector explore options for outsourcing and personalised printing services.
Echoing market sentiment that the traditional model of print management is in decline, Gordon agreed this model was becoming unsustainable.
"We bought the company that invented print management and we are continuing to evolve that service. The traditional model of basing the service on getting three quotes and choosing the cheapest is no longer sustainable. More strategic sourcing practices are required and additional services must also be offered," he said.
RRDGDS, which was formed following the acquisition of Astron, has won a number of large contracts in the past few months, Gordon said, but would not be drawn on specifics.
Gordon: traditional print model is 'becoming unsustainable'
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Comments
- 02 December 2008
RRD Manchester Won what new contracts? I really do think the staff at Manchester would really like to know which contracts you you have won?.
I could list all the contracts Manchester have lost, so why cant you list all the ones you have WON?
The Mighty wind - 02 December 2008
Astron was built on a house of cards and tall tales it is no surprise that the house fell down but it was a neat trick for it to happen under different owners
Paul Scanlon - 02 December 2008
Hi Mike, could you confirm when Astron the inventor of Print Management was formed, I have always been led to believe that my father Joe Scanlon, Major Jack Jennings & Colin Davies where in fact the founders of this industry sector.
The term Print Management only really came to be used in the late 80's.
Andrew Bartlett - 02 December 2008
Buyers be ware of solutions that are not totally transparent. PMC's manage margins to make larger profits . You must make sure that the whole supply chain makes a profit. If you are seriously looking at out-sourcing then make sure that you have an independent organisation guaranteeing that the PMC can follow your CRS policies with their purchasing practices.
- 02 December 2008
Colin Davies and Colin Thompson researched and developed their Forms/Print Management Service in 1988.
Astron was formed in 1995 from an ex implant of WH Smith PLC.
If you wish a free report on Print Management titled `The Hidden Overhead`
email:colin@cavendish-mr.org.uk
Colin Thompson
Cavendish
www.cavendish-mr.org.uk
- 02 December 2008
Astron was run very well when the old mangement team where their, BUT when RRD bought the group it has all gone down hill due [edit] - Same Management teams also run the Norwich sales office site and ran that to nothing - Now Closed
[edited]RR Donnelley USA - do not have any input in the RRDGDS arm if they could get a buyer they would sell - But to be honest I dont think their is much to sell now. - Remember about 1year ago prinkweek published a article about RRDGDS maybe up forsale because its not worked out for the USA RRD. They want RID.....
[edited]Im sorry to be so negative but its the truth - [edited] - you know where im coming from if your reading Management in Manchester, Operations Huntingdon and HR Huntingdon
- 03 December 2008
Print Week - Get in touch with me I can provide all the evidence you require.
With all the details of which contracts have been lost.
Which contracts they have gone for and lost - which is many - I wonder why, lol
- 03 December 2008
RRD ( Manchester Site Only ) Have not won any new contracts in the last 2 years - I worked within this company ( Manchester Site ) for the past 2 years ( Finished Nov 2008 Resigned ) so no BULL and you may say Im very bitter - well ask Management in Manchester WHY or HR / Operations ? I will tell you anyway because they are liers, BIGTIME LIERS. and if your reading you know who you are ......
And if anyone wants confirmation on what contracts have been LOST & which have been WON which is none ( Manchester ) I can also provide names of other employees (EX) who will confirm this. It has to be EX employee's because current employee's are scared of losing there jobs if they speak out Cowards..... Keep taking the BULL from them.
Prediction: Manchester will be close come March 2009...
Im far from bitter - I just like to make people aware of what Manchester RRD is all about.
- 03 December 2008
Printweek - Maybe you should ask Mike Gordon for a visit to the Manchester site? and then you will see for yourself how empty it is ( But dont let them kid you with empty brown boxes because most of it is redundant stock or archiving ) I only say this because they did fill the racks to make it look like they were full for a client visit - And while you are there take a look at there MIS system which they do not have - System they use is called Sophie and it was put together in the late 1980's and believe me its like going back in time. Oh sorry they do have a new inhouse tendering system - Custom Point BUT it does nothing apart from obtaining prices from suppliers. You cannot send customer quotes, You cannot raise purchase orders once you price is back ( This has to be done through SOPHIE ) Not Linked. IT systems are very poor dont believe me get down there and see for yourself.
Joanne Jones - 03 December 2008
Andrew Barlett can you please recommend any independant 3rd parties to carry out the service you refer to.
Thanks
Paul Scanlon - 03 December 2008
Well there you have it the inventor of Print Management was formed in 1995, CDP were founded by my father in 1974, nuff said really.
CDP = Continuous Data Print, we changed our name to CDP Print Management in 1993.
Colin Davies contacted me from Vegas & told me,
PM was devised, designed, and developed by the most charismatic man in the printing industry, Joe Scanlon.
I know I saw him do it and bear witness to it's validity.
Colin Davies
John Leighton - 08 December 2008
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John Leighton - 08 December 2008
Phil, yes I'm interested in knowing which contrats have been lost & which have been won.
Chris Hopwood - 08 December 2008
Joanne, I believe I can answer your question, please feel free to contact me,
chris.hopwood@marketingunity.com
- 08 December 2008
Hi John, If you give me more details to who you are then maybe I will pass over the information
You wanna know give me a private email,
Thanks Phil
Edward Ryder - 08 December 2008
Fao Joanne Jones, I don't normally blog, but spotted your request for details of a print management system. You might want to check out webmartuk.com. After years in the print industry, they have possibly the most sophisticated pm system I have ever seen. Coupled with their development plan and overall ethics, they are well worth looking into.
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