What trend do you think 2012 will remembered for?
The growth in Outsourcing toward companies like Communisis. As our corporate customers focus on their core activities, there is growing willingness to outsource complicated processes which are operationally essential, to the right trusted partner.
What do you think will represent the single biggest opportunity for printers in 2013 and why?
The Retail Market Review will force utilities companies to be much clearer about how they communicate their tariffs and products to consumers. This represents a huge opportunity for the print industry to use state of the art digital print technology to help them make their transactional communications clearer and personalised to each consumer, while at the same time turning them into powerful marketing tools.
What do you think will represent the single biggest threat for printers in 2013 and why?
Continued economic uncertainty in Europe and globally which may force companies to defer or postpone marketing and new business development plans.
What’s the one thing that the industry should do more of, or do better, in 2013?
In 2013 the key goal is for communications to be focused on the single customer view. Regulatory changes across several industry sectors are forcing companies to think about each consumer individually and how they are meeting their specific requirements. The print industry must think about how they can help companies deliver this, to the required scale, accurately and cost-effectively.
What was your highlight of 2012?
The successful acquisition of three businesses in important growth areas – Kieon, Yomego and The Garden Marketing – which expanded our capabilities in online communication, social media and specialist content management all of which will complement our existing print capabilities.
What are your hopes for 2013?
That companies continue to outsource their print, marketing and other business critical activities to appropriate trusted partners, allowing them to focus on their core business operations.
What was the most important thing that you learnt in 2012?
The slow turnaround in the European economy has shown the importance of having a robust and sustainable supply chain in place and working with a smaller number of best-in-class partners.
What will you do differently in 2013?
Look to expand in markets outside the UK, even quicker than we did in 2012.
What does the industry need to do differently in 2013?
The print industry needs to be more confident about its role in the digital age and demonstrate clearly where it fits in with other communications channels.
