Looking at our audio series in advance of the worldwide celebration of the format
September 30 is International Podcast Day. Come February, it will be 20 years since the word “podcast” was born. The medium keeps evolving and remains as powerful as ever.Hardware, software, and services are at the heart of the dealer and customer event
For the first time since before the pandemic, Toshiba America Business Solutions’ Electronic Imaging Division gathered dealers, customers, and key business partners to showcase offerings and impart guidance on its direction and initiatives.What teachers think about digitalization in education
Of the educators I had the chance to talk to, it goes without saying that most of them credit the COVID-19 pandemic with the decreased turn to printed documents since everyone had to get used to online learning.Our Office Group leader has plenty to offer to this compelling print services organization
Deborah Hawkins knows the market for workplace technology and has helped build Office Group practice areas at Keypoint (and its predecessors) for 20 years.Proprietary study delivers insights on where companies are on their DX journeys
Where are organizations on their digital transformation journeys, and what are their plans for DX, workflow, intelligent document processing, and other smart solutions? That’s what we set out to discover in our 2023 IT Decisionmaker primary research study.How have things been going since the company’s dealer meeting?
Hard to believe it’s been three months since the Sharp National Dealer Meeting 2023, which carried “Opportunity Meets Execution” as its theme.How this innovative technology creates greater flexibility in the outputting of documents
The last few years have seen a transformation in the way we work.What’s been on the minds of dealers and what are they thinking about moving forward?
It’s true that Keypoint Intelligence focuses a lot of time and energy on the vendor side of the print industry, but that does not mean we shy away from the channel.There’s always M&A activity, but how active has it been?
Acquisitions come in all shapes and sizes. Consolidation will continue like clockwork—basically no different than the sun rising and setting.Donnellon McCarthy Enterprises continues its growth in IT and everywhere else, too
IT is like one of those monsters that absorbs everything in its path and just keeps growing. Luke Ubelhor of Donnellon McCarthy Enterprises is the kind of guy who likes to help make sense of the IT beast.How print OEMs are adapting office space to bridge the skills gap of new graduate recruits
Recent hires who spent part of their formal or higher education isolated from the face-to-face interaction that previous cohorts received have found it harder to adapt to the work environment.Sometimes classics exist for a reason
While quick response codes have been utilized for a variety of uses, one that has yet to gain approval is QR code menus. We discuss here the benefits of a QR code menu as well as the resistance to use it.What dealers can learn from recent developments in the IT and cloud space
Anne Valaitis (Principal Analyst in Keypoint Intelligence’s Office Group) and Carl Schell teamed up once again to discuss IT happenings and provide some color commentary on the news.Dealer-focused webinar looks at all things IT, with an assist from Pulse Technology’s Chip Miceli
They used to say that “The sun never sets on the British empire,” and the same is true of IT development. It is constant, at times progressive, and typically rapid.It’s not just digital transformation, it’s also scan acceleration
Digital transformation (DX) is nothing new. Even if DX was here long in advance of the COVID-19 pandemic, that singular event pushed its value proposition up the grid of importance.Our “green” content drive for Earth Day week starts here!
In the print industry specifically, sustainability has stepped up to the mic like the front man in your favorite band. The amount of marketing and messaging and promotion around sustainability has for sure seen an uptick in the United States, but even in other regions where eco-responsibility had already made significant gains.Looking at realignment in the print industry over the past decade
We have all grown used to consolidation in the print industry. We all expect it to continue. Having options is always a good thing, but how many options do there really need to be?And were you even aware of Global Recycling Day?
Recycling and the replanting of trees are merely two of the many facets of sustainability. The subject has been around for ages, but its density and meaning have surged due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent supply chain crisis.Industry pro fills newly created role of Managed IT Services Principal Analyst
The path forward for dealers lies, in large part, in managed IT services. The space offers so many options—too many options, some might say. But because many of them fit snugly under the as-a-Service/recurring revenue umbrella, the channel has been, and will continue to be, more active with IT in today’s evolving hybrid business ecosystem.Further education from Keypoint Intelligence’s 2022 Channel Survey
The Keypoint Intelligence 2022 Channel Survey sure does have some important, strategic research and data. What you see here is an infinitesimal sliver of the pie. Have a look and let your brain wander!More fun with numbers from our Channel Strategy Advisory Service
I thought there would be more dealer acquisitions in 2022 than in 2021. That turned out to be true, though my mind and my gut did think that even more would happen.Roland DG announces release of six new devices to its TruVIS line
Print buyer demand for immediate applications—an application that can be finished immediately after printing and delivered to the customer within 24 hours—has grown exponentially over the last decade.Sustainability is the main focus for many exhibitors
Within an hour of Ambiente opening its doors, it was clear that we were in the middle of something special; it was the place and time when sustainability changed the way customers think about aftermarket supplies.Keypoint Intelligence series returns with insight on software, strategic alliances
Even if you just want to reference Ringdale the company, it’s nearly impossible to say “Ringdale” without immediately adding “FollowMe”. I mean, everyone in the print industry knows the solution is synonymous with secure pull printing, right?What are we thinking about with office print, managed IT, and smart technology?
The Keypoint Intelligence Office Group dissects subject matter related to print (devices, supplies, service), managed IT (cybersecurity, most notably), or smart workplace technology and translates it into plain English for strategic implementation.Technology Assurance Group leader discusses 2022 IT trends and looks ahead at 2023
Check out the Keypoint Intelligence Channel on YouTube for interviews and other insightful videos!
US operation discusses performance and strategy at virtual briefing
Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A. held a virtual analyst and press briefing on December 13, 2022, during which several company execs provided an update on all things Konica Minolta.Diving into the best of 2022
As another year comes to an end, I took the opportunity to reflect on some of the digital textile and direct-to-garment (DTG) trends that emerged in 2022.An audio tour through the year in print and associated technologies
There was so much good that happened in 2022, and a lot of that good in our space is captured in the 36 interviews we produced as part of Season 4 of The Key Point Podcast. When I look at our favorites, I very much see a microcosm of this year in the industry.Keypoint Intelligence continues to publish content on print and beyond
Whether it’s about office or production; vendors, dealers, or print service providers (PSPs); or company news, product news, event coverage, or otherwise, we deliver all of this to help you understand what you need to know to grow your business.How can retailers meet expectations?
As the 2022 holiday season is firmly in its stride, the shopping trend appears to be bridging both in-store and online experiences.Thoughts on the industry from Staff Product Manager at Qualcomm
Print might be down, but it is certainly not dead. There are still plenty of good stories to tell about it, too—from how some companies evolved during the pandemic to become an even stronger presence to case studies that detail the impact a particular product had on an organization’s health and bottom line. This is precisely why I was excited to sit down with Qualcomm’s Philip Mazzilli, who is also a member of the Mopria Alliance, to discuss several aspects of the print industry.Company leader details recent acquisition, recent partnership, and things beyond print
One of Keypoint Intelligence’s goals for 2022 was to strengthen our portfolio. Yeah, I know, it sounds super generic because that could easily be a goal of companies in any industry around the world, but the reality is that we are evolving in concert with the voice of the customer.Yet another excellent example of blending print and managed IT services to great success
While the mega dealers have plenty of great tales to tell, the stories from smaller dealers have always felt more relatable to me. The cold hard truth is that dealers with annual revenue of up to $20 million obviously have less capital and fewer resources than the megas to turn ideas into reality. For these outfits, there’s just more at stake with each decision, and the challenges are oftentimes more difficult to overcome, but their successes wind up resonating—and educating—more.Revealing the final eight large-scale technology providers on the list
It’s a products and services world, and the mega dealers are acing the test. Sure, they have the human resources and the capital to make things happen on a grand scale—or to make new revenue streams happen. Because whether it was through more print (production and wide format, not just office) or beyond print (managed IT and smart office, to name two areas), the bottom line is that they are not afraid to take risks.Which large-scale technology providers are on the list?
The mega dealers are “mega” because they are a well-diversified bunch. Sure, success is evident simply by studying financials for a few minutes, yet each company has its own story on how they surpassed $100M in annual revenue—and then some. Even if the mega dealers started life as traditional copier dealers, they have all embraced technology beyond print with solutions such as security cameras and EV charging stations. Many are striving for that holy grail-like 50/50 split between print and managed IT, with a strong desire for the latter to exceed the former shortly after achieving that even goal.Impact Networking’s educational event on managed IT services and how work gets done today
Impact Networking and IT have gone hand in hand for a while now, through a labor-intensive break/fix phase to its current, more efficient managed model. The show aims to address how best to fill the gap between business and technology as well as how to educate existing Impact Networking customers and its potential clients on the benefits, trends, and the future of IT. “Innovate to Evolve” is an apropos tagline.Director of Commercial Sales & Marketing talks about Epson’s approach to technology and marketing
Earlier this year, Joe Contreras was appointed Director of Commercial Sales & Marketing for Epson America’s line of business inkjet printers. Randy Dazo sits down with him to discuss Epson's A3 inkjet technologies as well as how the company managed during the COVID-19 pandemic.Using small businesses and 3D printing technology for my wedding
Crafting and personal props are just a very small drop in a very large bucket when it comes to Additive Manufacturing possibilities.Company continues transformation through products, services, positive energy, and honesty
The company presented its eight-pronged strategy that encompasses hardware and software (office and production), professional services and managed IT, as well as e-commerce and subscriptions. It should go without saying that “pandemic,” “supply chain,” and “inflation” were oft-used words. But, at the end of the day, Kyocera representatives made no excuses and promoted change as a very good thing.The COVID-19 pandemic and shortages in many areas have led to rocky times
The global supply chain is in danger and we are currently experiencing a crisis in regards to the global supply chain. We discuss in this infographic the steps it took to bring us to our current situation.Company adds managed print services capabilities to its MSP software
Just a couple of weeks ago Tigerpaw released v22.1 of its flagship solution, an update that expanded managed print services (MPS) capabilities to the business management software originally designed for the managed services provider (MSP) community. For my money, this is an important development. The opportunities in whichever direction you look at it from are, in a word, real. That alone was enough to make me want to speak with Tigerpaw’s Trevor Moses, the lead architect on the project.Particularly for students, the method of reading impacts comprehension!
The pandemic has changed so much about how we work, shop, interact with one another, and even how we learn. We discuss here how digital learning has affected students and means to overcome these challenges.Production print and digital transformation central to company’s new Client Engagement Center
Making the Client Engagement Center the centerpiece of this week’s Konica Minolta 2022 Dealer Summit was clearly the right move. Located at the company’s US headquarters in Ramsey, New Jersey, the CEC houses devices Konica Minolta offers in production print, wide format, labels and packaging, as well as digital embellishment. These represent growth areas (industrial print is up 151% year-over-year) and are, obviously, critical for the company as it shifts into high gear with its dealers.An important new insight for all printer, supplies, and paper brands
No one needs to be told that online purchasing increased during the pandemic, but Keypoint Intelligence’s latest Multi-Client Study, A4 Hardware and Supplies in the E-Commerce Channel, looks much deeper at future “stickiness” for many customer groups.The effects of paper-hoarding and other supply related issues are impacting growth for 2022
Imaging Network Group (INg) kicked off its 31st year with the spring meeting in Tucson, AZ.A quick recap of the three-day event
Document Strategy Forum (DSF) took place near Chicago at the Hyatt Regency Rosemont from April 4-6, 2022 and was the organization’s first in-person three-day event since DSF 2019 in Anaheim.The workplace after COVID, vertical market resurgence just two of the topics
In this Interview Insights with Chris Marshall, Commercial Director of Brother International Europe, we discuss Brother’s continuum of solutions in relation to the pandemic.Breaking down consolidation figures in the print industry
Cue COVID. Movement in the channel took a nosedive as 28 acquisitions were closed the year COVID took hold in the US—not surprising given the conservative financial behavior of companies during a pandemic, but perhaps still a surprisingly high amount to some of you. Activity then increased to 35 acquisitions in 2021. During this two-year span, where lockdowns came and went and the urgency of vaccines took root, mega dealers were responsible for 21 transactions, with over 75% of those acquired dealers having annual revenue of less than $5 million.Value-based manufacturing and micro-factories are disrupting the norm
Large quantities of fashion and apparel items that are manufactured are not sold at full retail price. We make too much that does not sell, and the traditional volume-based manufacturing model is broken.Central New York Magazine offers a shining example
While the impact of digital communication on print is difficult to dispute, there’s also evidence to believe readers are craving hardcopy experiences.Why we shouldn’t abandon print in education post-lockdown
Print is by no means becoming extinct in the education sphere and it is beneficial to have the choice to try digital learning as an alternative to more conventional methods.Where is the print market going?
We are currently seeing times of uncertainty in the print industry due to different crises created by different sources. This blog explores the four trends that we believe will change the print ecosystem.The impact of home and office print on the document industry
As COVID incidences drop and levels of vaccination continue to rise, the “new normal” is now in sight. This blog explores how the pandemic has effected print volumes as well as how businesses will be affected by new work structures.Our 4 Questions series turns to industry consultant for the good word on MPS
The concept of managed print services (MPS) has meant a lot of different things to a lot of different people over the years, by definition and in revenue. Is it just about A4? Auto-replenishing of supplies? How deep and wide can it go? MPS has evolved to be anything a dealer wants it to be, for lack of a better way of putting it. It’s elastic, flexible. One thing we can all agree on, though, is that taking a consultative approach with customers leads to better relationships and greater financial success for all parties.Our 4 Questions series welcomes another known quantity in the print industry
If there are a couple of things I’ve learned about Art Post in the short time since we met, they are that he will never shy away from a conversation about A3 hardware—and he oozes confidence. The Customer Relationship Manager has been at Stratix Systems for nearly 24 years (he had his own dealership and worked for a Minolta dealer prior). He created the Print4Pay Hotel in 2003, a resource website for the print industry that continues to enjoy good health. And, of some personal interest to me, he was the General Manager and Head Coach of a summer collegiate baseball team for almost a decade, a job which he says was rewarding because it gave him the chance to continue coaching while also chatting with the student-athletes about the business world and what would come after school.Following up on how technology can help those of us struggling in this era
In her follow-up blog on technology's effects on mental health, Editor Lindsey Naples looks at additional data and provides some insight into how virtual rooms and video calls can assist with emotional wellness.A brief recap of the Impressions Expo - Long Beach show
Didn’t get to attend Impressions Expo - Long Beach? Here is a quick recap of major highlights from the show floor.In a refreshing change of pace, people from across the industry meet face to face
The Executive Connection Summit (ECS) took place in Scottsdale, AZ, from January 16-18. Driven by the business agility theme at the event, all of the speakers, panelists, and sponsors did not disappoint. This blog recaps the events.Supply chain woes shed light on a problem 30 years in the making
The issue of offshoring semiconductor manufacturing to Asia-Pacific has been growing for years. This blog explores the dangers of centralizing chip production to one location as well as the steps taken to rectify the problem.Shortages and delays are a problem, but the industry should meet demand
While many businesses are utilizing scanners for their hybrid offices, supply chain delays and semiconductor shortages have made producing more devices difficult. This blog explores the document scanner supply chain dilemma and how OEMs and vendors can meet demand.Can virtual reality help you cope with it?
This blog focuses on the mental health concerns surrounding the pandemic and the possibility of alleviating those issues with Virtual RealityKeypoint Intelligence’s public-facing content educates readers, expands in scope
We entered this year still in the thick of battling COVID, encouraged by the hope of what vaccines could bring. Now, as we prepare to flip the calendar to 2022, the print industry and the entire world continue to face a chip shortage and a slow supply chain that are becoming more debilitating by the day. In between all that was a gluttony of compelling news such as announcements on products and services, updates from vendors and dealers, and, of course, anything and everything related to digital transformation.Print in a diversified space
As is customary at end of year, the Office Group at Keypoint Intelligence provided annual predictions for the year ahead and this blog summarizes that presentation.If you’re receiving more catalogs this year, you’re not alone!
This blog focuses on the uptick in print items that came about due to a "digital fatigue" some experienced during the pandemic.Popular podcast champions print in multiple ways
This blog summarizes the recent references to print in the "We Can Do Hard Things" podcast; representing something different and interesting about the demand and opportunity for print.Cloud Workspace Collaboration and Print in City Solutions
This blog focuses on Canon Europe's recent announcement of two technology solutions to support hybrid working: the Cloud Workspace Collaboration (CWC) and Print in City (PIC).Durable graphics outlook during economic recovery
This blog takes a look at the top five reasons wide format print service providers (PSPs) were so resilient in the face of COVID-19.Reflections from the INg conference
This blog summarizes conversations had at the recent 2021 Executive Workshop in Orlando, FL, where much of the networking conversations revolved around postage, labor, supply chains, and paper.And why that’s a great thing
This blog focuses on Toshiba's announcement to split into three companies, what it means for the future, and how it could help amend the past.Employee health and wellness is not just an issue during a pandemic
This blog focuses on the return-to-office safety measures taken by Canon Solutions America.How the bizarre structure of 2020 brought unforeseen things into the fold
This blog discusses the recent change in how workers view their jobs, and the Forbes article that focuses on what employers can do about this.Exhibitors and presenters must continue to rely on digital
This blog takes a look at the cancellation of PRINGING United 2021, marking a continued era of frustration for print vendors, manufacturers, and service providers looking to return to the normal onsite tradeshows.Print providers pivot to accommodate new market demands
This blog takes a look at the silver lining of the pandemic - that it has prompted print service providers (PSPs) to uncover new business opportunities that will carry them into a successful future.Keypoint Intelligence to educate on the office and dealers of the future
Keypoint Intelligence and ITEX have teamed up to help paint a path forward for our industry. We may not be able to predict the entire future, but we can help with what we’ve learned from the past, our newest research findings, and involving industry leaders that can all help you see a clearer future for the office and dealers.Review of the seventh edition of the combined show
This blog summarizes some key takeaways from the ITMA Asia 2020 show, including vendors and devices/products shown.While less time was spent working and purchasing, more hours were logged working from home
US Bureau of Labor Statistics’ new American Time Use Survey shows how Americans spent their time during the COVID-19 pandemic, comparing information on work and leisure from May 10-December 31, 2020 to the same time period in 2019. This blog explores some of the key findings from this study.Dealer challenges, a look at forecasts among talking points
Keypoint Intelligence’s Deborah Hawkins and Carl Schell were invited by print industry veteran John Alfred Hustvedt to speak with some folks from the Nordic organization Economy and IT. The discussion was multifaceted, covering dealer challenges, a look at forecasts, centralizing workflow and decentralizing employees, and much more.How new and existing features and functions support a safe return to offices
While we have covered if office print volumes will ever be restored to pre-pandemic figures, we expect it will be affected by more people moving to a hybrid workforce. This blog explores how five of the major OEMs seek to support of a safe return to the office.New feature increases safety for those returning to the office after lockdown
We recently posted a report on Epson Print Admin 3, the company’s entry-level print management solution. This blog explores some of the features related to its touchless system for MFPs and printers.Forecast of the impact of COVID-19 on print volume for small to large companies
March 11, 2021 marked the one-year anniversary of the WHO's official declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic, which continues to leave its mark on a global scale. This blog explores the recent data and provides an update to our data.Even in a challenging environment, they exist!
Many businesses entered 2020 cautiously optimistic about the opportunities of the future, but those expectations were shattered by the forced closure of non-essential businesses. This blog explores the actions that various printing companies are exploring so they can maintain growth as we emerge from the pandemic.CEO of tech provider speaks about print, production, IT, and dealers
We provide unbiased insights and build responsive tools that are customized for you so that you can focus less on data and more on your customers.Free Keypoint Intelligence series details current and future ways to work smarter, not harder
COVID-19 has presented countless challenges and impacted the bottom line of companies around the globe. But out of that bloomed new opportunities that have led to success stories in many industries—the print space included.What to expect in 2021
In many ways, COVID-19 has been an accelerator, pushing many industries including print into greater digital readiness. In other words, fulfilling the promise of industry 4.0 transformation, which began many years ago.Dealer principal in NSW Australia talks about the ups and downs during a pandemic
We sat down with Lawrence Breen to learn more about Inland Digital, how the dealer has fared since the coronavirus hit, successes and challenges in 2020, and opportunities for next year. This blog explores some of those findings from our interview.Moving online post-COVID
The world of business is now online. Products and services are morphing to meet the needs of the COVID-19 consumer. Whether for business or personal—often when you are working from home, it is blurry at best—an e-commerce presence for vendors is no longer a nicety.An update to the April and June surveys
In April and June of this year, Big Picture Magazine and Keypoint Intelligence conducted surveys of sign shops, commercial printers, and in-plants to gain a perspective on how the industry is coping with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This blog explores updates to this data.Former Kyocera VP discusses dealer’s strategy, COVID’s impact, and her career
COVID-19 notwithstanding, the company has grown its print business and hired additional help in sales, thanks to the always powerful combination of continuing to satisfy existing customers and increasing net-new accounts. For a dealer with roughly $2 million in revenue, high double-digit YOY growth is most impressive.Annual forecasts for North America and Western Europe coming soon
Released annually, our Document Imaging Solutions Forecasts for North America and Western Europe estimate and project revenue figures from 2019 to 2024. This blog explores some of the complications we've seen due to COVID-19.Evolving beyond print through managed IT and the smart workplace
For NYC Tri-State Area-based LDI Color ToolBox, on track for its best year ever, the company didn’t realize the plans it had for a product and services expansion would become its saving grace when the coronavirus struck.Free session shares insights on the post-COVID work environment
Keypoint Intelligence and Xerox recently teamed up to present a special webinar that should be of interest to all stakeholders in the office document technology industry. This blog explores the webinar.US and Western European forecast on the impact of COVID-19
Businesses across the globe have been (and will continue to be) ravaged by the COVID-19 pandemic—prompting companies to pivot their businesses to grow in different directions than usual. This blog looks at the updated numbers of our Marking Supplies Forecast.“Essential” sectors have lowest penetration, representing persistent print opportunities
Much has been said recently about the shift to remote working that has been driven by the pandemic. This blog looks at those job listings that are actually remote and who is listing them.A look at what needs to happen for that to take place
We have seen a recent surge in many packaging applications, but there are many questions about commercial print. This blog explores the potential end of offset printing due to COVID-19.This customer communications stuff just got real!
Consumers are rethinking how they prefer to communicate, and the pandemic is wreaking havoc with customer communication channel preferences. This blog explores how to overcome the challenges of the pandemic and channel fatigue.Will more OEMs follow?
In a post-COVID world, launches and enhancements to touchless operation, voice recognition, and mobile apps are expected from all of the OEMs. This blog explores some of the initiatives from HP.Disruption in equipment placements impacts the DFE market
The market for DFEs is being impacted by the disruption in equipment placements from the COVID-19 pandemic. This blog looks at our most recent DFE forecast to see how great this impact can be.Tradeshow and publications manager shares insights
While the RemaxWorld Expo tradeshow in Zhuhai, China is taking a huge hit due to pandemic-related travel restrictions, on the whole, China is weathering the COVID-19 storm as can best be expected—according to the show’s head organizer.The change to the digital print equipment demand ecosystem
When it comes down to print purchasing, COVID-19 has accelerated the natural transition for some consumers and businesses to purchase online at an even faster rate.
