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The thINK Ahead 2024 conference took place from July 15-17 at the Boca Raton Resort in Boca Raton, Florida—marking the 10th annual gathering of production inkjet users and prospects. The event offered three days of inspiration, education, and networking—featuring keynote speeches, in-depth educational sessions, and partner pavilion sessions. Attendees had the opportunity to tour the Canon Americas Innovation Center and enjoyed evening entertainment. While the session content was valuable, the networking among inkjet customers, prospects, and vendors was the highlight of the event.
The conference celebrated a decade of supporting the inkjet user community and highlighted advancements in inkjet technology. Approximately 450 attendees, including representatives from 31 partner companies, participated in the event. Canon's representatives expressed deep gratitude to their partners and customers for their continued support and engagement, underscoring the importance of partnerships in delivering comprehensive solutions beyond just presses.
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| The Boca Raton |
Sessions
This year’s conference featured numerous sessions and discussions that provided attendees with valuable insights and information about the latest trends and advancements in the printing industry. One of the highlights was the keynote address by Francis McMahon, Executive Vice President of Production Print Solutions at Canon Solutions America. McMahon emphasized the essential role of partners and customers in Canon’s success, expressing profound gratitude for their contributions. He highlighted Canon's latest advancements, including the Canon varioPRESS iV7 and the Canon varioPRINT iX1700. Both are designed to meet evolving market needs with higher efficiency and superior quality. McMahon also reported record-breaking financial results for the first half of the year, with Canon achieving the number one market share in production printing.
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| Opening Session |
Margaret Pepe, Executive Director of Product Solutions at the United States Postal Service, discussed innovations within the USPS aimed at enhancing the value of mail and fostering creativity. Pepe introduced several new products and initiatives, including an incentive program for mail owners that exceed their baseline volume. She also highlighted the USPS's efforts to leverage technology, including AI, for improving customer experience and automation. Pepe underscored the importance of direct mail as a trusted and effective marketing channel—noting its high engagement rates and reliability.
Jamie Szal, Partner at Brann & Isaacson, addressed significant changes in state tax compliance post-Wayfair. Szal focused on new thresholds for tax obligations based on sales volume or revenue and explained the complexities due to varying state definitions and categories of taxes. She highlighted the importance of understanding the impact of gross receipts taxes on different aspects of business operations and stressed the need for accurate compliance and proactive strategies to manage these taxes effectively.
Robert Rose, Chief Strategy Officer at The Content Advisory, emphasized the evolving role of marketing in the print business. Rose noted that marketing now extends beyond lead generation to include onboarding, customer experience, and retention—necessitating a focus on selling experiences rather than products or services. He advised print businesses to re-evaluate their approach to customer engagement and highlighted the resurgence of print as a valuable marketing channel.
Chris Wells, EVP at DS Graphics and Universal Wide, discussed the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on businesses and the print industry. He emphasized the importance of integrating AI into workflows and leveraging it for predictive analytics, personalization in print materials, and ensuring print remains a viable marketing channel. Wells urged print businesses to proactively incorporate AI-driven insights into their offerings to avoid obsolescence.
Keypoint Intelligence Opinion
The thINK Ahead 2024 conference successfully celebrated a decade of innovation and community within the production inkjet industry. The event's triple track of sessions and discussions highlighted the latest technological advancements, marketing strategies, and regulatory changes impacting the industry. Keynotes and presentations emphasized the importance of partnerships, customer engagement, and adapting to new technologies like AI. The networking opportunities were particularly valuable—fostering connections among industry peers, vendors, and prospects. Overall, thINK Ahead 2024 reinforced Canon Solutions America's commitment to supporting its customers and partners, driving forward the future of production inkjet printing with innovation and collaboration.
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| Cabana Night |
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