18 February 2014

The UK Printing Industry - Future Focus

The BPIF has been commissioned by one of our Associate members - Neopost - to conduct research into the current challenges and future direction of the UK Printing Industry. This will highlight the debate on where it's going and identify options for developing business models that can capitalise on the changes in the marketplace.

It will be a useful document to help your decision making and we would welcome your input into its findings. You will get a free copy of the Research by participating and it will be available at IPEX on the Neopost Stand. Responding to Future Focus will help us promote the UK Printing Industry and provide you with some invaluable insights into the future direction of our industry.

As a thank you for your participation all submitted responses will be entered into a free prize draw* for:

• an iPad mini
• one of two 6-bottle cases of wine

Please click here to access the survey.

Why is it now more essential to understand Business models that are more sustainable?

New Focus
The focus is shifting internally away from cost structure, maximizing operational effectiveness, and business process reengineering (all still important so don't take the eye off these areas) towards how to build capabilities for faster growth, how to attract and retain the best people, how to develop leaders at all levels in the company, how to manage knowledge effectively. This has an impact on what type of business model should be adopted to provide the right framework for adapting to change.

Many businesses are reaching old business models limits with respect to the complexity and speed required to serve markets.

The problem is "a ruinously dysfunctional mismatch between today's business environment and the classic business model... Quite simply, the wrong model may transform a company into the vehicle of its own death." Great shifts - genuine and radical transformation - have been shaping the economy and business environment in recent decades. Technology, especially information and communication have radically altered the requirements for building and managing a successful business in this new business climate, although the basic command-and-control business model has survived, it has lost its effectiveness significantly.

The Great debate our sector is having is what Business model is best to provide a sustainable future and transformation in digital, information systems, software and all the other options available makes it difficult at times to fully embrace the right routes.

The successful companies in the future will be ones wise enough to harness the full potential of the entire organization in the rapidly changing business environment. The winners will be the unbridled firms that are responsive to challenges and adroit in both creating and capturing opportunities.

The BPIF have a wide range of services to help in this change process and hopefully the Research will offer some guidance on what routes are being taken.

* Terms and Conditions apply.