Not just a buzz phrase, future proofing is simply the act of anticipating what might be in store for your business in the years to come. Trying to avoid relying on processes, solutions, or products that are likely to become obsolete, and planning for unexpected problems are future proofing steps you should already be doing. For printing businesses, this is something that we at Duplo are eager to help with.
In this blog we’ll go into more detail about future proofing, and the print finishing solutions we have that can help you to stay ahead of the curve now and in years to come.
What does it mean to be future proof?
A future-proof business is one that is proactive about the need to be resilient and puts plans in place to be able to weather changes that may impact its industry. This could be something as specific as a small technological advancement, or as far-reaching as a global economic shift. No one can predict the future with total accuracy, but this shouldn’t put you off the idea of future proofing wherever possible. Writing for Forbes in 2022, finance CEO Jennifer Garber said that there are ways to “develop methods that minimise the effects of stress” that may be looming, and at its heart this is what future proofing is all about.
Where to start
While exactly how to future proof your business will depend greatly on your industry (and we’ll suggest some PSP-specific solutions later in this blog) there are some areas of focus which are universal.
Sustainability
Sustainability doesn’t just refer to the ecological impact of your business - though this is important, and a growing area of focus for many industries. It also covers the practicality of your current work processes and business model. For example, working at a rate that meets demands but comes at the detriment of your staff and facilities is not sustainable, and will definitely hurt your business in the long run.
Collaboration
Go with the flow, embrace trends, and be willing to join forces with other brands and businesses if it can benefit you both. Collaboration also means listening to your employees if they have ideas for how to improve areas of your business - there could be a wealth of untapped talent within your existing workforce.
Employee retention
Expanding on the previous point, retaining employees, and keeping them happy and fulfilled is the best thing you can do to future proof your business. The opposite - having a high turnover rate - can easily turn into a negative spiral with negative long-term implications. Upskilling and investing in your workers is just as important as investing in your machinery, and is key to future proofing your organisation.
For PSPs, this can mean making sure to devote time to developing your workforce as well as your finishing solutions - even with high levels of automation, your employees should be confident in operating any new systems you bring in.
Responsiveness
Be prepared to pivot should something unexpected happen. Having a plan is great, but if a situation arises that calls for that plan to be thrown out of the window, you might have to do just that. Businesses that are unwilling or unable to change are easily overtaken by those who are able to adapt.
How can I apply this to my printing business?
We want our products to be able to support your future proofing plans. That means that all of our print finishing solutions are created with longevity and versatility in mind. You will notice that automation is a key feature in many of these products - being able to automate processes not only increases the efficiency of your workflow but can also be a huge benefit to your employees by taking care of tedious manual tasks. Here is just some of the print finishing equipment that we consider to be truly future proof.
DC-618
The Duplo DC-618 is a Slitter Cutter Creaser that has evolved over time to fit the needs of our customers. Fully automated, and able to be easily operated through our workflow software solutions, this machine is ideal for prints that need perforation, such as tickets and vouchers. We’re proud that our customers have been able to use this system to successfully remove bottlenecks and increase their turnover as well as the creativity of their offerings. Being able to impress customers with new products in this way is key to staying relevant, which is an aspect of future proofing that can be hard to achieve without the right technology.
DC-F100
Manual tasks may seem insignificant on the surface, but they quickly add up, and can ultimately impact your profits. That’s why an In-Line folder like the DC-F100 can make a huge difference to your business by automating production from start to finish. This leaves your employees with more time and energy to focus on more complicated issues, instead of wearing themselves out on easily automated tasks. Already optimised to carry out the most common folds, and able to connect to the DC-618 and the DC-648, you’ll be surprised by the time that this system can save you.
iSaddle 5.0
Speaking of time - the iSaddle 5.0 is quick on the draw when it comes to saddle stitch booklet printing. If your goal is to hit faster delivery times without losing any quality, this automated saddle stitcher could be the answer. Not just fast, the iSaddle 5.0 is also energy efficient - something that’s likely of growing concern to many of our customers as energy prices continue to rise.
Intuitively designed, able to be operated by a single user, and capable of handling a wide variety of formats, the iSaddle is loved by many of our customers. A great example of this is when the original iSaddle was upgraded to the iSaddle 5.0, our friends at DSD Colour Printers knew they had to get the latest model.
Get in touch today!
Our products are designed to solve your problems - not just the ones your business is currently facing, but also for the ones that might be just around the corner. If you think Duplo might be the place to start in future proofing your business, reach out to us today for a demo or brochure.
