Last year presented us with many challenges. While new ways of doing things constantly emerge and new trends pop up every, currently we are at a turning point. There have been many such junctures in history, but right now it is all the digital realm.
Throughout the last 10 years we’ve seen digital intervention across industries. Companies such as Airbnb, Uber, Netflix and Spotify challenged well-established companies to reform the manner in which they conduct their business. The label industry is likewise accelerating and moving in this direction, but if we step up in terms of AI, cloud-based tech, sustainable and digital strategies, we’ll do more than catch up with the digital future — we’ll outrun it.
We at Impress Printers has recently developed our label department, with high-quality roll labels and single labels. In this blog series, we will be exploring the future of the label industry.
1. A push for change
– 2020 have accelerated digital trends’ development. Covid-19 has acted as a catalyst for reform providing that focus and faster time to market are key elements of a successful business.
– With essential businesses in 2020 (and continuing into 2021) label and packaging converters saw an extensive influx in demand. Digital printing enabled label and packaging converters to switch to products with high demand due to much simpler workflow combined with high levels of automation.
– In a world of constant shifts in the digital world, it is vital that we are prepped for these shifts; i.e. changing demands from the market.
– As well with the realm of consumers, the shifts and megatrends perpetually emerge. Think sustainability, automation, security and e-commerce. With them, opportunities emerge for businesses that are celebrating digital solutions with their traditional printing methodologies.
2. Digital transformation
– Digital transformation is ‘reimagining your company’
– Innovation in technology, profitability and systems that upgrade are pivotal to preparing for the future of labelling.
– The label industry needs an wholistic digital transformation. With this, employees must . Converters must ensure they train and hire digitally native employees who are familiar with industry software and who have the expertise to work with it, to help shift a company into a digital future.
Next week we will be delving into part 2, which will explore people working within the labelling and print industry: how to attract, hire and retain digitally native employees.