Rise in equipment and consumable prices add additional stress to the financial picture for many printers. Saudi Xerox solutions can help printers offset these additional costs and embrace digital transformation

Saudi Xerox is offering solutions that has the potential to open up lucrative new revenue streams for print businesses by improving the effectiveness of the end-to-end printing process, from print job creation through to continuous production and machine service optimizations.

Saudi Xerox in particular is suggesting a number of automation solutions that can help printers streamline their operations. Using smart algorithms, self-monitoring and data and analytics can help printers bring down the costs and become more efficient in what they do. But that is not all, production Print Workflow Software from Saudi Xerox helps printers automate everyday operations, optimize printing investments, and enable new revenue streams through creative products and services.

Rise in equipment and consumable prices add additional stress to the financial picture for many printers. Saudi Xerox solutions can help printers offset these additional costs and embrace digital transformation

Saudi Xerox is offering solutions that has the potential to open up lucrative new revenue streams for print businesses by improving the effectiveness of the end-to-end printing process, from print job creation through to continuous production and machine service optimizations.

Saudi Xerox in particular is suggesting a number of automation solutions that can help printers streamline their operations. Using smart algorithms, self-monitoring and data and analytics can help printers bring down the costs and become more efficient in what they do. But that is not all, production Print Workflow Software from Saudi Xerox helps printers automate everyday operations, optimize printing investments, and enable new revenue streams through creative products and services.

Printing companies have a very real opportunity to take advantage of Saudi Xerox software and equipment to transform their businesses. Tools such as artificial intelligence gives print shops a huge opportunity to employ online data, or create targeted print catalogs or newsletters based on which pages the customer views.

Xerox is offering AI based solutions that has the potential to open up lucrative new revenue streams for print businesses

Printing companies have a very real opportunity to take advantage of Xerox software and equipment to bring AI to their businesses

Artificial Intelligence: From Hype to Reality
In the midst of new challenges  posed by Coronavirus printers also need to think outside the box and educate themselves. Take AI (Artificial Intelligence) for example. Meanwhile whenever the subject of AI is brought up people tend to get lost in the hype. Sensational claims about robots stealing jobs from humans, or fundamental societal shifts because artificial intelligence runs amok are, well, sensational. By all factual accounts, 2018 — according to PriceWaterhouseCoopers — is the year artificial intelligence (AI) comes “down to earth [and goes] to work.”

The definition of AI is generally accepted to mean the ability of a machine to imitate intelligent human behavior. Admittedly, this definition is an umbrella term for a broad spectrum of technology so the industry coined four types of AI:

• Reactive machines – The most basic functionality of AI where the machine can only react to current scenarios, with no ability to use experience to inform decisions.
• Limited memory – The machine can make observations about its environment to inform a decision i.e., the technology behind self-driving cars.
• Theory of mind – At this point, AI becomes more futuristic. To fall into this category, AI must have the ability to understand thoughts and emotions, and use this to react to the world around it.
• Self-aware AI – The most advanced type of AI and requires the machine to have its own consciousness, something that does not exist.

Digital transformation helps printers drive down the cost
During past weeks printing industry’s heavy weights announced price hike on their products and equipment. Apparently, the price increase which impacts consumables as well as equipment is mainly due to the rise in raw material such as copper, aluminum, plastics, additives, sheet metal and wood, and higher shipping and logistics costs. Another reason is the global chip shortage. Worldwide, prices for many industrial metals and electronics have risen rapidly. Even wood, which is needed for packaging for transport, is in short supply. On the other hand, many paper manufacturers also have already announced price increase by up to 11%.

Meanwhile, Manufacturers say the increase is moderate. Of course, moderate is a vague word and manufacturers and customers each have their own interpretation of the word. But it seems the increase is in region of double digit.  What does all this mean for printers who are already facing shrinking orders and customers? There is no doubt with the printing industry already under pressure and many print service providers struggling to maintain profitable margins, these price increases are likely to add additional stress to the financial picture for many printers.

Artificial intelligence gives print shops a huge opportunity to employ online data, or create targeted print catalogs

Sensational claims about robots stealing jobs from humans, or fundamental societal shifts because artificial intelligence runs amok are, well, sensational

The increase in price in graphic arts industry seems to be cyclical and you cannot blame it entirely on pandemic. In 2005 there was also a price increase on consumables by major manufacturers and it seems that the underlying reasons were the same. On such a back drop a printer also needs to find ways to generate more revenues so he or she can absorb the price increase without having to pass it on to their shrinking pool of customers. One solution could be offering more added value printing, eye catching special effects, innovative finishing solutions, packaging, labels and other means of bringing in more revenues.  Also increasing automation and managing the waste will lower the overall costs of any print operation.