How Strategic Investments Help Printing Businesses Grow Faster

Summary: Smart investments drive print business growth by replacing fragmented systems with connected print workflows and automating manual operations from start to end. This blog explores how investing in scalable technology is beyond cost cutting in print businesses. Explore actionable steps, strategies, and everything you need to know for implementation.

Cutting unnecessary expenses is definitely one way to achieve profitability, but making value-driven investments in printing can help you achieve better results. As per research, the printing market size is anticipated to reach $423.75 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.3%.

Investing in smart technologies like advanced web-to-print solutions can help print business owners to handle higher order volumes and grow revenue without increasing operational complexity. Keep reading to know more!

What Is the Hidden Ceiling of Cost Cutting in Print Businesses?

The hidden ceiling of cost cutting is that once expenses have been reduced, print businesses cannot grow further without investing in advanced technologies and processes.

Although cost cutting can protect profit margins when print businesses face issues in maintaining revenue, this can be done only to a certain extent. Whether a print business owner decides to cut labor, materials utilization, or operational overhead, it can lead to the following:

• An increase in production errors
• Slower turnaround times
• Reduced productivity
• Lower employee morale

Print businesses may remain operational, but they will struggle to scale if the cost cutting extends the threshold level.

To avoid this, print business owners must shift their focus from cost cutting to value addition.

What Smart Investment Really Means in the Print Industry

Smart investment is about investing right, in the right places and at the right time.

In the printing industry, investments need to be done in the following areas:

• Workflow automation
• Accurate price estimators
• Reporting & analytics tools
• Smart procurement systems

To invest in a smarter way, printers can opt for a web-to-print software that maximizes the potential of your print business and operational efficiency. Not only that, printers can achieve growth without cost cutting, make informed business decisions, reduce costs, and increase profitability.

How Does Technology Act as a Growth Multiplier for Print Businesses?

Technology acts as a growth multiplier for print businesses by automating print workflows, improving customer experience, and enabling customers to scale effortlessly without increasing operational complexity.

As the digital world demands print businesses to adopt advanced technologies like scalable print workflow automation software, growth can no longer rely on cost reduction alone. Smart investments for printing companies via technologies like web-to-print solutions allows to achieve the following:

• Reduce manual errors by automating maximum print operations
• Process higher order volumes without increasing operational burden
• Improve turnaround times and deliver enhanced customer experiences

While investing in a technology like web-to-print solution may require initial cost spendings, but it will provide long-term returns in the future.

Why Should Printers Invest in Customer Experience Instead of Only Equipments?

Printers should invest in customer experience because only when print buyers have an effortless online ordering experience will they return for repeat purchases.

Many print businesses invest in expensive printing equipment but fail to invest in tools and technologies like new-age print order management software that can improve customer experience. Here are a few aspects that help in improving customer experience:

• The ease of online ordering
• Instant price estimation
• Easy design personalization
• Real-time order tracking

When customers have an overall good online print ordering experience, it makes them come back to you for more purchases. This leads to growth in your print business while keeping your profits intact.

How Does Data-Driven Decision-Making Support Print Business Growth?

Data-driven decision-making supports print business growth by identifying the products that are performing well in the market, optimizing pricing based on factors like order volumes and production time, and forecast demand based on historical data.

Investing in advanced reporting and analytics tools helps print business owners to achieve this with accuracy. It reduces financial risk, improves operational efficiency, and allows print businesses to scale with confidence.

How Do Smart Tools Help Enable and Retain Print Industry Talent?

Smart tools enable and retain print industry talent by automating complex and repetitive print operations, reducing manual errors, and improving operational visibility.

Why It Matters:

Manual workflows create an operational burden on staff members, hinder productivity, leading to frustration, burnout, and poor execution.

Where It Applies:

Order intake, file validation, design approvals, print job routing, production tracking, and status updates.

Impact On Talent Retention:

Faster customer onboarding, lower error rates due to less manual work, reduced burnout on staff members, and higher employee satisfaction.

Business Outcome:

Higher print business productivity and opportunities for scalability without increasing headcount.

What Investment Mistakes Should Print Businesses Avoid?

Print businesses should avoid investing in tools that do not unify workflows and is non-scalable.

Why It Matters:

Mistakes in making the right investments can lead to operational silos, increase manual operations, and limit long-term print business growth.

Common Mistakes To Avoid:

• Investing in random software that does not support integration with other systems.
• Buying low-cost software with poor-quality features, lacking the flexibility to scale.
• Ignoring user adoption of the software, staff training, and change management.

Business Impact:

Complexity in print operations, hidden implementation costs, poor ROI, and inability to scale the business.

Correct Approach:

Prioritize advanced technologies like web-to-print software that supports integrations, offers scalability, and long-term business growth.

How Can Print Businesses Prioritize Smart Investments Effectively?

Print businesses can prioritize smart investments effectively by choosing modern technologies that offer scalability, robust integration support, and long-term ROI.

Why It Matters:

Investments that lack essential scalability and integration capabilities can limit the future growth of print businesses.

How to Evaluate Smart Investments:

To evaluate smart investment, ask yourself the following questions as a print business owner.

• Does the investment reduce manual work from start to end?
• Does it enhance customer experience via print automation?
• Does it offer the scalability to handle increased order volumes with complex print operations?
• Does it offer seamless integration with existing and third-party applications?

Best Approach:

Adopt platforms that allow phased implementation without disrupting your existing print workflows. The best way would be to look for a web-to-print software that streamlines your print operations and grow with your business, providing you with the convenience of adding new features as per requirement and within your budget.

Business Outcome:

Lower risk of issues, higher return on investment (ROI), and consistent growth beyond cost cutting in the printing industry.

ConclusionIt is necessary to make smart and strategic investments in the printing industry and not just focus on cost cutting to achieve continuous growth. While cost reduction can help you keep your profits intact up to some level, it often restricts scalability and customer experience.Print business owners that invest in smart web-to-print software like the ones provided by OnPrintShop, will not just help to maintain profitability but achieve long-term ROI.Take this chance to request a demo with OnPrintShop today and explore how smart investments can help you minimize expenses while maximizing value.