Newsletter Archive: Direct Mail Printers

What happened at Boca Raton doesn’t stay at Boca Raton! Read this recap for highlights from this year’s thINK Ahead conference.

We reveal our latest advances in production printing technology, from enhancements to our existing portfolio to cutting-edge new and concept products.

COO Casey Hendrik elaborates on the game-changing (and name-changing) effect of Canon inkjet innovation on the company’s capacity and capability.

A summary of 11 key trends influencing the printing industry in the year ahead, featured in the new NAPCO Research report on production digital printing.

Discover why the Canon ColorStream platform was the right choice to help Image Direct Group send out more than 100 million pieces of direct mail each year.

Discover how Canon Solutions America’s expanding University Inkjet Program is providing college students with classroom instruction and hands-on learning experiences focused on the promising future of digital printing.

Recent research suggests workflow automation is one of the biggest challenges facing print service providers. This article explains some of the reasons why and what Canon Solutions America is doing about it.

Wondering what to tell your customers and prospective clients when they ask about the sustainability of printing? This article provides some convincing answers.

Learn about top trends in the competitive landscape and incorporate this knowledge into your 2023 business decisions.

Learn how Canon Solutions America is committed to helping you get the most out of your production inkjet potential in the year ahead.

Highlights from a session for transactional and direct mail print providers featured at thINK Ahead 2022.

Capturing Photo Specialty Opportunities with Canon Production Inkjet

Allen Filson, Sr., director of professional services at Canon Solutions America, talks about how customers can automate processes and implement technologies that ready them for whatever the future holds.

Right now, printing industry stakeholders expect a stronger commitment to sustainability than ever. Read how using more environmentally responsible printing technologies like production inkjet can be both good for the planet and good for business.

As a Canon Solutions America customer, you’re supported with the proactive tools and tactics you need to avoid downtime and disruptions, plus prepare for higher performance and efficiency.

An overview of the most recent NAPCO research on the demand for production digital printing, plus recommended actions PSPs should take this year.

Color-management has come a long way. Discover next-level solutions for color-managed inkjet production.

Digital inkjet’s chemical-free production, lower energy consumption, and adaptability to sustainable business models can bolster your environmental reputation in the eyes of customers.

Investing in production inkjet requires thinking about not just present needs but future benefits as well. For one PSP, inkjet’s outstanding capabilities opened up opportunities they couldn’t afford to miss.

Built on already groundbreaking inkjet technology, the Canon ColorStream 8000 series elevates efficiencies and accelerates growth with more value-driven jobs for transactional and direct mail printers.

The first generation of Industry 4.0 has rapidly made automation essential for any print service provider who’s gearing up to be the smart print factory that evolving industry conditions demand. While the need for an automated workflow is universal, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Transactional and direct mail printers like you certainly face distinct and complex workflow requirements that make automating each step mission critical to maintaining productivity while driving new business.

As was the case for many other industries, 2020 proved to be a year of uncertainty for print service providers (PSPs). Plans for strategic growth were abandoned as wide shifts in business practices were adopted just to get orders out the door. Some felt the tension and discomfort of not even having a white fog line to serve as a guide through these uncharted roads. Others were able to take comfort in the guardrails they’d had the foresight to install, which enabled them to adapt quickly and carve out new business opportunities.

Print service providers typically face tough decisions when buying digital printing equipment. Not anymore! Canon Solutions America launched the varioPRINT iX-series high-speed, sheetfed inkjet press in April 2020. Already taking the industry by storm, this inkjet platform is significantly changing the game for transactional and direct mail printers and setting them up for a more profitable 2021 and beyond.

Today’s consumers want access to information at the touch of a button and on their terms. With interactive direct mail pieces, you can help your customers craft communications that really engage.

In response to environmental challenges, Canon Solutions America has strengthened its commitment to sustainable sourcing, product development, and manufacturing practices. It’s not only the environment that benefits—you can too!

Programmatic print offers an effective, creative approach to meeting customers’ needs. And it’s more straightforward than you think. Learn the advantages of automated workflow and production.

Prioritize your operation’s success with insights for how shifts in processes and practices can lead to higher efficiencies and more opportunities for growth.

You won’t want to miss Canon Solutions America’s booth at this inaugural tradeshow event—new application possibilities, press enhancements and releases, and a digital press running live.

Thanks to developments in inkjet technology, you can create customized direct mail pieces with crisp design. Learn the techniques that can help deliver outstanding results.

Seize the opportunity for full-color TransPromo communications on high-speed production inkjet. Discover how inkjet technology can help produce effective messaging at an affordable cost.

Seize the opportunity for growth and greater personalization with production inkjet. Developments in available applications and technology enable prints other technologies cannot produce.

Gain insight into the industry trends that your business can use to craft and refine innovative strategies that will generate successful communications solutions.

Discover the future of workflow automation and how your company can take advantage of these strategies to become a smart print factory.

Find out how adjusting your business strategy can increase your understanding of industry trends and help you stay ahead of clients’ needs.

Learn the steps marketers should take to deliver effective direct mail.

Learn how transactional printers are succeeding in 2018 with technology investments.

Learn why high-speed inkjet is taking hold with today’s marketers.

Learn more about how to capitalize on the virtually limitless opportunities for cost-effective customization and personalization with inkjet’s variable data printing capability.

Printers of all types are challenged to provide more value-added services to customers. This article illustrates why web-to-print clearly has a valuable role as a mainstream business requirement.

Before you head out to the show, preview the features and benefits of three remarkable high-speed inkjet color digital presses. Then, register for FREE exhibit-only passes!

Today, the potential for loss of revenue through breaches in document security goes beyond check printing to encompass a broad range of industry documents requiring security from forgery or verification of authenticity. Explore the extensive Canon Solutions America document security offerings.

In this informative article, you’ll find helpful tips to improve any marketing campaign’s ROI by creating quality direct mail pieces that can be delivered at the lowest possible cost.

Learn more about transaction, promotional, and publishing market opportunities now available thanks to the flexibility, speed, and accuracy of high-speed inkjet printing in this timely article.

Gain a better understanding of all the latest options available to optimize your operation for greater success from the book, Inkjet Workflow: How to Make Your Work Flow… Efficiently. Learn more about this informative new industry resource.

Will 2017 be a year of transformation for your business? Discover the three questions that could redirect your business to keep pace with today’s ever-changing market, and how to plan accordingly.

Savvy transactional and direct mail printers welcome every client request — even the small ones — because they know it means more growth for their businesses. But what happens when the client’s data for a new job doesn’t match up with your technology?

Staying ahead of the game means optimizing your customer interactions, however, personalization in print alone is not enough. Learn how print communications fit into a changing world that includes digital, mobile, and social platforms.

There are two words everyone loves to hear — thank you. From a happy client, these words can be the key to converting prospects into customers, transforming existing customers into a loyal client base, and in turn, expanding your business. For print service providers with a strong customer focus, the ability to consistently exceed expectations is dependent on having the capabilities and resources to deliver successful outcomes.

Data is the key for businesses looking to deliver more effective communications and for consumers searching for more relevant content. For print service providers, this offers a powerful opportunity to deliver personalized, targeted pieces to fulfill both groups’ needs.

As print customers change and evolve with new technology, some print providers trail behind these changes, implementing updates to their operation that are too small or too late to make an impact. However, many printers have found success by embracing reinvention, making widespread changes to build their own future in an evolving space.

Canon Solutions America was voted “Company to Watch” at this year’s Inkjet Summit for the third time. This honor comes directly from Inkjet Summit attendees. This can’t-miss event for production inkjet, brings together industry members, experts, and leaders to share insight about the growth of the inkjet movement.

The leading international trade show for print and cross-media services, drupa 2016, is almost here. With the theme Touch the Future, this year’s show is sure to include some of the most innovative, cutting-edge technologies, all ready for you to discover. Get a sneak peek of what’s in store from Canon Solutions America.

Changes within the transactional and direct mail printing markets may be causing you to consider incorporating inkjet printing into your operation. "The Inkjet Edge: How to Transition Your Business to Inkjet" is a comprehensive guide to successfully implementing these new technologies, featuring advice and insight from peers and experts.

Just-in-time order and delivery is becoming the new normal as customers demand shorter and shorter lead times. With print runs getting shorter and lead times getting tighter, timely and personalized messaging becomes more difficult to accomplish when having to rely on an adequate inventory of preprinted forms.

As direct mail spending increases, marketers, as well as their print service providers, should take into account the most recent trends and strategies for implementing direct mail initiatives effectively. Understanding how to evolve with direct mail is crucial to increasing your value and seeing solid results.

Value is at the core of building long-lasting relationships with your customers. Increasingly, value is not in the final product you deliver, but in the end-to-end service you provide. Your customers are looking for personalized attention at all touchpoints. Embrace the power of customer experience and watch your bottom line grow.

Did you know that InfoTrends predicts that by 2018, inkjet will account for nearly 60% of total production digital color volume? The inkjet market is growing rapidly as a result of speed and quality levels never dreamed possible.

Held this fall, the thINK Forum User Conference, thINK’s very first event, shared the top trends and techniques in inkjet, while Canon EXPO 2015 revealed a variety of engaging and exciting technologies — including four brand new production digital devices.

With multiple color presses, you know how critical it is to maintain color consistency across those presses — both to meet a client’s branding standards and to enable output from several presses to be combined into a single package without having multiple shades of a specific color.

Direct mail works. You and your clients know that, but do you know that today’s digital technology can make it work even better?

Color inkjet digital printing is leveling the playing field with offset high-speed production. Top applications like transaction/TransPromo, direct mail, and publishing are driving the change for personalized, flexible production volume.

Are any of your clients dissatisfied with their direct mail response rates? Are they struggling to obtain a better return on investment (ROI) with their scarce marketing dollars? How can you help them achieve stronger results and prevent the shifting of marketing resources elsewhere?

Data collection is not a new activity but the way it’s done and its importance as part of today’s marketing toolbox makes it critical to a successful campaign. Discover trends in data and personalized direct mail and learn how service providers and marketers are collaborating to leverage data and drive sales.

White-paper-in/full-color-out jobs are the wave of the future. With high-speed, quality color digital inkjet printing, you no longer need to store and manage your customer’s pre-printed shells. Additionally, by offering TransPromo communications to your transactional print jobs you’ll drive marketing and customer service messages more effectively.

Direct mail today is becoming increasingly complex. Messaging needs to be personalized and targeted with good use of high-quality color. But run lengths are getting smaller as versioning increases. How do you create a cost-efficient workflow to meet these needs plus maintain quick turnaround times?

When it comes to selecting a print provider, the key criteria for buyers include value-added services, price, and a quick turnaround. Corporate marketing departments are still suffering from cutbacks in personnel, so more than ever, they are seeking full-service partners that offer a variety of integrated marketing solutions. Understanding the real components that create value is key to your success.

It’s prediction season again... but it doesn’t take a crystal ball to know that the coming months will have no shortage of industry pundits contemplating your future—at least your future for print and marketing services. Three forces are expected to converge during 2015, potentially creating a “perfect storm” for service providers.

Together, Canon Solutions America and Graph Expo 2014 inspired several conversations about the industry’s future direction, challenges, and opportunities. Canon Solutions America showcased its expanding portfolio, including cutsheet electrophotographic color, cutsheet inkjet, and roll-fed inkjet, addressing the exciting and prevailing shift to inkjet printing.

You’ve seen the statistics and heard the success stories. Color and targeted messaging increase response rates. Creating higher response rates and decreasing time to market for clients help win new business. The answer for many is a transition to digital direct mail production.

At Graph Expo this year, Canon Solutions America, in addition to showcasing new products, will show you how to improve your business with traditional offset applications that can be affordably produced by leveraging inkjet technologies, while adding digital print benefits such as versioning, personalization, process automation, and just-in-time manufacturing.

Thinking of adding a high-speed inkjet printer to your operation? Determine inkjet’s overall return on investment for your operation.

A focused approach to the market is important. By fully understanding each individual market segment of its business, Canon Solutions America can strategically focus on each individual customer. Sheri Jammallo, Segment Marketing Manager for Corporate Enterprise at Canon Solutions America, explains the benefits of this focused approach to marketing.

As the world-wide leader in continuous feed inkjet and Keynote Sponsor of the 2014 Inkjet Summit, Canon Solutions America was there and wants to share it with you. It’s not too late to find out how new technologies will impact your business.

As print volume grows and new applications emerge, print operations face mounting challenges. Building a system that optimizes efficiency and profitability requires real production printing expertise. Today, print service providers are seeking professional services that support the development of integrated solutions.

First Edge Solutions, a forward-thinking, full-service provider chose Canon Solutions America for their digital color and digital monochrome print needs and positioned themselves for the on-demand world of the future.

Canon Solutions America now offers a path to perfection. Deliver flawless print runs with the efficiency of the Océ ColorStream® and Océ JetStream® continuous-feed, high-speed, process color digital presses and high-quality reprinting of damaged documents with the cutsheet Canon imagePRESS C7011VPS series printer.

Yes! A Chicagoland transactional printer grew by 4x since 2006 by becoming more flexible and by investing smartly in new technologies. They have partnered exclusively with Canon Solutions America to help navigate this remarkable growth.

After a full year of integrating resources and production organizations, we can confidently say that we’re ready for the future. Mal Baboyian provides details on a promising future.

Barb Pellow, industry expert from InfoTrends, presents the top 10 trends that will likely fuel the direction of our industry all this year and beyond. Barb also demonstrates the importance of embracing change now rather than playing catch up later.

A look back at 2013 and a look forward to 2014 through the eyes of Canon Solutions America’s Vice President of Marketing, Francis A. McMahon.

Gearing up for 2014 with high-impact print solutions, Canon Solutions America is ready to lead the way toward a bright future for the print industry.

With a little planning, it’s possible to significantly reduce ink usage in production through optimized designs, job appropriate resolution, controlled dot sizes and Gray Component Replacement (GCR). Learn how to develop a strategy that’s best for your business.

Once you offer your clients full-color personalization and super-fast turn times and they see the boost in response it drives, there’s no doubt you’ll be hooked on the margins you can achieve from this technology.

Customer-centric companies constantly try to innovate and manage based on what their customers need to be successful – not just on what they can sell to those customers. These are firms that work to help customers leverage their technology to drive business results and create a rich customer experience with a focus on excellent service.

That’s the word on the street and around water coolers all over the world. New technologies, innovations and amazing demonstrations dominated the show and in particular, the Canon booth. Interest, curiosity, and discovery were at high levels every day of the show. We’ve never seen anything like it. The crowds were stunning. Like many exhibitors, Canon Solutions America was ready to show “What’s New” to a global audience and we believe everyone walked away satisfied and hungering for more.

PRINT 13 (September 8-12 in Chicago) is focused on educating attendees about how to drive profits through innovation and integration. Building on those themes, Canon Solutions America will be holding live demonstrations of its latest graphic communications technologies and partnerships to share profit-making opportunities for you and your business. This article provides a brief summary of what you can look forward to seeing when you visit the Canon booth.

Paper has always been critical to the printing process. Nowhere is that more apparent than when transitioning to production inkjet printing. Paper selection will have a tremendous impact on the production quality and profitability of your inkjet solution. When you put the right effort into testing and selection, what you get is better color with less ink.

Looking for a partner to team with for success? Canon Solutions America offers customers PressGo!, a FREE, robust business development program. With tools including educational webinars, informational white papers, training, marketing templates, and more, we make it easier for our customers to build their business.

Networking, sharing, and strategic partnerships are key factors in building a better business. To help you reach your goals we are now more focused than ever on providing you with the tools you need to solve your toughest business challenges.

In an industry where consolidation is the rule and not the exception, providing the right customer solutions and supporting workflow is critical. Larry Vaughn and Steve Johns understood the importance of getting this right as they consolidated their operations to form Seebridge Media.

In our last T-PAC meeting we heard a great deal about what our members look for in a partner and what they think about Océ’s transition to the new Canon Solutions America. It’s great hearing from our T-PAC members – but we’d like to hear from all of our customers and non-customers alike.

As operations look to optimize and automate their business and production processes as well as launch new marketing services, the topic of integration is bound to come up. With so many different software tools, systems, repositories, and technologies in the printing industry, it can be challenging to define exactly what integration entails.

As you know, Canon and Océ are now one company as of January 1, 2013. Together, we will lead the industry into the future with one vision. We will continue to offer all of our customers – old and new – a spirit of collaboration and the focused service and support that is our hallmark. Read the following FAQ for some answers to questions you may have.