Vote Must See 'ems: My Choice Printing Technology Recognition

Vote top PRINT 09  Must See 'ems: My Choice printing products.

Lisa Cross, Senior Editor & Bill Lamparter, Printcom Consulting -- Graphic Arts Online, December 8, 2009

PRINT 09 Must See 'ems: My Choice printing technology recognition program.More than 4,000 products exhibited at PRINT 09 were eligible to be considered for Must See 'ems recognition. A Selection Committee of 21 analysts and journalists narrowed the field to consider those listed here.

PRINT 09 Must See 'ems: My Choice printing technology ballotHOW TO VOTE:
Access the ballot here and vote for

• Must See 'ems
• Worth-a-Look, or
• Neither.

Vote on all items, or just some—your vote still counts.
An online ballot with product descriptions is at graphicartsonline.com/mychoice.

Definitions:
Must See 'ems: something innovative and compelling for the majority of PRINT 09 attendees.
Worth-a-Look: something compelling for print providers in specific or niche markets, OR qualifying products that are broadly important but somewhat less compelling than a Must See 'em.

Deadline and details:
Voting ends January 20, with results to be published in the February 2010 issue of Graphic Arts Monthly. Online tabulation accepts only one ballot from each individual IP address.

Must See 'ems: MyChoice recognition will be accorded to products that receive Must See 'ems votes on at least 51% of total ballots cast.

Worth-a-look: MyChoice recognition will be accorded receiving Worth-a-look on at least 51% of total ballots cast (or alternatively, 75% of combined Must See 'em and Worth-a-look votes).

Printing's Top 10 Technologies

Computer Utilization is Profit Leader Advantage

As print has increasingly become a computer-centric manufacturing industry, information technology (IT) competency, the effective use of Management Information Systems (MIS), and bringing the print buying customer into the production process through web-to-print software have become the hallmark of most profit leader companies.  Here is a list of the Print's Top 10 Technologies, as identified by the PRINT 09 Must See 'ems judging panel prior to PRINT 09.

1 Information Technology* (three way tie)

1 Web-to-Print (three way tie)

1 MIS (three way tie)

4 Digital Printing

5 Workflow

6 Color Management**

6 Cross-Media Production**

8 Automated Equipment

9 Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

10 Preflighting

*Three way tie for first place    **Two way tie for sixth place

In an equally important result, three technologies—Information Technologies, Management Information Systems, and Web2Print software systems—were identified as the underpinnings of computer-centric manufacturing as well as the hub of the business side of print by the Must See ‘ems Technology and Product Selection Committee.

This year’s annual analysis took into account multiple media competition, increasing print production costs, the need to be more customer responsive as well as diversification and digital related opportunities. The technology analysis revealed useful insights into the workings of print operations. It was found that while emerging software provided the ability to harvest more data, turning that data into useful action items was lagging.

While most printers were found to have some form of Management Information System, many systems were very basic and in a large number of instances, even top-of-the-line systems were rarely utilized to their full capabilities. A scan of the list of the next top seven print technologies reveals that at least some degree of computer competence is required for the most effective utilization of most of the important developments.

The analysis surfaced an industry problem of growing criticality. Few print operations have the necessary knowledge and range of software skills beyond the operational basics to fully and effectively implement the range of technologies available that can provide for efficient operations, diversification, and the opportunity to prosper in a changing industry. While there are some outstanding exceptions, most printers lack the software analytical skills necessary in a computer-centric environment.

Garnering 19 combined Must See ‘ems and Worth-a-Look product recognition awards, variable data digital printing, which is a computer driven printing process, was selected as the 4th most important and compelling technology. Digital printing was closely followed by workflow in the 5th spot as it applies to all processes and printing plant functions.

In a tie vote, selection for the 6th slot on the technology list is color management and cross-media production. The proper management of color to create accurate realistic and eye-catching material can provide an advantage for print over e-media whose color output is subjected to a wide range of variation. Being able to provide content in a variety of media formats is becoming increasingly desirable moving toward necessity and providing the printer that can do this with a growth opportunity.

The use of automated equipment to speed production and reduce costs is in the 8th spot on the technology list. Rounding out the list is customer relationship management and preflighting. The top ten technologies were discussed in the Graphic Art Monthly’s “Sneak a Peek at the Technology” pre-show webinar which has been archived. For a more comprehensive review of the Top Ten, go to www.graphicartsonline.com/print09mustsee_ems.

Encore Must See 'ems

2009 Encore Selections were made from products and technologies that received Must See ’ems recognition in 2008. Twenty-one of last year’s selections were selected for continuing recognition because, although not new, they represent compelling products or services. Of the nominees, nine were selected as Encore Must See ‘ems and twelve not quite as compelling, but still Worth-a-Look.

A Webcast detailing  the Top Ten Printing Technologies and the Encore Must See 'ems is available on demand at graphicartsonline.com/webcast

The next Must See 'ems technology recognition program will take place at GRAPH EXPO 2010, October 3-6 in Chicago. Read more about the 2010 Must See 'ems program at www.mustseeems.com