Printing orders will turn

According to reports from domestic and international media on the printing industry, we often see a sharp rise in the total output value of digital printing. Meanwhile, the growth of traditional printing is slow and steady, with falling prices. This has created a sense that the digital printing market is beginning to threaten the traditional one.

However, even within the industry, many people—both professionals and customers—struggle to tell which jobs are done by digital printing and which by offset printing. So how exactly do these statistics come about?

A printer who owns both a digital press and an offset press may not know the exact ratio of digital vs. offset output. Even if they have a complete digital workflow like traditional offset, it’s unlikely they would publicly share the breakdown of their production volumes.

Digital fast-printing shops typically only use digital presses. They handle short-run jobs, but what happens when a customer asks for 5,000 books? Would they print it all themselves overnight, or send it to an offset printing factory? If the latter, the order might be counted under digital printing in national statistics, even though it was actually printed using traditional methods.

In short, the value of digital printing isn’t clearly separated from the overall printing industry output. It’s difficult for countries to accurately track the growth of digital printing. While media in Europe and the U.S. report rapid growth, it's unclear whether the data is inflated or if the definition of "digital printing" is scientifically sound.

Unreliable data is now being used as a basis for concern in the printing industry. That’s surprising. So, what opportunities exist in this evolving landscape between digital and traditional printing?

Recently, Evergreen Jianhao’s cloud printing conference caught attention in the domestic printing sector. The company invited peers to participate, offering software solutions such as ERP systems, a printing portal, and file editing tools. Partners can manage business operations and even control printing equipment through the cloud.

Most of the invitees were digital fast-printing stores, while traditional printing factories remained skeptical. What’s the difference? The key is that digital fast-printing shops must clearly distinguish between digital and offset printing output. If the global digital printing output is calculated based on these shops, it might make more sense.

We’ve seen the overall growth of the national printing industry is limited, yet digital fast-printing stores are popping up everywhere. The rapid increase in digital printing output is evident, but traditional offset presses continue to operate at lower prices.

Today’s low printing prices are due to oversupply, but another possible reason is that some jobs pass through multiple hands—from the customer to a digital shop, then to a traditional printing house. If that’s the case, cloud printing makes sense as a strategy.

Evergreen Jianhao has been in Taiwan for over a decade, known for its efficient computerized management system. Its success lies in increasing orders without hiring more staff or changing business processes. But in the mainland market, where price wars are common, it struggled initially. So, it focused on leveraging software and mobile networks to connect with digital fast-printing shops that lacked access to offset machines.

On June 7, hundreds of industry professionals attended Evergreen’s cloud printing event in Tianjin. Veterans saw new offset and digital presses and wondered: if I invest so much, will I succeed?

It’s unclear how many digital fast-printing operators attended, and whether Evergreen’s partnership terms would attract them. But the impact of cloud printing could go beyond Tianjin. Although the internet connects the world, logistics costs still pose challenges for long-distance printing.

Eventually, Evergreen may expand beyond Tianjin and target traditional printing factories. Those unwilling to cooperate should consider the shift in the industry layout.

With tight pricing, cooperation should be based on service, not cost. What kind of service can convince digital fast-printing shops to hand over work to you? Cloud printing offers real-time updates, automatic proofreading, and seamless order management. It’s a worry-free solution for small shops that don’t want to hire extra staff.

With cloud printing, you can start building a network. One day, you might find yourself managing orders from digital shops in Guibao or other areas.

First, become strong, then grow. Printing factories should establish their own portals, partner with nearby digital shops, and let them send orders your way. Your process needs to include automated error detection and real-time notifications via mobile devices.

When cloud printing becomes part of your business model, your umbrella should already be ready. The printing market is shifting, and cloud printing is more than just capturing market share. Some Chinese printing groups are expanding in Shanghai and Dongguan, using outsourcing to manage production while keeping some presses idle.

From another angle, is the order flow changing? If a printing factory can use a portal to get orders from digital shops, why not manage the entire process online? Let the digital shop submit the order, and notify them once it’s completed.

Imagine the future of cloud printing: it’s not about the rise of digital printing itself, but about how mobile communication transforms the flow of orders from fast-printing shops. It’s a new era in the printing industry, one that demands adaptation and innovation.