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Artificial intelligence is poised to be the next big printing industry disruptor and its adoption has begun. According to Artificial Intelligence in the Printing Industry the Journey Begins , a combined PRINTING United Alliance and NAPCO Research study, print providers across segments are in the early stages of harnessing AI in print production, sales, marketing, and management applications. The research study, part of an ongoing series to track AI industry adoption and use, indicates that print providers are adding AI applications into their operations. Comparing two separate PRINITING United Alliance surveys conducted during different time periods (Figure 1) shows participants using AI have increased to 40.0% in March 2024 from 24.7%, in September 2023.  Figure: 1 Print Providers Increasing Use of AI      This research combines ongoing quantitative and qualitative research to identify the current status of AI use, the functions where it is being implemented, the benefits it is …

Great production inkjet print service providers know they’re more than order-takers—they’re trusted advisors helping customers achieve better results.  So why do so many print service providers sell consultatively throughout the buyer’s journey—only to abandon that approach when it comes time to present pricing and proposals? At the critical stage of proposing, pricing, and negotiating, many sellers fall into three dangerous traps that undermine their expertise and put them in a weaker position: Letting customers dictate the solution Overloading them with too many options Caving too quickly on price pressure Here’s how to avoid these traps and sell with confidence. Lead the Customer—Don’t Just Take Orders We routinely see that sellers give the customer too much room to define and design a solution of their choosing. Sometimes the customer belongs in the driver’s seat, but often it’s the seller that’s in the best position to define the right solution to solve the problem. Be bold …

Vivid Impact, a member of thINK, announces the addition of the Canon varioPRINT iX3200 sheetfed inkjet press to its production capabilities. Founded in 1974, Vivid Impact has evolved from a traditional printing company to a full-service marketing technology firm. Under the leadership of CEO Sam Campitella, the company has significantly expanded its capabilities, leveraging cutting-edge technology to deliver impactful and data-driven marketing campaigns. Based in Louisville, Kentucky, Vivid operates four facilities across the US totaling 250,000 sq. ft. and employs over 350 team members, all dedicated to the specialized needs of three key segments: Healthcare, Convenience and Retail, and Beverage and Alcohol. “We’re not just a printer,” says Campitella. “We’re a MarTech company that utilizes technology to enhance every aspect of the marketing process, from creative design and development to fulfillment and installation. Adding Canon inkjet technology to deliver even greater value to …

thINK Ahead registration is officially open. Plus, two new thINK Academy workshops and a behind-the-scenes look at an AI animation test case! All in our March E-Newsletter. …

The AI tools my team used to create this animation are brand new; we’re trying them out as they hit the market. Here, I’m taking you behind the scenes on our experimental process for using AI to animate real people — and revealing a few lessons we learned along the way.  Step 1: Creative Direction  We knew we wanted to use AI tools to animate Pete Studer and Lori Messina, but before proceeding we needed to decide on an animation style, as the style would dictate our next steps. For example, did we want our characters to be 2D cartoons, 3D cartoons, or have more of an illustrated style? Did we want to show the characters from the shoulders up, or did we want to animate them moving around within scenes?  In addition to the animation style, we needed to set the scene. thINK Board President Pete Studer is an avid duck hunter, so we set the video during hunting season to help thINK members get to know him more personally. Immediate Past President Lori Messina is, as many of you know, …