“We recognise the need to offer extra value-add—especially as customers will have diverse additional needs and priorities,” says Mark Blundell, adding: “At SAi, we continue to offer a number of different things to ensure that there’s something for everybody—whether it’s tracking your business’ performance through our Cloud-based solutions, monitoring production through your smartphone or Apple Watch or even accessing our software via subscription packages.”

Blundell gave his thoughts on the large-format sign industry and discussed what challenges SAi is taking steps to overcome.

He continues: “I envisage a continued need to build-in simplicity into our product solutions. I think those in the know would hopefully acknowledge that, today, we have the easiest to use print and cut workflow on the market.

Indeed, manufacturers tell us that it’s much easier to print and cut using Flexi than trying to use certain other software on the market in conjunction with other cutting software, which means greater throughput and fewer bottlenecks for end users.”

Blundell notes that in order to achieve this ease-of-use, SAi will focus on colour as they aim to simplify processes: “The current ICC profile route works well for those who have a good understanding of colour or proofing, but we hope to make things much simpler for users who lack such proficiency. By doing so, we want those who find it more of a challenge and who might not be particularly familiar with colour profiles to still obtain precise colour.”

In terms of trends for 2016, Blundell sees manufacturing moving back, closer to the consumer, as already evidenced with 3D printing: “Of course, that’s not to suggest that we’re looking at the total demise of the assembly line, but I believe that within our industry we’ll start to see certain things produced closer to the point of consumption.

“For example, this will be the case with packaging and display applications and could give rise to some kind of demand for small-run packaging. Right now, ‘small-run’ to a packaging provider is still a few hundred thousand more than the designer either needs or can afford when he’s simply looking for a few prototype concepts.

“If such users could access a short-run packaging solution with box design capabilities that would not only offer print and cut, but also print, cut and fold, for example, then they would have what they need to drive smaller devices self-sufficiently. Naturally, this is an area in which SAi can meet such demand and offer value to customers, and as you’ve probably guessed, is an area on which we have our cross-hairs.”

Blundell concludes with some business advice to large-format print providers and sign-makers that circles back to the idea of adding extra value.

He says: “I would say that, just as the hardware and software providers need to constantly differentiate themselves by enhancing the attributes of their solutions, users should also be looking to set themselves apart from competitors.

“Doing something a little different from the mainstream, perhaps by printing to substrates like wood or ceramics, will certainly enhance your service offering. Marketing and brand managers will always be looking to maximise the creative potential from the budget they have, so suggesting something that grabs their attention opens up the possibility for dialogue and hopefully the opportunity to win business.

“Right now the sign and display and large format market is full of exciting potential, and the need to add value and differentiate is key to everyone’s success.”

If you have an interesting story or a view on this news, then please e-mail news@signlink.co.uk

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