The copy/print industry experienced yet another year of transformation in 2023, characterized by a back-to-business approach, advances in technology and an ongoing wave of mergers and acquisitions (M&A). As we bid farewell to the past year, it’s important to reflect on the significant events that shaped the industry landscape and anticipate what lies ahead in 2024.
What We Experienced in 2023
Back-to-Business
For many of us, 2023 felt like a return to the business world of 2019. While many aspects of life as we knew it before COVID will never come back, we did get a sense of normalcy. Sales reps are now able to visit customers without much pushback, and many are back to cold calling in person. For many vertical markets, print volumes have returned to pre-pandemic levels, and investment in new systems and lease upgrades are moving forward. The majority of the supply chain issues are behind us, so dealerships are able to deliver most products as quickly as they did in the past.
One aspect of the business that hasn’t rebounded as well is finding and hiring employees. This is still a significant challenge for most. Dealerships have had to get creative with how they locate, recruit, compensate and work with new employees. In today’s market, a strong company culture is often the factor that spurs the most success. The right culture not only keeps employees around for the long haul, but also acts as a magnet pulling in new employees. For many of the dealerships that succeeded in 2023, I witnessed an increased focus on company culture and their overall processes.
Technological Advances
The integration of smart technologies made a very big leap in 2023. artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning algorithms have been harnessed to create more intuitive and efficient devices. Smart systems can automate document processing, recognize content and optimize workflows, contributing to increased productivity for businesses. Additionally, augmented reality (AR) is emerging as a tool for remote troubleshooting and maintenance. With it, technicians may guide users through procedures using AR interfaces, minimizing downtime and reducing the need for on-site visits. This will help drive service productivity and profitability in the future. I expect we’ll see continued evolution of AI and AR at a rapid pace in the industry; those who embrace and learn them early will be the winners with these all-important advances.
Remote Work and Hybrid Solutions
Remote work models continued to evolve in 2023 and aren’t likely to go away anytime soon. This increased the need for devices that seamlessly integrated with cloud-based document management systems and facilitated remote printing, scanning, and collaboration. Security features also took on a bigger role as the industry continues to address heightened concerns associated with remote work. Encryption, secure authentication protocols and regular software updates became standard features, ensuring the protection of sensitive information in a decentralized work environment. Dealerships with strong IT capabilities were able to capture additional revenue in this area.
Mergers and Acquisitions
M&A continued to be a big part of the scene in 2023. The volume of business sales we saw and participated in was on par with 2022. The speed with which many deals were done slowed from year to year. What used to take six months seemed to take nine months or more in 2023. While I don’t have a definitive explanation for the slower pace, I feel it’s tied to a more conservative approach driven by overall concerns about the economy.
Going into 2023, I expected interest rates to have a negative impact on M&A activity and transactions but was surprised to see that they didn’t. In fact, higher interest rates increased the willingness of some sellers to take sellers’ held notes for part of the purchase price. The idea of earning 8% interest on a note seemed like a safe way to add value to a transaction. While buyers were having to pay higher interest when borrowing money for acquisitions, the tradeoff of being able to hold their cash was worth the interest costs. This was especially true for those who had an eye toward a future sale of the business as the interest paid for acquisitions won’t hurt their future value. As a standard practice, interest is added back to the profitability of the business when calculating EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization). So, while there’s a direct cost to paying interest, it doesn’t deteriorate business value.
What to Watch in 2024
Elevated Focus on Cybersecurity
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve seen cybersecurity become a major factor in the industry. The number of cyberattacks has risen steadily, and dealerships in our industry aren’t immune to this. With the increasing digitization of documents and the interconnected nature of our devices, cybersecurity will be a top priority. Strong security procedures and practices along with robust data backup processes provide vital insulation against potentially crippling cyberattacks. Just imagine how you would operate if an attack took down your system and you had no way of restoring it.
On the product side, I expect manufacturers to continue investing in advanced security features, robust encryption protocols and regular software updates to safeguard against cyberthreats. The industry will work toward providing comprehensive security solutions that instill confidence in businesses relying on your systems for sensitive document processing. One area to review is your cybersecurity insurance. A single event with a customer that’s tied to your systems or your technicians can cost a dealership tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. I’ve seen dealerships that are uninsured or underinsured in this area. Get with your insurance broker and make sure you’re covered.
Rapid Evolution of Subscription Models
The copy/print industry has had a subscription-like model for many years, with service contracts that are bundled into a monthly lease payment. However, these leases have expiration dates. This opens the door for the customer to shop around for a new solution. A true subscription model is an ongoing, open-ended agreement, and it’s rare for a customer to challenge the relationship and make a change. Look at your subscriptions for things such as Office 365 or VoIP phone systems. For these solutions, you make a monthly payment by credit card and don’t likely give it a second thought. Unless something goes wrong, you’ll never make a change. The trend towards subscription-based models will gain further momentum in 2024. As an industry, we need to embrace this trend and work toward aligning our business model with it. In addition to locking customers in for the long term, this strategy will likely lead to increased business value as subscription-based businesses trade at higher multiples when sold.
Emphasis on Sustainability
Our paper-based print solutions will be a target for those looking to create a more sustainable business environment. We need to make sustainability part of our everyday talk track. Initiatives such as eco-friendly design and manufacturing, energy efficiency, sustainable packaging, carbon neutrality and paperless solutions can be leveraged to show your commitment to it. I suggest that they should be a very visible part of your presentations and proposals.
Advancements in Intelligent Technologies
The relentless pace of technological innovation will persist in 2024 with a focus on making devices even smarter and more capable. AI and machine learning will continue their evolution toward enhancing document processing, automation and user experience. I expect devices will become increasingly intuitive, capable of adapting to specific user preferences and business requirements. Cloud integration will also continue its push forward. As businesses continue to embrace hybrid work models, devices will need to seamlessly connect with cloud-based document management systems. Enhanced collaboration features, secure cloud printing and simplified integration with popular cloud platforms will be critical for meeting the evolving needs of remote and flexible workplaces.
Continued M&A Activity
I expect the M&A landscape to remain active. Larger dealerships will pursue strategic acquisitions to strengthen their market positions, acquire diversification technologies and expand their footprint. These acquisitions will allow the strong to get stronger. If you’re looking to grow revenue and profitability, the right acquisition can make all the difference in the world.
As we embark on 2024, our industry stands at the intersection of technological innovation, sustainability and strategic evolution. The future is bright for those who execute a strong plan. Success will require embracing new technologies, adjusting to changing market conditions and keeping an eye toward the future. I wish you all prosperity and success for the year ahead.
