thINK Academy Live Class Schedule

 

Did you know?
You can dive deeper into your learning by accessing thINK Academy online training – take a look at all of the complimentary courses available to you as a thINK member!

Register to attend these LIVE thINK Academy Classes:

May

Workflow Automation — Providing Profitability

Thursday | May 18, 2023 | 2:00 pm EST

Holding back on investments in workflow automation means holding back on growth potential – a mistake that no printing business can afford to make in an environment where growth and profit are essential. The extent to which a business is automated has a strong influence on meeting critical customer requirements while maximizing profitability. Automation breaks the production bottlenecks: the inefficiencies and constraints of manufacturing that hamper productivity and profits. In this session, you will get recommendations from both Canon experts in workflow automation as well as your peers relative to how to streamline key manufacturing processes.

 

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June

Print Manufacturing Optimization

Thursday | June 8, 2023 | 2:00 pm EST

Today’s print service providers are continually challenged to re-evaluate where they stand with their digital adoption strategy. Workflow optimization is key to any print environment, addressing production inefficiencies while increasing production capacity. In this live thINK Academy class we will discuss the key steps in assessing your manufacturing workflow to expose gaps in current processes, technologies, and quality standards, including:

• Developing a roadmap for improving production and operational efficiencies 
• Accelerating business growth with a successful implementation of Smart Print Manufacturing 
• Analyzing current workflow and software deployment to ensure a “best in class” path to success 

Production Inkjet and the Photo Specialty Opportunity

Thursday | June 29, 2023 | 2:00 pm EST

The potential to pursue high-margin photo specialty applications and new business is huge right now.  One reason: production inkjet has evolved into a smarter, more sustainable, and very competitive alternative to traditional photo printing. This live class will focus on the advantages and opportunities of production inkjet as a photo specialty platform and will cover: 

• The photo specialty market and applications
• Creating a photo specialty workflow with the Photo Smart Suite 
• Identifying prospects and customers
  

You will also hear how Entourage Yearbooks is using inkjet technology to create personalized print as well as digital yearbooks to capitalize on the business opportunity.

 

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July

thINK Beyond Printing — Books

Thursday | July 13, 2023 | 2:00 pm EST

Printers are always looking for new ways to help their customers tell their story through print. One of the biggest opportunities can also be one of the most creative, long lasting, and impactful – BOOKS! Digital publishing capabilities open new doors, new conversations, and new chapters for collaboration with customers. In this session, presented by Deborah Corn, the Intergalactic Ambassador to the Printerverse at Print Media Centr, get the Cliff’s Notes rundown of the publishing applications that have brand buyers buzzing and are sure to get you on the bestseller list. 

 

Critical Communications

Thursday | July 27, 2023 | 2:00 pm EST

Consumers expect personalized interactions on their preferred channel. Corporations are looking for business partners to help them use the right communication channel to deliver the best experience. In this session, you will hear from Canon partners as well as Canon production inkjet users about how critical customer communications (statements, invoices, notifications, etc.) are being used to supercharge customer acquisition, retention, compliance, and governance. 

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August

Insurance Marketing Trends 2023

Thursday | August 3, 2023 | 2:00 pm EST

Consumers are concerned about the financial outlook and have reduced spending. As a result, insurance marketers need to prove to customers their value in a time when many will begin shopping for a more affordable alternative. While price is always the dominant theme in insurance acquisition marketing, expect carriers to bring more attention to things like discounts that reward loyalty, safe driving, and other loss-mitigating habits of consumers.

In this live thINK Academy class, Comperemedia will share how external factors and internal developments will affect acquisition efforts and customer communications in the insurance industry in 2023.

 

Why Inkjet is Different

Thursday | August 10, 2023 | 2:00 pm EST

As print runs get shorter and clients demand more personalization and versioning, print service providers are looking at transitioning work from traditional offset to digital. This session is going to explore the key considerations service providers need to think through as they make this transition. We will explore topics like color management, media, and linearization.  

• Color Management: If you are transitioning to inkjet from an offset background, your operators are used to adjusting the color at the press, but inkjet does not have ink keys to make the color adjustment. Color management is performed upfront before the files are sent to the press. We'll discuss input and output profiling definition, linearization and media needs to optimize color.
  
  
• Media: With inkjet, paper is often referred to as the fifth color. The surface of the paper impacts the amount of ink that can be absorbed and the amount of colorant that stays close to the surface of the paper. The image is printed into the structure of the paper and influenced by the fibers and fillers that go into making the paper. Ink and paper together make up the color gamut. We'll review the importance of paper and options including treated and untreated, offset stocks, and glossy stocks.
  
  
• Linearization: Linearization is the process that manages dot gain. It is the process in which the press, media, and ink are calibrated to each other. It involves feeding paper specifications into the press, measuring the output with a spectrophotometer, and feeding those results back to the press in an iterative manner until output is optimized. It is the way that the press can deliver quality color consistently in a repeatable manner.
  

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September

Web 3.0 — What Does It Mean for Me and My Business?

Thursday | September 7, 2023 | 2:00 pm EST

We are starting to hear a lot about the metaverse and Web 3.0. These technologies have the potential to transform the marketing industry, and brands are eager to jump in. As with any emerging media, growing pains are anticipated, and brands need to determine how their unique business needs translate into a metaverse strategy that’s anchored to a compelling consumer value exchange. Just as the internet has had a major impact on print service providers, Web 3.0 and the concepts surrounding the metaverse will have a similar impact over time. In this session, you will hear from industry experts and marketers about the implications of Web 3.0 and the metaverse. Topics include:

• Web 3.0 and the metaverse defined
• What marketers think about Web 3.0 and the metaverse with examples and applications
• The role that printers can play and future implications
  

Growing Your Business With Inkjet

Thursday | September 21, 2023 | 2:00 pm EST

Understanding the need to grow one’s business is not a new proposition for today’s print executives. The fast pace of innovation in customer communication channels in both e-delivery and print have made it even more difficult to navigate one’s current business plan. In this live thINK Academy class, we will share the most recent research and forecasting data from print industry-recognized research firms to provide you with insight on how you can navigate the challenge of growing your revenues and client share of wallet.

• Apply key learnings of industry trends and Canon equipment value propositions to customer sales and management for business development 
• Evaluate current and adjacent strategic business opportunities 
• Assess how you can develop and market high value print applications

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November

thINK Beyond Printing - Printing Services

Thursday | November 16, 2023 | 2:00 pm EST

The New Year is right around the corner and that means your customers are ready to start fresh. There is no better time to plant seeds for new ideas that keep you sticky in 2023 and beyond. 

In this session, presented by Deborah Corn, the Intergalactic Ambassador to the Printerverse at Print Media Centr, we will explore expanding your service menu to address customer convenience, develop repeatable programs, and create unique offerings that sell themselves. 

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December

thINK Beyond Printing - Direct Mail

Thursday | December 7, 2023 | 2:00 pm EST

The mailbox is one of the most powerful destinations for messaging and engagement if you have a strategy in place and the right tools to execute. While everyone is focused on direct marketing to generate holiday sales, join Deborah Corn, the Intergalactic Ambassador to the Printeverse at Print Media Centr, to receive the gift of printspiration!  

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January

2023: Photo Applications Meet Inkjet

There are a number of forces creating opportunities in photo specialty applications. A big one is that over one trillion digital photos are taken annually by both consumers and professional photographers. While photos are stored on digital devices and shared on social media, they continue to be printed for brochures and magazines, personalized photo books, postcards, calendars, and other types of customized print products. The quality of inkjet combined with the demand for printed materials with photos creates a profitable opportunity for print service providers. This educational session will explore key opportunities and trends influencing photo applications; the role of high-end inkjet presses; and tools from Canon to help service providers capture the market.

 

2023 Road Map

Each year, Keypoint Intelligence explores the trends, challenges, and opportunities that are facing our industry. If you’re curious about how today’s changing business world is reshaping our industry, join us for an engaging and thought-provoking session highlighting the things you must know and do for a successful 2023. Today’s leading organizations are taking steps to position their teams for greatness in the new year. There are three priorities that PSPs should consider as they move toward the future. Sign up now to learn what they are!

 

 

Volume Migration to Canon Inkjet

Learn how you can migrate toner and offset print work to your more efficient and higher margin Canon production inkjet press. In this session, you will get an understanding of print application quality and economic crossover points and learn how you can:

• Implement “white paper manufacturing” by replacing imprinting with preprinted offset with a single-pass inkjet run
• Transition work and phase out less productive and more costly toner devices
• Increase operational efficiencies and volume capacities 
• Eliminate outsourcing of print work
  

 

 

February

Voice of the Print Buyer

What’s on the minds of today’s print buyers? How do they really feel about print quality versus price? Will they even have print in their marketing budgets in two years’ time? A new study on US print buyer purchasing trends from Keypoint Intelligence explores the answers to these questions and more. Join us for a live session as we review the marketing trends of mid-sized and large enterprises, the print applications their buyers are focused on, and the role that omni-channel solutions can play. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain the information you need to approach every opportunity with print buyers in mind.

 

 

What Print Buyers Want & How to Get Their Attention

B2B buyers today have more responsibilities than buying print and no time to talk to reps. In this session, we are going to explore priorities that print buyers have. Reps frequently lead with the promise of lower prices and great customer service to get a meeting. Today that isn't enough. We are going to talk about understanding buyer priorities and how you turn them into your competitive advantage. 

 

 

March

 

Financial Services Marketing

Economic uncertainty, increased anxiety, and burgeoning technology are all areas financial services brands will need to tackle with marketing efforts in 2023. In this class, Comperemedia will share how external factors and internal developments will affect acquisition efforts and customer communications in the financial services industry in 2023.

Did You Know?

- 66% of millennials would switch banks if they saw a promotional piece offering a good enough incentive

- 4 in 5 U.S. banking customers are interested in some form of financial support from their bank

- 85% of consumers are interested in some channel through which to receive financial wellness recommendations from their bank

As a print service provider, Join this class to learn how you can help your financial customers differentiate themselves, particularly towards a younger audience, in the form of financial literacy efforts and expanding loyalty programs.