Business models, the internet and printing industry associate. E-business in the printing field: Query whether it is the beginning of the end

A discussion considers whether E-Business saves time and work expenses where E-Business is meant the support and optimization of all business processes, namely, marketing, procurement, production, logistics, and control of a company supported by electronic communication. Digital printing technology, new data formats and standards, and increasing digitalization lead to a melding of the traditionally separated production stages in printing. The study E-Business in the German Printing Industry that was a thesis at the Technical University of Dresden jointly with Deutscher Drucker has come to surprising conclusions. The purpose of the study was to analyze the present structure change in the German printing industry and to give an outlook for the future development of the field with respect to E-Business. Five aspects of the printing business were considered. One was whether the size of the printing operation changes or has already changed as a result of the new information and communication technology. The second was whether the classical boundaries between prepress, printing, and print finishing have already disappeared through digitalization and technological progress. The third was whether the electronic business approach changes classical printing to media servicer. The fourth was whether various E-Business business models play a role in adding value to the printing business. The fifth was whether the opportunities and uses of the E-Business business models outweigh the risks and costs. Discussion topics include the actors in E-Business; portals and market places; combining various E-Business models; the Print-Nation wholesaler on the Internet; the Printer-Alliance on the Internet; the virtual auction house E-Auction business model; the workflow manager; the Printable site on the Internet; the Collaboration-Platform; and conclusion and trends. Computer screen, table, and graph.