The free business scan now features up-to-date market trend analysis in an extended range of application areas.
Launched in 2012, the Business and Innovation Scan includes a confidential business audit, which is designed to help printers review and adapt their business strategies.
Following the scan, businesses are given a tailored action plan and strategy to improve their commercial performance.
This can include identifying areas for business improvement, maximising the return on current investments or exploring potential new revenue streams.
Large-format printing is now covered in the revised audit, in addition to the existing areas of marketing collateral, technical documentation, document publishing and photo merchandising.
A Canon consultant evaluates each of these areas in detail with customers during an initial face-to-face consultation.
“Markets are continually changing and we need to make sure that the questions that are asked, the information that is shared and, consequently, the results that are delivered from the scan all remain relevant,” said Canon European & UK marketing manager, Professional Print Solutions, Andy Harris.
Additionally, the ‘Trend Watch’ presentation has been updated. The presentation, which details the latest market trends in the application areas that customers are operating in, is shared with customers during the audit.
Canon said this provides a vital source of market data for printers by helping them to better understand the current commercial landscape based on data compiled from across the industry.
“One particular area of focus in this iteration of the scan is to look closely at how customers market their business and plan for the future,” said Harris.
“This is something that was highlighted in our most recent Insight Report, which revealed that a large percentage of commercial and in-house printers do not have a formal or informal marketing or business development plan in place.
“This is something we hope to help customers with going forward, giving them greater visibility of what may lie ahead and enabling them to plan accordingly with their business objectives front of mind.”
The Business and Innovation Scan has been delivered to more than 200 customers across Europe to date.
It has recently been extended to support corporate reprographics departments (CRD) customers as well as those operating in the transactional and direct mail markets.
