Conducted by Fespa, in partnership with InfoTrends, the "evolution" research encompasses 140 print service providers from EMEA and the US.

According to the study, 56.8% of respondents "moved beyond price or otherwise made pricing a non-issue" during 2010 while just under 54% (53.7%) invested in new technology to enable increased service levels.

Of those interviewed, 51.8% launched a new service, 45.7% promoted or sold its wide-format services in a different way and 45.5% developed green printing practices.

In terms of turnover, respondents claimed that digital print output accounted for 76.2% while analogue printing practices made up 23.8%.

Elsewhere, the next Fespa Digital show has now sold out with 370 exhibitors already lined up for the Hamburg show, which takes place on 24-27 May.

According to Frazer Chesterman, managing director of Fespa events, the show has arrived at a time when the digital community is "forging ahead with increasing optimism".

"There are plentiful examples of that evolution in the digital marketplace, of printers who are achieving continued and renewed success with new technologies, innovative materials, more efficient workflows, creative products, different business models or go-to-market plans,"

According to the show organisers, visitor pre-registrations for Fespa Digital 2011 reached 9,300 by 16 April 2011, 35% higher than the pre-registration figure at the same point in the lead-up to Fespa Digital in May 2009.