What do you think will the greatest opportunity for and threat to pre-media companies next year?
Pre-media houses have had it tough this year – budgets have been cut, accelerated by falling advertising and reduced pagination. This has hit traditional pre-media companies hard – stories of consolidation, redundancies and closures have been all over the media. But those that remain do so in a better position – their client relations are stronger, their operations more efficient, more robust and more competitive. There is no doubt, it is a changed market.  

Management teams must adapt. They must be ready and willing to make brave and swift decisions in the best interests of customers, staff and their business. Adopting this new attitude is where the greatest opportunities lie. Ignore it at your peril – it is your biggest threat.

What do you believe is the most under-recognised aspect in pre-press that is likely to become more important in 2010?
More than ever before, technology plays a vital role in pre-press. Publishers have reviewed their cost bases and realised that pre-press production software has given them options. It is now easier to choose a blend of outsourced, offshore and in-house resources.  

The same software gives pre-press houses options when looking for efficiency to be smarter, quicker and ultimately cheaper. As more publishers and pre-media houses rely on this technology, vendors will invest to improve their software to support more parts of the production process. We’re no exception and will announce significant developments with our VIP4 tool over the coming 12 months.    

How important do you think Ipex will be?
Ipex is an opportunity for those that work in this industry to get together, meet face to face and renew relationships.  If well attended and well backed by the industry, it will ignite commercial activity. 

What can the industry do to increase its profile next year?
The UK pre-media industry has a lot to shout about.  Innovation, creativity and technology is driving a ferocious rate of change. Together they make the UK one of the most advanced markets in the world. Taking a moment to reflect, acknowledge and celebrate this should be every pre-media management team’s New Year’s Resolution.

What will you do differently next year?
For us, its less a question of doing things differently and more a case of doing what we already do, innovate and adapt, but at an even greater pace. We've always done things differently, it’s now a case of exploiting the difference.  Where this takes us will only be limited by the ambitions of the clients we work with.