Speaking at the Papyrus Digital Matters seminar this week, Belcher called for a common workflow, adding: "In five years time I think PDF will have won the battle."

Belcher wants four wishes to be granted by digital equipment manufacturers: a standard format for workflows; improved reliability of equipment; reduced total cost of ownership; and accessibility to smaller clients.

He said he felt the key drivers in the digital sector were faster turnaround, speed of change in the market, personalisation and faster networks.

The seminar, chaired by BPIF chief executive Michael Johnson, also heard presentations from Xerox, Heidelberg, IBM, Openshaw and Indigo.

Xerox DocuColor product marketing manager Kevin ODonnell said that 78% of all digitally printed four-colour jobs were in runs of less than 5,000. "By 2005, 33% of all jobs will be 24-hour turnaround," he added.

ODonnell said customer relationship management now had to be a part of a printers agenda. "Its not only about keeping the customers you have, but getting more business from them and finding out their future requirements," he said.

In closing, Johnson said that the BPIFs digital interest group, which comprises 60 printing companies, would address the issue of providing true-cost-per-page information in the next few months.

Story by Andy Scott