Between the Lines: Diversify or Don’t, but if You Don’t, Expect the Worst

The title of this month’s column can almost be a title for a midnight horror movie. But that’s what we do in the publishing business as well as those in the conference session business—come up with catchy titles that take things to the extreme.

The reality is, diversification has long been a necessary evil in the document imaging industry. We’ve seen it before in the hardware industry—digital, connectivity, solutions, Managed Print Services, Managed Services, and we’re seeing it on the supplies and consumables side of the business as well. That’s what we’re talking about in this month’s feature story, “Diversification in the Supplies and Aftermarket.”

Admittedly, we’re stretching our definition of aftermarket to encompass not just the toner and ink suppliers, but the parts and supplies folks as well.

With a title like “Diversify or Don’t, but if You Don’t, Expect the Worst,” it makes one wonder how many dealerships have actually gone belly up because they didn’t diversify? Honestly, I can’t imagine there were dealerships that blew off digital, decided against connecting the digital boxes they were selling, or ignored solutions and then had to close their doors because they didn’t do one or all of those things. You can’t be in the document imaging business without rolling with the technological flow, especially if your customers expect that of their technology provider. Certainly, the OEMs are doing their part to roll with the flow. It’s the nature of the business.

Ink and toner suppliers may be in a better position to take it slow on the diversification path, but most aren’t and are diversifying into new and somewhat exciting product and services segments. That’s what you’ll learn about in this month’s main feature. You’ll also have the opportunity to dig even deeper with the supplemental editorial we’ll be publishing online throughout the month of September in ENX/The Week in Imaging. There you’ll find more extensive interviews with some of the individuals we interviewed for our main feature as well as an additional piece that discusses the concerns suppliers have about broadening their product lines or expanding into uncharted territory.

As is always the case with ENX, there’s plenty of content to either expand your knowledge of the industry or validate whatever path you may be wandering down by seeing what your peers and key players in the industry are saying on a topic.

Thanks for reading.