I often ask PSPs where they find their inspiration and how they learn about technology, and it isn’t from trade media, trade shows, or consultants any longer - so how? More and more printing companies find inspiration from self-organized peer groups where specialists from printing companies gather in informal groups where they share learnings and experience and look into new technologies. Sometimes, they even buy the same products and services, as the users can help each other in the implementation and post-support.

The peer groups are becoming more and more critical and honestly challenge the role of trade media, which was seen as a valuable and trustworthy source of information in the past. First and foremost, most trade media don’t review technology in detail anymore. Secondly, we hear too often that trade media, generally speaking, isn’t seen as unbiased and trustworthy the way it was in the past!

Many trade media still offer unbiased information and high-quality technical reviews. However, they are often not accessible or available in your language everywhere.

It probably doesn’t help much with endless award shows where the products awarded haven’t been reviewed, tested, or even chosen by a jury but picked because of OEMs paying for these products to be displayed - it’s a marketing scam - and a scandal to OEMs and PSPs who need the unbiased and in-depth information to make the right investments to thrive our industry.

Peer groups are popping up everywhere, and when combined with vendor-driven technical user groups, they offer a great opportunity to learn. However, this also presents a challenge: How can vendors easily create user groups, and how can information be easily shared with peer groups that typically cover many different products/services and technologies?

If you are a peer group member, please let me know. I am also curious to hear from you if your company is part of a franchise where you may have this kind of peer group as part of the franchise.

I am also curious to hear from vendors who use user groups to educate themselves about the market. Thank you!

And - oh- I almost forgot. Happy New Year. Let’s rock 2025.