Despite the move towards a paperless society in the digital age, printing remains a cornerstone for most businesses and will probably continue to be for many years to come. But when it comes to how you print, every business has to choose between two options: in-house printing or outsourced printing.
With in-house printing, you manage, coordinate and process the documents and materials you need using your own equipment in the office or warehouse. Outsourced printing, on the other hand, involves sending files to an independent business that uses its own printer fleet to produce the materials you need.
If you are not sure which option is right for your business, we have put together a complete guide to the advantages of both.
What is in-house industrial printing?
In-house industrial printing refers to designing, printing and shipping the materials a business needs to succeed, all internally. While this can work well for some companies, there are several things to consider before introducing it into your business.
The advantages of in-house industrial printing
- Confidentiality. Printing confidential information with an external provider can be tricky. If your company ever needs to print sensitive information such as invoices, legal documents or HR documents, sending them to a third-party supplier could put the company at risk. In this case, in-house printing can provide the security and confidentiality every business needs;
- Flexibility and convenience. Having full control over printed material is a huge competitive advantage. With in-house printing at your disposal, you can set your own printing pace and parameters. In-house industrial printing is therefore convenient and flexible, helping you achieve a satisfying end result;
- Lower costs and profitability. In-house industrial printers can be rented or bought from a trusted supplier such as ROEL. In-house printing gives you visibility of your print volume, including daily, weekly and monthly print runs. Renting printing equipment can help you control every operation and keep track of the costs involved in delivering your product consistently;
- Digital printing on demand (POD) is the process of printing books, magazines, manuals, brochures or other products where printing equipment downtime is not an option. Using in-house digital printing efficiently makes it simpler to meet your business's print media needs.
Outsourced printing means having the materials your business needs printed by a specialist print shop. Businesses that outsource their printing work closely with a print shop, sharing a design or mock-ups and giving directions until the desired product is ready.
- Experienced print companies have a variety of printing options, such as digital and offset printing. They also have the know-how to help you decide which option best suits your print project;
- Print companies offer a wide range of products, such as flyers, posters and business cards. Some also offer a variety of novelty items, such as mugs, magnets and diaries;
- Many long-established print companies offer professional graphic design services, including concept development, branding, logo design and much more.
Factors to consider when choosing the right printing approach for your business
- Security
In a fast-moving information age, information security remains an important and sensitive issue for almost every organisation, whatever its industry or function. Security is a common thread across every aspect of a business's technology and operations, and industrial printing is no exception.
Any business that outsources its printing must pay close attention to the types of data it prints, how that data is sent to another organisation, and how that organisation handles, uses and stores the data once received.
In-house printing, by contrast, gives you the reassurance of always knowing where your business information is and how it is being processed. Here, ROEL offers print operations management solutions that can complement rented or purchased industrial printers.
- Convenience
When you outsource your printing, your business is at the mercy of another business. There is little you can do to speed up an order, and even less chance of getting what you want on a Saturday, for example. Outsourcing inevitably adds time, hassle and potential logistical problems to what should be a simple printing process.
In-house printing, on the other hand, gives you what you need when you need it, and removes any misunderstandings or confusion you might have with an external business.
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Costs
Perhaps one of the most rewarding benefits of in-house printing is lower production costs, as mentioned earlier.
There are significant costs every time you send an order to an external print shop, and these add up, especially if you work in advertising or publishing, for example. You may save more in the long run with in-house printing equipment and use the remaining budget for significant investments in growing your business.
- Control
Production control is the final, but equally important, benefit of in-house printing.
In-house printing allows a more hands-on approach, as businesses have greater authority over the process itself, the design and the costs. Control over the printing process can make it much easier for the business to adapt to market feedback and other variables.
While outsourced printing may seem the easier, hassle-free and efficient option, in-house printing offers long-term solutions. In-house industrial printing is a secure, cost-effective, convenient and much faster option.
