As average run lengths continue to decrease, time and cost efficiency is imperative to making print profitable. Computer-based automation — from web-to-print portals to production workflows and management information systems — provides a path to short-run print production with minimal handling.
InfoTrends' (www.infotrends.com) surveys of commercial print providers have shown a progressive decline in long runs, while responses continue to indicate steady growth in runs from one to 1,000 impressions. For ultra-short runs of fewer than 250 impressions, 50% of InfoTrends survey respondents projected growth in 2008, up from 40% in 2004....