Advantages of Mergers & Acquisitions in the Digital Workflow

While preparing for the PIW Digital Workflow Seminar it became apparent that strong IT & Pre-Press departments & individuals were critical. If that's not the current condition of these areas in your organization, it can be time consuming and costly to develop them. Meanwhile, opportunities can be lost.

One way to answer the challenge was exemplified by Jim Pentecost, President of Dickinson press in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I remember meeting with Jim this last spring & discussing the issue. He was concerned that he did not have the experience within, and that, since he was new to digital production, there were limitations there as well.

A couple of months ago, Jim called me to say he & 2 other companies had pulled off a joint venture, with each organization providing something that the other two did not have. Very creative, and very effective.

Another possibility, for those of you who have the financial strength, might be an acquisition, and/or a merger. With this alternative, one has more risk, but also control. At the same time, depending on the scale of the transaction, it might reduce time required to enter a phase of the market, while expanding horizons for your current customer base. And it could very well add new customers as well.

M & A is always an option (it works both ways); don't fail to consider it.