ZEBRA PRINT GROUP
important, especially considering how fast the pace of development is currently. “Automation is increasing, digital print quality continues to improve and technology is allowing printers to produce increasingly personalised work efficiently at shorter run lengths,” says Samantha. “Software is becoming just as important as the hardware too. Customers want easier ordering, greater visibility and more efficient ways of managing their print requirements. “For us, staying on top of that means constantly looking at where the market is going, speaking with suppliers, listening to customers and assessing where technology can make a meaningful difference. “We don’t invest in technology simply because it’s new. There must be a clear reason for it – whether that’s improving quality, increasing capacity, reducing waste, becoming more energy efficient or allowing us to provide a better service.” Sustainability Sustainability is also an important consideration for Zebra Print Services, and Samantha is careful to ensure the company is as sustainable as possible. “Customers increasingly want to understand the environmental impact of the products they’re buying and expect their suppliers to demonstrate that they’re actively reducing their own impact too,” she says. “For us, sustainability must be about practical action rather than simply saying the right things,” she says. “We’ve invested in 88 solar panels at our Leeds facility, which can generate about 48MWh of renewable electricity each year. We continually look at ways to reduce waste, improve energy efficiency and make our production processes more efficient. “Technology investment plays an important part in that because newer, more efficient equipment can help us reduce energy consumption, waste and unnecessary production.
“We’re also conscious that sustainability increasingly matters to our customers, so part of our role is helping them make informed choices about materials, quantities and production methods. “There is always more that any business can do, but our approach is to keep making tangible improvements rather than treating sustainability as a one-off project.” Future While Zebra Print Group has been celebrating its anniversary this year, Samantha and her team’s focus is firmly on the future. “Twenty years feels like a milestone, but definitely not a finishing line,” she says. “Our focus now is on the next phase of sustainable growth. We’ll continue investing in technology and our production capabilities, including further investment arriving later this year, while developing the services that make life easier for our customers. “We want to keep winning new business, but just as importantly, we want to protect the relationships we’ve built with our existing customers and maintain the service levels we’re known for. “We have a fantastic team, a strong customer base and a clear idea of where we want Zebra to go next. The ambition is to keep evolving without losing the personality, agility and relationships that have got us through our first 20 years.” n
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We want to keep winning new business, but just as importantly, we want to protect the relationships we’ve built with our existing customers and maintain the service levels we’re known for.
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