Annual VMA metrics survey confirms wide-format graphics still growing

The Visual Media Association (VMA) has just delivered its latest annual industry insights survey and for the second year running, Labels and Packaging ranks the highest in diversification investment for commercial printers, with promotional products/merchandise and wide-format rounding out the top growth areas and Warehouse, Logistics and Finishing showing up as key current investment areas. Job ordering is mainly via email (59.95 percent) with e-Commerce or web-to-print (30.15 percent) second and direct sales (27.09 percent) third. Job ordering to quote to production and distribution is the highest concern from businesses with high manual handling costs and fragmented automation.VMA survey results

By correlation, the survey highlights a clear need for more industry training and support related to workflow automation to increase productivity. Perhaps unsurprisingly, according to the survey, over 80 percent of the industry operates on some form of account or credit payment structure. But the more concerning discovery is that only 21 percent of businesses are collecting payment within 30 days, compared to 40 percent in 2023. Professional organisations or on-site training programs is the highest training engaged at 37.5 percent and with 3rd year/stage 3 apprentice levels up by 24.79 percent, there is a buoyed enthusiasm for completion rate improvements for the industry.