The Searchers

Heidelberg Service: Business Consulting. New printing presses have to suit the business model they are in - both today and tomorrow. In order to invest correctly, the technological, organizational and economic demands need to be analyzed carefully - ideally with a competent partner like Heidelberg Business Consulting.

There seems to be some truth to the accursed seventh year. Not only do many couples put their marriage to this test then - print shops also have to cope with a serious relationship crisis during this phase. On average, businesses exchange their old machines for a new model after seven years at the latest. This is the only way to remain able to compete and absorb the increasing pressure for quality and price. Nevertheless, many companies quickly reach their limits when it comes to choosing the ideal investment. After all, the acquisition also lays the foundation for future development. Chances and risks therefore have to be calculated as exactly as possible. There's no room for misjudgments.

Planning and investing securely
In order to safeguard their investment plans, print shops are relying increasingly on competent guidance like that from Heidelberg Service Business Consulting. "We support businesses that are currently in an investment phase and need a well-founded basis for decisions," Oliver Dittmar, Head of Business Consulting, describes the goals of the service division.

The comprehensive consultation services extend well beyond sheer printing considerations. At the focus is a holistic approach which examines the intended release of old machines in connection with the respective business model, economic factors and processes on-site. An investment recommendation is thus created in close cooperation with the customer. It is tailored to the customer's individual needs and minimizes the risk of false purchases. "We can't see into the future either of course," says Fabrice Raballand, Head of Business Analysis. "But we do bring a considerable expertise in the branch with us that gives the decision process an objective foundation and thus eases it significantly."

In three steps to success
In Germany, Austria and Switzerland alone, Business Consulting has led over 144 projects in print shops with 20 to 500 employees. On top of that comes those in Australia, the United States, Brazil and Great Britain. Surprised faces aren't seldom here, "Many print shop operations arrive at different results than we do because they consider only a part of the relevant business data or just go by their gut feeling," explains Dittmar, adding, "A clear and objective picture only arises when all important parameters are calculated into the evaluation."

Nevertheless, such an analysis and consultation project generally doesn't last longer than five man-days. The service division from Heidelberg uses a three-step concept here. First, the experts from Business Consulting create an exact picture of the current situation in the business. The actual business and production data from one business year serve as the foundation. These are then evaluated with the help of various parameters, for example based on run size, formats or colors. Other numbers - such as the machines' performance, makeready times and level of capacity, as well as processes, shift models, hourly wages and general business costs - are all taken into consideration in the calculation as well.

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