by DPS Staff
Each year, EFI users convene in Las Vegas, NV for the Connect event. The 2016 conference took place at the Wynn Las Vegas from January 19 to 22, 2016. According to the company, the sold-out show attracted ten percent more pre-registered customer attendees compared to 2015.
EFI Connect is touted by the company as one of the print industry’s largest and longest running user group events. In addition to networking opportunities, keynote presentations, and a solutions center, visitors can attend more than 200 technical, sales, and business management sessions including hands-on customer labs, interactive voice of customer sessions, user meetings for the EFI Productivity Suite and MIS/enterprise resource planning core platforms, as well as a development track conducted by analyst firm InfoTrends.
The opening keynote was presented by Guy Gecht, CEO, EFI, in which he stresses the need for customers to “bet on changes in the market forces to accelerate.” He says that successful printing businesses must be willing to take risks.
In a special keynote speech, Steve Wynn, chairman/CEO, Wynn Resorts, provided a lesson on the success of his luxury resorts. He says this success comes with creating a culture where employees have a sense of pride and enhanced self-esteem through their work.
Product Highlights
This year’s EFI Connect hosted the debut of several new Productivity Suites that the company says are designed, built, validated, and integrated from its business and production management software portfolio.
At the conference, customers were educated on how the EFI Productivity Suite—first introduced at Connect 2015—improves users’ productivity, efficiency, and profitability through “Suite Certified” workflows for specific segments.
At this year’s conference, EFI doubled its Productivity Suite offerings with three new certified Suites for quick printing, publication print, and corrugated packaging.
In addition, Connect 2016 featured advanced EFI Fiery digital front end software technologies for cutsheet digital printing. The company previewed Fiery Command WorkStation 5.8, and the newest version of Fiery JobFlow digital print workflow automation software. The solution is designed to deliver more powerful digital print workflow automation features for efficient multi-job submission, extended third-party job processing, workflow sharing, and enhanced usability.
Beyond Workflow
In addition to EFI’s focus on production workflow, inkjet is another area for the company. To illustrate the opportunity, it launched the Imaging of Things exchange, an online community for EFI customers looking to connect and share ideas with other print professionals and print buyers looking for innovative applications.
The online community is supported and promoted by EFI and is free for customers to join and use. Users can post photos and videos of their most creative work created on EFI industrial inkjet printers and/or EFI Fiery digital print technologies to help generate new business leads.
EFI customers, as well as advertising agencies, marketers, brand owners, and designers can register to participate in the Imaging of Things exchange by visiting imagingofthings.com. Once registered, they can begin discovering and sharing applications and follow other users.
Connecting Users
EFI’s annual Connect event provides a venue for education and networking. Customers benefit from the opportunity to participate in educational sessions, receive hands on experience, and discuss industry trends, inspiring innovation and success. We look forward to reporting on next year’s Connect event, where there is sure to be even more innovation. dps
Mar2016, DPS Magazine
