Short runs, big profit: How to profitably handle customized print jobs

Struggling to turn a profit on small, customized print jobs? You’re not alone.

Tight deadlines, rising costs, and the pressure to deliver... Sound familiar?

Often, these are the elements that make these jobs seem more trouble than they’re worth. But what if handling these jobs could be your print business's competitive edge?

By taking advantage of automation and on-demand printing, short-runs can become high-margin opportunities. And, there's no need to sacrifice quality or overload your team.

Here’s how your print business can profitably handle them...

Contents 

• The Challenges of Customization in Short Runs
• Automation: The Key to Profitability
• On-Demand Printing for Just-in-Time Success
• Scaling for Growth Without Compromise
• Embracing Industry 5.0
• Your Path to High-Performance Printing 

The challenges of customization in short runs

Short-run, personalized print jobs cater to clients who value precision and uniqueness. Unlike typical requests, these projects carry higher margins due to their nature.

The challenge lies in optimizing operations to ensure these jobs are profitable.

Typical challenges printers face include:

• Operational inefficiencies: Traditional workflows often involve long setup times and manual processes. This makes short runs less cost-effective and oftentimes not worth pursuing.
• High expectations: Roughly 36% of consumers expect some level of personalization by default. They're also willing to wait longer for customized items, according to Market.us Scoop. The growing demand for customization means increased pressure on standards and delivery times.
• Cost control: Customization adds complexity, which can escalate costs if not managed well.

The challenges short-runs present puts strain on many print businesses. In particular, those that rely on outdated systems or manual workflows.

Automation: The key to profitability

Roughly 60% of companies use automation solutions in their workflows - Duke University

Automation is common practice now in the industry. Yet, there are still many that are lagging behind. Introducing automation streamlines processes and eliminates inefficiencies. The result? Print jobs completed on time and within budget.

It's not all about speed. It's about being able to work smarter to handle the growing complexity of demands.

Here’s how automation drives profitability:

• Efficient management: Modern workflows simplify processes such as estimating, scheduling, and job tracking. This helps reduce errors, save time and increase productivity. Also, reducing manual input enables teams to focus on more strategic activities.
• Smart scheduling: Advanced scheduling tools ensure consistent and efficient delivery times. They optimize resource allocation, helping businesses meet tight deadlines with ease.
• Real-time production tracking: Integrated tracking solutions provide visibility into production progress. This helps cut downtime and ensures accurate and timely delivery of jobs. This level of predictability enhances customer satisfaction, builds trust and drives profitability.

On-demand printing for just-in-time success

The average profit margin in on-demand printing is between 40-50% - Printify.

On-demand printing technologies are transforming how print businesses handle short-run jobs. Businesses can print exactly what they need, when they need it, to:

• Reduce waste and inventory costs.
• Offer unparalleled flexibility in customization, from variable data printing (VDP) to personalized graphics.
• Speed up turnaround times to meet client demands.

On-demand jobs present even greater opportunities for specific, high-margin products. AI-driven advancements further enhance these capabilities. For example, natural language interfaces can simplify reordering and estimating. Or, enable variable content creation at scale.

Scaling for growth without compromise

As demand for personalized short runs grows, businesses face a tough challenge... Expanding capacity while maintaining high quality.

Meeting customer expectations requires more than handling higher volumes. It’s about achieving scalability with consistency, efficiency, and precision.

To succeed, printers must:

• Embrace scalable workflows that adapt to growing demands.
• Install modular technologies which simplify the addition of new features without overhauling systems.
• Make use of automation and data-driven tools, to enhance efficiency while preserving quality. By combining flexibility with innovation, businesses can grow without compromising their standards.

Embracing industry 5.0

The next evolution in print technology is Industry 5.0. This incorporates a blend of human creativity with digital efficiency.

Integrating AI, IoT sensors, and robotics into workflows helps modernize processes. These advanced technologies free up time and enable employees to be more creative. As a result, productivity and talent retention improves.

With an open ecosystem and custom-fit solutions, printers can:

• Achieve end-to-end efficiency.
• Decrease waste and downtime.
• Ensure profitability, even for customized, small-batch print runs.

Your path to high-performance printing

Short-run, customized print jobs represent a profitable opportunity for print businesses that:

• Are willing to embrace the right tools and strategies.
• Use on-demand solutions.
• Refine workflows with automation and AI.

Ready to unlock your print business’s potential?

Get a free copy of our eBook, Building a High-Performing Print Business.

Scalability to match your growth

Growth is exciting. It’s also challenging.

Whether you’re a small print shop looking to expand or a franchise network managing multiple locations, scaling traditional systems is costly and time-consuming.

Cloud-based solutions, however, are built to scale. Need to add users, integrate new tools, or onboard additional locations? It’s as simple as updating your subscription. This scalability ensures your system evolves alongside your business without the headaches of a complete overhaul.

Secure your business with cloud-based protection

A cloud-based Print MIS ensures top-tier security with automatic updates, enterprise-grade encryption, multi-factor authentication, and built-in disaster recovery, protecting your business from cyber threats like ransomware.

Unlike on-premise systems, cloud solutions secure customer data, ensure compliance, and minimize downtime with seamless backups and real-time threat monitoring. With 60% of small businesses failing after a cyberattack, transitioning to the cloud isn’t just smart—it’s essential for long-term resilience and success.

Future-proof your business

The print industry is constantly changing and so are customer expectations. Faster delivery, personalized services, and sustainable practices are no longer nice-to-haves - they’re must-haves.

A cloud-based Print MIS helps you meet these demands head-on.

Digital workflows reduce paper waste, improve energy efficiency, and support remote collaboration, making your operations more sustainable. Meanwhile, advanced reporting features provide actionable insights to refine processes and plan for future growth.

By adopting a cloud-based system, you’re not just keeping up with the competition, you’re staying ahead.

Why Nubium stands out

When it comes to cloud-based Print MIS solutions, Nubium leads the pack. Designed with modern print businesses in mind, Nubium combines robust functionality with the flexibility and ease of the cloud.

From automating complex workflows to delivering real-time data insights, Nubium empowers your team to work smarter and more efficiently. Whether you’re running a quick print shop, managing a franchise network, or operating as a commercial printer, Nubium has the tools to simplify operations and enhance service quality.

Discover how Nubium can transform your business and help you deliver the speed, precision, and excellence your customers demand.

The time to transition is now.

Don’t just survive.

Thrive.