TechNova on their Expectations from CEIF 2016

Vimal Parmar, DGM, Marketing–Digital Print Media TechNova Imaging Systems

CEIF is one trade show that we eagerly wait for each year, as it gives us a wide platform to connect with the photo industry. As with every CEIF, this year too, we are looking forward to making new contacts and catching up with existing customers. To be specific, as a player in the substrate space, our expectation from CEIF 2016 is to meet professionals from a much wider base that also spans graphic designers, leading industrial photographers, digital print service providers catering to the GCP (General Commercial Printing) segment and also students of photography from various institutes.

It would be appropriate to mention here that AIPTIA is doing an outstanding job along with the regional associations. The zeal that they possess to bring the entire imaging ecosystem under one umbrella is commendable. This gives every photographer the opportunity to learn and translate this learning to build new revenue streams, which is the need of the hour.

As far as expectations from the current year, we hope our industry continues to grow by taking imaging to the rural areas, and that the popularity of printing photographs grows more than before. We also hope that more Indian manufacturers develop innovative solutions and take them globally.

As a major supplier of digital print media, TechNova will cover the entire spectrum of print technologies and major customer segments in the photo space. We will showcase substrates for Inkjet, Dye-sublimation and Electrophotography (Colour Laser) and their respective sub-segments.

At CEIF 2016, TechNova will be displaying a wide range of products on offer for different customer segments.

1. Studio owners will be attracted to TechNova’s popular range of NovaJet media, which will be demonstrated live at the TechNova stand, thus giving visitors a first-hand experience of the media.
2. For Wedding Photographers, TechNova will showcase its range of non-tear media, including the e-photo range of paper substrates from Felix Schoeller.
3. Fine art photographers will find the Canson Infinity Digital Fine Art Media extremely appealing, whereas Print Service Providers can visit a dedicated zone that will showcase various media available from TechNova for different applications.

However, more than just showcasing our products, TechNova would like to engage with visitors and share with them different business opportunities, that are likely to open a new revenue generating streams, by partnering with Technova in a win-win agreement.

The shift from analogue to digital has helped us to develop an entirely new concept of non-tear wedding album media. The concept of NovaJet LMO non-tear wedding albums brought out by our customers is probably the first of its kind in the world. The credit here equally goes to Mr T S Ramanan of Glo Digital Press and HP for their support in testing the initial R&D samples on the HP Indigo Digital Press.

Hence, as a pioneer in developing and manufacturing specialty media, for us, the shift in technology and the rapid growth in popularity of NovaJet LMO has benefited the entire value chain, right from wedding photographers to print service providers to the end consumers. We believe, even the ancillary industry in the imaging space in India has greatly benefitted with the introduction of the NovaJet LMO.

With regards to the challenges that we face in the Indian market, there are quite a few. However, if I have to mention three, they are:

1. Data Availability: We are always at a loss when it comes to availability of reliable and detailed industry statistics, trends, and segment wise consumption data. We have to generate our own data and we believe every major company in India does so. The solution could be a single body that could initiate an exhaustive study, maybe biannually, and share it across a board. This data will also help small domestic manufacturers who would otherwise find it difficult to initiate such a study.
2. Consumer Market: Unlike the US and Europe, the general consumers in India are not quite inclined towards printing a photobook. The non-wedding photobook market is almost non-existent. With close to 6000 travel trade companies and 1200+ million domestic tourists compared to roughly 10 million marriages every year, the opportunity for Holiday and Travel albums is immense. As an industry, we could look at involving travel trade companies to reach out to this domestic market segment, which would be a win-win case for them, as well as us.
3. Education: One is more concerned about small studio owners who are dependent mainly on ID photographs and few print orders. Especially more so if they do not take wedding assignments. If these studio set-ups could be repurposed as imaging hubs, they could widen the gamut of their offering and thereby open up new revenue streams. Same is the case with photographers at major tourist destinations who are losing out to smartphone-wielding tourists. Sharing new business opportunities with them, within the photography space, would be a win-win situation for the industry in general.

Finally, there is also a strong need to increase visual literacy levels amongst school going children and we feel that there is no better medium to achieve this than the art of photography. Learning any art form, in this case photography, helps students to communicate and connect with people; known and unknown, to explore the unexplored which eventually goes into building a better citizen.