New courses for HP Indigo users

HP has developed a new suite of marketing courses for HP Indigo press users across EMEA. The two courses – Maximizing the Digital Opportunity and Digital Selling Skills – are launched under HP’s Capture business success program and focus on enabling printers to hone their marketing and selling skills.

‘The expansion of our training courses to cover these modules will enable HP Indigo press users to improve their ROI through effective, tailored marketing and selling techniques,’ said Nikki Peacock, marketing manager, Indigo Digital Press, HP UK&I. ‘Adapting to selling digital print can be a difficult transition for some companies. These courses provide guidance and support in developing selling plans and marketing strategies to maximize press productivity.’  

‘Maximizing the Digital Opportunity’ teaches customers to identify the digital opportunity: migrating litho work to a digital press, implementing new digital services and diversifying product offering. The course also includes case studies from other HP Indigo press users who have successfully penetrated the digital market. 

‘Digital Selling Skills’ teaches print service providers core selling skills specific to the digital market. The course highlights effective selling techniques and how to meet the needs of their customers.

Richard Finan, an independent consultant from UK-based Improve Consultancy, who has extensive knowledge of both the printing industry and business practices, will run both courses. HP collaborated with its customers and Finan to ensure the criteria of each course was tailor-made to the needs of the printing industry.

‘These courses have been developed to improve the profitability, page growth, customer base and business longevity of HP Indigo customers,’ said Finan. ‘This is achieved by adopting different sales approaches, understanding the end-users of print and the benefits digital print can afford new and existing customers.’

Springfield Solutions, one of the UK’s leading label and packaging providers, took part in the pilot course for ‘Digital Selling Skills’ in June 2007. The Hull-based company has committed its future to digital printing – following the installation of the UK’s first HP Indigo press ws4500 – because of the competitive edge it affords in an increasingly demanding industry.

‘HP’s recently launched sales and marketing training program is a fantastic tool – it enables you to re-tune your business development activity and approach to ensure maximum return,’ said Ian Lemon, managing director, Springfield. ‘The content and delivery of the recently launched Digital Selling Skills course was of the highest quality, and I commend it to all but my closest competitors.’

Existing customers can select the courses relevant to their businesses while new customers are encouraged to sign up for both complimentary courses. The courses will be presented across EMEA with locations to be confirmed in Italy, France, Germany, ISE, Iberia and GWE. Dates are confirmed for September and October in the UK.

For more information and details of how to register, customers should contact their local HP sales representative.