Bernd Zipper, CEO of zipcon consulting GmbH, has comprehensively reformed the blog in 2020. At beyond-print.net the platform is also offered in English. He and his team write about exciting topics, new trends and technologies as well as innovative news from the print and media industry – and beyond. With more than 3,800 fans, Beyond Print is also widespread on the social media channels Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Youtube.
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About the ZOPI – Zipcon Onlineprint Price Index
With the Zipcon Online Print Price Index, or ZOPI for short, the Essen-based consulting company zipcon consulting has developed a trend barometer that for the first time takes a close look at price developments in the online print market. Two clusters were formed for this purpose: One looks at a standard order for 10,000 flyers in DIN A5 format, printed in four colors on both sides, on 135-gram paper, glossy. Nine online print shops were selected for the job: Vistaprint, Wir-machen-Druck, Unitedprint/print24, Onlineprinters, Flyeralarm, Saxoprint, Onlinedrucken, Redprintgroup and sourc-e. The second cluster focuses on a shopping cart that includes brochures and business cards in addition to flyers. This basket involves the following printing companies: Wir-machen-druck, Unitedprint/print24, Onlineprinters, Flyeralarm, Saxoprint, Onlinedrucken and Redprintgroup. The prices are recorded on a weekly basis. On this basis, zipcon calculates the average values for each month and presents the percentage change compared to the index value. The index value for the flyer cluster is from June 2020, and the index value for the shopping basket is from November 2020. ZOPI thus reflects the changes in prices in online printing over the entire period up to the present day – and puts them in the context of developments on the market and in the economy as a whole in the subsequent evaluation. A detailed look at and interpretation of the figures is provided on a quarterly basis.
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Greater thematic breadth and depth, more expertise, more interaction: in 2026, the Online Print Symposium will evolve into the Online Print Summit. With a new name, an expanded concept, and a new venue, the most important industry event for the European online print industry will once again be the place to be for decision-makers, innovators, and investors. On 12 and 13 March 2026, participants will not only experience the established conference with market analyses, trend forecasts, and engaging panel discussions, but also, for the first time, exclusive C-Level Classrooms, Executive Briefings, and the inspiring Mind-on-Tap Stage.
The Online Print Summit is the only event of its kind in Europe. Each year, around 300 executives from a wide range of countries gather in Munich to gain valuable insights, identify emerging trends, and forge key connections. At OPS, while expertise is central, the focus is equally on networking.
Founded in 2007, the IOP actively promotes fair competition in online printing services and the visibility of the online print industry as a distinct sector. The IOP is represented by the honorary board of directors, consisting of the chairman Bernd Zipper (zipcon consulting GmbH), and the two vice-chairmen, Roland Keppler (Onlineprinters GmbH) and Ulrich Schätzl (Elanders Print+Packaging).
Twice a year, the representatives of IOP companies meet at member events at an IOP member’s premises. The members use these meetings as an independent communication and networking platform and discuss future topics, including with external specialists who are usually invited to the meetings.
Bernd Zipper regularly makes podcasts on various topics relevant to the online print industry. On Zippers Insights he interviews industry leaders and discusses current trends and future prospects.
Furthermore, he did two other podcast series previously: On Jabberfish, a podcast together with Haeme Ulrich from Switzerland, the two took on a new challenge in each episode. Listeners were invited to send in suggestions for topics for future discussions. Topic: “something with media”. Talking Overseas was an English-language podcast with John Parsons. The topics were focused on new technologies and workflows for the print industry, including online print.
At the invitation of Intergraf, Bernd Zipper gave a keynote speech in Bucharest on the topic of ‘Higher-Faster-Further-drupa’. Using facts and figures, he demonstrated that drupa has lost significance and that important trend topics such as AI, mass customisation and sustainability hardly played a role at the event. It was more about who can print faster and better than the competition. However, he also presented personal highlights of the event and emphasised that there have never been as many opportunities in the print sector as there are now.
At this year’s BOPE (Benelux Online Print Event) in Antwerp, Bernd Zipper spoke about market developments, trends and opportunities in the online print industry in his keynote speech. He explained that we are at the beginning of a new era of print, which offers completely new opportunities thanks to mass customization, AI, social commerce and a new understanding of the value of printed matter.
Bernd Zipper gave a keynote speech on the future of print at Dscoop Local in Gelsenkirchen. His presentation focused not only on analysing the current state of the print industry, but above all on an optimistic outlook on how artificial intelligence will change the e-business print.
At the Fespa Global Print Expo in Amsterdam, Bernd Zipper spoke at the trade fair’s own “Personalisation Experience” conference about the potential of personalisation and mass customisation in print and how print service providers can build their business models to benefit from this megatrend.
The 11th Global Online Print Symposium with 11 speakers, 7 start-ups and 10 partners was highly praised by the almost 300 international participants as a unique event. The event was also omnipresent on social media and was extremely well received.
At React, FourPees’ launch event for the new Atomyx platform, Bernd Zipper gave a presentation on the “Declaration of Independence for Print of the Future”. His statement: Today, we have so many opportunities to earn good money with print if we learn to understand the social and technological trends and apply them to ourselves.
The anniversary of the Online Print Symposium with 10 speakers, 6 start-ups and 12 partners was celebrated extensively by the almost 300 participants. For the 10th birthday of the OPS, not only gifts were distributed to the participants: Robert Keane, founder and CEO of Cimpress, received the “First Pioneer of Global Online Print” award from none other than Thorsten Fischer, founder and CEO of Flyeralarm.
The Benelux Online Print Event takes place in the Netherlands for the first time. Bernd Zipper speaks about “Status Quo: Online Print – Quo Vadis, dear Mothership?”
Further information: www.vigc.be/en/bope
Bernd Zipper presents his keynote talk “Challenging times: BLUE is the new SMART!” at Xeikon headquarters in Belgium. He makes a status analysis of the online print industry and gives an outlook on the trends and the topics that will be relevant for a “Blue Ocean” in the future.
Bernd Zipper with the keynote speech: Developments and trends in the online print industry in 2022
Further information: www.vigc.be/en/bope
Twelve top-class speakers, six innovative start-ups, 13 partner businesses in the exhibition – and 250 participants from all over Europe and the world: The Online Print Symposium returned with a “big bang” after the forced break in 2021 due to corona and celebrated a thoroughly successful event in the Science Congress Center Munich. True to the motto “Start Up and Print Online!”, the leading event of the online print industry was not only about the lessons learned from the last two years, but above all about how a successful “restart” after the pandemic can be achieved.
Bernd Zipper with the lecture: Print tomorrow – how, what, why? in Aarau / Switzerland
Bernd Zipper gives an overview of the current state, evaluates the facts and gives an outlook for the online print industry. He addresses the turbo-digitisation, the influence on the industry of the Covid19 effects and points out trends.
Bernd Zipper with the keynote speech: Chances and Threats for Online Print in the Post-Covid-Aera
Further information: www.vigc.be/en/bope
Without a doubt, the Online Print Symposium is one of the most successful trendsetting events in the printing industry. It comes as no surprise, because every year the OPS tackles cutting-edge topics and thus consolidates its reputation as the “think tank” of online print – also internationally. The 250 or so participants at 2020’s symposium in Munich on 3-4 March experienced this first hand.
Bernd Zipper with a lecture: Developments and trends in the online print industry 2019
09. May 2019 10am – 8pm at Flanders Meeting & Convention Center Belgium.
Further information: VIGC: #BOPE19 – Insights for growth!
With over 280 participants from more than 12 countries, future-oriented topics and trends, 12 exclusive lectures and strong partners, the 7th Online Print Symposium once again brought together leading players in the e-business print in Munich on 7 and 5 April 2019. Core topics of the symposium were strategies, future perspectives in the online print segment – and besides the stage, of course, the profitable exchange between and for the participants.
Bernd Zipper with a lecture: Developments and trends in the online print industry 2018
31. May 2018 10am – 8pm at Atomium in Brussels
Further information: VIGC: #BOPE18 – Insights for growth!
With over 250 participants from more than 10 countries, future-oriented topics and trends, 14 exclusive lectures and strong partners, the 6th Online Print Symposium once again brought together leading players in the e-business print in Munich on 15 and 16 March 2018. Core topics of the symposium were strategies, future perspectives in the online print segment – and besides the stage, of course, the profitable exchange between and for the participants.
Viscom, Schwiss Agenda
22. June 2017 / 2pm – 5pm
Restaurant Volkshaus, Stauffacherstrasse 60, 8004 Zürich, Switzerland
Bernd Zipper with a lecture: Developments and Trends in the online print industry 2017
21. June 2017 3pm – 6pm
Canon Belgium, Berkenlaan 3, Diegem, Belgium
Bernd Zipper at the Online Printing Conference in Milan with the presentation: „Trends in the European online print market“
More than 80 participants learned about the developments and trends in the online print industry.
In 2017 Online Print Symposium was once again the focus of the online print industry with almost 300 participants from over 15 countries worldwide over two days.
The 5th Online Print Symposium once again met all expectations and we were true to our word: Inspiring presentations, top speakers, excellent networking and guests, from over 15 countries made the 5th OPS on 6. + 7. April the “place to be” for the online print industry. More information about the industry event in Zipper’s Insider Report.
Bernd Zipper @drupa – Daily Talkshow at the CloudLab Booth Hall 07a / F30
On 10. May, participants were able to gather information a few weeks before drupa through two interesting presentations with a special focus on their personal preparation for drupa – with Bernd Zipper and Dr Markus Heering as speakers. The whole event was organised by the VSD.
Bernd Zipper, zipcon consulting GmbH, Technology and strategy consultant
“Inkjet-drupa? Business-drupa! Expectations for the flagship event of the printing industry 2016”
For two days, the Online Print Symposium was “the place to be” for every online printer. Inspiring presentations, top speakers, excellent networking and great guests made the 4th OPS the focus of the online print industry for two days.
The 222 participants made the 4th Online Print Symposium in Munich-Unterschleißheim, organised by the bvdm, Fogra and zipcon consulting, a complete success.
Under this motto, the vdmb and zipcon consulting organised the 2nd Management Retreat E-Business Print in Wirsberg (Upper Franconia).
During the two days, the participants, with decision-makers from management, were presented with how they will manage to open up new markets in the future with customer-specific or target group-oriented e-business solutions. The focus was on valuable decision-maker knowledge around the topic of e-business print, with a special focus on strategy, marketing and commercial processes/finances.
With the 1st edition, the Management Retreat E-Business Print took place in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
The biggest growth rates in the printing industry are currently in online business. Customer approach and sales success work differently online than in classic sales. The 15 participants of the two-day management retreat learned from TOP expert, Bernd Zipper, how to achieve a successful online shop with the right strategy. New impressions, opportunities and risks as well as the diverse possibilities made for interesting discussions during the retreat and at the joint business evening.
In the joint seminar “E-Business Print is a Matter for the Boss – Creating Value Online with Print”, Katharina Matters and Bernd Zipper show how the Internet can be used successfully as a sales channel for print products.
The internet is the most important medium for customers – around 80 percent search online for companies, services, restaurants, products, etc. before making their purchase decision. Companies that are not found on the internet do not exist for many potential customers. Digital identity determines success and failure in today’s business world.
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