The 12th Online Print Symposium 2025 is entering the home straight. Top decision-makers from the international online print industry will meet at the Science Congress Center under the motto ‘Customer Centricity = Mass Customisation + Artificial Intelligence’.
Speaker line-up
Dr Michael Fries and Annegret Bönemann, two renowned experts, will provide valuable insights into the future of online print and show how companies can find the right strategy against the backdrop of economic challenges and technological developments in order to survive successfully in a fluctuating market.
Mass customisation and AI
The symposium will be opened by Dr Michael Fries. The Executive Vice President of VistaPrint has been active in the international online print industry for over 20 years and was previously CEO of Onlineprinters and a member of the CEWE Board of Management. In the opening keynote, Dr Fries will talk about how mass customisation and artificial intelligence are becoming a key growth driver for the print industry. In view of increasing customer requirements, disruptive technologies and changing markets, Dr Fries will outline possible strategic decisions.
Customer Centricity
Annegret Bönemann, Head of CX Practice at foryouandyourcustomers, supports companies in the DACH region and the Netherlands in aligning digital products and services with the needs of their customers. In her presentation, she will show how customer centricity can be used for sustainable corporate growth. Co-organiser Bernd Zipper explains why the OPS motto is on trend: ‘Tomorrow’s successful companies will not rely exclusively on artificial intelligence, but on excellent customer centricity with the help of AI. Those who combine mass customisation with intelligent data analysis create unique, personalised customer experiences – efficiently, scalably and economically. It is precisely this combination of individualisation and automation that will become the decisive success factor in the online print industry.’
The Insight Pitches
On 3 April, seven start-ups will be ready to present their business models to influential decision-makers in the online print world. Jens Meyer, co-organiser of the OPS, explains the opportunities offered by the Insight Pitches: ‘The promotion of innovative minds and new business ideas is at the heart of our start-up pitches. Every year, we proudly present a variety of new solutions and give young companies the opportunity to prove themselves in front of a first-class, international audience. Some of our startups have experienced their breakthrough here at the OPS. An impressive example of this is Johannes Kautz from Hoodie Hoo, who has turned a small company into an international player in the field of clothing mass customisation in a very short space of time. With our Special Closing Session on the first day of the congress, we are proving just how great the potential of our platform is for aspiring entrepreneurs.’
Networking events
With two further events, the OPS offers the opportunity to make valuable contacts. On 2 April, the OPS will kick off with the Insider Get-together. Participants, speakers and start-ups can get to know each other and get in the mood for two exciting days. The networking dinner on 3 April offers the opportunity to deepen discussions from the previous day and make new business contacts.
BVDM
The Bundesverband Druck und Medien e. V. (bvdm) is the umbrella organisation of the German printing industry. As an employers’ organisation, political business association and technical trade association, it represents the positions and objectives of the printing industry vis-à-vis politicians, administration, trade unions and the supplier industry. The bvdm is supported by eight regional associations. Internationally, it is organised through its membership of Intergraf and FESPA. The printing industry currently comprises around 6,300 predominantly small and medium-sized companies with more than 99,000 employees subject to social security contributions.
Zipcon Consulting
Zipcon Consulting GmbH is a global consulting company for the communications, print and media industry specialising in online print and digital transformation. The company sees itself as an independent and holistic technology and strategy consultant. zipcon produces market studies and various case studies for e-business print, mass customisation and multichannel publishing.
