[Guest Article] destination drupa: Automating Success at drupa 2020 with Aleyant Print Software
Deborah Corn sat down with Aleyant’s marketing manager Therese McGady, to talk about the opportunities of workflow automation and how the printing industry will truly be able to ‘embrace the future’.

A forward-looking approach has been an important element of drupa’s mission statement for some time; 2016’s tagline was ‘touch the future’, and next year we’ll be getting even closer as we prepare to ‘embrace the future’. For drupa attendees with a thirst for knowledge of what’s to come, drupa next age (dna) in Hall 7.0 is the perfect place to start.
Dubbed the ‘center of disruptive developments’, dna is a celebration of innovation within the print industry. This new special area is an evolution of 2016’s drupa innovation park (dip!), which showcased innovative ‘workflow processes, automation, and the latest print technologies’.
Even with a wider scope next year, automated print software provider Aleyant will be returning to the innovation area in 2020.Therese McGady, marketing manager at Aleyant, tells us why the business is heading back to Dusseldorf, and highlights some of the opportunities in the software space at drupa.
“Software is an area within the print industry that continues to grow,” Therese explains. “Customers and prospects are getting up to speed with workflow automation, and it will be exciting to see how far things have come since 2016. drupa dna gives visitors a great opportunity to view and demo a lot of innovative products in the software space and beyond all at once.”
For American businesses, making the trip to Germany, whether as an exhibitor or an attendee, can be a big commitment. After Aleyant’s appearance in 2016, returning for 2020 was a no brainer – when it came to analyzing how successful the event had been for the business, the numbers don’t lie.
“We always take a look at the data from the previous show and how good it was for us in terms of leads. A lot of leads that came through after 2016 were from European regions as well as Asia Pacific, which was great. As well as being a great opportunity for Aleyant to just become known and get exposure at the show, all the leads that followed it were really high quality – the results were very positive. Another part of it is just the reputation of drupa. Of course it’s something that we want to be a part of!”

Therese McGady
While an array of shiny new machinery on display is guaranteed, advancements in software are sure to be a must-see aspect of drupa, as optimizing workflows and streamlining production is arguably more important than ever. The 6th drupa Global Trends Report puts software as an investment priority second only to finishing equipment. Therese anticipates all eyes being on software solutions at drupa 2020:
“I would say that workflow automation software will have an even stronger presence at the show – focus on software technology has been increasing, as printers have more demands on them in terms of customers wanting printed goods quicker and more custom smaller runs, all while still needing to be profitable. Printers are trying to figure out how to do that, and software is a key part of that.”
Therese urges American businesses to head to Dusseldorf if they really want a full picture of what’s new in print on a global scale.
“It’s the only place to see what’s new and innovative in the print industry as a whole,” she explains. “To be able to experience all the facets of print in one spot is amazing – everything that will be there will be on the cutting-edge of print.”
If you’re interested in what’s new and exciting in the world of automation software, be sure not to miss Aleyant in the drupa dna area in Hall 7.0!
About the Author:
Deborah Corn is the Intergalactic Ambassador to The Printerverse™ at Print Media Centr, a Print Buyerologist™, industry speaker and blogger, host of Podcasts from The Printerverse, cultivator of Print Production Professionals the #1 print group on LinkedIn, Head Girl in Charge (H.G.I.C.) at GirlsWhoPrint.net, host of #PrintChat every Wednesday at 4PM ET on Twitter, the founder of International Print Day and the founder of #ProjectPeacock. She is the recipient of several industry honors including the 2016 Girls Who Print Girlie Award, and sits on the boards of the Advertising Production Club of NYC and The Magazine Innovation Center at the University of Mississippi.