EFI Connect is the longest running conference hosted by Wynn Las Vegas, so it was fitting – and also a celebration of sorts – for Steve Wynn to deliver the keynote presentation at the 10th anniversary of EFI hosting Connect at the Wynn. The 2016 edtion of Connect was its largest to-date. In addition to a record-number of EFI customers and prospects, there were also more than 100 journalists and analysts on hand from 21 countries.

“Wynn Las Vegas is emblematic of Steve Wynn’s devotion to excellence and his ability to exceed customer expectations — two things EFI always strives to offer to our own customers,” said EFI CEO Guy Gecht in introducing Wynn to EFI customers and prospects.

Wynn was recently listed as one of Forbes‘ “25 Captains of Capitalism.” In 2014, Harvard Business Review ranked Wynn number 17 on its list of the “100 Best-Performing CEOs in the World.”

During his presentation, Wynn addressed what he believes sets businesses apart from the competition – people. He pointed to the opulence of the surroundings, saying, “In this building we have learned many lessons. The crystal chandelier, the hand woven carpets, the ornamental iron and stone are great, but that is just stuff. The stuff of this place is 10% of the franchise. Only people make people happy, it is that simple.”

Wynn talked about leadership, and how leaders can affect employees, those who will become an extension of the brand and who will have the most direct contact with customers. He said, “I believe that leadership is defined by making ordinary people perform in extraordinary ways. When leaders bring their flock to another level, they have victories.”

For seven consecutive years, Fortune magazine named Wynn Las Vegas one of the World’s Most Admired Companies. Through several stories of exceptional customer service, Wynn illustrated his philosophy of developing a successful organization. The audience, many of them print service providers, took away leadership and organizational concepts that could be applied to businesses of any size and scope. 

To watch excerpts from Wynn’s presentation, click here.

Using the Force
While Steve Wynn focused on customer service and leadership, EFI CEO Guy Gecht, for his keynote, drew upon lessons from Star Wars, to discuss business strategy. Gecht presented his “Six Guy-lines (Guidelines) for Becoming a Jedi in the printing business.” 

His first Guy-line is “Bet on changes in market forces to accelerate.”

“Companies that bet on the future are growing faster, while companies that do not follow the current trends are disappearing,” he said. “And it’s not just the suppliers changing faster, people are buying the same products faster than ever before.

“Six hundred years ago the analog press was invented. Well, somebody – and maybe not too long from now – will be the last one to buy one. Not only are the forces that are getting stronger moving faster, but the weaker forces are getting weaker at a faster rate,” Gecht said.

Guy-line #2 is: “When facing a strong force, use the Jedi strategy.” This concept, Gecht said, mirrors judo strategy. Gecht stressed using strong forces such as online technology, to your advantage. Judo strategy, he said, involves movement, balance and leverage, and the same can be applied to business. Movement translates to being nimble and adaptive. Balance is about having a balanced product portfolio. Leverage refers to using your competitors strengths, which is a founding principle of judo.

Guy-line #3 is “Take the short runs road to long profits.”

Gecht said, “Long runs are much more competitive, and its harder to differentiate yourself.  People want short runs, personalization and customization, and this is what digital print provides.”  Digital print enables printers to go into this higher profit area, he said.

“Look beyond paper,” is the theme of Guy-line #4. “Inkjet is an enabling force,” he said. ”It’s the only printing technology that doesn’t touch the paper.” Gecht urged printers to broaden their horizon and create new makets. To this end, he introduced EFI’s new ImagingofThings.com, an online gallery where print providers can share ideas and look for innovative applications.

Guy-line #5 is “Don’t touch what you can automate. “The future is the only thing you want to touch when it comes to the printing process,” he said. “The humans should make the decisions and the machinery should do all the work.” Gecht also emphasized the value of automation when it comes to job scheduling, in particular.

Finally, Guy-line #6 is: “Remember, not placing a bet is betting on the Dark Side.” Here he urged risk-taking, and said staying idle is the biggest mistake a printing business can make.

“You must be willing to take a risk. Doing nothing is a guarantee that you will be unsuccessful,” he said.

Gecht stressed trusting your gut, quoting yoda, “Use your feelings, you must.”

To watch Gecht’s keynote, click here.


EFI’s Enterprise Packaging Suite and Jetrion
During EFI Connect, the company unveiled improvements to EFI’s Enterprise Packaging Suite.  The suite can be custom configured to address the needs of three segments: label, flexible packaging and folding carton converting, as well as tighter integration with Esko’s Automation Engine.

Each of EFI’s Productivity Suites is modular, allowing users to configure the Suite to meet their specific needs. The workflow solution optimizes scheduling for more on-time delivery, decreases waste, and provides better insight into the business for increased profit margins.

EFI Radius enterprise resource planning (ERP) software is at the heart of the Packaging Suite. This enterprise software with industry-specific functionality is ideal for converters with multi-company, multi-plant, multi-currency and multi-language environments. Working alongside Radius is EFI’s PrintFlow Dynamic Scheduling solution, which automates and intelligently schedules thousands of tasks and sequences them to minimize switchover and setup time.

Ken Hanulec, vice president of marketing, EFI Inkjet Solutions, talked about the latest Jetrion developments at EFI Connect. The EFI Jetrion 4950LX is a one-pass inkjet label press with integrated laser finishing. It  features 720×720 dots per inch resolution and runs at 164 fpm.  Hanulec said there are are now just under 300 EFI Jetrion installations worldwide, with new inkjet label ink technology forthcoming.


For more on EFI Connect, check out the L&NW slideshows.