on the EskoWorld 2018: road Packaging Connected RECAP FOR MORE Discover more from the 2018 EskoWorld event at bigpicture.net/ EskoWorld18. More than 500 attendees gathered in San Antonio June 5-7 for the 27th annual EskoWorld conference. The agenda was geared toward users of Esko design and prepress software and hardware, and included sessions for business and brand owners. The event provided an opportunity for buyers and suppliers to connect around the entire packaging manufacturing ecosystem. CONNECTING THE DOTS In an introductory session, Esko President Udo Panenka focused on how automation and a connected workflow can create greater efficiency. He discussed trends in the industry, changing consumer behavior, and how to address challenges in the packaging industry. One challenge? Big consumer packaging groups have experienced stalled growth - only 0.7 percent from 2012-2016. LIVE UPDATES FROM AROUND THE WORLD For live updates from industry events around the globe, follow Editor-in-Chief Adrienne Palmer (@Adrienne_BigPic) and Big Picture (@bigpicturemag) on Twitter. That stagnation is due in part to bigger companies lacking digitalization. Smaller startups are growing significantly faster - many of whom started as digital natives, Panenka said. There's a trend toward shorter print runs with shorter lead times. Throughout the 2.5-day event, there was recurring conversation about how the packaging industry could someday reach a one-day target for turning around a product label change - something that currently takes an average of 198 days, Panenka said. He pointed out that no one wants a product with a label touting the World Cup months after the event concluded. To promote growth and address challenges, Panenka suggested brands respond faster to changes in customer tastes and capitalize on trends; create an engaging omnichannel campaign to reach shoppers; and craft consistency between products found in-store and online (as 79 percent of consumers expect the online product packaging to match what's found on store shelves).http://www.bigpicture.net/eskoworld18 https://www.twitter.com/Adrienne_BigPic https://www.twitter.com/bigpicturemag http://www.gfpartnersllc.com http://gfpsmoothstart.com