Automation in Printing Industry: 1,000 Approaches Achieved in a Month

Introduction

The printing industry is evolving rapidly, and companies are embracing digital transformation (DX) to improve efficiency and effectiveness in sales strategies. FUTUREWOODS, headquartered in Bunkyo, Tokyo, has been at the forefront of this change. Their success story involving a special printing company, referred to as Company A, showcases how automation can reshape conventional sales methods.

The Inefficiency of Manual Sales Processes

Company A, based in the Kansai region, boasts exceptional technical capabilities in special printing, including high-definition printing on water-resistant films and color-changing temperature inks. However, the company's sales approach relied heavily on manual processes. Sales personnel spent excessive amounts of time searching the internet for leads and manually inputting information into contact forms. In fact, they could only send out a few dozen inquiries per day. This issue highlighted a significant barrier to expanding their sales channels, with the time spent creating lists far surpassing actual sales efforts.

One-Stop Automation: List Creation and Form Sales

Recognizing the inefficiencies in their previous methods, Company A turned to FUTUREWOODS’ sales support tool, FutureSearch. This platform seamlessly integrates the automation of sales list creation and on-demand messaging to companies’ inquiry forms. The solution began with a distinguishing feature that allowed Company A to automatically extract target companies based on specific set conditions.

Precision in Targeting

FutureSearch enabled Company A to precisely target mid-tier and large printing companies that would benefit from their unique manufacturing capabilities. They strategically set the search keyword to 'printing' and included companies with relevant terms in their business descriptions. Moreover, using the tool's exclusion keyword settings, Company A filtered out companies that focused on small volume orders, ensuring they only approached leads aligned with their target profile. Segmenting the resulting list by prefectures allowed further refinement, leading to more focused and effective outreach.

Strategic Outreach

Recognizing the potential in surrounding industries, Company A expanded their target list by using the search features to include terms like 'photo studio' and 'photographic studio'. By narrowing the location criteria to the Kansai region, they successfully identified and compiled a targeted list exceeding 900 potential leads.

Consistent Engagement

Maintaining a regular outreach schedule of 200 companies bi-weekly allowed Company A to foster consistent touchpoints with their target audience. This strategy significantly improved brand recognition and engagement.

Unique Results After Three Years: A 5.82% Unique Visit Rate

Over three years, the results of implementing this automated process were evident:

- Total outreach: 43,308 messages sent
- Unique visits to their website: 2,521
- Unique visit rate: 5.82%

These figures demonstrate a remarkably high engagement rate, reaffirming that approximately one out of every twenty companies approached visited Company A’s website, creating a sustainable cycle of mid- to long-term inquiries.

Shifting Approach: From Waiting to Proactive Engagement

The journey of Company A offers profound insights for B2B firms equipped with unique technical expertise and knowledge. By automating the outreach process, the challenge of connecting with potential clients becomes significantly easier. The prevailing notion that 'there are always companies in need of our technologies, yet we can't find them' can be transformed through systematic automation.

For more detailed information, visit FutureSearch Case Study.

About Future Search

FutureSearch by FUTUREWOODS is a comprehensive sales support tool designed for B2B companies, facilitating efficient lead generation from list creation to inquiry form engagement.

Company Information

- Name: FUTUREWOODS Co., Ltd.
- Location: 1-8-13 Mukogaoka, Bunkyo, Tokyo, PLANEX813 Building 3F
- CEO: Hayato Kohama
- Founded: September 25, 2015
- URL: FUTUREWOODS
- Services: Enabling digital transformation in sales and marketing with tools such as FutureSearch.