In this episode of The Printerviews, host Colin Sinclair McDermott is joined by Tom Peire, CEO of Four Pees and Chief Evangelist at Atomyx.
Based in Ghent, Belgium, Tom shares his journey from a high school dropout and aspiring graphic designer to leading a digital transformation agency for the print industry.
The conversation dives into the evolution of automation, moving beyond simple downward streams to what Tom calls ‘connected automation’. He explains how Atomyx, a cloud-based integration platform (iPaaS), aims to revolutionise production by lowering the barriers to connecting complex IT stacks. Tom also emphasises the human side of technology, noting that their tagline ‘Feel the Good Flow’ is about managing the emotional transition for both business owners and shop-floor operators.
Beyond the technical, Tom reveals his personal passion for tandem cycling, sharing the story of a 5,000Km journey to the North Cape with his wife, an experience he describes as the ultimate relationship builder and a metaphor for the collaboration required in business.
Key Takeaways
- True efficiency requires all systems to be interconnected, allowing data to flow in all directions, not just from artwork to output.
- Many print shops struggle not because of technology, but due to a lack of clear management vision and a manufacturing-only mindset.
- To succeed as a fulfilment partner for marketplaces like Gelato or Amazon, printers must provide real-time data and transparency back to the buyer.
- Investing in software (often ranging from £50k to £100k) frequently offers a return on investment of less than one year by reducing manual touchpoints.
- Branding in the technical space should address the emotional impact of change, moving from fear of technology to feeling the flow”
- In the next five years, the ratio of investment in software and sales technology versus heavy machinery must increase for printers to remain competitive.