PPAI Magazine October 2024

Must Read | The State of Innovation 2024 The State Of Innovation 2024 PPAI Research has examined benchmarking data on digital transformation from distributors and suppliers of all sizes and awards High Marks for Innovation to new firms. By John Corrigan Promotional products firms that have embraced digital transformation tend to be at the forefront of the industry. They’ve harnessed technological advances to streamline processes, improve communication and protect customer data (as well as their own), all in the name of better service, ultimately, for end buyers. As part of the PPAI 100 research program, the Association gathered benchmarking data provided by companies that appeared in the inaugural ranking of promo’s leading distributors and suppliers, as well as those who didn’t make this year’s list or were too small to be eligible. This report focuses on the very questions that allowed PPAI Media to score the PPAI 100 Innovation category. Here, we look at some key performance indicators of these businesses in terms of technology, sharing the state of innovation among the very largest companies in the industry, all the way down to promo’s more typical small businesses – suppliers earning less than $5 million per year, and distributorships making less than $1 million. The following sections offer a breakdown of each benchmarking statistic, with insights and reactions from tech decision-makers among companies who participated in the surveys, as well as a comprehensive listing of distributors that have earned new PPAI 100 High Marks for Innovation. Deemerwha studio / Shutterstock.com 30 • OCTOBER 2024 • PPAI

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NzU4OQ==