Evergreen Jianhao explores the cloud commercialization

Today, the printing industry is facing challenges such as lower wages, rising labor costs, and intense competition, which are threatening its survival and growth. However, companies like Jianhao in Taiwan have managed to thrive under similar conditions by achieving higher production efficiency with fewer staff, expanding their business scale, and gaining admiration from many mainland Chinese printing companies. Zhang Changjia, General Manager of Tianjin Evergreen Jianhaoyun Printing Technology Co., Ltd., summarized the development of Jianhao as going through five key stages: digital experience, digital software, software networking, network cloud, and finally cloud commercialization. Now, Jianhao is in the cloud commercialization phase, and the question is how this model will be applied in mainland China.

On June 7th, the Evergreen Jianhao Cloud Printing Business Conference was held in Tianjin, marking the official start of cloud commercialization in China. The question remains: How will Evergreen Jianhao realize cloud commercialization, and what is the industry's reaction? What impact will it have on the commercial printing market in mainland China?

Exploring the Cooperation Model

On the day of the conference, over 1,000 industry professionals attended, including many traditional and digital printing companies. A common question was: “What is the success behind Jianhao?” During the event, Zhang provided a clear example of what Jianhao can do and how it can collaborate with others. He showed a beautifully printed butterfly photo album and asked the audience, “How much do you think this album would sell for outside?” Guesses ranged from 500 to 800 yuan, but the final answer was 50 yuan. He explained that he could sell it at 50 yuan, send it to the store, and still make a profit. The store could then sell it at 150 yuan, offering customers a great deal while also making a profit. If the store had lower production costs, they could produce it themselves. In return, Jianhao offers free ERP systems, software, cloud storage, and e-commerce platforms, allowing partners to maintain their own brand identity and operate independently.

Li Li, from Shenzhen Yonglixing Printing Co., Ltd., expressed interest in this cooperation model: “I know some digital printers are great, but I can’t afford them. Now I feel like I have a solution.” Zhang responded, “If you don’t have equipment, we can help you produce initially, so you can build your customer base and generate revenue. We’ll teach you how to use the equipment, manage the process, and eventually, when you’re ready, you can take it over yourself.”

This approach targets the small print market, especially commercial and personalized printing. By leveraging its powerful ERP system, online transfer tools, e-commerce platform, and cloud services, Evergreen Jianhao helps partners manage production and handle jobs they can't manage alone. The company divides its market into five levels: Cloud Printing, Central Factories, Strategic Partners, Store Channels, and Consumers. Each level has specific roles, from central factories providing high-quality products to strategic partners building their own brands using Evergreen’s open API. For store channels, the company provides e-commerce platforms and online tools to streamline order processing. Evergreen not only offers products and tools but also training, technology transfer, and collaborative development of ERP systems.

According to Evergreen, the Beijing-Tianjin region alone has a market demand of over 5 billion yuan for its planned products. With a current capacity of 2 billion yuan in Tianjin, the company plans to add 30 to 60 HP Indigo offset printing machines. It has already met with interested partners in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area and aims to establish seven central factories nationwide within a year, developing 1,000 franchise stores across China. According to a 2013 feasibility study, Evergreen Jianhaoyun is expected to reach full production in five years, with annual sales reaching 1 billion yuan after launch.

Industry Reactions

Despite the attractive opportunities, the industry’s response is mixed. While Zhang emphasized that Evergreen does not aim to compete with peers but to collaborate and create new opportunities, many companies remain cautious due to unclear details about profit-sharing and potential conflicts. Some worry that their existing businesses might be overshadowed or even replaced by Evergreen’s system. Others question where the profit lies if everything is offered for free, fearing hidden costs down the line.

However, some industry leaders are more optimistic. Guo Shuzeng, General Manager of Shanxi Taibao Media Co., Ltd., believes that Evergreen is a reliable partner and that collaboration is beneficial. Another company representative said, “This is a great opportunity to ‘borrow the boat to the sea.’” After the conference, discussions between Evergreen and potential partners continued, showing that interest is growing.

Consolidating Resources to Move Forward

Whether the cooperation succeeds or not, the reason Jianhao is making waves is because the printing industry is seeking transformation. In this process, collaboration is a key strategy. The introduction of the “Network Invoice Management Measures” in 2013 posed a threat to the bill printing industry, prompting calls for unity and outsourcing non-core tasks. Similarly, Evergreen’s cloud printing model reflects a broader trend of resource consolidation in the mainland printing sector.

After the conference, Evergreen announced that over 500 companies were interested in cooperation, including traditional and digital printing firms, as well as distributors without production equipment. These partnerships allow for the efficient redistribution of workloads and the sharing of resources. Evergreen’s fast order processing, smooth workflow, and quick delivery ensure that all parties benefit. Cao Peng, Director of the Planning Department at Beijing Printing Institute, compared each participant in the industry chain to “pearls,” suggesting that Evergreen is connecting them through cloud platforms to make the cloud commercialization model successful in China.

From the current perspective, Evergreen Jianhao’s resource consolidation is set to reshape the printing industry, with a significant impact on its future. While the initial influence may be limited to the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, other companies across China may follow a similar path. If the Jianhao model proves viable, its multi-language service system could help expand into international markets, potentially reaching Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia, Europe, and the U.S. As an industry media, Printing Technology will continue to monitor Evergreen Jianhao and the progress of cloud commercialization in the Chinese printing industry.