Keep Hangin’ On

Osterloh surmised the use of continuous forms will continue to decline. "Some of this decline is because the forms are no longer needed, some will be because the customer required a change to a different product, while some of the decline can be attributed to the lack of equipment at the user's level," he said.

In regard to equipment, impact/dot matrix printers are required and these are not as readily available as in the past.

When looking at the big picture, it is important for distributors to educate their customers on which products will fit their needs—whether it's continuous forms or another item. Otherwise, those rumors about the fate of print-based forms will become 
a reality.

"The use of forms and the types of forms customers are using continues to change. It is important distributors educate their customers on which products best fit their needs. It is in our supply chain's best interest to educate our customers on the best solution for their needs, not necessarily the best solution for our needs," Osterloh said. "Printing is an expensive medium. Without educating our customers, we will eventually make printing less and less a choice they make 
to communicate."