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It's a fact of life; if we needed specialists seven days a week, 52 weeks of the year, then we'd have resident plumbers, electricians, dentists and the various other folk only required for specific skills resident in our offices and homes, just in case. The same principles really apply to consultants; these are the people who aren't needed all the time but play a valuable role when specific projects, or even problems, appear on the horizon.

In a world where technology changes in the blink of an eye, and where it is physically and mentally impossible to know everything that's going on, consultants are the people whose business it is to be up to speed and as knowledgeable as possible in their specific industry. Laurel stresses this in her blog for, after all, no-one can be good at everything. Those who specialise in wide-format digital print have spent many years learning, digesting and understanding not only how the technology works but also the way in which it sits in today's commercial and industrial market spaces.

Because good consultants have a broad view of what's happening worldwide, their value can often be inestimable. Businesses frequently feel that they don't need help or advice because these days all information can be dug up from the internet. Yet they can waste days or weeks trying to find what they want, with many searches proving to be fruitless. Conversely, an industry specialist already has this knowledge, whether it's related to new technologies and developments, investment plans or market trends.

Print businesses are in an environment where constant change is the order of the day, yet the hours spent on bread-and-butter work can tend to make them insular. No market segment these days is safe from competition, and forward movement relies on management and production structures, investment and diversification. Complacency is a dangerous state of mind, but not everyone has the time or the knowledge to be able to investigate new or revised working practices.

A consulting specialist can bring a breath of fresh air into a company which simply needs to enhance its working, investment and technology ideas. A day spent with a consultant can be a true eye-opener, for these are the people whose business it is to be fully conversant with all relevant aspects of the industry and its people.

But a consultant is never the complete panacea. He or she can rarely wave a magic wand if a business has a problem or needs help with expansion plans. Nonetheless, calling in an industry specialist adds a fresh set of ideas, a different pair of eyes and an impartial and independent bank of resources to a company and can introduce a very useful ally.

Click here to read Laurel Brunner's response to the Question of the Week, When should you call in a consultant? What do you think? Use the comments form below to give your opinion.