The Power of Community: The Dscoop Success Story

Humans are hard-wired to belong in a community—it’s embedded in our DNA. From the earliest days of our species, we developed in groups, not in isolation. Communities have long served as a foundation for survival, well-being, and growth. Even as the pace of change accelerates and life and business are continually disrupted, the enduring value of community remains clear and compelling.

This article, inspired by a podcast interview with Peter van Teeseling, Executive Director of Dscoop, and Amir Raziel, Global Head of Strategy at HP Industrial Print, explores how the power of community and the success of Dscoop translates into tangible business success—on a global scale.

In an era where digital transformation accelerates at breakneck speed and traditional business silos restrict innovation, the alliance between Dscoop and HP Industrial Print offers a refreshing blueprint for community-driven growth. Now celebrating its 20th anniversary, Dscoop (Digital Solutions Cooperative) is far more than just a user group—it has evolved into a powerful, global community of print professionals, united by a shared mission: to shape the future of print through collaboration, not competition.

The roots of this movement stretch back two decades, when digital print was still emerging and required industry-wide buy-in to realise its potential. From the beginning, Dscoop distinguished itself by its inclusive, independent nature. As Executive Director of Dscoop, Peter van Teeseling explains, "It started with one simple but powerful idea: that technology vendors, suppliers, and customers should pool resources, share experiences and insights to drive innovation and growth together."

This commitment to collaboration over control is what has kept the HP-Dscoop relationship thriving. While HP remains a key partner, Dscoop functions as an independent organisation with its own board, programming, and membership agenda. This autonomy fosters trust and transparency, key ingredients for the openness that defines the Dscoop culture.

Amir Raziel, Global Head of Strategy at HP Industrial Print, emphasises the value this relationship brings to HP. "It allows us to get unfiltered feedback from our most engaged customers. We can iterate faster, align product development with real-world needs, and foster deeper relationships that go beyond transactions."

The Economics of Openness

At its core, Dscoop is a strategic advantage for those who embrace it. Its members routinely share success stories, failures, and best practices with their peers—something rare in an industry often marked by guarded expertise. As Raziel points out, "When you sit with a fellow converter who is open about what went wrong and what they learned, that’s priceless. It saves you from costly mistakes and accelerates your own growth."

Peter van Teeseling agrees. "We’ve seen members land global contracts because they could tap into the Dscoop network for local delivery. Others have moved into entirely new sectors—like flexible packaging or publishing—with confidence, knowing they could lean on peers for insight and support."

Indeed, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Dscoop network proved its worth in practical terms. Facing supply chain disruptions, members shared materials, coordinated logistics, and collectively solved operational challenges. That culture of support and collaboration has persisted: quarterly calls now bring together over 100 print leaders from across continents to compare notes, discuss strategy, and swap insights. The result is not merely camaraderie, but commercial resilience.

Community as Competitive Edge

While Dscoop events are a highlight—with the recent Long Beach (see images above) gathering drawing 1,300 attendees—the community thrives year-round through its digital platform and regional meetups. Unlike standard conferences, Dscoop events prioritise peer-to-peer learning over vendor showcases. Panels are often led by members, not marketers. Case studies include cautionary tales, not just polished success stories. The unifying theme is honesty in service of collective advancement.

That approach is particularly resonant in a time of increasing complexity. Print businesses are grappling with automation, sustainability mandates, supply chain instability, and the impact of artificial intelligence. Dscoop offers a filter through the noise. "It’s about reducing complexity and de-risking innovation," says Raziel. "You can learn in a few hours what might otherwise take months of trial and error."

One standout example is the first flexible packaging converter in Africa, a Kenyan business that had to import materials from multiple countries and validate compostability through its own field testing. Rather than hoard this hard-earned knowledge, the founder shared it at Dscoop, inspiring a US-based converter to rethink their own sustainability roadmap. "That’s the power of a trusted network," says van Teeseling. "It unlocks bold moves."

The Role of Friction in Innovation

That’s not to say the HP-Dscoop relationship is without friction. "It’s not all roses and candlelight," jokes Raziel. HP representatives sit on Dscoop’s board, and debate and disagreements arise—on priorities, event content, or platform access. But this, both leaders insist, is a strength.

"Tension means energy," says van Teeseling. "When it’s well managed, it leads to better outcomes. HP knows where their influence ends and ours begins. That clear boundary gives us both the freedom to focus and the agility to act quickly."

For HP, the commercial returns are substantial. "Dscoop is a proving ground," says Raziel. "It lets us validate assumptions, refine technology, and stay in sync with the real-world challenges our customers face. That alignment is essential for strategic leadership."

Looking Ahead: The Future Is Shared

As artificial intelligence, automation, and sustainability reshape the industrial landscape, Dscoop and HP are working together to future-proof their community. Long Beach, for instance, featured AI as a major theme: from keynote speakers to interactive showcases with startups offering AI-driven supply chain planning tools.

"We deliberately designed it that way," explains Raziel. "We’re not just selling print machinery. We’re helping businesses understand where the world is heading and how they can adapt. Dscoop is our channel for that shared discovery."

Education is a key pillar. Dscoop’s online platform offers on-demand content for members eager to learn about AI, workflow automation, and market diversification. "It’s not about pushing technology," says van Teeseling. "It’s about helping people work on their business, not just in it."

Belonging Drives Growth

Perhaps Dscoop’s most undervalued benefit to members is psychological: it fosters belonging. In an industry often shaped by solitary problem-solving and isolated operations, Dscoop creates an environment where peer support, empathy, and collective aspiration become normalised.

"People return because they feel seen," van Teeseling says. "It’s not a cult, it’s not a secret society. But it is a place where people grow—as professionals and as individuals."

And the results speak for themselves. According to Dscoop member surveys, engagement correlates directly with business performance. Members rate the value of their involvement at 8.8 out of 10. "It’s not just a nice-to-have. It makes a tangible impact on revenue, capability, and confidence," he adds.

In an era when AI models, automation systems, and economic instability may seem to threaten to decouple businesses from their human core, Dscoop stands as a compelling counter-example. Community, it turns out, may be the most important innovation of all.

For more information or to join the Dscoop community, visitwww.dscoop.com.