The role of AI in the printing industry

Commentary written by Lasse Krogell, Nopa:

Almost every day you find news about AI and how it will change a lot of things both in your private life and in businesses. At the NOPA Seminar in Frankfurt, we heard a presentation about AI by Svante Pahlman from DigitaBlue. At the NOPA / Intergraf Print Matters conference in Zürich in June there will also be a presentation by Tobias Kaase from Mediaprint in Germany that will highlight possibilities AI can offer for the printers.

So, I decided to ask ChatGPT to help me write this blog. Here you can read how AI answered my short briefing.

How AI Can Transform the Printing Industry: A Look into Practical Applications

Artificial Intelligence is rapidly transforming industries across the board, and the printing sector is no exception. While the core task of putting ink on paper remains, the business environment surrounding print is evolving at a speed that demands smarter, more agile tools. AI has the potential to support printing companies in several key areas—from strategic planning and customer insights to operational investments and workflow optimization.

1. Smarter Offerings for Future Customer Needs

One of the biggest challenges for printing companies is to anticipate what their customers will need next. Should you invest more in personalized packaging, sustainable materials, or short-run digital printing? AI can help by analyzing market trends, industry data, and even your own customer behavior patterns to suggest new service offerings. For example, an AI system could review emerging design trends, e-commerce packaging demands, and seasonal campaign behaviors to recommend that you develop a niche in customized subscription box printing. By using AI as a strategic advisor, printers can stay one step ahead and tailor their service offering to what customers will want, not just what they’re asking for today.

1. Supporting Investment Decisions with Data-Driven Comparisons

Making investment decisions—like choosing between three high-performance digital presses—is both critical and complex. AI can assist by comparing machine specifications, energy consumption, maintenance requirements, and output quality in the context of your actual production data. Not only can AI model cost-efficiency over time, but it can also weigh intangible factors like supplier reputation or compatibility with your existing software. This allows decision-makers to simulate different scenarios and make informed choices with confidence. What once required weeks of spreadsheet modeling and consultant fees can now be done in hours with the right AI tool.

1. Beyond Automation: AI as a Partner in Innovation

While automation has already brought efficiency gains to prepress and workflow management, AI is now moving into areas that require judgment and creativity. For instance, AI can assist in generating variable data layouts, optimizing print job batching for mixed media, or even helping sales teams write more effective customer proposals. Some AI tools can analyze press performance in real time and suggest fine-tuned adjustments to reduce waste or improve quality. Others are capable of predicting maintenance needs, helping to avoid unplanned downtime.

The Takeaway

AI doesn’t replace human expertise—it enhances it. For printing companies, the opportunity lies not only in operational improvements but also in using AI as a thinking partner. From strategic planning and investment analysis to creative collaboration and workflow efficiency, AI opens up a new level of agility and insight. As customer demands grow more complex and the pace of change accelerates, AI might just be the most valuable addition to your print shop’s toolbox.

AI is a tool that is worth using. As with all new tools start by simple practising and go deeper and deeper in the utilisation of AI in your business.