by Cassandra Balentine
Various trends and technology advancements affect the future of the print industry. Digital print continues to attract new applications with its inherent benefits like personalization, quick turnarounds, and reduced waste.
Above: Introduced in July, the HP Indigo 6K+ Digital Press is designed to efficiently manage short- to medium-volume label production with intelligent automation.
Juan Kim, CEO, Valloy Incorporated, feels that the most notable trend in digital print is the accelerated adoption of short-run, on-demand printing driven by personalization and sustainability. “Brands increasingly move toward agile supply chains that reduce inventory waste and carbon footprint, with digital print providing the flexibility to adapt.”
Another takeaway of the past year, according to Kim, is the growing integration of automation and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven workflows that streamline many aspects of production.
Gavin Smith, chief global sales officer, Ricoh Graphic Communications, sees key market trends emerging on two fronts. “In the large enterprise space, office print volumes continue to decline post-pandemic as hybrid work and digitization continue to shift more documents to digital formats. Nevertheless, essential sectors like healthcare, finance, education, and retail are experiencing growth with office pages moving toward central reprographics departments, even as multifunction printer usage declines.”
On the print-for-pay side, Smith points out that the shift towards digital is driving commercial printers to adapt, with significant growth in digital page volumes among its customers. “Inkjet is up by 122 percent, and toner by 111 percent. This robust growth across the value chain underscores the ongoing migration of pages to digital print service providers (PSPs).”
Intelligent Automation
Perhaps the most defining trend of 2025 is the rise of intelligent automation as the new standard for print production. “Speed alone is no longer the benchmark—customers now expect agility, data-driven intelligence, and sustainability embedded across every stage of the workflow,” offers Haim Levit, SVP & division president, HP Industrial Print.
From commercial books to labels, packaging, and corrugated, Levit recognizes the demand for solutions that seamlessly scale output, reduce complexity, and deliver consistency. “Labor shortages have accelerated this shift, pushing the industry closer to the ‘lights-out’ factory—where robotics, AI, and human expertise converge to optimize production.”
According to Matt Raab, marketing director offering portfolio, Xerox Corporation, 2025 was the year production print solidified its position as a strategic growth driver across the communications, packaging, and industrial print markets. “The industry continued to evolve from producing static output to delivering data-driven, automated, and value-added print experiences. This transformation wasn’t about printing more—it was about printing smarter. Every investment, workflow, and process was redefined to maximize efficiency, quality, and profitability in an increasingly on-demand world.”
The continued adaptation of the Smart Factory concept, with integrated workflows powering highly automated finishing equipment in short-run production environments was popular in 2025. “Previously, digital inkjet print technology was at the forefront. That focus has now shifted toward more intelligent and flexible finishing lines, necessitated by innovations in digital inkjet,” says Carlos Martins, solutions manager, Muller Martini.
Steve Lynn, executive director, Durst North America, points to the need to reduce labor as a major driver of automation. “Printers and converters are no longer asking if digital fits, but where they can migrate more volume and prioritizing automation and integrated workflow—looking at total process efficiency rather than just print speed. It is now very clear that production inkjet is about industrial output, reliability, and automation at scale. PSPs are looking for partners who provide more than just print.”
Dmitry Sevostyanov, CEO, Customer’s Canvas, saw deeper automation and integration of print workflows over the past year. “Printers are embedding personalization and order management into their ERP, MIS, and ecommerce systems. Success now depends less on equipment and more on how smoothly design, ordering, and production are connected.”
Growth in segments like packaging in particular is driven by ecommerce expansion as well as supply chain localization and the explosion of SKUs requiring rapid response and short production runs. “Providers who embrace digital, on-demand production, together with more sustainable solutions, are best positioned to thrive even amid unpredictable fluctuations in volume and specification,” offers Arnaud Calleja, VP, digital printing solutions, Agfa.
Lynn suggests that the path forward involves automating workflows end-to-end, from file preparation through finishing; choosing a partner who can offer those end-to-end solutions and support them; and selecting equipment that guarantees high uptime and exceptional service support.
Julie Watson, CEO, Ultimate Tech, feels that 2025 could not be mentioned without noting the rise of AI-powered production, as well as the increase in use of robotics in the print space.
“No longer theoretical, AI is actively reshaping the way companies approach automation, enabling printers to streamline repetitive tasks, accelerate decision making, and allow employees to focus on higher-value, more complex responsibilities. This shift is not just technological—it’s fundamentally changing how businesses compete and grow in the years ahead,” states Nick Benkovich, chief product officer, Print ePS.
Diversification
There is a notable shift from offset to digital printing intensifying across the industry as costs rise. Smith says this presents opportunities for investment in technology and innovation, including AI and robotics. “Whether you are a CRD or a commercial printer, mitigating rising costs hinges on greater investment in automation and workflow optimization.”
A significant trend from 2025 is diversification across the print industry. Rob Reddy, SVP, Production Technologies and Solutions, Canon U.S.A., sees providers actively seeking new avenues to expand portfolios beyond conventional applications into areas such as décor, vehicle graphics, packaging, and labels. “Even transactional printers are integrating commercial printing into their offerings.”
Reddy says its customers are looking for solutions that allow them to differentiate through a wider range of output while streamlining production through automation and smart software. “AI-driven tools, such as Canon’s HeightIQ for 2.5D print applications, underscore the growing importance of automation to reduce manual steps and elevate productivity. These trends reflect the evolving needs of customers who require speed, reliability, and quality across diverse applications. The shift demonstrates how providers are building resilience by adopting technology that delivers both versatility and efficiency.”
Production inkjet continues to advance as well. In fact, according to Fred Morrone, senior marketing manager, Kyocera Document Solutions America, Inc., 2025 can be defined in three words—inkjet for all. “For years, inkjet was seen as specialized technology reserved for certain applications. That’s no longer the case. This past year proved that inkjet is now a core technology to help commercial printers expand operations. Its ability to deliver affordable, high-quality color at scale has made it a game-changer in the industry.”
Morrone feels that what’s most striking about 2025 is how universal inkjet’s impact has become, from transactional bill printers requiring high degrees of personalization, tight security, and a short turnaround time to direct mail companies that demand vibrant, quality materials without the price tag that color once carried.
From a direct mail perspective, Tim Murphy, president, Printware, says direct mail is not going away and it’s a very tangible way to increase print volumes in an overwhelming digital world. “Customers consistently sell direct mail with 150-plus percent return on investment for their customers and their clients spend over two minutes engaging with a mail piece compared to just a few seconds on digital ads. Envelopes aren’t just packaging, they’re the first touchpoint. When they’re done right they deliver great results for marketing programs.”
Also in mailing, William Longua, senior director, Quadient Digital Print Group, sees average job sizes shrinking. “As companies continue to refine marketing efforts and combat uncertainty and rising costs, their overall number of resources gets squeezed. The result is these companies may spend the same or a slightly lower amount and that affects the volume of materials they produce. That leads to smaller job runs for PSPs to manage. As consolidation reduces the number of providers, they end up with more jobs but smaller volumes. This then leads to challenges in how to best manage this shift.”
For packaging applications, Watson notes that personalization is still trending with tailored packaging, as is generative AI for design and data-driven customer insights. “There has been numerous economic and operational challenges as some companies in this sector experience flat growth and rising costs, yet making tech adoption choices for strategic opportunities, as automation plays a key role in increasing productivity.”
Mike Agness, EVP, Americas, Hybrid Software, sees the expansion of flexible packaging by digital presses. “Many presses that went there were just printing labels, and we had used the advanced packaging side of workflows for digital. But now we see that there are shorter run digital flexible packaging solutions. It is not necessarily shrink wraps, but flexible bags—products like pouches.”
Sustainability
The environmental impact of business practices continues to be part of the equation in terms of priorities and trends.
“In many countries, sustainability is a strategic imperative by opting for eco-friendly materials and investing in circular economy models,” notes Watson.
Calleja agrees, noting that sustainability continues to dominate conversations as the industry’s leading priority. “In particular, clients and legislators are demanding demonstrable environmental responsibility at every stage of production, from media selection to inks and chemistry and even machinery. PSPs are increasingly under pressure to pursue low-carbon, low-waste production not only to meet regulations but also to appeal to increasingly carbon-conscious customers. In response, growing numbers of best-in-class operations are now incorporating carbon neutral processes, utilizing renewable energy, and investing in innovative media alternatives.”
At the same time, Calleja says it is important to remember that this focus on sustainability cannot come at the expense of productivity or profitability. “The pressure to maintain rapid turnaround and competitive pricing remains immense and is made even more challenging by inflationary pressures and a volatile market. Clients expect more sustainable solutions without delays or added cost, compelling providers to focus on process efficiency, automation, and real-time workflow optimization alongside sustainability efforts.”
Mike Herold, EVP, marketing and sales, EMT International, feels that collectively, the industry continues to focus on “the way forward,” especially to a more sustainable future. “Given the ongoing focus on digital transformation across all forms of communication, the graphic arts being among those, solution providers like EMT, and their customers continue to innovate. There was great progress made regarding automation and ease of use, which combined with PSPs leading the charge with their own customers to find more relevant and valuable ways to leverage print in communications. And EMT was right in the thick of it with new investments in digital finishing solutions and supporting customers with collaborative solutions that redefine value in operations.”
Raab points out that when it comes to sustainability, clients expect measurable progress, not marketing claims.
Political Implications
The political landscape and economic uncertainty has presented challenges throughout 2025.
“The U.S. political landscape and tariffs have had a significant impact on the overall business landscape, creating much uncertainty in the print and packaging market. Many companies are still struggling to understand when, where, and how the tariffs will affect them while minimizing how much they affect customers. CAPEX availability has tightened considerably due to this uncertainty,” shares Angie Mohni, VP of marketing, Nobelus.
“On the positive side, there continues to be a push for automation and innovation in the marketplace, and collaboration between PSPs and vendors remains strong with a commitment to driving the industry forward,” adds Mohni.
“While people might not want to talk about it, tariffs have influenced the industry; but not just in the way you might think,” says Agness. “It will not impact the software business as strongly, but it’s creating a big trend. In my mind, the fact that digital press deliveries have slowed down due to tariffs means there’s an opportunity for printers to get their software acts together, for when the next, new digital press comes ‘in play.’”
There are new customers coming on board, and new manufacturers of digital presses. “Obviously, we don’t have anything to do with it, but hopefully the challenge of tariffs has given business management the ability to take a measured approach and figure out how to get their shops in order so they’re ready for whatever comes next. This break offers a breather from the rapid speed of digital press introductions to the market,” offers Agness.
Lance Martin, VP, product marketing, Komori, says perhaps it’s the year of piling on. “Entering the year, we already had a labor and skillset issue, and watched paper mills close to commercial grades. We also already had huge pressures from alternative media. And this year saw a major increase in prices due to tariffs. But we are able to handle these issues as long as the market becomes stable and we can make firm plans to work through them or around them. Maybe the biggest issue is the cautionary mindset it placed in the industry. Caution and the unknown, creates havoc at a time when print providers are expected to take a bit of risk to upgrade systems, processes, and automation to stay relevant.”
Key Takeaways
Smart technologies, sustainability, and economic uncertainty framed the top trends of 2025 in the print industry.
“The most important takeaway from 2025 is that change remains the only constant,” says Benkovich. Print providers are navigating a landscape defined by diversification of services, increasing complexity in production workflows, and the pressure to manage shorter runs, multiple versions, and intricate finishing steps. At the same time, one of the defining trends is the rise of AI as a practical business tool.”
“Though it seems our industry is perpetually at a ‘crossroads’—both in print-for-pay and print-for-cost PSPs, I see this as a time of optimism, marked by opportunities that will shape our evolving landscape,” adds Smith. “Overall, the industry is undergoing significant transformation, and from my view, this brings opportunities to PSPs and the ecosystem that supports their success.”
Nov2025, DPS Magazine
