Artificial intelligence (AI) has quickly moved from buzzword to business reality in the printing industry. While adoption is still at various stages across segments and organization sizes, AI is reshaping how print providers operate, compete, and serve customers. Recognizing the growing importance of AI to the printing industry, Alliance Insights (formerly NAPCO Research) has launched its latest study, AI Adoption in the Printing Industry: From Curiosity to Competitive Advantage. This marks the second consecutive year of dedicated research on AI by Alliance Insights.
The 2024 report, AI in the Printing Industry: The Journey Begins, served as a foundation by documenting how printers were first experimenting with AI tools and identifying early use cases. The new 2025 edition builds on that groundwork, revealing how adoption has advanced, what benefits early movers are reporting, where competitive gaps are forming, and offering strategy and practical how-to tactics for successful adoption. The new study draws on an industry-wide survey of more than 300 print providers spanning commercial printing, packaging, in-plant, sign and graphics, and apparel decoration, along with in-depth interviews with 16 executives representing a range of company sizes and specialties. It also includes 16 case studies highlighting organizations’ real-world experiences with AI adoption.
AI is reshaping the printing industry in an entirely new way by creating competitive advantages that extend beyond faster presses, cheaper inputs, or more efficient workflows. Rather, AI is enabling smarter operations, sharper customer insights, and innovative approaches to creativity and automation. The survey results show that: 85 percent of respondents believe AI is critical to future competitiveness. 83 percent view AI as a source of new opportunities. 42 percent believe firms without AI will not survive. (Inputs & Source: Wide Format Impression)
