Survey Reveals Keys to Staying Competitive in AI

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.

Survey Reveals AI Key to Staying Competitive

Artificial intelligence 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% of respondents believe AI is critical to future competitiveness.
• 83% view AI as a source of new opportunities.
• 42% believe firms without AI will not survive.

Most Common AI Uses

Survey results show that printing companies are not waiting for “perfect” AI solutions and are applying AI where it makes the most immediate difference. Early adoption is concentrated on customer-facing and creative functions, but momentum is steadily expanding into estimating, prepress, and even production workflows. In many cases, companies start with low-risk, high-visibility applications that deliver quick wins, then move into more complex integrations as confidence grows.

As shown in Figure 1, the most common AI uses are for content generation and design, followed by marketing personalization. These are areas where speed and creativity are paramount, and AI provides an immediate productivity lift. For many print providers, AI is an always-on creative assistant for drafting blogs, producing design variations, or helping brainstorm campaign ideas at a fraction of the time it would take a person.

Figure 1: Where Print Providers Use AI Today. | Click to enlarge.

From Small Wins to Strategic Advantage

While most printers participating in the study are still early in their AI journey, adoption is producing measurable benefits. In-depth interviews conducted for the study highlight examples such as:

• Efficiency Gains: A commercial printer cut shipping estimates from four hours to two minutes using AI.
• Productivity Boosts: An apparel decorator reported tasks that once took 20 hours now take just 10 to 15 hours.

• Cutting Job Setup Time: A commercial printer implemented AI-driven job quoting to streamline onboarding of new work. The result: reduced hours of setup time, faster production starts, and shorter cycle times from inquiry to press — boosting overall customer satisfaction.
• Content and Marketing Acceleration: A sign and graphics printer used AI to generate marketing copy, social media posts, and customer emails. The executive interviewed described AI as “a creative team member that never sleeps.”

The research underscores that return on investment from AI often comes from incremental, compounding wins rather than dramatic one-time savings. As one executive put it: “Even 10 minutes saved each day adds up.”

Barriers and Opportunities

The study also explores the hurdles slowing adoption. The biggest barriers are not cost, but skills gaps, lack of clear use cases, and integration with existing systems.

One of the clearest insights from the study is the widening gap between companies approaching AI strategically and those dabbling without direction. Survey data reveals a striking difference between AI leaders and laggards.

Practical Guidance for Printers

Key recommendations highlighted in the study include:

• Start with a purpose: Target one or two high-impact pain points first.
• Lead from the top: Executives must model adoption.
• Assign accountability: Make AI part of roles, not side projects.
• Invest in people: Train staff continuously.
• Build guardrails: Ensure oversight for accuracy, security, and ethics.

Study Findings at PRINTING United Expo

The research findings from AI Adoption in the Printing Industry: From Curiosity to Competitive Advantage will be featured in multiple sessions at PRINTING United Expo, including:

• Survey Identifies AI Trends, Use Cases, and Insights
  Wednesday, October 22 | 10:00–10:50 AM | Room S320B
• From Curiosity to Competitiveness — The State of AI in Printing
  Wednesday, October 22 | 2:00–2:30 PM | Booth 4255 (PRINTING AI Pavilion)
• Lessons from AI Leaders — Practical Tips and Tactics for Adoption Success
  Friday, October 24 | 10:00–10:30 AM | Booth 4255 (PRINTING AI Pavilion)

The AI Pavilion (Booth 4255) will also host live demonstrations and opportunities to connect directly with peers and providers exploring AI in print. A printed copy of the full report will also be available at the pavilion.

The research (made possible through the support of study sponsors Print ePS and Koenig & Bauer Kyana) offers a clear message: For those adopting, AI is delivering competitive advantage in the form of faster turnaround, greater efficiency, and sharper customer responsiveness. What is clear is that AI is no longer optional but is emerging as a critical factor in the industry’s future success. Download the full report to learn more.