AI IN PRINT
AI is still an emerging “
technology – and the market for it is too – there are still many customers that will need to be guided in what AI can bring to the print side of their business.
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are lasting 40% longer than other competitive models out on the market.” Arjan adds that there is a learning curve to AI. “This is why Lexmark has been open and transparent in sharing our knowledge with the rest of the industry,” he says. “We’ve commercialised our AI and IoT learnings into Optra Edge, a packaged solution that provides an easy on-ramp for companies looking to embrace the two technologies, but don’t know how. The wonderful thing about Optra Edge is that it’s not limited to print. It can be applied to any business operation – back end or front end – that the customer is running.” Production print Rowan Jeffreys-Hoar, director, partner channel at Ricoh UK, adds that AI has the power to transform the professional print sector too, especially when it comes to workflow automation, design and smoother production processes. “One area where AI is already being used within the sector is in the form of intelligent dashboards,” he says. “Intelligent dashboards enable users to efficiently manage data, users and processes. This use of accurate and timely data can help business manage widgets, choose from a range of visualisation options, and share reports in seconds. “There is no doubt that AI will continue to revolutionise business processes across every industry. To keep pace with these technological changes, commercial print businesses must be willing to invest in innovative technologies, otherwise they risk losing their relevance in the continuously shifting digital landscape.” Rowan adds that research from Ricoh’s Automation Gap report revealed 77% of
businesses want to automate, yet 55% are sceptical about the time and investment required to implement automation. “In reality, implementing automation and AI can streamline print processes, optimise print workflows, and monitor for maintenance needs and errors, boosting workplace productivity and growth,” he says. “For commercial printers, particularly of large-scale image generation, AI can enable marketing campaigns to be created in a matter of hours rather than weeks, reducing productions costs and as a result increasing revenue.” Reseller conversations But as AI is still an emerging technology – and the market for it is too – there are still many customers that will need to be guided in what AI can bring to the print side of their business. This is where resellers have a crucial role. “Resellers need to act as trusted partners, offering customers valuable consultancy on AI, its uses and limitations,” says Rowan. “Trusted partners like Ricoh can provide guidance and expertise to implement AI tools that add value and mitigate risk. “The rapid and widespread use of AI across multiple industries has brought with it some understandable fear and scepticism, particularly when it comes to cybersecurity risks and the authenticity of online data. While it is important to remain vigilant of cybersecurity threats, the benefits of AI for print businesses outweigh the potential risks – this is where resellers can play a key role with sound advice and reassurance. “Businesses within the sector that are slow to implement automation and embrace AI risk damaging future growth, employee retention and their competitive edge.”
The rapid and widespread use of AI across multiple industries has brought with it some understandable fear and scepticism, particularly when it comes to cybersecurity risks and the authenticity of online data. “
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