Research Study Identifies Wide-Format Providers' AI Adoption

A PRINTING United Alliance and NAPCO Research study on artificial intelligence (AI) in the printing industry identified that wide-format print providers are increasing use of AI in their operations. The study, titled “Artificial Intelligence in the Printing Industry the Journey Begins”, reports on how providers across all print segments are using AI to improve print production, sales, marketing, and management.

The research study, part of an ongoing series to track AI industry adoption and use, indicates that wide-format print providers are adding AI applications into their operations. The study combines ongoing PRINTING United Alliance and NAPCO Research quantitative and qualitative research. Segmenting recent survey data by wide-format providers from two separate PRINTING United State of the Industry surveys and comparing results shows

(Figure 1) participants that print with wide-format printing devices using AI have increased to 42.3% in March 2024 from 25.6%, in September 2023 – an increase of 65%.
Figure 1: Wide-format Print Providers Increasing Use of AI

AI Developments Are Expanding Use

While AI applications have existed for years in printing and manufacturing industries, the development of natural language processing (NLP) revolutionized use by enabling machines to understand, interpret, and generate human language. NLP enabled the development of generative pre-trained transformers (GPT) AI models (ChatGPT is an example). NLP allows GPT models to understand and process human language, making AI accessible and useful to a broader audience.

Wide-Format Providers Report on AI Uses

A core part of the research project was conducting in-depth interviews with print providers. The study includes profiles of how wide-format print providers are implementing and using AI. For example, a graphics/signs producer, with annual sales between $20 million to $40 million, sent employees to an AI training program that offered a blend of coaching and strategic guidance for integrating artificial intelligence into an operation. The program educated the company’s staff so they could identify ways for their organizations to use AI. Since the completion of the program, the company began working on the following:

• Changing the way the company receives in-bound products and better managing inventory.
• Exploring ways to better collect data and using it to make more intelligent business decisions.
• Looking for ways to monetize data. For example, the company produces print for trade show booths and is investigating ways to collect data to advise customers on better booth designs.

Another wide-format provider participating in the research reported using AI to complete requests for proposals (RFP). The company bids on jobs that require the completion of complex questionnaires with hundreds of questions to provide key details prospects will consider before awarding a contract. By using ChatGPT, the company can upload the RFP questions and instruct an AI tool to fill in answers based on past RFPs. Before, the company’s principal executive reports, completing an RFP used to take a staff member days to complete questions by cutting and pasting past answers, compared to 10 minutes to 15 minutes using AI.

Advice on AI

In addition, research participants offered various recommendations for those companies looking to get stated in AI, including the following:

• Act now. Don’t wait for great and accept the good available right now.
• Start by taking small steps across your organization.
• Stay informed on AI, read books, blogs, articles, or any type of material to stay aware of what is happening.
• Don’t think you are too late for AI, even the experts are still learning.
• Implement AI applications with specific business purposes in mind.

Upcoming Webinar

NAPCO Research will hold a free webinar on Tuesday, November 19 at 2:00 pm (EST) to discuss the current status of AI use in the printing industry, where it is being implemented, the benefits it is delivering, and long-term implications. Register for the webinar here.

“Artificial Intelligence in the Printing Industry: The Journey Begins” also explores what makes AI revolutionary, what big data is and its role in AI, and why some printing companies are not using AI. Download the full report here and look for future NAPCO/PRINTING United Alliance reports on AI.

Questions or comments? Please contact the research team at Research@Napco.com.