Printing Industry: Leveling it Up with Artificial Intelligence

Reports from Tractica suggest that a huge surge of $58.37 billion in annual revenue from AI-based products and services is to be expected by 2025.

Before we talk about how big AI is getting and how it’s making its way through every industry, let’s take a look at its history.

In 1956, Prof. John McCarthy coined the term Artificial Intelligence during a conference held in Dartmouth, US. The aim was to explore ways to craft a machine that could improve, think, solve problems, and interact like a human. A small example of this is: today, we are leveraging AI-powered algorithms in voice-based assistants which interact with us based on our commands.  

While AI is rapidly making its place in industries like finance, search marketing, healthcare, there are major corporations focusing on developing AI applications for the printing industry.

Let’s understand how printing industry can take advantage of AI.

Predictive Maintenance

Most of the printing organizations are turning to predictive maintenance because of one reason, efficiency. Almost all devices like printers, multi function printers have embedded sensor technology which enables data collecting and analyzing. Based on that data, it can predict possible loopholes your system can face in the near future. But there is no control over the volume of that data and its monitoring. In this case, AI can make it work better.

– Printers can use advanced AI-based algorithms to fetch real-time data which they can embed into their devices.

– Based on the data, they can develop techniques to collect and analyze data for insightful and cost-friendly maintenance procedures.

Digital Automation

Even with the digital advancement taking place at an astonishing rate, there are still some businesses who use outdated operation methods. They are performing tasks like data entry, information validation, QA, data migration and such for the daily operations. To automate this process, RPA (Robotic process automation), a class of software that operates the way humans will be useful. It builds a virtual workforce that can work 24 hours without any errors.

This virtual workforce is not able to predict any anomalies or loopholes, but when integrated with AI, it could be a powerful combination. This technology uses algorithms to collect complex data and then educate the workforce to take precautions against future mishaps. You can handle manual jobs like printing, order processing, invoice creation, quality check (especially 3D designs), etc. with this method.

Real-Time Alerts

Let’s say you have almost 20,000 copies to print. You have all the things in place, but if there’s a problem in the printing software, it may create faulty results .i.e errors in print copies, inaccurate number of copies and so on. To avoid such issues. there are manufacturers who offer downloadable patches for specific operating systems and machines. But, AI, in this case, can render real-time alerts. This means, that you can identify the problem before it occurs. It will activate a protocol for a rapid, effective response to avoid breaches in the printing system.

Mobile Printing

The pain area for the printers is to install printer drivers for every single device they want to connect it with. That means, that they have been needing individual drivers for desktop and mobile devices. It makes overall process a bit slow and dependent. By enabling AI, printers can aid computers and mobile devices to detect it. AI-driven printers will enable mobile users to print directly from their devices without any hurdles with simple configurations.

Protection Against Security Threats

With an increasing number of printing shops letting their customers connect devices to the printers, cyber attacks through malware is a great threat. Detecting the source of that malware can be difficult with such a huge customer base. In such scenarios, AI would help manufacturers by providing network-level behavior analytics and real-time anomaly detection. Hence, the device-level security patches, commonly used to curb such issues, will be a rare thing in the near future.

So, if there is a security breach in the system, it can effectively give feedback using machine learning in combination with an advanced analytics engine.

And here’s how AI is already picking up the pace in the industry:

– Print management software integrates  smart algorithms to recommend layouts to reduce paper waste. 

– Using the AI-driven customer behavioral data, industry leaders are sending customized direct mail, catalogs, etc according to their individual preferences.

– Sensor enabled printers communicate with algorithms which results in a focused and streamlined process.

– Online product designer shops are leveraging numerous printing methods like screen printing, Direct to Garment (DTG), Sublimation, from one centralized system. It enables business owners to offer a variety of products to users which help them expand their businesses.

– Online product designer owners manage multiple production units through connected printers optimized using AI algorithms. It reduces human errors with increased print shop efficiency.

Summing it up…

The print industry is already experiencing a digital wave, and we can consider the adoption of AI as the new big thing. While there are tools like a product-designer tool in the market, print vendors can invest in technology that keeps their services and devices relevant.

Interested in starting a printing business? We have the expertise you need. Get in touch with us today!