After more than three decades in this industry, I have seen print transform many times.
Digital production has moved from an emerging technology to a fundamental part of our industry. New applications, capabilities and business models have changed what is possible for printers, converters, brands and creators.
Today, I believe we are entering another defining era.
The next transformation will not be driven by one press, one technology or one breakthrough. It will be driven by how successfully we connect hardware, software, workflows, automation, AI, data, services and, most importantly, people.
We are in the business of printing
Our customers are managing labour shortages, rising costs, supply-chain volatility and increasing sustainability expectations, while being asked to deliver more personalised work, shorter runs and faster turnaround times.
At the same time, AI, automation, software and data are becoming part of everyday operations. This changes the question from how do we operate a better press to how do we orchestrate a more intelligent, more resilient business?
I have often said that we are not in the business of printers. We are in the business of printing.
That distinction matters because printing is not a collection of standalone devices. It is a complete business environment, from receiving a job to producing, finishing and delivering it.
Customers are not looking at technology in isolation. They want simpler operations, greater predictability, better decisions and the ability to respond faster to changing market needs.
Our role is to help customers turn capability into measurable business value and build stronger, more resilient companies.
From products to connected ecosystems
This thinking is central to HP’s Graphics Solutions Business and the decision to bring Indigo, PageWide and Large Format together.
Each portfolio has distinct technologies, expertise and customer communities. The opportunity is to connect their strengths more effectively, so innovation, customer insight, software, services and expertise can work as one system.
For customers, that connection should create greater clarity and simplicity. Whatever technology they use, they should be able to access the strength of HP’s graphics portfolio and understand how it can support their next stage of growth.
A powerful press can create significant value, but it cannot solve every business challenge by itself. The greatest gains will come when technologies, people, workflows, software and customer insight operate as one intelligent model.
The companies that connect those elements most effectively will be better positioned to improve productivity, respond to customers and unlock new opportunities.
AI should amplify human capability
AI will be an important part of this connected future.
Within graphics, it can help businesses anticipate maintenance needs, improve planning, optimise quality, reduce waste, automate repetitive work and make faster decisions.
But AI should not be viewed as an objective. It is an enabler.
Its greatest value will come from giving people better tools and more time to focus on the work that requires human judgement: creativity, innovation, problem-solving and building customer relationships.
We need to move beyond individual products and build connected ecosystems; beyond isolated automation and create more intelligent operations; beyond transactional relationships and build long-term partnerships.
This is how our industry will create differently, produce differently and grow differently: by connecting workflows, technologies, intelligence and people to help customers become more agile, resilient and valuable to the markets they serve.
I am optimistic about what comes next, not simply because technology continues to advance, but because of what our industry can achieve when technology, expertise and human creativity come together.
The next era of graphics will be built through collaboration between printers, converters, brands, creators, technology providers and partners.
Together, we can redefine how our industry creates, produces and grows.
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