But whilst the discussion around AI in the workplace has substantially increased recently, the first instance of AI in print was in fact, implemented years ago, known as Optical Character Recognition (OCR). According to Y Soft Corporation however, OCR is only the tip of the iceberg with regards the AI’s capabilities in the print industry.
Currently, AI is driving the next wave of digital disruption, as organisations across the world begin adopting it into their workplaces. According to Tractica, the global annual revenues for AI-based products and services will grow to $89.8 billion by 2025.
Commenting on the Quocirca report, James Turner, Regional Sales Manager at Y Soft states: “The potential of AI in the print industry is significant and in no way is it limited to OCR. AI has the potential to be deployed in numerous print-related areas such as security, and the optimisation of business processes and workflows, ultimately streamlining the user experience.
“Since 2017, the use of AI in predictive maintenance, as well as paper to digital workflows, has become commonplace, although that is not to say that AI’s use in print has been exhausted. There is certainly room to develop these further, and the increase of analytics and the Internet of Things (IoT) will drive further innovation and disruption into workplaces globally.
“The rise of digital transformation has organisations searching for solutions to support productivity, efficiency and cost savings, and AI has emerged as the obvious choice for C-Suite executives. The focus on the use of AI to support collaboration and connectivity will also impact workplaces of the future. With many organisations wanting to stay ahead of the curve, it comes as no surprise that the Global Print 2025 report revealed that AI is important to the print industry.”
One of the benefits and drivers toward the adoption of AI is the enhanced security measures provided to print software, defending against security threats. By using AI to support security measures, the decision-making process becomes streamlined as the automated system can detect and stop attacks quickly, while learning and adapting through using data.
“AI definitely has the potential to disrupt the print industry even further, but to do that, it needs the support of determined organisations who have the drive to help the industry adopt the technology for positive change. By focusing on innovation, businesses will be well placed to support the print industry, and the acceptance of AI will allow organisations to explore their potential in print, document capture and 3D printing,” James concluded.