There’s a reason the print management industry is growing rapidly. The market is expected to reach $118.27 billion by 2031, largely fueled by the increased demand to optimize budgets and print processes.
Businesses that invest in print workflow automation enjoy benefits such as streamlined print operations, reduced costs, increased visibility, and enhanced security, to name a few.
1. Streamlined Operations
Most workers say they don’t have enough time to focus during the workday, yet the demand for increased productivity is higher than ever. This is why print automation is so valuable—it saves IT professionals and business leaders and their teams valuable time that is often wasted on inefficient printing.
With print workflow automation software, users can easily export and print data from multiple applications for reporting, storing, version control, and more. A highly visible, unified, native printing experience makes the whole process completely seamless, meaning fewer IT tickets and fewer headaches across the organization.
Standardized processes and AI-assisted checkpoints replace manual tasks, improving resource allocation and freeing staff to supervise exceptions—not chase jobs.
2. Reduced Costs
Centralizing print management allows companies to have better control over their printing infrastructure, which helps reduce overall costs by minimizing waste and the need for IT support. Granular visibility into production operation cost drivers and automated resource utilization rules cut substrate waste, press idle time, and unplanned overtime. Because printing is done efficiently, securely, and cost-effectively, businesses can reduce spending on printers, printing supplies, and costly print servers.
3. Increased Visibility
Nearly one-third of all business leaders are looking to AI to help increase employee productivity without increasing headcount. They want to use it to save time, help teams work smarter, and eliminate busy work. AI-driven dashboards deliver reporting and analytics across orders, queues, and devices, enabling leaders to make data-backed decisions and prioritize automation solutions where they matter most.
Here’s the good news: AI is up for the challenge. Print workflow automation allows businesses to scale using insights only available with the help of AI. Rather than relying on siloed, disparate systems, it offers businesses unparalleled visibility for generating, storing, and sending documents. With print management, organizations get the data needed to pivot, grow, and make a measurable impact.
4. Enhanced Security
Over 40% of organizations have had an IT security breach in the last 12 months, and security breaches increased for 70% of U.S. businesses in 2024. This dramatic rise in cybersecurity threats is causing enterprises to rethink their print processes, with 79% increasing their print security spending.
End-to-end data encryption, role-based controls, and secure printing policies protect sensitive information from intake through print fulfillment.
Print workflow automation software aids businesses in addressing these concerns, helping to increase security and meet ever-evolving compliance and regulatory requirements. Secure printing options like pull printing and user authentication help protect sensitive documents and prevent unauthorized access. Unsurprisingly, organizations that invest in print management services are considered print security leaders.
5. Quality and Control
Automated quality control and error detection at intake and prepress reduce scrap, reprints, and rush charges. Standardized print workflow management ensures consistent output and evidence-ready audit trails that simplify compliance and cost control.
