AUTOMATION AND AI – RESHAPING PRINT PRODUCTIVITY

The phrase ‘time is money’, is as true in the printing industry as it is anywhere else. As a result, efficiency and productivity have become hot topics. Particularly, with the rise of automation and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. However, not all AI is the same. Some of AI’s methods can supercharge productivity and help businesses to unlock new levels of efficiency, profitability and customer satisfaction.

There are some ways AI can drive productivity and efficiency. However, there is one area where it can help the most. ‘Old school’ estimating practices often result in challenges and limitations. ‘New school’ practices can offer solutions.

“Efficiency and productivity have become hot topics”

There can be a growing fear that AI is taking over the world and humans will all be replaced by machines. While AI may be finding its way into our personal and professional lives more each day, it is not meant to replace estimators. In fact, when used appropriately, it is intended to take on the heavy lifting. This leaves estimators to work more effectively and add more value to the customer experience.

It can typically take two to three days to turn an estimate around. With the help of AI, this can be reduced to one day or even just a few hours. As a result, a company’s ‘win’ ratio can improve, without increasing its sales pipeline. There are a few relevant ways in which AI can enhance estimating services and help win more business.

“A chat bot can give guidance with relevant questions about a print job”

Generating quotes via voice prompt – Natural language processing can help estimators create a quote by simply speaking some of the job parameters. AI can use context clues to work around potential language issues – including regional accents and word choices – without keystroke inputs.

Generating quotes via chat bot – Customers can also build their own quick quote using AI. A chat bot can give guidance with relevant questions about a print job. Alternatively, customers can enter some job specifications. In this case, the chat bot uses the software’s estimating engine to create an accurate estimate.

“Many of today’s print buyers are not as knowledgeable as they used to be”

Value-added customer service – Estimators can also leverage AI-generated insights to customise estimates based on the customer’s previous order history.

Configuring new or existing equipment is a very time-consuming and labour-intensive process. However, some AI-powered solutions can import device specifications available online to get up to 90%. The remaining 10% can then be tailor-made to meet the needs of a specific business. Additionally, AI can help to determine the difference in service intervals. For example, when running a lighter weight stock versus a heavier one, or comparing different production quantities.

There is simply no substitute for industry-specific expertise, institutional knowledge and best practices acquired and developed over a career of years or even decades. However, print businesses have been facing very real labour shortages as well as ‘skills drain’ in recent years. That level of skill and experience is neither quick nor easy to replace. 

“AI can help to create the envisioned outcome”

According to research conducted by eProductivity Software (ePS) from 2015–2023, print businesses needed to produce 40% more jobs to generate the same revenue. With today’s margins being so tight and jobs becoming more complex, staff often need to work overtime just to keep up. To further complicate this issue, many of today’s print buyers are not as knowledgeable as they used to be. In other words, they may have an idea of what they want the finished product to look like, but might not understand the right mix of materials, options and manufacturing methods to create it. AI can help to create the envisioned outcome. To achieve the desired results, AI knows which details might be relevant, or at least knows the right questions to ask the buyer. AI-powered solutions help capture the vast knowledge and expertise of most seasoned estimators. This knowledge can then be leveraged when onboarding or cross-training employees. In addition, it can help in building quotes and equipment, giving businesses a competitive advantage.

Where companies are ready to take the plunge into Industry 5.0, estimating may be the best place to start. With the right AI-powered solutions, faster, more accurate, consistent and competitive estimates are only a few steps away.