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“DynamicsPrint® with IMP is the heart of our planning estimations and imposition systems.
Estimating has become an important science. Our young estimators can deliver accurate plans just as an experienced estimator, with loads of experience, would.”
Angel Viveros, Estimation Manager
Foli De Mexico, Mexico
“The reason we chose DP was because it’s an industry solution which solves many of the problems we had in the standard Microsoft Dynamics setup. Also, there was demand from the management to have final costing, which was also a major challenge in the standard Dynamics solution.
DynamicsPrint® also helps us greatly with scheduling and shop floor management. The data gathered gives us great insights, and results in a much more cost-efficient production.”
Jochem Sants, Project Manager
Van der Most, Heerde, Netherlands
“The professional and highly skilled DynamicsPrint® team led the implementation to develop the expertise internally at DCM with a team of Subject Matter Experts from each of the specialized print production areas. DynamicsPrint’s expertise regarding the system and the industry was instrumental to ensuring the configurations were done properly. As this is a highly configurable solution, the approach and implementation was very well structured and ensured that the team worked from the basic setups to the more complex setups with a pace that was manageable and retainable.
DynamicsPrint® adjusted the resource requirements to accommodate both technical and functional areas of expertise as needed throughout the project, providing best practice directives to ensure that the proper approach was being followed.”
Karen Redfern, VP Operations Technology
DCM, Canada
“I just wanted to let you know how happy I am with DynamicsPrint® and the support you have given KP San Leandro since our launch. The seemingly endless set of tools available really help us run and improve our business.
The visibility into job statuses, P&L, and the ability to create and manage cues that give our team a personalized look into their own area of responsibility have become essential to our business model. I can’t even imagine going back to our old system. Thanks to the DynamicsPrint® team for all your help and support.”
Mark Floyd, Division Director
KP Corp. San Leandro, USA
Print software investment is entering a new phase. For printing and packaging companies, the priority is shifting from implementing individual technologies to building connected, efficient, and data-driven operations.
According to Keypoint Intelligence’s 2026 Global Software Investment Outlook, 68% of surveyed print service providers plan to increase their software investment. Yet the most significant finding is not the willingness to invest. It is the changing expectations behind those investments.
In a recent interview, Mark Boyt, Principal Analyst at Keypoint Intelligence, explored how print service providers are reassessing their technology priorities, the growing importance of integrated workflows, and the potential for artificial intelligence (AI) to transform print production.
These findings highlight a broader transformation taking place across the printing and packaging industry. Software is becoming a strategic foundation for operational efficiency, profitability, and long-term competitiveness.
Print Software Investment Is Becoming More Strategic
Printing and packaging companies face increasing pressure to control production costs, address labor shortages, improve turnaround times, and respond to evolving customer expectations.
As a result, software investment decisions are becoming more closely tied to measurable business outcomes.
Keypoint Intelligence’s research indicates that 68% of surveyed print service providers intend to increase their software spending. However, companies are increasingly focused on whether technology can solve specific operational challenges rather than simply expand their software capabilities.
For business leaders, this represents an important change in perspective.
The question is which investments can improve productivity, reduce operational complexity, and support sustainable business growth.
This requires evaluating technology within the context of the entire organization, from estimating and quotation to production scheduling, inventory management, shop floor operations, and financial reporting.
Why Connected Print Workflows Are Essential
Automation has been part of the printing industry for decades. However, automating individual production processes does not necessarily create an efficient operation.
A company may have advanced estimating software, automated production equipment, and sophisticated scheduling tools. But when these systems operate independently, employees may still need to transfer information manually, reconcile inconsistent data, and resolve communication gaps between departments.
These disconnected workflows can create bottlenecks, increase administrative work, and limit operational visibility.
The next stage of print workflow automation is therefore about connecting processes across the business.
An integrated approach enables organizations to:
For printing and packaging companies managing complex production environments or multiple facilities, this level of integration is particularly important.
The Role of ERP in Print Production Optimization
As print businesses become more complex, ERP systems are increasingly relevant to the broader discussion about workflow integration.
Modern print management software must support more than administrative functions. It needs to connect commercial decisions with production realities.
For example, an accurate quotation depends on reliable information about material costs, machine capacity, labor requirements, and production methods. Similarly, effective production scheduling depends on current order information, resource availability, and actual shop floor performance.
When these activities share connected data, companies can make decisions based on a more complete understanding of their operations.
The broader lesson is that ERP should be viewed as part of the operational infrastructure supporting better business decisions.
For executive teams, the strategic value lies in improving transparency, reducing unnecessary complexity, and creating a more consistent foundation for operational improvement.
Artificial Intelligence in Printing
Artificial intelligence is becoming an increasingly prominent topic in print software development.
However, as Keypoint Intelligence’s research discussion emphasizes, the most important question is where AI can deliver meaningful operational improvements.
This distinction matters.
Adding AI functionality to an inefficient process does not automatically make the process effective. In some cases, the greater opportunity may involve redesigning the workflow itself.
In printing and packaging operations, potential applications of AI and advanced analytics include:
The practical value of these applications depends on data quality, integration, implementation, and the specific operational challenges being addressed.
AI is most useful when it supports better decisions and measurable improvements, rather than becoming another disconnected technology layer.
For print leaders, this means developing an AI strategy that starts with business objectives and process understanding, not individual features.
Data-Driven Decision-Making Is A Must
Connected workflows create another important opportunity, which is better access to operational information.
In many printing companies, valuable data exists across estimating systems, production equipment, inventory platforms, and financial applications.
The challenge is turning that information into actionable insights.
When operational data is fragmented, management teams may struggle to obtain a consistent view of production performance, profitability, and resource utilization.
Integrated software environments can help bridge this gap.
For example, comparing estimated production costs with actual time and material consumption can help identify inefficiencies, improve future quotations, and support more accurate profitability analysis.
Similarly, real-time shop floor reporting can provide production managers with earlier visibility into delays, resource constraints, and changes in job status.
These capabilities are particularly relevant for enterprise printing and packaging companies operating across multiple production sites.
At DynamicsPrint®, the emphasis on connecting operational processes with business intelligence reflects a wider industry recognition that reliable data is essential to continuous improvement.
Ultimately, the objective is to ensure that the right information reaches the right decision-makers when it can make a difference.
Preparing Print Operations for the Next Phase of Automation
Looking ahead, Keypoint Intelligence identifies increasingly connected workflows, greater automation, and more advanced decision-support technologies as important directions for print production software.
Robotics may also become a more significant part of the discussion as businesses explore opportunities to automate physical production activities alongside digital processes.
For printing and packaging executives, these developments raise several strategic questions.
Are existing software systems sufficiently connected to support future automation?
Can operational information move reliably between departments and production sites?
Does the organization have the data quality and visibility needed to benefit from AI?
And perhaps most importantly, are technology investments addressing the operational challenges that have the greatest impact on business performance?
Answering these questions requires collaboration between business leadership, IT, finance, and production teams.
It also requires a long-term view of technology investment, recognizing that scalability, integration, and adaptability can be just as important as immediate functionality.
Better Ways of Working
Keypoint Intelligence’s findings reinforce an important message for the printing and packaging industry. The future of print software will be defined less by the number of technologies companies adopt and more by how effectively those technologies work together.
Connected workflows, integrated ERP systems, intelligent automation, and data-driven decision-making are not isolated trends. They are increasingly interconnected elements of modern print operations.
For companies navigating rising costs, labor constraints, and growing operational complexity, the opportunity is to move beyond fragmented processes toward a more coordinated approach to managing the business.
The next competitive advantage in print may come from rethinking how the entire operation works.
For printing and packaging leaders, that is a conversation worth having.
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