Print Industry Trends 2025
December 10, 2024
Article, Artificial Intelligence, Channel, Digital Transformation, Managed Print Services, Security, Sustainability, Trends
In 2025, the print industry will be shaped by, vendor consolidation, declining print volumes, and changing customer demands. Quocirca expects to see new entrants and diversification from existing players as a result. Differentiation and innovation across hardware, cybersecurity, sustainability, cloud, and workflow are critical for success in the year ahead, and AI will play a role in all of these as businesses focus on unlocking its potential in diverse use cases.
Quocirca’s Ten Key Trends for 2025 are:
1. AI use cases for print transformation will emerge
With 84% of organisations planning to increase expenditure on AI, 79% planning to upgrade to AI PCs, and 73% planning to refresh print infrastructure at the same time, print vendors and MPS providers must adapt their strategies to effectively embrace AI and capitalise on its transformative potential. As AI PCs spark a technology refresh, use cases will emerge and adoption will accelerate in cybersecurity, service innovation, intelligent document processing (IDP), analytics and sustainability.
2. Hybrid cloud will intensify market fragmentation
The cloud print market will continue to be characterised by a mix of serverless print solutions, cloud print management and cloud-based MPS approaches. This will create complexity in the market that vendors must address as more organisations adopt hybrid cloud strategies. Security will remain an inhibitor to growth, with 32% of ITDMs citing concerns about data protection, making it the top barrier to cloud adoption. Customers will require clear guidance from suppliers who can align offerings with their cloud maturity.
3. Data-driven sustainability will be a print industry imperative
The linked drivers of greater climate awareness, growing regulatory scrutiny and increased customer demand will put pressure on vendors to deliver solutions that support customers’ environmental priorities. Organisations will continue to demand more insight from suppliers – 78% say it is important that their supplier monitors the environmental impact of their print environment – yet many cite lack of data as key challenge in reducing environmental impact. Data and analytics will be central as MPS providers and channel partners provide reporting tools for internal and external use that help customers optimise resource consumption and minimise waste.
4. AI will reshape print security and threat intelligence
62% of ITDMs are concerned that AI will be used to create security risks. But as cybercriminals add AI to their arsenal, defenders will do likewise, investing in AI-powered security solutions to detect and mitigate sophisticated attacks. This will incorporate identity management technology and embedded device protection. Vendors and channel partners will need to implement AI-powered multi-layered security at network, endpoint, and user level to protect print infrastructure, which is increasingly becoming a target.
5. Workplace modernisation will boost MPS opportunities
As workplaces continue to evolve and employees return to offices in greater numbers, client needs are changing, offering a new lease of life to MPS and presenting providers with a key opportunity to help customers implement a secure and sustainable print environment. Print remains important, but the shift to digital workflows continues as businesses seek to reduce costs, minimise environmental impact and achieve efficiency. MPS providers are expected to offer IT, cybersecurity and automation expertise alongside conventional offerings as they support workplace modernisation. Assessments and analytics will be central to offering MPS that solves customer challenges and delivers evidence of improvement.
6. Hardware longevity will emerge as a crucial differentiator
Hardware innovation will drive product differentiation in 2025 as businesses focus on performance-driven technology refreshes. The standard 3 to 5-year refresh cycle is not sustainable, and we will see businesses looking to extend device lifecycles where practical or replace them with remanufactured/refurbished devices. One-third of ITDMs say device longevity is now a key selection factor when choosing sustainable printers. In new products, buyers will be looking for serviceability, security, and sustainability.
7. Ecosystems and marketplaces will unlock new opportunities
Online transactional purchases of print devices and cloud marketplace use are prevalent, with 61% of ITDMs already using them to adopt cloud document solutions. This offers opportunities for ISVs to increase sales revenue and enter new markets. They can take advantage of customers’ committed spend. Marketplaces can also be used by channel partners to offer broader professional services, consulting and support.
8. MPS providers face a rocky road in the managed IT landscape
As businesses, particularly SMBs, seek simplified, lower-cost IT operations, the convergence of MPS and Managed IT Services will accelerate in 2025. Already, 48% of organisations say they use a single provider for MPS and IT services, rising to 56% in the midmarket. Benefits include simplified procurement, reduced costs, enhanced efficiency and security. MPS providers can access additional revenue streams through offering IT services, but will need to defend against IT services specialists encroaching on print and document workflow territory.
9. Data innovation will set leaders apart from followers
In 2025, MPS providers that leverage data-driven analytics will gain significant competitive advantage through optimising service delivery, improving customer satisfaction, identifying new business opportunities and making more informed business decisions. Providers will need to invest in ML and AI expertise and move away from legacy platforms.
10. AI will be the new battleground for channel differentiation
46% of channel companies say AI is already critically or very important to their business and those that embrace AI will gain a major competitive advantage through streamlining operations, enhancing customer experience, and unlocking new revenue streams. Those that can articulate and offer AI-powered solutions to customers, with the help of vendors, will reap the greatest benefit.
Quocirca’s Print Industry Trends Report 2025 is based on Quocirca primary research, in-depth vendor analysis and insight. It contains detailed recommendations and guidance for industry participants. The full report is available for purchase here.
