Quocirca State of the Industry 2025 Study

June 19, 2025
Sustainability, Cloud print, Artificial Intelligence, Research, Article, Trends

Print Industry Transformation 2025: A Leadership Outlook

The print industry is at a pivotal moment, navigating a landscape marked by technological advancements, evolving business models, and shifting customer demands. The Quocirca State of the Industry Survey 2025 reveals an industry in flux, grappling with the aftermath of the pandemic, geopolitical uncertainties, and the relentless march towards digital transformation.

The Current Landscape

The print industry is undergoing a profound transformation. Traditional print volumes continue to decline, with 73% of respondents expecting a reduction averaging 8.4%. However, this decline is counterbalanced by growth opportunities in adjacent areas such as workflow automation, cloud-based services, and digitisation. Notably, scan volumes are expected to rise by 8.3%, highlighting a potential revenue stream that remains largely untapped.

The transition from a product-centric approach to a services-led model remains a top challenge, with 36% of respondents citing this shift as a critical priority. Despite this, the industry’s response to workforce transformation appears sluggish, with only 12% considering talent acquisition a significant concern. This could leave vendors at risk of falling behind competitors that actively invest in expertise beyond traditional print capabilities.

Key Findings

• Revenue Growth: Print industry executives are cautiously optimistic about growth. Respondents expect an average revenue increase of 6% in the coming year – slightly below the 7% forecast for 2024.
• Transition to Services: Transitioning from a product-centric approach to a services-led model remains the leading challenge for print industry players. Overall, 36% identify it as a top concern, equal to the challenge of expanding digital and software service offerings (36%). This shift is more than a structural change; it is a strategic necessity in an era when customer expectations demand solutions and services from strategic technology partners.
• Tariff Pressures: The impact of ongoing tariff pressures on the print industry presents a mixed outlook. While 15% of respondents anticipate a substantial or significant negative effect on their operations, 34% expect minimal to no repercussions. Independent software vendors (ISVs) foresee the least impact but should remain vigilant, particularly as governments increasingly explore digital services taxes that could affect software-based revenue streams.
• Print Volume Decline: Print volume decline continues. Overall, 73% expect print volumes to decrease over the coming year. On average, print volumes are expected to fall by around 8.4%. OEMs and channel partners still hanging on to transactional business models must recognise this and move to services ands solutions centric models that better meet the needs of their customers.
• Scan Volume Growth: Scan volumes represent a bright spot in the industry. As customer digitisation efforts accelerate, 76% expect scan volumes to grow, by an average of 8.3% in the coming year. However, only 37% currently monetise scanning, indicating an opportunity for new business models around document capture and workflow automation.

Strategic Recommendations

To navigate these challenges and capitalise on emerging opportunities, the report offers several strategic recommendations:

1. Embrace business model transformation. Print vendors must move beyond incremental changes and embrace more agile, resilient business models. Investments in regionalised supply chains, diversified service offerings, and digital-first solutions will be essential to maintaining stability and relevance.
2. Focus on AI and cloud services: AI and cloud services are pivotal to future success. Over two-thirds of respondents consider AI critically or very important to their organisation’s future. The industry must assess how AI-driven advancements can foster innovation, optimise operations, and create competitive differentiation.
3. Monetise scanning: With scan volumes on the rise, vendors have a clear opportunity to develop services leveraging per-scan pricing, subscription models, or usage-based fees to drive revenue from document digitisation and processing. The industry must position scanning as a strategic enabler of efficiency and digital transformation.
4. Strengthen customer relationships: Customer relationships are undergoing a significant transformation. Print manufacturers’ influence is expected to decline sharply, while IT service providers rise in prominence. OEMs must act decisively to counter this trend through strategic acquisitions, enhanced managed services, and deeper integration with cloud and AI-driven solutions
5. Invest in talent acquisition: Despite the clear need for specialised talent, the industry does not appear to prioritise this. Only 12% of respondents rank talent acquisition as a top three concern. Print manufacturers and service providers may struggle to maintain relevance in an increasingly IT-driven business ecosystem without a proactive approach to workforce development.

Conclusion

The print industry is at a crossroads, facing both significant challenges and opportunities. By focusing on AI and cloud services, monetising scanning, strengthening customer relationships, and investing in talent acquisition, industry players can navigate this complex landscape and position themselves for sustained growth and success in the years ahead.

Find out more in the Quocirca State of the Industry Survey 2025 Report