AI and the Future of Print: Impacts, Advantages & What’s Next
A live recap of the PRINTING United Expo AI Pavilion panel moderated by Amy Servi of the PRINTING United Alliance, featuring Brad Kugler (DirectMail2.0), Qasi Atma (GoMake, Inc.), and Marc Raad (Significans Automation).
The term “AI” is everywhere right now – in our inboxes, in our pressrooms, even in our PowerPoints. But as moderator Amy Servi opened the session, she reminded the audience that in print, this isn’t about chasing buzzwords. It’s about real, measurable impact – faster turnarounds, smarter workflows, and more predictable outcomes – all while protecting the creativity and craftsmanship that make print unique.
On stage at the AI Pavilion, three industry innovators shared how they’re bridging the gap between hype and hard results.
Solving the right problems
Brad Kugler, CEO and Co-Founder of DirectMail2.0, set the tone with a focus on ROI. Direct mail is expensive, and every piece counts. Their latest innovation uses predictive modeling to forecast direct mail campaign performance before it goes to press, helping clients reduce risk and win repeat business.
Qasi Atma, Chief Customer Officer at GoMake, Inc., focused on removing the barriers that slow printers down. GoMake is an AI-driven estimation and workflow generation platform that learns the factory -machines, materials, and production processes – to create accurate quotes and production-ready workflows in minutes.
Marc Raad, President of Significans Automation, spoke from the integrator’s perspective – bridging fragmented systems and helping print businesses operationalize automation. Significans doesn’t sell a single product; it configures and customizes software ecosystems from vendors like Enfocus, Esko, and Hybrid Software to fit each client’s workflow.
“There’s a lot of software in our space, and all that software comes with complexity. Our job is to simplify that – to make automation work for your people, your processes, and your business goals.”
Marc Raad, President of Significans Automation
Efficiency – but grounded in reality
While each company drives efficiency in different ways, they share a common goal: sustainable, measurable progress.
- DirectMail2.0 helps printers retain recurring business by improving campaign success rates through AI-driven predictions.
- GoMake compresses the time from inquiry to press by converting customer language into structured data and production-ready workflows.
- Significans Automation builds the “easy button” for automation -customizing and integrating off-the-shelf tools so teams can get more value from the systems they already own.
The intelligence beneath the surface
When asked to define their “AI layer,” the panelists emphasized that intelligence comes from data.
- DirectMail2.0 uses a proprietary database of hundreds of thousands of direct mail pieces and models across 150+ verticals, continuously updating models with new campaign feedback.
- GoMake turns factory knowledge (machines, materials, labor, and job parameters) into structured data and can generate millions of workflow variations every day to ensure the most efficient result.
- Significans Automation applies what Raad calls aggregate and patterning AI, aggregating repetitive operational data so systems learn patterns, anticipate routine tasks and predict production outcomes.
“We’re believers in Industry 4.0 – more automation and integration in the business..”
Marc Raad, President of Significans Automation
What AI will (and won’t) replace
When asked what might become obsolete in print over the next two years, the panelists were pragmatic.
Kugler noted nothing in print will be totally obsolete but predicted a workforce shift away from repetitive “paper-pushing”; Atma warned that poor data utilization (annotation/tracking) is the biggest risk as AI takes on those tasks, so organizations with siloed/unstructured data will fall behind..
Raad framed the change as a “slow roll” – most of the industry is still 80% manual and mechanical,” he said. “We’re digitizing it, integrating it, and giving it new momentum.”
From experimentation to operation
The session concluded with a discussion of Printing AI, officially launched at the show. This new initiative from the PRINTING United Alliance helps businesses move beyond experimentation to operationalizing AI – offering readiness assessments, ERP assistance, system development, fractional leadership, and cybersecurity support.
Here’s how each panelist saw alignment:
- DirectMail2.0 extends marketing value with measurable campaign outcomes.
- GoMake structures production intelligence that can plug into any business system.
- Significans Automation stitches the entire workflow together -ensuring AI can actually run in real production environments.
Final thoughts for print leaders
Each panelist left the audience with a truth worth remembering:
- Brad Kugler: “Learn, adapt, evolve.”
- Qasi Atma: “ It’s all about the balance between truth and order – use the information to look and understand what’s going on, but then you have to apply policies to create order.”
- Marc Raad: “Go to those who know. Learn from those who have already adopted it – their ROI is proof enough and you’ll accelerate your progress.”
The takeaway
AI is redefining how print businesses think, connect, and compete. Success depends on data readiness, connected workflows, and human adaptation. The lesson from “AI and the Future of Print: Impacts, Advantages & What’s Next” was clear:
Start small, start smart, and let your data lead the way.
Ready to explore the real impact of AI in print?
Visit our website to learn how Significans Automation helps printers and packaging businesses turn complex workflows into predictable, transparent, understandable solutions with fast ROI. Let us convince you: fully customized automation in an AI era is the ONLY path forward.
