It took some time, but automation is gradually creeping into wide-format printing, especially on the flatbed side. Many wide-format printers pride themselves on producing bespoke projects and specialty “one of a kind” applications. And, after all, haven’t us industry pundits and analysts—and vendors—been pushing this kind of approach?

However, as competition increases—it’s the rare print shop these days that doesn’t offer some kind of wide-format printing—and as pricing gets tougher, margins get smaller, and the labor situation gets tighter, wide-format shops are seeing the need to automate at least some parts of the business.

One key to automation in commercial printing has been a templated approach to products like business cards, postcards, and other items that have been easily “commoditized” so that users can go to an online storefront, pick a template, enter their custom content, OK a proof, and click “send.” Likewise, certain wide-format products like banners, rollups, and posters, have reached a similar level of commoditization. We saw a lot of wide-format shops adopt this kind of approach for COVID materials during the pandemic. A storefront containing standard items then frees up design and production staff to focus on those bespoke applications that are often the pride and joy—and bread and butter—of the business.