Weymouth, MA - InfoTrends announced today the completion of its market research study entitled The Future of Digital Packaging Workflows, whose focus is the global packaging market’s use of software tools to enhance production of all printed packaging. Taking into account all relevant software segments, global sales of workflow software for packaging topped $1 billion worldwide in 2015, and that total is climbing steadily in all regions, according to InfoTrends.

“Brand owners and packaging converters together make the market for workflow software a dynamic one,” said Robert Leahey, Associate Director at InfoTrends and a senior advisor for the new research. “That’s so because of competition and also because some amazing workflow tools are available today,” Leahey added. “Suppliers of workflow software for packaging converting offer tools to both converters and brands to make the production of printed packaging faster, more economic, and much more flexible.”

To do its research, InfoTrends surveyed and interviewed over 300 companies worldwide, half converters and half brand owners, about both digital and analog printing and converting, and about digital transformation of packaging management and production. Converter surveyed were split between label, flexible packaging, folding carton, and corrugated converters; brand owners were split between food & beverage, pharmaceutical & medical, consumer goods & electronics, health & beauty segments. In addition, senior staff at InfoTrends who focus on the workflow software market profiled key companies and workflow products, and also developed a detailed market forecast through 2019 for different type of workflow tools for packaging converting, from digital asset management to production workflow to web-to-print to print controllers and RIPS, and other segments. 

“There’s a lot going on in terms of workflow for packaging,” Leahey said, “and a big future for tools that enhance it.” As evidence, he cited the trend among brands in all regions to order packaging more frequently and in smaller amounts, to customize marketing and make operations more efficient, in turn making workflow more challenging. Digital printing is also a factor, he said, describing it as well established in label converting and just starting in folding cartons, flexible packaging, and corrugated. “Timeliness is a goal for all brands and all converters, and one digital printing helps them achieve, especially when it’s part of an efficient workflow,” Leahey added. 

In this new research, InfoTrends provides insights into where the packaging workflow software market is heading, and why, and to thus help clients prepare and benefit from the emerging digital opportunities.

For more information on The Future of Digital Packaging Workflows please visit our online brochure or contact Scott Phinney at 781 616 2123 or [email protected].