FuturePrint Feature: Mark Boyt on Why Robotics and AI Will Redefine Print’s Next Chapter

This article is inspired by a FuturePrint Podcast interview with Mark Boyt of Keypoint Intelligence. You can listen to the podcast here.

Few people have observed the evolution of print technology as closely – or for as long – as Mark Boyt, Principal Analyst at Keypoint Intelligence. With more than 40 years in the industry across 3M, Xerox and now Keypoint, Boyt brings a uniquely informed and grounded perspective to the rapid technological shifts shaping print today. His message is clear: automation, AI and robotics are no longer optional — they are becoming central to the industry’s resilience and profitability.

Boyt’s journey began in the analogue era at 3M’s Graphic Arts division, working with film, plates and proofing systems before the arrival of the Macintosh revolutionised the sector. A decade at 3M was followed by nearly three decades at Xerox. Although he began in traditional hardware roles, a pivotal moment came when he realised the next wave of transformation would come not from presses, but from software.

“I had my road-to-Damascus moment,” he says. “Hardware wasn’t where the big gains would come from. The real excitement was workflows and automation – and how they could fundamentally change the production environment.”

That perspective now underpins his work at Keypoint Intelligence, where he helps guide the industry by analysing adoption trends, emerging technologies and investment patterns.

Automation: Opportunity Still Untapped

Despite many years of discussion, Boyt highlights that automation adoption remains surprisingly low.

Recent Keypoint research shows:

• 47% of printers have not begun their automation journey

• Many who have started remain in isolated “islands of automation”

• The full benefits of end-to-end workflow optimisation remain unrealised

• This gap exists despite rising costs, persistent labour shortages and continued pressure on margins.

“The print industry is incredibly resilient,” Boyt notes. “But it also has a conservative mindset. Many want to see technologies proven beyond doubt before adopting them. Yet the pressures today are stronger than ever – and automation is becoming a necessity rather than a nice-to-have.”

Robotics: A Perfect Fit Waiting to Happen

One of Boyt’s strongest messages concerns robotics, which he believes is poised to become one of the most transformative technologies in print.

Yet adoption is extremely low.

Key challenges he identifies include:

• Cultural hesitation around robotics (“the Terminator effect”)

• Misconception that robots replace people, rather than support them

• Lack of visible reference cases at print industry shows

• Limited focus from major robotic manufacturers on print as a vertical

• The bespoke nature of grippers and motion requirements in print workflows

Despite these barriers, Boyt believes robotics aligns almost perfectly with print’s biggest pressures.

“Robots excel at the three Ds — dull, dirty and dangerous,” he explains. “Print isn’t dangerous, but it’s definitely repetitive. Endless lifting, movement of media, loading, unloading. These are perfect applications for automation.”

Rather than displacing staff, robotics can enable existing teams to focus on higher-value tasks - especially important in an industry struggling to attract younger workers.

AI: The Turbo-Engine Behind the Next Wave of Efficiency

For Boyt, AI and robotics are deeply interconnected.

“Robotics is essentially physical AI,” he says. “The leaps we’re now seeing in robotic capability come directly from advances in artificial intelligence.”

AI isn’t just about analytics or predictive maintenance. It is increasingly becoming the connective tissue that unifies workflows, enabling:

• smoother, faster job routing

• intelligent resource allocation

• real-time decision making

• prediction and optimisation of changeovers

• integration between presses, finishing, logistics and scheduling

In Boyt’s view, true robotic efficiency will only be unlocked when AI-driven automation is in place.

“Robots need to be triggered and instructed by an intelligent workflow,” he adds. “AI accelerates that orchestration.”

A Strategic View: Seeing the Factory as a System

One of Boyt’s recurring themes is the need for printers to step back from day-to-day operations and adopt a holistic view of their entire production system.

“You need a helicopter view of your workflows,” he says. “Only then can you see where automation and robotics fit — and where they deliver the biggest impact.”

The vision he describes is one where:

• media moves automatically from warehouse to press

• robots deliver materials just-in-time

• finishing receives jobs without manual handling

• entire plants operate as fluid, responsive systems

He points to modern automated warehouses as a preview of what print could become - fleets of autonomous movers interacting seamlessly, adjusting dynamically, and increasing throughput with consistency and precision.

Why Robotics and AI Are Arriving Faster Than Expected

Boyt believes the tipping point is near. Several forces are accelerating interest:

• rising labour costs

• shrinking labour pools

• volatile economic conditions

• increased short-run work driving more changeovers

• the need for consistency and reliability

• pressure on margins requiring new efficiencies

“Automation isn’t replacing people,” he says. “It’s preventing production bottlenecks and enabling growth when staffing isn’t increasing.”

He notes that other industries – warehousing, pharmaceuticals, automotive – are already deploying robots at scale. Printing shares many of their characteristics, making it a natural next frontier.

How Printers Should Begin Their Automation Journey

Boyt’s advice is practical:

• Research first

• Understand the options, capabilities, and maturity levels.

• Map the entire workflow

• Identify bottlenecks, delays and manual repetitive tasks.

• Speak to vendors and partners

• OEMs, finishing companies and software providers can help define what’s feasible.

See robotics in action

“Seeing is believing,” he says — which is why events like FuturePrint Industrial Print in Munich are so valuable.

Start small, scale fast

Incremental automation often brings rapid ROI.

A Call to Action

For Boyt, the next chapter of print requires open-mindedness, experimentation, and collaboration.

“The most important thing is to start thinking about robotics and automation now,” he concludes. “Begin imagining where they would fit. Start the conversations. Because these technologies can deliver huge value — and the earlier you prepare, the stronger your business will be.”

His keynote at the AI for Industrial Print Conference in Munich will explore these themes in depth, offering clarity and direction for printers preparing for the next wave of industrial transformation.

Why not join us? Book your place here