The Print Industry in Flux: Keypoint Intelligence’s Anthony Sci on Tariffs, Technology and Transformation
We recently talked to Anthony Sci, who is the CEO of Keypoint Intelligence for the FuturePrint podcast. This article is inspired by the interview with Anthony, take a listen here.
In the middle of 2025, the print industry finds itself at a crossroads. Demand in some traditional segments continues to contract, yet packaging, textiles and advanced manufacturing applications are thriving. Layered atop this uneven growth are tariffs, labour shortages and the accelerating impact of artificial intelligence. Few are better placed to assess this shifting landscape than Anthony Sci, CEO of Keypoint Intelligence, the global testing and consulting firm that has been quietly reshaping itself to meet the needs of an industry in transition.
Keypoint, formed through the merger of Buyers Lab and InfoTrends, celebrates its 65th anniversary next year. Its reputation was built on testing printers and copiers, but today its remit stretches far wider. With laboratories in the United States and Britain, analysts across Europe and Asia, and a portfolio of digital tools, the company serves clients ranging from OEMs to distributors and brand owners. Sci himself is a veteran of the trade, having started as a copier salesman in New York before senior stints at Xerox and Sharp. Four years into his tenure as chief executive, he has expanded Keypoint’s global presence and broadened its advisory role.
The pressing question in 2025, Sci argues, is not simply how to weather cyclical downturns but how to seize the opportunities being created by profound structural change.
Tariffs and Uncertainty
If one issue has defined the year so far, it is tariffs. New duties ranging from 5% to 25% have unsettled manufacturers and created hesitation among buyers. “When there’s uncertainty in the economy, people pause investment,” Sci explains. “We see that across every industry we cover.”
Some firms have absorbed the extra costs to preserve relationships with dealers and end-users; others have passed them along. The outcome is uneven margins and a pervasive sense of caution. Still, Sci sees a potential silver lining. Tariffs, he says, are prompting companies to become leaner and more efficient. They are also accelerating a wave of strategic alliances: Xerox with Lexmark, Canon with managed service providers, Ricoh with Toshiba, Fuji with Konica Minolta.
Production is capital-intensive, and sharing the burden through partnerships is increasingly rational. “Whenever there is an economic challenge, positives come out of it,” Sci notes. “People are forced to innovate, to use technology better, and to consolidate where necessary.”
The AI Imperative
Nowhere is this drive for efficiency more apparent than in the adoption of artificial intelligence. Keypoint itself has incorporated AI into its operations for several years and now advises clients on implementation. Demand for AI consulting, Sci says, is the fastest-growing part of the business.
The surprise is how ill-prepared many companies remain. “Probably 80% of firms we talk to don’t have an AI policy,” he observes. Employees are already using generative tools, sometimes with little oversight. Without guidance, the risk of errors—or “hallucinations”—being mistaken for fact is considerable. Keypoint helps organisations craft policies, assess where AI can be deployed and integrate it with workflows.
Regional attitudes vary. The United States and China lead in adoption, while Europe has been slower to engage. Yet momentum is now undeniable. “Six months ago, many executives were lukewarm. Today they know they can’t bury their heads in the sand,” Sci says. Coupled with robotics, AI is emerging as one of the most powerful levers for addressing labour shortages and driving productivity in manufacturing and print.
Robotics and the Labour Gap
The shortage of skilled workers is perhaps the most acute problem confronting print and packaging firms. Recruiting younger generations into what is often perceived as an unglamorous industry has proven difficult. Skilled operators are retiring faster than they are being replaced.
For Sci, robotics offers a pragmatic solution. Automated handling systems can reduce reliance on scarce labour, particularly in production printing. “We haven’t seen this much activity in robotics for a long time,” he says. Some early adopters are already deploying robotic arms and automated workflows; others are only beginning to explore the potential.
Yet automation alone cannot solve the demographic challenge. Cultivating interest among young people is vital. Some dealers in the United States, Sci notes, are succeeding by actively targeting and training younger recruits. Without such initiatives, the risk is a gradual erosion of expertise just as the industry needs fresh skills to master new technologies.
Workflow Efficiencies and Consolidation
Alongside tariffs, AI and robotics, another trend gathering momentum is the quest for workflow efficiency. Many firms operate with a patchwork of platforms that do not communicate. The result is duplication, errors and wasted time. Keypoint has been advising clients on rationalising systems, a service that has quietly become one of its growth areas.
The broader structural issue is consolidation. For years analysts have speculated about major mergers among equipment makers, but few have materialised beyond Xerox’s acquisition of Lexmark. Sci believes the industry is edging closer to substantive deals. With margins thin and competition fierce, the logic of scale is compelling. “I think within the next year you’ll see one or two major manufacturers come together,” he predicts.
Growth Segments: Packaging and Textiles
If traditional print markets are mature or declining, packaging and textiles are where optimism resides. The digitalisation of labels and packaging remains in its early stages, with relatively small penetration compared with analogue processes. This leaves ample room for growth.
Keypoint tracks four main areas: folding cartons, corrugated, flexible packaging and labels. All show positive trajectories, driven by consumer demand for personalisation, shorter runs and sustainable solutions. The upcoming Label Expo in Barcelona, where Keypoint will field a strong presence, is expected to showcase the sector’s dynamism.
Textiles are another focal point, particularly in China and India, where digital printing is reshaping production. European and American firms are keen to learn from these markets, just as Asian manufacturers are eager to penetrate Western channels. Keypoint positions itself as a bridge, advising on strategies to enter new regions and facilitating partnerships.
Regional Variations
The global nature of Keypoint’s business provides a vantage point on regional differences. In Europe, AI enthusiasm is catching up after initial scepticism. In Asia, textiles dominate. In the United States, consolidation and service models preoccupy executives. Across all geographies, however, two constants prevail: the need to adapt to shifting economics, and the search for efficiency.
The Next Six Months
Looking ahead to the remainder of 2025, Sci highlights five priorities for business leaders:
1. Embrace AI to boost efficiency and prepare policies to manage its risks.
2. Explore robotics as a response to labour shortages and rising costs.
3. Invest in packaging and textiles, the brightest growth spots.
4. Prepare for consolidation, whether as participants or observers, since large-scale mergers could reshape competitive dynamics.
5. Focus on talent, particularly attracting younger generations to sustain the industry’s future.
Tariffs, he believes, will stabilise as governments conclude negotiations, reducing some uncertainty. But structural shifts—from automation to new applications—will remain in play.
Staying Relevant
Keypoint itself has been adjusting. An acquisition in Amsterdam expanded its European base, while leadership hires strengthened regional coverage. Consulting, once ancillary, is now central. For Sci, the guiding principle is relevance. “The good and bad of having a company that is 65 years old is reputation,” he reflects. “The challenge is to stay relevant and deliver what clients need as the industry changes.”
That industry is indeed changing. Traditional print may be shrinking, but packaging, textiles and advanced manufacturing are growing. AI and robotics are no longer novelties but necessities. Tariffs, though disruptive, are spurring efficiencies and partnerships. And the race to attract younger talent will determine whether firms can sustain momentum.
In this context, Keypoint Intelligence casts itself not merely as a testing lab but as a strategic advisor for a sector in flux. For the companies navigating uncertainty, the message from Sci is clear: adapt, collaborate and embrace technology—or risk being left behind.