Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing how devices operate and therefore how business works and printers are a part of that – and resellers should focus on promoting the outcomes it can deliver.
AI may have been around for many years, but it is only in the past couple that it has come of age and become a tool that businesses can harness to improve their operations and efficiency. Across the board, businesses are now starting to use devices with AI embedded in them, and printers are no exception.
As Graham Foxwell, product marketing lead at Kyocera Document Solutions, notes, AI is transforming the print industry in ways that are both subtle and significant. “At Kyocera Document Solutions, we’ve seen first-hand how AI is enhancing print solutions, making them smarter, more efficient, and more responsive to customer needs,” he says.
“AI is becoming increasingly important in print, not just as a buzzword but as a practical tool that improves performance and user experience. From predictive maintenance to intelligent document workflows, AI is helping businesses reduce downtime, cut costs, and boost productivity.
“Our TASKalfa devices, for example, use AI to optimise image quality and detect anomalies in real time, ensuring consistent output without manual intervention. Take our newest MZ7001 SRA3 Series, launched in May, this includes an AI-powered feature called Document Guard, which detects confidential stamps, watermarks or sensitive text on documents, and informs the user that reproduction is not allowed.”
Growing demand
Graham adds that demand for AI-based features is growing. “Are customers actively asking for AI when buying printers? Not always explicitly, but they are certainly looking for the benefits it brings,” he says. “They want devices that are intuitive, reliable and seamlessly integrated into their digital workflows. That’s where AI quietly shines.”
Hiroaki Matsui, senior channel sales manager of Device Technology Division at Fujifilm, agrees: “While customers may not explicitly use the term ‘AI’ when making purchasing decisions, they are undeniably seeking the advanced capabilities and benefits that AI enables,” he says. “For example, the role of multi-function printers has evolved dramatically, they are now seen as essential entry and exit points for digital solutions. Customers are demanding improved solution responsiveness, enhanced security, greater automation and seamless integration with their existing IT environments. AI is the underlying technology powering many of the critical advancements that are making printers smarter, more efficient, and more secure.”
Louella Fernandes, CEO of Quocirca, adds that customer demand for AI is evident. “Quocirca research shows 64% of organisations plan to increase AI investment in the coming year and 73% say it is important that MPS providers introduce innovative AI-powered approaches to print,” she says.
“OEMs have anticipated this demand, drawing on in-house expertise in leveraging data in their own large organisations to enhance device, workflow, security and service offerings.
“AI-powered security – at device, fleet management, and content level – is emerging as an important use case. Self-monitoring and self-healing capabilities, combined with machine-learning-led network behaviour analysis, elevate device and fleet security, while sophisticated content analysis and classification solutions provide greater security and control over the vast amounts of unstructured data that pass through intelligent MFPs.
“As well as securing data, AI, when applied through Intelligent Document Processing, offers opportunities to capitalise on it. GenAI, natural language processing and computer vision combine to create sophisticated workflows that can understand and act on document content regardless of format or structure.
“Industry leaders are also offering advanced AI-powered analytics and automation solutions that increase productivity and create efficiencies everywhere, from device performance optimisation to business process automation – including use cases such as data-driven hyper-personalised printing.”
Embedded solutions
Manufacturers are now increasingly focused on putting AI in their products. “OEMs like Kyocera are embedding AI into the very fabric of our solutions,” says Graham. “Take AI-powered handwriting recognition and document classification tools. These features streamline document management, reduce manual input, and enhance data accuracy.”
Hiroaki adds: “Printer manufacturers are integrating AI in sophisticated ways to both enhance core functionalities and address crucial business needs such as quicker turnarounds, high quality printing, sustainability and more.
“For instance, AI significantly boosts scanning performance, enabling features like high-speed, one-pass duplex scanning and facilitating seamless links with various third-party solutions. AI is also vital for strengthening device security and safeguarding sensitive data. Beyond the devices themselves, AI is increasingly utilised in internal operations to drive overall productivity and efficiency within manufacturing and supply chains.”
Chance to capitalise
With AI functionality now becoming common in new printers, resellers should be capitalising on this, alongside the general rise in interest for AI-based technology. “For resellers, this is a golden opportunity,” says Graham. “When talking to customers, highlight how AI can automate routine tasks, improve security through intelligent threat detection, and support sustainability by optimising resource usage.”
Louella adds that vendors should be drawing on its potential to enhance sustainability throughout the print lifecycle. “This is important to buyers, especially those with strong corporate sustainability strategies, among whom 83% believe AI is an important tool for addressing sustainability issues,” she says.
“Selling AI-focused solutions is the same as any other business solution; you have to focus on the outcomes. How will it benefit the customer? AI for AI’s sake is not a business case. In terms of increased security, the benefit comes from the improved performance of the devices themselves. However, when proposing workflow and IDP solutions, it is important to conduct a strong discovery phase. An organisation’s data environment needs to be robust and clean enough to integrate with the proposed solution.”
Hiroaki agrees that resellers should focus on business-oriented advantages for their customers. “They should highlight how AI leads to improved productivity through smarter automation and faster, more intelligent document handling,” he says.
“Resellers can also emphasise enhanced data security, explaining how AI capabilities help protect sensitive information within the print environment. They should point to consistent, high-quality output driven by AI’s automated adjustments. Ultimately, resellers should frame AI as a key enabler that makes print solutions more intelligent, more reliable, more sustainable and more seamlessly integrated into the customer’s broader digital and operational landscape.”
Future
With AI technology developing at pace, it will only become more commonplace in years to come. “Looking ahead, we anticipate more OEMs will be applying AI to sustainability in product design and supply chain management and integrating it in print optimisation solutions,” says Louella.
“OEMs are strongly focused on identifying and designing genuinely useful AI solutions and, as the technology develops, I can only see AI’s impact on printers and the wider office data ecosystem growing.”
Hiroaki adds that the rapid development of AI technology means it will continue to be integrated into print solutions. “This integration leads to further innovations in automation, efficiency, security, and overall customer value,” he says. “Such advancements also contribute to broader sustainability efforts that optimise resource use and reduce waste. Manufacturers are actively investing in and accelerating the deployment of these AI technologies within their print divisions.”
Graham agrees that AI’s role in print will only grow in the future. “As machine learning models become more sophisticated, we’ll see even greater personalisation, smarter diagnostics, and deeper integration with cloud and IoT ecosystems,” he says. “The print device will evolve from a standalone machine
to a proactive, intelligent hub within the workplace.
“For resellers, the message is clear: embrace AI as a value driver. Understand the technology, communicate its benefits in real-world terms, and align it with your customers’ business goals. At Kyocera, we’re committed to helping our partners lead this transformation, because the future of print isn’t just smart, it’s intelligent.”
