This article first appeared in Print in the Channel magazine issue #37.
AI is having an increasing influence on many aspects of business, including print, scan and workflow management – and it is bringing real-world benefits that go beyond the hype surrounding the technology. Resellers in the print channel must ensure that they stay at the forefront of this if they want to stay relevant to their customers and provide the solutions they want.
AI has been hugely hyped in the past couple of years, but the practical benefits of it are becoming clear, and various pieces of recent research have pointed to how many businesses are looking to adopt AI technology, or use it more, in the coming years. For instance, research by Deloitte found that 78% of UK business leaders expecting AI-driven automation to transform operational workflows over the next two years.
Gareth Pearce, partner channel head of sales at Canon UK & Ireland, says that AI is having a big impact across the business spectrum, with print and workflow management included. “As print increasingly intersects with software solutions and connected services, AI is becoming an important part of digital transformation strategies,” he says.
“AI is already having a significant impact on print and scan as businesses look for smarter ways to monitor devices, manage information, improve efficiency and strengthen security.”
Deyon Antoine, marketing manager at Toshiba Tec UK Imaging Systems Ltd, notes that while AI is making a real impact across the print and scan channel, it is not always in the ways traditionally expected. “Rather than transforming devices themselves, the biggest shift is happening around workflows, how documents are captured, processed and shared within organisations,” he says.
“For dealers, this is showing up in customer conversations moving beyond hardware towards productivity and efficiency. Print is increasingly being viewed as part of a wider digital ecosystem, not a standalone function. Toshiba is helping partners lean into this shift, enabling them to reposition print as a key component of smarter, more connected workplace processes.”
Better solutions
AI is already helping to provide better scanning and document workflow solutions. “AI is taking scanning from basic digitisation to something far more intelligent,” says Deyon. “Documents can now be recognised, understood and acted upon automatically whether that’s extracting data, classifying content or triggering workflows.
“The practical benefits are clear, less manual input, fewer errors and faster turnaround times. For dealers, this creates a much stronger value story around scan-led solutions. With support from us, partners can deliver these capabilities as part of integrated workflows, helping customers unlock efficiencies that go well beyond the device itself.”
Gareth agrees that AI is helping to improve scanning and document workflows through automation, intelligent monitoring and smarter device management. “At Canon, we are seeing growing demand for AI-enhanced devices such as the imageFORCE range, which is transforming workflows through predictive maintenance – automatically recommending optimal settings and flagging potential faults before they occur, which reduces downtime and helps maintain information flow across the business,” he says.
Marcin Pichur, regional vice president sales (UK/IRE, Spain, Italy, Poland) at DocuWare, adds that AI’s role in print and scan is shifting into something more grounded and practical. “After years of bold predictions, most organisations have realised that AI isn’t about an overnight transformation,” he says. “Instead, they’re focusing on the areas where it genuinely improves day‑to‑day operations, and document‑heavy workflows are proving to be one of the biggest winners.”
IDP importance
As part of this, intelligent document processing (IDP) becoming increasingly important. “Within this more deliberate approach, AI is already reshaping how businesses handle scanning and document management,” says Marcin. “The priority now is reducing manual work, cutting out avoidable errors and gaining clearer oversight of the information flowing through the organisation.
“This is where IDP has become central. By bringing together OCR, machine learning, NLP and computer vision, products like DocuWare IDP can interpret invoices, contracts, handwritten notes and other unstructured content with far more accuracy than older capture tools. It goes beyond lifting data off a page by truly understanding context, checking validity and passing structured information straight into downstream systems.”
Deyon agrees that IDP is quickly becoming a priority for organisations dealing with large volumes of documents. “Businesses are under pressure to do more with their data, and automating document-heavy processes is an obvious place to start,” he adds.
“For manufacturers, this reinforces a clear direction of travel, success will be driven less by hardware and more by the ability to support intelligent workflows. At Toshiba we reflect this shift by helping partners connect print infrastructure with broader automation strategies ensuring devices remain relevant as part of a much bigger picture.”
Gareth notes that for industries such as insurance, healthcare, financial services and legal, IDP reduces manual handling of sensitive information while supporting strict regulatory and audit requirements.
“Printer and scanner manufacturers need to respond by developing services, such as Canon’s Information Management Solutions, that deliver enterprise Intelligent document processing solutions, helping organisations modernise document workflows,” he adds. “In a competitive market, these services and solutions should focus on scalability, integration, cost efficiency, data security and compliance.”
Staying at the forefront
With AI technology developing rapidly, resellers must ensure that they stay in the vanguard to keep relevance with customers. “The message here is simple, dealers need to evolve,” says Deyon. “Customers are no longer just buying print; they are looking for ways to improve how their business runs. That means resellers must move towards solution-led engagements, focusing on workflow optimisation and real-world outcomes.
“We support this journey by equipping partners with the expertise and backing needed to have those higher-level conversations. Those who embrace this shift will strengthen their position and margins. Those who don’t risk falling behind in an increasingly competitive and fast-moving market.”
Gareth says the channel is shifting from transactional sales to more solutions-focused partnerships. “Partners need to demonstrate measurable business value rather than simply device performance,” he explains. “Resellers can stay ahead by investing in IT, data and AI capabilities, while developing workforce expertise in automation, analytics, cybersecurity and software integration. Those that fail to invest in people and digital capabilities risk falling behind as digital modernisation becomes a baseline expectation.”
Marcin notes the evolution of AI technology is also changing what print and scan devices represent. “They’re no longer endpoints for capturing documents but are now becoming intelligent entry points for automated workflows,” he says. “Vendors building AI directly into their platforms are helping customers speed up approvals, strengthen compliance, and cope with rising document volumes without adding extra staff. As IDP becomes more embedded in everyday processes, this level of integration will quickly shift from ‘nice to have’ to ‘expected’.”
“For resellers, this moment is a strategic fork in the road. Customers increasingly want partners who can help them modernise processes and anticipate operational challenges. Those who invest in AI‑driven workflow intelligence will strengthen their relevance and open new revenue streams, while those who hesitate risk losing ground to competitors offering smarter, more connected solutions.”
Bubble to burst?
But there have been some who have opined that there is a bubble around AI and its use, and that it could burst. But commentators don’t believe this is the case in the print channel.
“There’s no doubt AI is surrounded by hype, but in the context of print and document workflows, the use cases are practical and proven,” notes Deyon. “Automating repetitive tasks, improving accuracy, and speeding up processes all deliver tangible benefits for customers.
“While the market may settle as expectations align with reality, the direction is clear. AI will continue to play a growing role in shaping the future of print. Toshiba is focused on helping partners apply these capabilities in meaningful ways, ensuring they can deliver value today while preparing for what comes next, this isn’t about replacing print, it’s about redefining where its value sits.”
Gareth agrees that AI will continue to influence print and scan. “The biggest opportunities will come from helping customers automate repetitive processes, configure devices remotely, improve operational efficiency and strengthen security,” he says. “The partners that succeed will be those that combine innovation with expertise and collaboration, to deliver measurable customer outcomes.”
Marcin adds that despite the wider noise around AI, its impact on print and scan is becoming steady, measurable and deeply embedded in how organisations work. “The businesses that act with purpose now will shape the next phase of the industry, because cleaner data, quicker decisions and fewer process bottlenecks are becoming the real competitive edge,” he says.
