3 Quick Takeways from IPMA 2025

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This year’s In-Plant Printing and Mailing Association (IPMA) Conference in Spokane, Washington (June 8-12) provided in-plant leaders with more than just updates; it delivered a strategic lens on where the industry is headed, what challenges to prepare for, and what action to take.

With automation pressures mounting, workforce challenges persisting, artificial intelligence (AI) integration gaining speed, and postal changes on the horizon, IPMA 2025 took a clear-eyed look at the structural shifts facing in-plants today. Alongside a series of well-attended vendor showcases, the conference delved into the real-world decisions in-plant managers are grappling with, from how to deploy AI without dedicated IT teams to how to justify equipment upgrades amid shrinking staff.

Sessions focused on practical adaptation, offering examples of how organizations are diversifying services, improving workflow efficiency, and responding to external pressures such as USPS pricing reform and tariff impacts. The event made clear that survival in today’s environment isn’t about doing more with less—it’s about working smarter, rethinking roles, and aligning print operations more closely with institutional goals.

• AI is accelerating, adoption will follow: AI has moved well beyond experimentation. From auto-color calibration and predictive maintenance to AI-driven design checks and customer request parsing, speakers showcased in-plant-ready applications delivering real efficiency gains. The key takeaway? Start with repetitive or data-rich tasks and build from there.

• In-plants shift from service providers to strategic partners: Presenters urged teams to reposition themselves as innovation engines, not cost centers. New offerings such as apparel, embellishment, labels, and advanced wide format are opening doors for insourcing, revenue generation, and brand enhancement. The report explores how these trends intersect with cloud migration, e-commerce integration, and hybrid workflows.

• Workforce sustainability is a top concern and automation is a lifeline: Ageing technical talent, hiring gaps, and growing complexity are putting pressure on small teams. But relief is coming from smart automation: robotics in materials handling, AI in prepress, and improved vendor support models. The conference emphasized reviewing workflows and investing in flexible tools that scale with your needs.

The upcoming Keypoint Intelligence IPMA 2025 Conference Analysis offers detailed insight on a selection of keynotes that are technically or operationally significant. It includes actionable recommendations, breakout coverage of AI sessions, and strategies for future-proofing your operation.

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