RFID is no longer limited to apparel tags and warehouse pallets. It’s rapidly moving into recyclable paperboard packaging as brands demand better traceability without sacrificing sustainability. With the global market projected to grow at nearly 10% annually, RFID-enabled cartons and corrugated packaging are becoming a practical tool for improving inventory accuracy, reducing labor, and meeting evolving retailer and regulatory expectations.

RFID technology is rapidly moving beyond apparel and warehouse tracking into food and everyday consumer goods packaging. Despite regulatory pauses like the FDA’s extended food traceability deadline, adoption has not slowed. Retailers, brands, and food service companies are continuing to invest in RFID to improve inventory accuracy, reduce waste, enhance traceability, and protect brand integrity. From grocery and restaurant supply chains to luxury goods packaging, RFID is becoming a core component of modern packaging strategies rather than a future consideration.

Printing is no longer confined to ink on paper. Across packaging, mail, and industrial production lines, print is being integrated directly into manufacturing workflows. That shift is opening new revenue streams for print service providers willing to think beyond traditional applications.

The printing industry heads into 2026 facing rising input costs, margin compression, and supply chain instability. With 70% of providers bracing for higher expenses, smart capital planning and operational efficiency will be key to staying profitable.

By 2026, RFID smart labels will power real-time tracking, automation, and secure product authentication across global supply chains. The convergence with AI, IoT, 5G, and blockchain is turning packaging into an intelligent infrastructure—driving speed, efficiency, and trust for leaders who invest now.

The RFID label-printing market is exploding as compliance mandates like Walmart’s reshape supply chains. DPi’s retrofit inkjet systems let converters break in fast—adding item-level serialization, barcode, and print-to-RFID alignment to existing flexo and web lines without major capital expense.

Governments and major brands are accelerating sustainability mandates across the packaging and print sectors. Firms must act now, adopting eco-materials, circular design, and waste-reduction systems, to stay compliant, competitive, and credible.

As print environments grow more connected, security is under the microscope. Microsoft’s Windows Protected Print (WPP) and zero-trust models are setting new standards for secure printing by eliminating driver vulnerabilities, enforcing authentication, and encrypting print data. This article examines the evolving threat landscape in both office and production print environments, highlights key risks such as unsecured queues and variable data leaks, and outlines practical steps printshop owners can take to protect data, maintain compliance, and build customer trust in 2025.

Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing print operations by turning data-driven insights into real productivity gains. From predictive maintenance that prevents costly downtime to real-time color correction and automated workflow optimization, AI is enabling mid-sized printshops to compete smarter and operate more efficiently. This article explores practical AI applications in inkjet and variable data printing, the most accessible tools for immediate impact, and how to separate genuine innovation from overhyped promises.

Xerox’s launch of the IJP900 marks a strategic comeback to cut-sheet inkjet printing after years away from the segment. The new press, built in partnership with Kyocera, targets the fast-growing mid-volume market—bridging the gap between toner and high-end continuous-feed inkjet systems. The move highlights broader shifts in the industry: shorter run lengths, increased personalization, and demand for digital flexibility. This article examines Xerox’s re-entry strategy, its impact on competition, and what print service providers should consider before investing.

Digital printing now supports covert security features that go far beyond visible QR codes or standard taggants. Print providers can embed invisible digital watermarks, UV-reactive inks, microtext, and steganographic patterns directly into artwork. These features survive normal handling, remain undetected to the eye, and can be verified with specialized scanners or apps. Combined with variable-data inkjet serialization and automated inspection, they create layered defenses that make counterfeiting and diversion far more difficult.

High-speed variable-data inkjet now makes it practical to print books and catalogs only when they’re needed—down to a single personalized copy. With PDF/VT workflows and automated finishing, print providers can merge unique covers, localized inserts, and serialized codes at engine speed. This just-in-time model cuts inventory and waste, accelerates turnaround, and enables true mass customization.

Inkjet technology is reshaping textile production by enabling true one-off and short-run personalization. From direct-to-garment T-shirts to roll-to-roll fashion fabrics, print service providers can merge variable data—names, numbers, QR codes—directly in the RIP. Success requires precise color management, correct pretreatment, and matched ink chemistry (pigment, reactive, acid, or dye-sublimation). When integrated with automated workflows and finishing, variable-data inkjet delivers profitable, just-in-time textile products at industrial scale.

Print-on-demand, personalization, and web-to-print platforms are transforming how printers operate. Driven by changing consumer expectations, sustainability goals, and advances in digital technology, the industry is moving from mass-production to agile, data-driven workflows. From short-run on-demand jobs to variable data campaigns and interactive packaging, print providers are finding new ways to cut waste, improve turnaround, and deliver personalized experiences. DPi leads this shift by equipping clients with high-speed digital presses, VDP expertise, and online ordering solutions that keep print relevant and profitable in the digital age.

As commercial print volumes shrink, packaging has emerged as the printing industry’s growth engine. Driven by e-commerce, branding demands, and advances in digital printing, packaging is growing 9–11% globally—offsetting a 5% annual decline in traditional print. From personalized beverage labels to smart, serialized boxes, packaging is now a critical marketing and operational tool for brands. Print service providers are pivoting toward packaging to capture this growth, and DPi is helping them make the transition with cutting-edge inkjet technology, workflow automation, and variable data expertise.

mart packaging is rapidly moving from niche to mainstream in the direct-to-consumer (D2C) market, powered by affordable IoT sensors, AI-driven analytics, and the flexibility of digital printing. By integrating connected tags, QR codes, and real-time monitoring into packaging, brands can enhance traceability, reduce waste, and create personalized consumer experiences. For print service providers, this shift opens new opportunities to deliver value-added packaging solutions—especially when leveraging DPi’s high-speed variable data printing systems to produce unique, interactive packaging at scale.

Smart packaging is redefining the role of print in the supply chain. With high-speed inkjet and variable data printing, brands can now embed unique QR codes on every package—enabling real-time trackability, product authentication, and digital consumer interaction. This shift transforms packaging from static material into a dynamic platform for logistics visibility and marketing engagement. For packaging printers, it’s not just about printing graphics anymore—it’s about delivering data-rich, serialized experiences at scale.

The USPS is moving from traditional Intelligent Mail barcodes (IMb) to enhanced 2D “QR-style” codes, with a major transition deadline set for January 2025. This shift will impact mailing operations across shipping labels, meter indicia, and bulk mail categories. For printers and mail service providers, the change means upgrading hardware, updating software, and retraining staff to meet new USPS compliance standards. The new DataMatrix codes promise better tracking, higher scan reliability, and greater data capacity—unlocking efficiency, security, and even customer engagement opportunities. Early adoption is key to avoiding disruptions and staying competitive in the evolving mailstream.

As Kyocera restructures to shed non-core business units, its inkjet division is not only surviving, it’s thriving. With increased focus and investment in its printhead and production printer technologies, Kyocera is signaling long-term commitment to the digital print ecosystem. For OEMs, integrators, and end users, this strategic pivot means greater supply chain stability, more innovation, and a reliable partner at the heart of the inkjet landscape

Offset printing has long been the gold standard for quality and scale—but in today’s market, speed and flexibility are everything. This article breaks down how digital inkjet systems are overtaking offset in cost-efficiency, customization, and turnaround time. From packaging and labels to direct mail and books, see how high-speed inkjet presses are redefining industrial print workflows, and why many providers are making the shift now.