Fespa has launched its 2026 Print Census, with the latest research set to examine e-commerce and web-to-print, workforce and skills gaps, and growth applications, pricing pressures and profitability.
The global research initiative is designed to gather market intelligence from print and sign businesses and is run twice a year in collaboration with Fespa’s Thought Leadership Partner, Keypoint Intelligence.
First launched in 2015, the Print Census is intended to provide Fespa members and the wider speciality print community with data-led insight into the issues shaping the sector.
The key findings from its 2025 Print Census, which explored automation, AI and sustainability, have also been released. The survey drew on responses from 774 businesses across 89 countries and was the first Print Census since 2018, as well as the first in the new twice-yearly format.
The findings suggest that while businesses understand the need to modernise, adoption remains uneven. According to the survey, 75% of print businesses have fewer than 50 employees, with nearly half employing 10 people or less. Fespa said this limits investment capacity and means many businesses prioritise immediate operational pressures over longer-term transformation.
Nearly half of respondents reported having no automation in place, despite pressure from labour shortages, rising costs and faster turnaround expectations. Where automation is being used, it is most commonly applied to workflow tools, web-to-print platforms and prepress processes.
AI adoption also remains limited, with around 40% of print service providers not using AI at all. Current use is mainly focused on areas such as design support, colour management and basic scheduling, rather than wider integration into production workflows.
Sustainability was identified as important by 92% of businesses, but only 40% described it as a core strategic priority. Higher material costs and limited customer demand were cited as barriers, particularly for smaller firms.
Fespa said the findings show a gap between innovation and adoption, with suppliers developing automation, AI and sustainable solutions while many PSPs lack the resources, knowledge or infrastructure to implement them. The full 2025 report is available to Fespa Direct and Association members on the Fespa website.
