FESPA Middle East has wrapped up in Dubai, and while not everyone could make it to the show, the conversations that took place are worth paying attention to.
Beyond the conference programme and show floor activity, something very clear emerged across discussions at the Digital Ink Hub -print businesses are asking the same questions, facing the same pressures, and feeling the same frustration around how digital investment is translating into real-world results.
These weren’t abstract trends or future predictions. They were practical, immediate challenges being raised by business owners, leaders, and teams dealing with them right now.
Across the event, a consistent set of themes kept coming up in conversations with print businesses of all sizes and across multiple regions.
Many teams are still struggling to get full value from existing web-to-print or print-on-demand platforms. The technology is in place, but the outcomes don’t always match the investment. In many cases, the issue isn’t the software itself, but how it fits into wider workflows, teams, and go-to-market strategy.
Workflow friction was another common topic. Sales, ordering, production, and fulfilment often operate in silos, creating unnecessary manual steps, delays, and errors. These inefficiencies quietly eat away at margins and capacity, especially as order volumes and complexity increase.
AI and automation also featured heavily in discussions – not as buzzwords, but as areas of uncertainty. Many businesses feel pressure to “do something” with AI, yet struggle to see how it can be applied practically without adding more complexity or risk.
And underpinning all of this was a shared concern around ROI. Digital investment is expected to drive efficiency, scalability, and growth – but too often, the results are unclear or difficult to measure.
One of the strongest takeaways from FESPA Middle East was that these challenges aren’t coming “sometime down the line”. They’re already here.
The businesses making progress aren’t necessarily the ones buying the most technology. They’re the ones stepping back, reviewing how their systems, workflows, and teams actually operate, and then making deliberate, strategic changes.
That’s why so many conversations at the Digital Ink Hub focused less on tools and more on clarity – understanding what’s working, what isn’t, and where small, focused improvements can unlock real gains.
If you couldn’t attend FESPA Middle East, the good news is that these conversations don’t stop when the show ends.
The same questions raised in Dubai are coming up across the industry – and they’re often the starting point for meaningful change. Whether it’s improving workflow efficiency, simplifying digital operations, or making automation feel achievable rather than overwhelming, the first step is understanding your current setup honestly.
That’s where a structured review can make a real difference.
If the challenges discussed here feel familiar, Digital Ink offers a no-obligation strategy and workflow audit. It’s a practical review designed to identify gaps, opportunities, and clear next steps – without pressure, jargon, or sales fluff.
👉 Get in touch to book a strategy audit or continue the conversation.
Even if we didn’t meet in Dubai, we’d be happy to share what we’re seeing across the industry and explore how these insights apply to your business.
