Moving AI Tech from Buzzword to Business Catalyst 

Not so at here at Esko, where we’ve been building AI technology into our operations and software solutions. Our approach to AI is measured and focused on tangible outcomes. We currently partner with four AI-focused companies and are developing multiple different AI-powered software products, reflecting our commitment to innovation in the packaging industry. 

But core to our approach is that we look at Generative AI as a valuable tool, not a goal on its own. The true power of AI lies in using new tools to solve customer problems, only applying AI when it genuinely helps deliver the right solutions. 

Our customer-centric philosophy guides our AI integration strategy across various aspects of the packaging workflow.

• Phoenix: our CAD-based nesting and imposition solution uses AI-based algorithms on the prepress planning platform to calculate the most efficient print sheet or web layout, reducing waste and improving efficiency.
• Customer Service Chatbot: A ChatGPT-like chatbot trained on Esko product documentation delivers instant, precise answers to customer queries. It has all the Esko product information our customers might need, whenever they might need it.  
• Robotics & Prototypes: We’re exploring AI for job quoting and print profile optimization. In flexographic platemaking, we’ve brought to market a robot arm that moves fragile flexo plates from one station to another, assisting with loading and unloading in the CDI.  
• Automated label compliance: we use AI to efficiently turn regular product specification sheets into automated label checklists and scan everything from allergen information to barcodes, thereby accelerating complex compliance checking.

It’s AI with a purpose, delivering tangible benefits in operational efficiency and sustainability.

AI excels at data processing but lacks human creativity and logic. That’s why AI is better viewed as a partner, automating repetitive tasks so teams can focus on problem-solving, ideation, and innovation.

In our R&D efforts, we’re actively developing AI-based prototypes across our business units – software and flexo platemaking. Our goal is to ensure these AI innovations will have a substantial impact on operational efficiency for our customers. 

This vision of AI complementing, rather than replacing, human expertise is central to our approach. We’re focused on embedding AI within our solutions in ways that enhance user capabilities without requiring extensive AI training. Our customers should be able to quickly adopt and benefit from AI-enhanced tools without significant disruption to their workflows. 

I firmly believe AI will drive us to excel, but we need to be aware of both its strengths and its limitations. As AI takes over repetitive and mundane tasks, we’ll need to focus more on our uniquely human skills: interpersonal interaction, social skills, challenging each other in ideation stages, arguing and disagreeing – all those intricate processes that drive us towards creative solutions.