Medienholding Süd explains rigorous workflow for successful print automation
Hello, Jon here. Today, I'd like to talk about the secrets to the German media company Medienholding Süd's successful automation of printing. This company has achieved great results by using AI and technology to streamline the printing process for newspapers, magazines, and other products. While the printing industry faces challenges such as labor shortages and cost reduction, their approach emphasizes "precise, clear, and strict workflows." I'll explain this in an easy-to-understand manner, based on content shared on the INMA (International News Media Association) blog in June 2025. Print automation is a technology that replaces traditional manual processes with software and AI, streamlining the entire process from layout creation to printing. This is expected to save time and reduce errors.
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Overview of Medienholding Süd's printing automation project
Medienholding Süd is a media group in southern Germany that handles newspapers and publications. According to an INMA blog post published on June 11, 2025, the company undertook to automate print layout and transform its team. Traditionally, the printing industry has relied heavily on human experience, but they introduced a system that utilizes AI. Specifically, they increased efficiency by strictly defining workflows and limiting flexibility. As Gregor Zoller (IT Director) explains, it is difficult to change methods that have been accustomed to for many years, which is why "rigor" was the key.
The project reflects trends across the printing industry. For example, InBetween 6, a solution for automating database publishing that was unveiled at OpenPR on May 19, 2025, highlights a pragmatic approach that integrates AI. Medienholding Süd's success is also driven by a similar balance between people, process, and technology.
The key to success: Integrating people, process and technology
The INMA article lists three factors as the key to Medienholding Süd's success. First, in terms of people, the creation of new roles was important. For example, they created a position called an AI-based print producer and trained editors to be "power users." This apparently increased the number of experts within the team and reduced the burden on the technical team. For the uninitiated, a power user is an internal expert who is well-versed in the tools. They play a support role within the company and work to improve the skills of the entire team.
Next came the "process" aspect. They tightened the workflow and eliminated ambiguity. According to Zoller, being too flexible can lead to old habits being perpetuated, so they clearly defined the rules. They also chose a strategy to simplify the print layout. They kept their team motivated by communicating this as a strategic decision, rather than a technical constraint.
And then there's technology. They've introduced automation tools that utilize AI to streamline layout creation. In a September 29, 2025, INMA X (formerly Twitter) post, Zoller stated, "Automating print layout will yield a faster ROI (return on investment) than expected." ROI is an indicator of how much profit you get out of an investment. In this way, Medienholding Süd's case symbolizes the digital shift in the printing industry.
- Rigorous Workflow: Prevent mistakes by eliminating ambiguity and standardizing rules.
- Simplified layout: Increased productivity through reduced complexity.
- Creating new roles: Develop AI experts and strengthen your team.
This approach can be applied to other industries. For example, in the document creation field, tools that use AI to instantly create documents and websites are gaining attention. Relatedly, a tool called Gamma uses AI to set a new standard for quickly creating documents, slides, and websites. For more information,This articleWe explain this in detail, so if you're interested, please check it out.
Printing Automation Trends in 2025 and Medienholding Süd's Impact
Medienholding Süd's success is spreading throughout the industry. At Prinect User Days 2025, reported by Printindustry.news on February 5, 2025, automation and hybrid production (combining digital and traditional printing) were the focus. Workflow optimization was discussed to meet increasing competition and demand for shorter delivery times. Additionally, according to a March 20, 2025, Printweek article, a Gelato report noted the increasing adoption of AI and automation, fueling demand for personalized printing.
The market size is also expanding. OpenPR's latest 2025 report (published 15 hours ago) predicts that the print workflow software market will grow to $52 billion by 2031, with a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 5.2%. CAGR indicates how much the market will grow each year. Major players include EFI, Xerox, HP Inc., Adobe, and Kodak, and examples like Medienholding Süd are driving this growth.
Trends on X (formerly Twitter) also show growing interest in print automation. For example, a post on manroland web shared how a Portuguese newspaper printing site reduced waste by 30% through automation, which shares similarities with Medienholding Süd's rigorous workflow. A post on INMA also highlighted Medienholding Süd's ROI, drawing industry attention. These trends are from late September to early October 2025.
- The expanding role of AI: From layout automation to personalization.
- Market Growth: The software market will expand rapidly from 2025 to 2031.
- Sharing examples: More success stories of waste reduction and efficiency improvements.
Summary: Thinking about the future of printing automation
Medienholding Süd's case study shows that successful print automation requires rigorous workflow and team transformation. AI can solve traditional challenges and significantly improve efficiency. This trend will become even more widespread and transform the industry in 2025.
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To sum up, Medienholding Süd's efforts teach us that it's important not just to introduce technology, but also to design human-centered processes. This should make it easier for even beginners to benefit from AI. This is an example that small and medium-sized printing companies in Japan can follow in the future.
Reference sources
- INMA Blog: Medienholding Süd's journey to print automation (June 11, 2025) – https://www.inma.org/blogs/Generative-AI-Initiative/post.cfm/medienholding-sud-s-journey-to-print-automation-was-about-people-processes-and-technology
- OpenPR: Smart Digital Print Automation starts here – InBetween 6 (May 19, 2025) – https://openpr.com/news/4023428/smart-digital-print-automation-starts-here-inbetween-6-is-now
- OpenPR: Print Workflow Software Market Segmentation Analysis (Updated to 2025) – https://openpr.com/news/4205690/print-workflow-software-market-segmentation-analysis
- Printindustry.news: Prinect User Days 2025 (February 5, 2025) – https://printindustry.news/story/48292/prinect-user-days-2025-focus-on-automation-and-hybrid-production
- Printweek: AI and automation essential for workflow improvement (March 20, 2025) – https://printweek.com/content/news/ai-and-automation-essential-for-workflow-improvement-gelato-report-finds
- X (formerly Twitter) Post: Related posts from INMA and manroland web (late September 2025)