In today’s dynamic communications landscape, in-plant printing operations are experiencing a quiet revolution. Once viewed primarily as internal service departments focused solely on producing printed materials, in-plants are now emerging as strategic assets within their organizations. This shift comes in response to both internal demands for greater value and external competition from commercial service providers.

Across the board, in-plants are stepping up — not just to deliver quality print, but to become agile, customer-centric, and tech-forward hubs of communication and efficiency. This evolution is captured in a recent report by NAPCO Research, “Defining In-plant Success Strategies for Demonstrating Value.”  The report highlights how forward-thinking in-plants are reimagining their operations to drive strategic impact and long-term growth.

Elevating the Customer Experience

One of the most significant changes taking place in the in-plant world is the renewed focus on the customer experience. In-plants are recognizing that it’s not enough to provide high-quality output. The entire process — from order submission and project tracking to communication and delivery — must be frictionless and intuitive.

To that end, many in-plants have adopted web-to-print and online ordering solutions. In fact, the In-plant Impressions 2024 Trends and Services Report reveals that 75% of in-plants now offer these tools. This technology enables internal clients to submit jobs more easily and track progress in real time, reducing confusion and saving time for everyone involved.

Beyond software, in-plants are proactively engaging with clients to better understand their needs, solve problems collaboratively, and consistently deliver a high level of service. These efforts are steadily reshaping the perception of in-plants from task-oriented units to trusted internal partners.

Diversifying Services to Meet Expanding Needs

An exciting evolution is the broadening of in-plant service portfolios. While digital printing still makes up the lion’s share of their work, today’s in-plants are embracing new avenues such as wide-format graphics, contour cutting, embellishments like foil stamping and varnishes, and even promotional product production.

The scope of offerings now frequently includes apparel decoration, short-run packaging, secure document printing, and event signage. This expansion reflects a growing role in supporting marketing, human resources, and operations — turning the in-plant into a full-service communications provider.

This variety of work not only enhances the in-plant’s value but also deepens its integration with internal departments. As in-plants demonstrate that they can manage more complex and creative work, internal teams are increasingly turning to them rather than external print providers.

Investing in the Future with Production Inkjet

A cornerstone of this evolution is technology investment — particularly in production inkjet printing. As print volumes shift and customer expectations rise, production inkjet offers a compelling mix of speed, flexibility, and cost efficiency.

The move to inkjet allows in-plants to consolidate monochrome and color printing on a single device, reduce outsourcing, and take on more short- and mid-run jobs with confidence. It also enables richer personalization, an increasingly critical capability for marketing and customer communications.

According to NAPCO Research surveys, in-plants are gravitating toward inkjet not just for its operational benefits but for the strategic edge it provides. With more organizations focused on digital transformation and agile service delivery, inkjet allows in-plants to stay ahead of the curve.

Embracing Growth While Managing Complexity

Growth, however, is not without its challenges. As in-plants expand into new service areas, they must also address increased operational complexity, staff training needs, and more sophisticated technology integrations. Capital investments must be justified with a clear return-on-investment strategy, and new capabilities must be effectively marketed internally to ensure adoption.

Navigating these challenges requires thoughtful leadership and a commitment to continuous improvement. In-plants that successfully balance growth with process discipline are best positioned to maintain momentum and deepen their organizational value.

A New Era of Strategic Relevance

Today’s in-plants are agile, business-savvy units playing a pivotal role in organizational communications. Through innovation, diversification, and strategic investment — especially in digital and inkjet technologies — they’re securing their future and redefining their importance. 

Today’s in-plants are agile, business-savvy units playing a pivotal role in organizational communications — and their future is being shaped through innovation, diversification, and strategic investment, particularly in digital and inkjet technologies. To explore the full findings and strategies behind this transformation, download the complete NAPCO Research report, “Defining In-plant Success Strategies for Demonstrating Value.” 

Author bio: Lisa Cross is the principal analyst of NAPCO Media Research, a unit of the PRINTING United Alliance, where she conducts market research and analysis on emerging trends and changing dynamics in the commercial, in-plant and packaging industries, and the market forces that are driving those changes. With decades of experience covering the graphic arts and marketing industries, Cross has authored thousands of articles on a variety of topics, including technology trends, business strategy, sales, marketing, and legislation.