39 www.signlink.co.uk Issue 263 - February | March 2026 WORKFLOW SOFTWARE | JONATHAN PERT rebuilding your process from scratch,” Riley comments. Many users may be looking for a ‘one stop shop’ workflow solution that encompasses all possible operations. However, Riley believes that this is not always helpful. “A one stop shop can sound convenient,” he says, “but it often turns into a rigid system that is hard to train and harder to change. Most shops already have tools they trust like design software, MIS, and shipping. What they need is a workflow layer that connects those tools and removes friction. The best systems do the critical pieces well and integrate cleanly, instead of trying to replace everything.” Riley believes that over the next few years, workflow innovation will be less about chasing speed, and more about protecting margins. Explaining his vision for the future of workflow technology, he says: “First, we will see predictive systems that catch more problems before a job becomes scrap and before a small issue turns into a long downtime day. Second, we will see more template driven automation that makes short runs and mixed job queues feel easy instead of chaotic. Finally, we will see more financial visibility built into production, so teams can track the real drivers of profit, not just whether the printer is running.” DPI Labs has more updates and solutions planned for 2026, both in terms of hardware and software, though as of time of writing these are yet to be formerly announced. Riley hints that the company is “planning to debut something new at an upcoming trade show in February.” While he cannot share the details yet, he does disclose that the new solution is “focused on reducing steps, improving consistency, and protecting margin.” Time will tell. Go With the Flow Workflow solutions from companies like Clarity and DPI can help to provide the We will see more financial visibility built into production, so teams can track the real drivers of profit ◄Alongside its KFLOW software, DPI Labs produces the Catalyst line of UV printers ▼Workflow solutions are seeing increased adoption in an increasingly connected digital ecosystem According to PRINTING United Alliance’s ‘Production Digital Printing 2025’ report, nearly 80% of print providers have automated at least part of their workflows Factoid oversight needed to allow printers and sign-makers to move beyond reactive ‘fire-fighting’. By establishing a consistent flow of information from the first quote through to the final install, these platforms help identify hidden logjams that eat into profits, ensuring your team’s core technical expertise is spent on their core craft. In 2026, many would argue that the businesses maintaining the healthiest margins are those that have traded in the ‘controlled chaos’ of yesteryear for a structured digital framework, ensuring that production remains predictable even when the job queue gets full.
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