The pace of technological advancement continues to reshape industries, and labeling and artwork management is no exception. As businesses strive to enhance efficiency, ensure compliance, and futureproof their operations, staying ahead of emerging trends is crucial.
A newly released report from Gartner highlights the top industry trends shaping supply chain packaging strategies in 2025 and beyond. In this blog, we explore the key takeaways from the report and share how businesses can stay ahead of these trends and futureproof their operations.
Key Trends from the Report
1. Digital Transformation: AI and Automation
Unsurprisingly, the report underscores the increasing adoption of AI and automation to streamline complex workflows, reduce human error, and drive greater efficiency. In labeling and artwork management, AI plays a pivotal role in automating regulatory compliance, content validation, and approval workflows. AI tools can even analyze data and predict packaging decisions, allowing for more tailored and successful product launches.
As stated in the report, "By 2028, the label and artwork management market will be dominated by a small handful of vendors who have mastered cloud, machine learning and AI capabilities." Organizations that don’t evolve risk being left behind by more agile, tech-enabled competitors.
This transformation is about more than just keeping pace. The report also emphasizes the tangible returns: "Technologies and software suites in the LAM (labeling and artwork management) market have rapidly advanced, enabling system upgrades to avoid issues related to labeling and artwork errors. These systems also enable a robust ROI once fully implemented."
The message is clear: embracing AI-driven automation isn’t just a smart move, it’s a non-negotiable for staying relevant, compliant, and competitive. Now is the time to invest in future-ready systems that will define the next era of labeling and artwork management.
To understand more about the importance of the digitization of labeling and artwork processes, you can read our recent blog on the topic here.
2. Cloud-Based Solutions & Enhanced Collaboration
As mentioned above, cloud-based solutions are also a key part of embracing technology in the labeling and artwork management process. The rise of remote work and global collaboration has accelerated the adoption of cloud-based solutions. The report highlights the importance of secure, scalable, and centralized platforms that allow teams to collaborate efficiently across multiple locations.
According to the report, "Many organizations find that they have multiple legacy LAM software solutions that are disconnected, or rely on outdated versions of software that limit access to current capabilities." This fragmentation stifles collaboration and increases risk.
To stay agile in a distributed, digital-first world, organizations must move beyond fragmented legacy systems. Cloud-based platforms not only enable real-time collaboration, they also reduce risk, improve control, and ensure everyone is working from a single source of truth. If communication breakdowns and collaboration gaps are leading to costly mistakes, cloud solutions offer a clear path forward, bringing teams, data, and processes together in one secure, scalable space.
If you’re still unsure whether a cloud-based solution is right for your business, check out our handy blog ‘Cloud-Based vs On-Premise Labeling Software: Choosing the Right Solution for Your Organization’.
3. Regulatory Complexity & Compliance Challenges
With global regulatory requirements changing constantly, organizations face growing challenges in maintaining compliance. The report highlights the need for adaptive solutions that can keep up with shifting regulations, particularly in highly regulated industries like pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and consumer goods. You can read more about how the right software is crucial to achieving 100% regulatory compliance here.
As the report rightly warns, "The financial risks of mislabeling products, artwork delays, market access delays and fines due to regulatory noncompliance are leading organizations to upgrade their label and artwork applications." Now more than ever, outdated labeling and artwork processes are putting compliance, market access, and brand reputation on the line. Ultimately, it’s crucial to ensure that your labeling and artwork management process is up to the job. To understand more, our recent blog, aimed at helping CFOs to understand more about the financial implications of getting it right (or wrong!) might be helpful.
4. Sustainability & Digital Labeling
Sustainability is no longer just a brand value—it’s a regulatory and operational imperative. The report highlights that “by 2025, 90% of public sustainable packaging commitments won’t be met” due to continued reliance on plastics and single-use formats. In response, major brands are resetting targets and extending timelines to 2030, acknowledging the technical and financial challenges involved.
At the same time, regulatory pressure is intensifying. New legislation, like extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes and the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), is turning sustainability into a compliance requirement. Organizations must now provide detailed data on recyclability, material use, and waste reduction.
The report also points to waste reduction as a rising strategy, particularly in B2B sectors. Companies are cutting unnecessary packaging and exploring reusable systems, such as Microsoft’s server rack solution that’s reused up to 70 times and contains over 50% recycled content.
Digital labeling plays a vital role here. Formats like eIFUs and QR-code-based labels reduce paper usage and enable dynamic updates—lowering environmental impact while ensuring up-to-date compliance.
Futureproofing with Veraciti
The trends outlined in Gartner’s report reinforce the need for intelligent, scalable, and future-ready solutions. At Kallik, we understand the challenges of modern labeling and artwork management, and our Veraciti platform is designed to help businesses navigate these industry shifts with confidence.
By leveraging AI, automation and cloud-based collaboration, Veraciti enables organizations to enhance efficiency, reduce risk, and stay ahead in an ever-changing landscape. And if it’s the migration process putting you off making that switch, Kallik’s AToM (Assisted Technology of Migration) leverages cutting-edge AI to simplify and streamline the labeling and artwork migration process with machine learning. The days of lengthy, complicated onboarding processes are ove thanks to AToM, so now you can make the switch and be headache-free!
Ready to future-proof your business? Speak to an expert today!
By leveraging Gartner’s insights and adopting innovative solutions like Kallik’s Veraciti, organizations can streamline their workflows, enhance compliance, and achieve sustainability goals—all while staying ahead of the competition. You can find Gartner’s full guide here.
Looking for advice on how to improve your label and artwork process? Get in touch with a Kallik expert today by emailing enquiries@kallik.com or calling +44 (0) 1827 318100.