OPS 2025 Recap: A Clearer Future for Online Print

The 2025 Online Print Symposium (OPS) welcomed over 300 attendees to Munich for two days of insight-packed presentations, product showcases, and industry networking. With keynotes from global print leaders and innovators, this year’s theme focused squarely on the future of online print—framed by AI, personalization, customer centricity, and inclusion. Gelato was part of the conversation, and the recognition we received from multiple speakers reinforced what we already believe: our industry is transforming fast, and the time to act is now.

What’s next for online print?

At a glance – key themes from OPS 2025:

• AI is no longer optional

• Mass personalization is redefining expectations

• CX is more important than pricing

• Social selling is a growing opportunity

• Digital workflows still overwhelm traditional PSPs

• Gelato was recognized for innovation in AI

• Accessibility is the next frontier

From the opening keynote by Michael Fries of VistaPrint to sessions from CEWE, HelloPrint, and Hoodie Hoo, one theme kept coming up: the customer is in the driver’s seat. Personalization is no longer a trend – it's the baseline. Whether it’s shorter print runs, tailored experiences, or intuitive design tools, print providers need to meet customers where they are.

As Annegret Bönemann put it: “If everyone offers the same quality, speed, and price – why should customers choose you?

The key message across multiple talks was this: customer experience is the real differentiator—not pricing, not turnaround time, and not machinery.

Speakers urged PSPs to fix the obvious CX blockers (like file upload friction), design for real-world buyers (not just pros), and embed customer insight into operations.

These themes echo our own belief: CX isn’t just a service layer. It’s a strategy.

The move from mass production to mass personalization at scale isn’t just aspirational – it’s operational. This shift is driving operational complexity across the supply chain—from artwork prep to fulfillment routing. The ability to test new SKUs, fulfill low-volume orders, and adapt without capital investment is becoming essential.

Platforms like GelatoConnect make this possible, turning personalization from a challenge into a growth lever.

AI was everywhere at OPS. Whether it’s automating production flows, optimizing pricing, or transforming customer service, AI is reshaping how we work – and what we can offer. Companies like HelloPrint showed how they scaled revenue while shrinking teams, powered by automation and data.

GelatoConnect was mentioned in multiple keynotes for its contant commitment to connect printers with AI. See here our webinar “AI in Printing: How professional printers can future-proof their business with AI-powered software” 

While the case for connected systems is clear, many PSPs shared that web-to-print workflows still feel overwhelming.

From storefront onboarding to SKU setup and automation, even well-established printers are struggling to connect the dots. This is where system integration—and simplification—becomes essential.

At Gelato, we see this need firsthand. Whether you’re running a global print network or scaling locally, interoperability is the foundation for flexibility.

t’s what enables print-on-demand, just-in-time production, and truly customer-first experiences.

It was exciting to hear Gelato mentioned multiple times throughout the event – particularly in conversations around print-on-demand (POD) and sustainable, scalable production models. As the market continues shifting toward local, fast, flexible fulfillment, our platform is increasingly recognized as a key enabler for growth.

While OPS wasn’t structured around exhibition booths, the conversations we had – especially during breaks – confirmed what we’re seeing globally: printers are looking for smarter solutions. Many attendees were already active in ecommerce and online print, but eager to understand how industry leaders like VistaPrint and Solopress are adapting – and how they can, too.

From social commerce to 3D printing, from AI-driven decision-making to inclusive hiring – the innovation on display at OPS was inspiring. But the message was clear: change isn’t coming. It’s already here.

OPS 2025 made one thing clear: change is no longer coming—it’s already reshaping how we work. From social commerce to AI, from accessibility to mass personalization, the path forward is ambitious. But it doesn’t have to be confusing.

At GelatoConnect, we’re not just building software. We’re helping printers simplify complexity, adopt smarter workflows, and scale sustainably—with support that meets them where they are.

If you missed us at OPS and want to see how we’re turning transformation into action, reach out below.