286 - Esko's AI automation is going to solve A LOT of problems! Live from LabelExpo 3 of 5

People of Packaging Podcast

About the Guest(s):

Jan de Roeck is the Marketing Director for Industry Relations and Strategy at Esko. With numerous years of experience in the corporate marketing team, Jan specializes in public relations and serves as a storyteller for Esko. He is highly knowledgeable about the packaging and label industry, focusing particularly on the interaction between consumers and packaging. Jan's role encompasses the automation of pre-press operations, workflow improvements, and the integration of innovative technologies, including AI, to streamline processes for brand owners and converters alike.

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Episode Summary:

In this vibrant episode of the People of Packaging Podcast, host Adam Peek sits down with Jan de Roeck, the Marketing Director for Industry Relations and Strategy at Esko, live from Label Expo in Chicago. They delve into the importance of packaging and labels within the consumer journey and the steps Esko is taking to modernize and automate these processes. Jan shares insights on the integral role packaging plays in consumer experience and the need for efficiency to adapt to changing consumer behaviors.

Expanding on Esko's contribution, Jan talks about the various tools and innovations developed by Esko to simplify the pre-press stage for converters. Highlighting the cultural shift towards more agile and automated solutions, he reveals some fascinating advancements including the use of AI to optimize label layouts, streamline color management, and even calculate carbon footprints. Esko is pioneering efforts to make the tedious steps in label and packaging manufacturing more efficient and consistent, ensuring better outcomes for both brands and consumers.

Key Takeaways:

* Role of Packaging in Consumer Experience: Packaging is not just a container but a crucial part of the consumer experience, influencing purchase decisions and brand loyalty.

* Automation and Efficiency in Pre-Press: Esko focuses on removing inefficiencies in the pre-press stage, providing tools for better workflow automation, color management, and PDF editing specifically tailored for the label and packaging industry.

* AI in Packaging: AI plays a significant role in improving efficiency and accuracy, with Esko developing AI-based tools like Phoenix for optimizing label layouts and new prototypes for reverse-engineering color profiles and calculating the carbon footprint.

* Cross-Industry Integration: Esko's association with X-Rite and Pantone highlights the interconnected nature of the industry, aiming to maintain color consistency and quality from the brand owner to the final printed product.

* Consumer Influence: The ever-changing consumer preferences demand shorter print runs and faster turnaround times, driving the need for innovative solutions to adapt quickly and efficiently.

Notable Quotes:

* "Packaging plays an instrumental role in this process, not only in the buying journey but also afterwards consuming the product and then getting rid of waste." - Jan de Roeck

* "Our product is never the end product that comes off of a printing press. It is always what I would call a half product. It serves a bigger purpose." - Jan de Roeck

* "We created a bit of an innovation lab setup where we can already show such prototypes to people that ask us the question, 'What are you doing with AI?'" - Jan de Roeck

* "As human beings, no way you can handle all of these variables and then still do a good job at coming up with the most efficient one." - Jan de Roeck

* "We suck at telling stories and we need to get better at it, because stories are a way to connect, and we gravitate towards really good stories." - Adam Peek

Resources:

* Esko Website

* LinkedIn - Jan de Roeck

* X-Rite

* Pantone

* Phoenix: AI-based tool for optimizing label layouts

Intrigued by the conversation? Don’t miss out on the full episode to gain deeper insights into the evolving packaging industry and hear more compelling stories and innovative initiatives from the experts at Esko. Stay tuned for more enlightening episodes from the People of Packaging Podcast!

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