One of the key themes that emerged during ePS Connect 2026 in Las Vegas was convergence. Not just convergence in the way the word has been used recently within the package printing industry – labels creeping into flexible packaging, or folding carton presses running at what used to be label-only events. The kind of convergence discussed February 10-12 at The Wynn was something deeper: the convergence of systems, of data, and of intelligence.

And increasingly, convergence of AI with MIS and ERP.

More than 500 customers and partners gathered for the annual ePS user event and industry conference, and what became clear was this: AI is no longer a theoretical sidebar topic, nor is it confined to marketing departments experimenting with generative copy tools. AI is operational.

The backdrop for the event was the reality most packaging converters already feel – shorter runs, more SKUs, higher customer expectations, labor shortages, sustainability mandates, margin pressure. Multi-site operations stitched together with systems that were never designed to talk to one another.

One of the more direct slides from ePS captured it plainly: systems across ERP, prepress, and production remain disconnected. And individual fixes are no longer enough because the problems themselves are connected.

Because AI layered onto disconnected systems doesn’t create intelligence. It creates confusion. And that’s where the idea of convergence — true operational convergence — starts to matter.

Across sessions and demonstrations, a recurring message emerged: regardless of whether a converter is running narrow web, sheetfed offset, digital inkjet, or CI flexo, the need for integrated estimating, scheduling, inventory management, and production visibility is universal.

The technology providers at ePS Connect made it clear that modern MIS and ERP systems are no longer designed for one print segment. They are being architected to handle hybrid operations — shops running labels, cartons, and flexible packaging under the same roof.

For converters diversifying into folding cartons or flexible packaging, this convergence requires more than new presses. It demands unified data, standardized workflows, and scalable systems capable of supporting multiple production models.

AI Is Becoming a Competitive Divider

NAPCO Research VP Nathan Safran brought the data.

His research on AI adoption in the printing industry showed that 85% of print providers believe AI is critical to staying competitive; 83% say it unlocks new business opportunities. Nearly half believe firms without AI will not survive.

But the more interesting story wasn’t the headline numbers. It was the divide.

Organizations classified as AI “leaders” are actively encouraging experimentation across departments. They are embedding AI into workflows. They are formalizing evaluation and deployment. Meanwhile, in what Safran referred to as “laggard” organizations, a significant portion report no formal evaluation of AI tools at all.

Safran’s research also underscored something converters will appreciate: the most impactful AI gains aren’t coming from surface-level automation. They’re emerging in core operational processes — estimating, scheduling, forecasting, color management, quality control. In other words, the parts of the business that actually determine profitability.

That observation naturally leads to MIS and ERP, because those systems sit at the center of a printing operation.

“What Is Your AI Agent Strategy?”

While Safran provided lots of AI and convergence-related data during his morning keynote, in the afternoon, keynote speaker Steve Metcalf shifted the conversation forward.

Metcalf, founder, CEO, and chief AI officer of Imagine AI LIVE, pivoted his session in real-time with a simple but pointed question: “What is your AI agent strategy?”

Metcalf framed AI agents not as “chatbots” but as workers; digital coworkers — systems capable of monitoring workflows, making rule-based decisions, escalating issues, optimizing tasks, and continuously learning from process data. And in his words, AI and the printing industry are “a match made in heaven.”

Why? Because printing and packaging operations are rule-driven, data-rich, and full of repeatable decisions. The industry already runs on logic and process – AI simply accelerates it.

But he was careful not to oversimplify.

AI is a journey, Metcalf said, implying that it’s not something you turn on and suddenly you’re better. You have to commit to it and continuously improve.

This resonates, particularly with packaging manufacturers who know there is no such thing as plug-and-play efficiency.

AI’s adoption and evolution is taking place at an unprecedented rate. Illustrating this, Metcalf highlighted several quotes from some of biggest names in tech today, including:

Sam Altman, CEO, OpenAI: “If companies don’t figure out how to hire people that are going to use the tools effectively, they will eventually be replaced by a fully AI company.”

Elon Musk: “As soon as you unlock the digital human, you basically have access to trillions of dollars in revenue…I’d be surprised by the end of this year if digital human emulation has not been solved.”

Dario Amodel, CEO, Anthropic: “We might be six to 12 months away from when the model is doing most, maybe all of what software engineers do end-to-end.”

Marc Benioff, CEO, Salesforce: “From this point forward…we will be managing not inly human workers but also digital workers.”

Satya Nadella, CEO, Microsoft: “All of us are going to be managers of infinite minds.”

Jensen Huang, CEO, NVIDIA: “How to direct an AI, how to prompt an AI, how to manage an AI…these skills are no different than leading people, managing people.”

ePS: Connecting the Core

As host of the event, ePS positioned itself squarely in the middle of these convergence and AI stories. And one of the key messages was that ePS is building Radius to support AI agents and workflow automation.

The company’s platform strategy emphasizes connected operations for packaging manufacturers — integrating ERP, MES, scheduling, quality monitoring, sustainability tracking, and business intelligence into a comprehensive ecosystem.

ePS CEO Doug Braun emphasized the importance of connected operations, positioning the platform strategy around unified data, automation, and preparing converters for intelligence-driven workflows.

Throughout the event, ePS demonstrated tools like AI-powered scheduling optimization, natural-language automation scripting, and intelligent troubleshooting assistants. But the underlying message was consistent: AI embedded within ERP and operational workflows delivers value. AI layered on top of chaos does not.

For label and packaging converters running high-SKU print shops, that distinction matters.

What This Means for Labels and Packaging

For converters in labels, folding cartons, and flexible packaging, three takeaways emerged from Connect 2026:

First, AI is moving into the operational core of the business, not hovering on the edges. Second, disconnected systems are no longer just inefficient — they are becoming competitive liabilities. Third, the divide between AI leaders and laggards is widening, and it has little to do with company size.

And if the tone of Connect 2026 is any indication, the next competitive advantage in packaging may not be a faster press – it may be a “smarter” overall system.