Hasta la vista, printer.

At least that’s the picture painted by a study from researchers at Oxford University and Deloitte, which claims that 35% of current UK jobs are at high risk of computerisation over the next couple of decades.

And if you look at some of the print roles that have fallen by the wayside in the past two or three decades as a result of computerisation and automation, then perhaps it’s not beyond the realms of possibility.

But before you muster the team in the canteen and unveil your plans to create a kick-ass group of human resistance freedom fighters to take on the new mechanised menace – take heart from our briefing on the subject, which highlights some of the reasons you don’t need to slip on the muscle vest and tool up just yet.

I’ve little doubt that automation will play an increasingly important role in the industry, and next year’s Drupa will no doubt be chock-full of impressive examples of next-generation automation to improve productivity.

However, while technology can be a great enabler, it’s also a great leveler and, as will be proven at next month’s PrintWeek Awards, it’s nearly always people that make the real difference.

Because while a machine will (nearly) always do exactly what’s told, only a person can go that extra mile because he or she wants to.