The shift to remote and hybrid work has transformed how businesses operate, leading to new challenges and opportunities in workplace technology. Among these changes, printing has undergone a significant evolution as employees now require seamless and flexible printing solutions that accommodate dynamic work environments.
It’s clear that flexible work arrangements are the norm, not a novelty, with Flex Index reporting that 32% of employers required full-time in-office work in 2024, down from 49% in 2023. With remote and hybrid work here to stay, members of the Mopria Alliance at the world’s leading printer and scanner manufacturers and software providers weigh in on the impact this trend has had on innovation and where it’s expected to go from here.
1. The Changing Landscape of Printing in a Remote Work Era
“Remote and hybrid work have changed office printing in four major ways: where print jobs originate, where printing occurs, what gets printed, and how printing is done. Today’s jobs come from a mix of personal and work-issued devices, often from outside traditional office networks. Printing now occurs anywhere: at home, at the office, in coworking spaces, or while mobile. The documents themselves have grown more complex, often containing high-resolution graphics, data visualizations, transparent layers, and more objects that require sophisticated print processing. Meanwhile, users expect to print from any device with minimal setup and always get consistent results. While “driverless” printing simplifies the front-end experience, it introduces more complexity behind the scenes. To manage all these challenges, PDF has emerged as the preferred format across modern print paths, such as Mopria, delivering reliable and predictable output across platforms. These shifts underscore the growing need for robust print technologies that can support a flexible, distributed, and increasingly demanding work environment.”
-Arnav Sinha, Principal Product Marketing Manager at Adobe
2. Meeting the Demand for Seamless, Secure Printing
“The shift to remote and hybrid work has necessitated significant advancements in printing technology to ensure secure and universal access for employees working from multiple locations. Here are some key innovations that have emerged:
- Connected Printers: Predictive Maintenance and Availability: IoT-enabled printers are transforming printing into a seamless process by offering predictive maintenance, cloud integration, and mobile accessibility. These advancements enhance convenience, ensure device availability, and provide a modern print infrastructure.
- Cloud Printing Solutions: Seamless Integration: Cloud printing solutions utilize cloud services to bring easy and secure printing to employees across the globe. These solutions offer end-to-end encryption to protect sensitive documents from device to printer, preventing hackers from intercepting print jobs. While offering convenient access to print regardless of the employee’s schedule or location.
- Secure Release Printing (Pull Printing): User Authentication: Secure release printing requires users to authenticate at the printer (using PIN, biometrics, NFC, or smart card) before printing. This ensures that sensitive documents are only printed when the user is physically present at the printer, enhancing security in a distributed work environment.”
-Eric McCann, Manager, Technology Portfolio Architect at Lexmark
3. The Role of Cloud and Mobile Printing in Hybrid Workflows
“Hybrid work has driven major changes in print technology itself, pushing traditional systems to evolve rapidly. Print infrastructure is shifting from on-premise servers to cloud-native platforms, enabling decentralized access while reducing IT overhead. Security is no longer an add-on—modern print tech now integrates zero-trust architecture by design, enforcing identity verification and access controls at every stage. Hardware is also becoming smarter, supporting encrypted mobile connections and seamless integration with cloud ecosystems. Beyond printing, these devices are merging with non-print tech, offering scanning, digital workflows, and analytics to support hybrid operations. Today’s print technology is smarter, more secure, and cloud-ready by default.”
-Michael St. Laurent, Print Software and Consumer Services Chief Architect at HP
4. Looking Ahead: The Future of Printing in a Hybrid Workplace
“As remote and hybrid work models continue to evolve, the next major advancements in print technology are likely to focus on:
- Cloud-Native Print Infrastructure: Seamless, driverless printing from any device or location via cloud platforms, eliminating the need for on-premise print servers.
- Enhanced Print Security: Zero-trust architecture, encrypted print paths, and user authentication to secure print workflows in distributed environments.
- Intelligent Print Management: AI-driven analytics to optimize print usage, predict maintenance needs, and support sustainability goals through reduced waste and energy consumption.
- Mobile-First and Voice-Enabled Interfaces: Improved mobile printing apps and voice-assistant integrations for easier, on-the-go access to printers and MFPs.”
-Dilinur Wushour, President at Kyocera Document Solutions Development America, Inc.
The remote work revolution has reshaped the printing landscape, driving new solutions to enhance accessibility, security, and sustainability. As companies continue adapting to hybrid work models, the industry remains focused on innovation, ensuring printing remains a seamless, efficient, and valuable part of the modern workplace.
To learn more about Mopria’s universal print technology, supported by the industry’s leading printer and scanner manufacturers and installed on over 5 billion Android devices, visit mopria.org.
