Office Machine Operators, Except Computer

Office-machine work today mixes manual steps with digital tools, and AI-driven automation is slowly emerging. Routine computer tasks like billing or scheduling orders are already done by software, but there are few off-the-shelf “AI” systems built for copy centers or print shops. Some aspects of copy/print work are being automated.

For example, modern finishing machines can sort and stack prints without human help. One report describes an automated “SmartStacker” that “eliminate[s] manual sorting” of pages, saving several workers while improving speed ^[1]. Similarly, quality control and maintenance on print machines are aided by AI: systems now inspect prints for errors, auto-calibrate colors, and flag issues before they shut down (for instance, HP’s Indigo press has an AI “chatbot” that “flags issues, suggests fixes” in real time ^[2]).

Some workflow tasks are augmented by AI too. New document‐workflow platforms (like Toshiba’s Elevate Sky) can even read handwritten job tickets or forms and automatically route or process them ^[2]. In contrast, many tasks—like physically loading originals into a copier or manually placing prints into binders—remain largely manual.

We found no evidence of fully autonomous feeders or robots doing the hands-on work of clipping in originals or inserting pages; these steps still rely on human care. Overall, routine checking and scanning functions are being increasingly computerized (sometimes with AI assisting), but the core hands-on parts of this job are only partly automated. O*NET classifies this occupation as “moderately automated” (about 40% currently done by machines) ^[3].

Adoption of AI in this field will depend on costs, benefits, and labor conditions. On one hand, industry reports note that printing businesses are exploring AI tools for efficiency – using smart workflow software, scheduling bots, and sensor-driven maintenance – because skilled workers are hard to find. For example, small printers report an “older demographic” of press operators and say young people don’t want these jobs ^[1].

When labor is scarce or expensive, firms invest in automation: one company spent $5 million on new presses and modules to boost speed and cut labor costs ^[1]. Automated finishers can eliminate whole workstations: Blooming Color’s new stacker “saves two full bodies” (operators) on print assembly ^[1]. In such cases, AI/light automation is adopted relatively quickly because it pays off.