Heidelberg launches AI Performance Chat to simplify print production analysis

Heidelberg is expanding its push into data-driven print production with the launch of its AI Performance Chat. Under the motto “Stop searching, start asking,” the new feature within the Heidelberg Portal is designed to simplify how print shops access and analyze production data.

Built for users of Heidelberg’s Print Shop Analytics platform, the AI-powered tool allows operators to query production metrics using natural language, eliminating the need to navigate complex dashboards and reports. Instead, users can ask questions directly and receive real-time insights in a conversational format, supported by tables, charts, and clear explanations.

The new feature builds on Heidelberg’s existing analytics capabilities, which aggregate key performance indicators such as Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), productivity, makeready times, and waste. While previous tools relied on manual navigation and filtering, the AI Performance Chat enables faster access to actionable insights, including machine-level performance trends, shift comparisons, and production deviations.

“With the Heidelberg AI Performance Chat, we’re making the handling of production data significantly more intuitive,” says Jürgen Grimm, head of software at Heidelberg. “Customers can ask exactly the questions that matter in their day-to-day operations and get immediate, meaningful answers.”

Early users report significant time savings and improved decision-making. “In the past, preparing performance data for meetings could take hours,” says Marcel Willnow of LUC Medienhaus. “Now, a single prompt delivers both the data and the context.”

The tool is available globally in more than 18 languages and is fully integrated into the Heidelberg Portal. It is designed to address ongoing industry challenges, including increasing operational complexity, time constraints, and workforce shortages, by enabling faster, more intuitive access to production intelligence.

The launch reflects a broader trend toward AI-driven workflow optimization in print production, where real-time data analysis is becoming increasingly critical to improving efficiency, reducing waste, and maintaining competitiveness.