CPG Packaging Toolbox: Smarter Artwork Management & AI-Powered Compliance

In recent internal discussions with CPG professionals, most organizations identified themselves in the early to mid-stages of the Digital Maturity Model:

This snapshot shows that while progress is being made, most organizations still have significant opportunities to move up the curve — particularly when it comes to embracing automation and AI.

During the discussion, Evelyn described how Esko’s artwork management system supports collaboration across the entire packaging lifecycle:

• Project creation with automatic timelines and task assignments.
• Centralized libraries hold approved assets, metadata (e.g., barcodes, GTINs), and copy.
• Stakeholder collaboration with annotations, approvals, and version control.
• Process visibility through digital tracking, reporting, and KPIs.

The benefits? Faster turnaround times, fewer errors, and the ability to continuously improve workflows based on real data.

While managing artwork efficiently is a major step forward, compliance remains one of the biggest pain points in packaging. Regulations differ by market, change frequently, and carry steep consequences.

• U.S. agencies issued ~3,200 final rules in 2024, published across ~106,000 Federal Register pages, underscoring the regulatory volume CPGs must track (Federal Register).
• In 2024, U.S. agencies issued 3,248 final rules, published across 106,109 pages of the Federal Register— the highest page count ever recorded. Together, these numbers highlight the sheer volume of regulatory material that CPG companies must track (Forbes).
• Multiple analyses suggest roughly one-third to nearly half of recent U.S. food recalls stem from labeling/packaging errors (MakroCare, New Food Magazine).
• Esko experts noted that on average, fewer than 40% of artworks are right first time — often leading to multiple revisions and delays of up to six weeks.

Esko experts also shared internal findings consistent with these trends — highlighting that frequent regulatory changes, low right-first-time rates, and multiple artwork cycles continue to delay product launches across the CPG sector.

These challenges are echoed by Esko’s ongoing conversations with CPG teams:

These results confirm what the industry already knows: delays and inefficiencies in review and approval cycles are the number one roadblock.

This highlights the need for smarter tools that streamline collaboration and automate compliance checks.

This is where Comply, Esko’s AI-driven compliance assistant, comes in. Integrated into WebCenter, Comply works seamlessly within existing workflows to catch issues early, identifying potential problems before they create costly delays or recalls.

The key capabilities of Comply include:

• Text validation – ensuring mandatory copy (e.g., allergen statements) is present, correct, and readable.
• Formatting checks – verifying styles like bolded allergen declarations.
• Barcode & QR code inspection – analyzing readability, contrast, magnification, and quiet zones.
• Logo verification – confirming required certifications (e.g., vegan, organic) are included for specific markets.
• Regional flexibility – applying different rule sets automatically based on pack type, region, or SKU.

As the team explained, Comply can flag common errors — from “vegan” vs. “vegetarian” mislabeling to missing bold formatting and outdated logos.

These errors can easily slip through manual review.

Crucially, AI doesn’t replace human approvers. Instead, it acts as a partner, catching errors, reducing rework, and streamlining approvals so teams can focus on judgment and decision-making.

Across discussions with CPG professionals, common concerns about adopting automation and AI include:

These concerns underline why AI must be introduced thoughtfully, with clear value, strong security, and a roadmap for cultural change.

If you only remember one section from this article, make it this one.

Here are the key takeaways you can use to guide your packaging strategy.

As packaging complexity grows, so do the risks and opportunities.

Brands that embrace smarter artwork management and AI-powered compliance are not just reducing errors, they’re also accelerating speed-to-market, strengthening collaboration, and enhancing their processes.

Want to explore how WebCenter and Comply can help your team move up the digital maturity curve? Request a discovery call with our experts to see these capabilities in action.