Written by Alexandra Blanck
Content Manager, Esko
Think back to high school.
Between classes, homework, part-time jobs, and trying to have some kind of social life, it probably felt like you were juggling everything at once, all the time.
Today, packaging teams are doing the same, only the stakes are higher. They’re expected to move faster, manage more SKUs, and stay compliant, often with fewer resources.
If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone.
Traditional infrastructure wasn’t built for today’s pace or complexity.
The good news? This cycle isn’t inevitable.
More and more packaging teams are breaking out of it by moving their workflows to the cloud.
The Breaking Point with On-Prem & Local Servers
For many teams, the breaking point starts with local servers.
Relying on local servers often means:
- IT becomes a bottleneck for scaling and system updates
- Remote and hybrid teams struggle to stay connected
- Risk increases due to version confusion, access issues, and manual handoffs
Cloud Isn’t “New” — But the "Why" Has Changed
Cloud adoption isn’t new, and it’s definitely not a trend that’s going away.
What has changed is why packaging teams are embracing it.
Cloud is no longer a buzzword. It’s a foundation for operational resilience, visibility, and speed.
Siloed systems slow packaging workflows down. Cloud-based platforms connect people, processes, and data in one place.
When teams work from a single, connected system, silos shrink and productivity follows.
Packaging workflows become too interconnected for siloed systems.
The Benefits of Cloud-Based Workflows for Packaging Teams
In practice, cloud-based workflows provide some very real advantages for packaging teams:
- Centralized access to artwork, files, and approvals
- Real-time collaboration across internal teams and external partners
- Faster onboarding for suppliers and new team members
- Consistent processes across regions and business units
All of this adds up to one thing: less friction and faster execution.
Speed to Market Becomes a Competitive Advantage
Once your workflows are in the cloud, speed to market increases.
The impact is easy to see:
- Fewer manual steps mean fewer delays
- Changes move through workflows faster and more transparently
- Approvals don’t stall because someone “can’t access the server”
Compliance and Traceability are Easier to Manage
Speed to market isn’t the only marker of success. Cloud-based workflows provide clear audit trails and enhanced version control.
Gone are the days of digging through emails and spreadsheets for files named Artwork_Final_Final_USE_THIS_ONE.
Beyond that, cloud-workflows give you controlled access to sensitive files.
With clear version control and the right people working on the right tasks, teams are better prepared for evolving regulations and more confident in compliance at every step.
Scaling Without Rethinking Your Infrastructure
As the packaging industry evolves, so too must your workflows.
Cloud systems ensure there’s no need to rebuild systems as volumes grow. Rather, they provide an easier way to support growth, new brands, or new markets.
Cloud adapts to the business — not the other way around.
The Shift is as Much Cultural as it is Technical
Teams expect modern, intuitive tools.
That means collaboration-first workflows align better with how people actually work, leading to less friction between packaging, regulatory, marketing, and suppliers.
Of course, cloud adoption hasn’t always been met without hesitation.
Security and access control were once major concerns. Today, modern cloud platforms are built with these requirements at their core.
Additionally, reliability and uptime often exceed local infrastructure. As projects grow, your infrastructure to support them needs to also.
Cloud platforms are purpose-built for regulated industries.
What This Means for Packaging Leaders
For packaging leaders, cloud-based workflows enable:
- Greater visibility into workflows and bottlenecks
- Better control without micromanaging
- A foundation for automation, integration, and future innovation
Looking ahead, cloud is the foundation, not the finish line.
Why? Because cloud enables automation, AI, and data-driven decision-making.
It supports sustainability initiatives and digital product information. And it positions teams to adapt as requirements evolve.
Many packaging teams are already on this path. The key is choosing platforms built specifically for packaging complexity.
Learn how Esko cloud solutions help packaging teams simplify complexity and move faster with confidence.
