Gelato Launches GelatoConnect AI Estimator: The Print Industry’s First AI-Powered Quoting Engine

Gelato today announced the launch of its GelatoConnect AI Estimator, a breakthrough innovation that redefines how print service providers (PSPs) quote and win work. By injecting artificial intelligence into one of the industry’s biggest bottlenecks, Gelato is setting a new global standard for speed, accuracy, and competitiveness.

With GelatoConnect AI Estimator, PSPs can generate precise estimates in just 15 seconds and deliver branded, customer-ready quotes in under five minutes—slashing manual quoting work by more than 50%.

For decades, quoting has been the print industry’s Achilles heel: slow, manual, and dependent on a handful of experts. The result? Lost deals, inconsistent pricing, and eroded margins. GelatoConnect’s AI Estimator replaces this with a fast, consistent, margin-protective process—helping PSPs win more business by being the first to respond.

Early adopters are already seeing impact

“The AI Estimator by GelatoConnect is going to be a game changer. We can now generate quotes in one minute, simply by copying and pasting an email or typing into an AI prompt box,” said Simon Smogur, CEO of ESP Colour. “Speed, being able to margin correctly, and our estimators being confident it’s right the first time – that’s what we’re seeing so far, and we’re on a nine-week up-streak in margin vs. last year.”

PSPs can even embed the AI Estimator directly into their websites—so customers can get accurate, margin-protected quotes instantly, without back-and-forth emails.

“Buying print has always been too hard,” said Paul Hudson, CEO of Hudson Printing Company. “With GelatoConnect’s AI Estimator, that barrier disappears. Print buyers can go to our website, describe what they want, and get an instant quote. That simplicity drives growth for us and transforms the buying experience.”

How it works

From messy requests to accurate quotes in minutes:

1. Refine – AI translates free-text requests into structured production requirements.

2. Generate – AI combines customer inputs with PSP cost parameters.

3. Validate – Each estimate is checked for accuracy, competitiveness, and compliance.

4. Output – The system produces a branded, ready-to-send quote instantly.

The result: a step-change in print estimating — from slow and error-prone to fast, automated, and consistent.

Why it matters

Gelato’s 2025 State of Print Production Report shows that 80% of print professionals view AI and automation as essential, yet most are not investing in it. With GelatoConnect AI Estimator, leading printers are pushing the industry forward by showing what’s possible with AI and automation.

"Quoting is one of the most critical moments in any business relationship — but across industries, it’s often slow, manual, and inconsistent," said Henrik Müller-Hansen, Founder and CEO of Gelato. "By embracing AI in this process, printers are showing what leadership looks like: transforming a universal challenge into a competitive advantage. With GelatoConnect AI Estimator, print is not following the future — it’s helping define it."