With 47% of respondents in our research saying that rising consumer demands and expectations have made workloads heavier for their graphic production teams, it’s no surprise that many agencies are struggling to keep up. They simply don’t have the resources to meet the pace their clients expect. This challenge often comes down to a lack of creative automation, which is triggering a far more concerning issue for agencies; more global brands are now bringing their agency work in-house.

For example, a study commissioned by the World Federation of Advertisers found that more than half of large global companies now have some level of in-house creative capability. The study showed that 66% of brands have established in-house agencies, with 21% actively considering creating one. Furthermore, this trend is even stronger among the world's largest companies, with 87% either already operating or planning to build an in-house creative team.

However, forward-thinking agencies are responding by evolving into "Design+Tech" powerhouses, offering cutting-edge, tech-driven solutions that outperform in-house teams.

The future of agencies lies in the seamless integration of design, technology, and automation. As audience expectations continue to evolve, brands need more sophisticated, multichannel, and data-driven campaigns to capture attention and drive engagement. Traditional demand generation tactics are losing effectiveness; consumers are more selective than ever, and competition for their attention is fierce.

To stay ahead, agencies must blend strategic creativity with advanced technology, ensuring they can future-proof their business, deliver greater value to clients, and create campaigns that truly resonate with audiences. And with brands demanding faster turnarounds, smarter solutions, and more personalized experiences, Design+Tech agencies are uniquely positioned to lead the way. But what does it take to build one?

There are three priorities that every agency needs to consider making this vision a reality:

For agencies looking to stay competitive and scale efficiently, creative automation can:

• Eliminate manual production: AI-driven automation completely removes the need for manual asset production, enabling overnight, hands-free execution across all channels.
  Clients will no longer accept wasted budgets on production work—timelines will shrink dramatically, with assets ready by morning.

• Streamline workflows & focus on creativity: With automation handling repetitive tasks, teams can shift their focus to strategy, concept development, and creative innovation. Production speed is no longer a constraint—only creativity and budget set the limits.

• Enable seamless data integration: Automated tools integrate directly with PIM systems, ERP platforms, and marketing tools, ensuring brand consistency and real-time adaptability across campaigns. Data-driven asset production allows for continuous optimization and personalization at scale.

• Enhance employee wellbeing & talent retention: Automation reduces burnout by eliminating tedious production tasks, allowing creative teams to focus on higher-value work. A streamlined, tech-enabled workflow fosters job satisfaction and long-term retention of top creative talent.

From managing increasing workloads to upskilling in evolving technologies, it’s no surprise that agencies and their graphic professionals are feeling overwhelmed. Acknowledging the challenge is the first step; overcoming it is the next. So, for agencies looking to implement creative automation, where should you begin?

Every production agency client has distinct marketing needs and unique expectations. Balancing this demand for personalization with the pressure to deliver quickly and efficiently is no small task.

Creative automation offers a way to streamline graphic production by automating repetitive tasks, enabling teams to scale efficiently and deliver tailored content without compromising quality. With the right tools, agencies can free up their teams to focus on strategy, innovation, and creative problem-solving rather than manual design work.

However, finding a solution that combines flexibility, customization, and ease of use is a challenge. The right creative automation platform should empower agencies to adapt to varied client needs while maintaining efficiency, consistency, and creativity across every campaign.

At CHILI publish, we understand these advantages firsthand. Gary Howard, Creative Director UK at Precision Marketing, shares how creative automation platforms such as CHILI GraFx, have transformed his agency’s approach.

Automation and AI are set to shake up the way traditional agencies work, especially those relying heavily on production design for revenue. While some agencies may resist the shift, it’s only a matter of time before clients stop paying for production work and start demanding new ways of working, focusing on strategy and creative ideas instead. With more clients taking work in-house and using their own data to automate, agencies will need to adapt, rethink their approach, and find ways to stay relevant in a world of real-time, data-driven campaigns.