Every year, listed companies in Hong Kong, Singapore, the United Kingdom, South Africa, the United States, and other markets go through the same costly and time-consuming routine: working with a financial printing service to produce their annual reports. For decades, this was the industry standard. But in 2025, it’s time to admit the truth—financial printers are expensive, outdated, and no longer necessary.
Most global stock exchanges, including HKEX, SGX, the SEC in the US, the FCA in the UK, and others—now support digital submission and online publication of annual reports. That’s why more companies around the world are stepping away from traditional printers. It’s no longer just about cutting costs—it’s about gaining control, increasing speed, and improving efficiency.
Let’s break down the comparison between the old way and the smart way companies are creating annual reports today.
The old way: Expensive, manual, and slow
Financial printers once served a critical function. Before PDFs and cloud tools, companies needed expert support to handle typesetting, formatting, proofing, and printing complex financial statements to satisfy regulatory requirements.
But today, the reasons to keep using them are falling apart:
- High costs: Financial printers charge steep fees for every stage of the process—layout, typesetting, translations, last-minute changes, and full-scale printing. These fees accumulate quickly, often reaching tens of thousands of dollars per annual report.
- Wasted time: Revisions must be sent back and forth via email or marked-up PDFs. The process of waiting for changes, coordinating with the printing vendor, chasing approvals, and managing project timelines can significantly delay finalisation. This slows down internal workflows and adds stress during already tight reporting deadlines.
- Inflexible workflows: Most financial printers operate within rigid production cycles. If your board approves results later than expected or if your disclosures change near the deadline, you’ll likely be hit with expensive rush charges. These last-minute pressures also increase the risk of version errors or sign-off delays.
- Paper is disappearing: In both Hong Kong and Singapore, companies are no longer required to provide printed annual reports. Yet many still pay to print and post hundreds—sometimes thousands of physical copies, most of which go unread.
The smart way: AnnualReports.ai
That’s where AnnualReports.ai comes in. Built for listed companies worldwide, it’s an AI-powered platform that centralises everything in one place—making annual report creation faster, more affordable, and stress-free.
With AnnualReports.ai, you get:
An all-in-one workflow
Upload your financials, corporate governance disclosures, and ESG sections. Our platform automatically formats and compiles your content into a professionally designed, regulator-ready report—no Word-to-InDesign-to-PDF hassle required.
Huge cost savings
Say goodbye to bloated invoices. With AnnualReports.ai, there are no typesetting charges, no rush fees, and no inflated costs for simple updates. One clear pricing model covers everything—providing transparency and predictability.
Real-time collaboration
Review and edit reports directly on the platform. Invite your CFO, company secretary, or legal team to make comments and sign off in one place. Everyone works on the same version, with automatic version control that eliminates confusion and missed edits.
Paper-free and regulator-ready
Our reports comply with SGX and HKEX disclosure standards and are generated in digital formats ready for online publishing, investor websites, and direct filing—no printing needed. This digital-first approach supports paper reduction and sustainability efforts while aligning with ESG reporting standards.
The future is digital, efficient, and smart
Regulatory deadlines, investor expectations, and ESG requirements have made annual reporting more complex than ever. Teams are under pressure to do more in less time without compromising accuracy or quality. Why keep wasting resources on outdated processes?
Financial printers had their time. But today’s reporting and compliance teams need speed, flexibility, and control. AnnualReports.ai delivers all three with a streamlined, digital-first solution built for modern reporting needs.
If you’re still using financial printers, it’s time to ask: Is this really the best use of your budget and time?
Let us show you a better way.