DRI Eliminates the Silos from Its Print Workflow Digital Response Imaging (DRI) is a digital color print shop located in the heart of Silicon Valley in San Francisco, CA that specializes in digital print, offset print, and web services. Similar to many companies, Digital Response Imaging began a technology search to find a way to automate its old manual workflow process. It used a paper job ticketing and manual filing system that required too many disparate systems and touches. Time for an upgrade? DRI had no MIS system or workflow software, and so they were wasting many man-hours on manual tasks and rekeying of job data, hours that could be put to better use elsewhere. As the industry shifted to an increasingly greater emphasis on smaller job runs and faster turnarounds, management knew that its existing process and systems could not support shrinking profit margins. According to Ian Flynn, President at DRI, although the company was actually seeing growth through the use of web-to-print storefronts, “those storefronts were just free-standing silos that sent email orders that still needed to be written up and hand-keyed in.” Even though the storefronts were generating additional revenue, each job that came in still had to be manually processed, which put extra stress on workflows and margins. Having siloed systems and a manual backend also meant it was challenging for DRI to get an accurate, real-time grasp of project status at any given moment without manually running down each process. It knew the time had come to find a solution that could not only eliminate much of the manual processes from its workflow, but that would also seamlessly integrate the front end with its backend and push online orders into that same workflow. Automation enters the picture DRI looked at a number of systems, including a traditional MIS that Flynn referred to as an “archaic clunky system.” Its searches ultimately led them to PressWise by SmartSoft (Booth 539), which offered a single, integrated system with automated workflow, MIS, and web-to-print storefronts. The days of dealing with silo systems, and manually entering data were at an end and the staff was not sad to see them go. As Flynn excitedly shares, “I am so glad those days are over!” Still, since PressWise is a cloud-based Software-as-a- Service (SaaS), Flynn had some slight reservations. “Initially I was concerned that there may be some issues with handling all the file management needed in the cloud. However, I quickly discovered that this was a non-issue. In fact the great benefit of a browser-based system is that I can track everything-orders, production, shipping status, etc.-in real time, even when I am out of the office!” Plus, with the unlimited web-to-print storefronts that come with PressWise, DRI is able to add new storefront customers much faster than before, which is the fastest growing part of their business. All storefront orders automatically flow into the production process without the need for rekeying, saving valuable time and money. DRI has not only enjoyed the time and cost-saving benefits that have come from automating its workflow processes, it has also found that having a solid MIS system of record has made their business much more efficient. Access to production and job cost data has given DRI much greater insight into its business, showing the types of jobs that are more profitable and those areas where there is room for improvement. As Flynn himself puts it, “Press- Wise now does everything but run the press for us.” IQ Australia Partners with CHILI Publish CHILI Publish (Booth 441) recently celebrated a new technology partnership with IQ Australia, a privately owned company providing IT, custom software development and business solutions to the print, travel & tourism, and finance sectors. IQ selected CHILI Publish’s well-known online editing solution to integrate with its flagship product printIQ. The integration enables printIQ to offer a SaaS (Software as a Service) option to complete customers’ web2print offering. The IQconnect – CHILI Publish module delivers this functionality directly from within the printIQ MIS to provide an integrated and seamless workflow. Combining the unique strengths of both products, customers will be able to benefit from one of the most comprehensive print management systems on the market today. A new take on print workflow IQ has been delivering IT-based solutions since it was established 15 years ago. This strategic partnership combines the intelligence of the printIQ pricing engine, a web ordering workflow solution with the capabilities of CHILI Publish online editing technology. The result is the IQconnect – CHILI Publish module, an integrated and comprehensive online ordering process that can easily keep pace with the requirements of today’s printing operations. In this co-developed application, CHILI Publish APIs have been refined to deliver template information, metadata, annotations and artwork files to printIQ for complete job tracking and reporting for print MIS. Early customer successes Since developing the IQconnect – CHILI Publish module, IQ has already signed deals with Cassette, a creative communications agency with offices in Melbourne, Sydney, and Hong Kong; and Digitalpress, an innovative print operation in New South Wales. By partnering with CHILI Publish, IQ joins the growing list of technology partners whose products and services CHILI Publisher easily integrates with, including Enfocus, Esko, XMPie, Xeikon, EFI DirectSmile, ePrint direct, North Plains, and Tharstern Ltd. Learn How to Improve Performance and Profits Aat Deliver: The Mailing & Fulfillment Center ll graphic arts professionals that offer direct mail services or are considering adding the service to their repertoire can explore the latest technology in mailing, printing, and fulfillment at Deliver: The Mailing & Fulfillment Center, sponsored by the United States Postal Service (USPS) (Booth 2057). Highlights Deliver: The Mailing & Fulfillment Center includes mailing systems that improve performance and reduce operational and costs. Clear Image Technologies (Booth 1857): Clear Image Technologies’ Picture Perfect Match System, retrofitted to a customers existing inserter, displays images of the mail components on a monitor to allow the operator to visually inspect to ensure match integrity. The system can be upgraded to include optical character recognition and the ability to read and decode 2D (Data Matrix) and IMB barcodes. This data can be used to check against a sequence number or save a file for verification that the mail piece was processed. FP Mailing Solutions (Booth 2052): As an innovative, total mailroom solutions provider, FP Mailing Solutions (FP) offers a full range of mail center products and services. FP is the fastest-growing mailing systems vendor in the United States, partnering with dealers in your local area who know you and your mailing needs best. Kirk Rudy (Booth 2067): The company offers a range of addressing and variable data systems, including: WaveJet, an inkjet printing system for coated stocks, plastics, and foils; KolorJet, a color and monochrome inkjet printing system for added color graphics, images, and variable data at high speeds; KR Phoenix, for printing variable addresses, graphics, dates, times, barcodes, serial numbers, and texts on coated and uncoated substrates; and NetJet, an inkjet addressing system with HP technology for variable text and graphics. Lake Image Systems (Booth 2263): Lake Image Systems is demonstrating the latest developments to its Discovery Enterprise product, as well as showing the recently launched Discovery MaxScan. Providing true 600dpi for web and sheet sizes up to 36" in full color, Discovery MaxScan digital inspects the full web width for managing document integrity, front and back matching, and detecting registration and print defects applications. The technology is designed for integration within the transport system of a press, without the need for additional rollers, redesigned web paths, or complex optical assemblies typical with standard camera inspection technologies. Printware (Booth 1952): Printware is showcasing two iJetColor presses: The iJetColor Label Press with iJetColor workflow systems and the iJetColor Direct Mail Press, a compact, tabletop, 4-color inkjet press powered by Memjet technology. iJetColor Direct Mail Press is suitable for supporting production paper stocks as heavy as .02"/.5 mm on up to 8.5x17" substrate for product personalization of envelopes, direct mail and postcards, stationery, and invitations and greeting cards. Both iJetColor Presses use aqueous inks. W+D North America (Booth 1253): W+D North America is spotlighting its high-speed four-color inkjet envelope overprint press, W+D 234d, developed specifically for envelope manufacturing companies, traditional envelope printers, inserters, print shops, letter shops, direct mailers, transactional printers, and advertising agencies. 24 September 16, 2015 | GRAPH EXPO Official Show Daily | PrintingNews.com
GraphExpo Show Daily September 16, 2015
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