Looking forward

There is no doubt printers are facing an ever-increasing amount of pressure to produce quality work. As the demand
for fast turnaround continues to grow, so does the stress of keeping a constant level of quality output. Printers could have top-of-the-range presses installed, use the best inks and have a range of quality paper to print on—but all this means nothing if the end result is not up to scratch.

A lot of production comes down to efficient management. If projects are looked after in an efficient way, this can reduce pressure on printers and allow them to produce quality work.

A management information system (MIS) can do just that, looking after and organising different projects on a screen in front of them. Rather than sifting through sheets of paper, an MIS can manage a range of work—allowing the user to concentrate on ensuring output is of the best possible quality. With this in mind, what does the MIS market have on offer to help?

Shuttleworth Business Systems is a developer of MIS and has over 700 implementations to its name. Joint managing director of Shuttleworth, Paul Deane, says there are many challenges facing printers in the modern market that an MIS can help tackle.

“Every business needs to look at ways it can make efficiencies and reduce costs while still providing an outstanding service. Critical to the success of any business is to be seen to add value to the supply chain and a key element to this is the provision of world class customer service,” explains Deane.

In response to demand, Shuttleworth has released version 5.1 of its MIS. The software features Shuttleworth’s Business Intelligence Suite, which the firm sees as ‘one of the most exciting developments’ in MIS for some time. Claiming it is ‘beyond traditional dashboard technology’, it features tools including customer specific key performance indicators, user definable reporting, executive analysis and web-based reporting together with mobile apps. In addition, it features a new ‘Microsoft Outlook’ style user interface, making it easier to use for customers. It also includes a drag and drop capability similar to Outlook’s.

One company to have experienced the service from Shuttleworth is Northend Creative Print Solutions. The Sheffield-based firm has been using Shuttleworth’s MIS since 2003 and was the first customer to test the new version 5.1. MIS manager at the firm, Andrew Yate, praised the impact of the new software, describing it as ‘brilliant’.

“The drag and drop functionality has streamlined estimating, making it quicker, paperless and the status of outstanding enquiries proves complete visibility throughout our company,” says Yate, adding: “Now we have the drag and drop functionality up and running, we are now looking forward to working with Shuttleworth to design our bespoke dashboards and reports using the Shuttleworth Business Intelligence Suite, which is also included in the 5.1 release.”

Deane explains Business Intelligence is just the start of a development programme and further innovation will take place. He also says the company is pushing forward with research elsewhere to ensure it provides the best products to customers.


Modern thinking




Clarity Software also supplies MIS to the print industry and has seen a significant growth in the amount of companies investing in its systems. Managing director, Richard Gamlin, says this trend is a result of firms understanding the value an MIS can bring to their business in the modern world.

“Companies are realising if they are not efficient do not have information available quickly across all facets of the business, then they cannot compete with companies that have embraced this technology for years,” explains Gamlin.

He adds: “Speed of accurate cost information, consistency of pricing and quick response to enquiries are the main drivers, but also elimination of double entries and making accurate up-to-date information available across the business is the key to our outstanding customer service.”

Clarity Professional has proved the most popular product for the firm, with its accurate cost collection tools in particular receiving praise from industry members. Clarity has recently released version 4.2 of the software, which the firm says gives users the power to increase sales and deliver a ‘slicker and more traceable’ service. The new sales module is an interactive sales dashboard, enabling users to study their sales pipeline and forecast business, analyse sales activity and report wins and losses to improve the entire sales process.

In addition, Clarity has built technology for customers to use on the iPhone and iPad—with an Android version to follow—in an effort to satisfy the modern market. Users can manage jobs while on the move and send real-time job information to the office so other members of staff can complete visibility over the jobs. In addition, they can take electronic signatures onto their device, take pictures of the finished delivery on installation and send them back via 3G or wi-fi.   
       
“This is really hitting the mark with customers, as it can make immediate reductions in fuel, admin and overall lead time, whilst taking their customer service to a whole new level,” explains Clarity’s marketing manager, Emerson Welch.


High on the agenda




Accura is another provider of MIS and has supplied software to more than 600 printers around the world for over 22 years. Sales director, Alan Potter, says despite tough economic times, printers are more keen than ever to invest in an MIS—saying it can help understand real costs and margins in order to remain competitive in the market. He believes a modern printer would not be able to function properly without some sort of MIS.

“It is inconceivable a modern printing business could survive without an MIS system to help manage costs, improve efficiency and, most importantly, monitor the true costs and achieved margins of the business,” explains Potter.

In terms of products, Potter says the Accura Online fully integrated e-commerce module, which provides a 24/7 business-to-business tool for a printer’s clients to transact business online, has been attracting a lot of interest so far this year.

“Like the high street, online business has dramatically increased over the last twelve months for commercial businesses and Accura provides a low cost effective way for Accura users to capitalise on this growing opportunity,” comments Potter.

He adds interest in customer relation management (CRM), another integrated module from the Accura site, is also proving popular. He explains the main theme for Accura is to focus on integration, enabling information to be transacted bi-directionally from both the CRM module and Accura Online.

“To help improve efficiency, all of the modules in the Accura have been improved and new features added, including links to a credit card payment portal to make it easier for clients to transact business whilst at the same time reducing admin for the printer,” says Potter.

In addition, Accura is working on a scheduling module to enhance planning facilities with full scheduling facilities. The firm is also developing a JDF output via middle ware product to link in with all popular workflow systems. There is additional ongoing work on the HTML CRM module enhancement and further artwork editing tools for Accura Online.


It’s all in the Technique




With the speed, efficiency and production capabilities of today’s print technology, the corresponding need to remove production bottlenecks, streamline working processes and ensure accurate quoting and information control is paramount.
 
MIS have been top on the list of solutions to address this need and, as with all technology of this type, has come a long way since it first moved into the ‘off-the-shelf’ commercial market.

One company working to stay ahead of the software development curve is Technique MIS, which has aimed its product development at the medium- to large-sized print house market. This includes some major names such as the Polestar and Wyndeham groups, through to web-offset companies such as Artisan Press and recent customers such as Ancient House Printing Group.

“Our market has evolved into serving the medium to large print houses and responding to their needs. This is why we have created an all encompassing software portfolio, from CRM, through MIS to e-mail marketing. Our modules even include perfect machine interface data capture in real time,” explains Robert Petyt, sales manager, Technique MIS, adding: “Our focus is about saving our customers time and increasing their profits. This is done by perfecting the flow of information and by harnessing the power of our online estimating systems, combined with best-of-breed scheduling systems, all of which can also be bought as a stand alone product.”
He adds: “It is simply a fact today that if you don’t have a good MIS system you are going to have to employ more people. I always say that with a good system you can either do more work and throughput with the same amount of people, or you can do the same amount of work with less cost.”

Indeed, Technique MIS is an example of the growth of this market niche, as its products are spread across some 26 countries. It has also tapped into the growing crossmedia market, creating a ‘native’ app for iPhone and ipad called iTechnique. Petyt emphasises this is ‘not just a web browser’, but can remotely handle the full control spectrum needed for its systems with real-time feedback. This latter development is one to watch, with print houses looking for any edge on the competition.


Manufacturers of other kit are also fully aware of the the benefits an MIS can bring to a printer, with Ricoh recognising MIS as one of the most valuable additions to the modern print room. Value proposition manager, production print at Ricoh UK, Gareth Parker, says as well as improving efficiency, an MIS can help the push for growth.

“For print service providers of all sizes an MIS system remains a strong consideration thanks to the firm establishment of digital printing in the commercial print sector,” says Parker, adding: “The efficiencies a carefully planned MIS system brings to an organisation have often proven critical to maximising the margins of short-run digital work.”

He also explains the benefits of combining MIS with web-to-print, saying this can be a part of a strategy for growth, counselling: “When performing at the optimum level, web-to-print creates a smooth and automated order processing system that removes costs from a business to increase margins and in turn foster growth. Combining MIS and web-to-print is almost a perfect storm of production efficiency because well integrated systems will manage the whole process from job entry to fulfilment, tracking and pricing.”

Parker warns that the two systems must be able to communicate efficiently, explaining Ricoh can provide the necessary expertise to ensure technologies do work properly, adding: “To avoid defeating the object of an MIS, the related systems and software that interact with it must be able to communicate effectively with each other, which is no small undertaking, but also one that shouldn’t put anyone off—so long as they have the right support.”

It seems the value of MIS cannot be underestimated, in terms of how it can smooth workflow and efficiency. With a number of new products available, and developers continuing to build on existing versions, printers can be sure their needs will be met. Companies can now look forward to an overall calmer and effective production process, with a little help from MIS.