Automated Print Procurement
Virus issues (computer) have sidelined this forum for a while but not forever. Recent on-site demos/tours have been informative. Print buyer questions hopefully refine our presentation and direction.
Presentation of our vision of the future and the tools we have deployed create much excitement but also some challenges.
Most visitors agree they should automate the procurement process but they also concede that the interdepartmental cooperation to make these tools work in concert with the mission could be lacking. That makes the issue one of awareness as much as execution.
If we process map the print buyer's process this might be typical.
1. Estimate or budget calculations
2. File prep/transfer
3. Proof review/edit/review/edit/approve
4. Print date assignment
5. Finishing
6. Ship/Track/POD
Tomorrow's printer must create the digital network(s) with customer facing dashboards (web based) to reveal:
1. Overview status of estimate and on-the-fly AA costs
2. PDF images of active and previous images/jobs with digital edit/approval trail and variable data upload/revise/review
3. Production information by job w/spec. chg. capability until press time
4. Print/bind/ship/mail schedules updated by CSR's on a real time basis w/proof of delivery
5. Inventory/drop ship tools
6. Electronic invoice distributed to various accounts
All of this must be 24X7, secure and hierarchical.
At Ross, we have most of these tools in place for use now. We have also found not all buyers want all tools. Let us create an automated print management model for you. It would be hard to argue the cost reductions were not quickly visible.
Presentation of our vision of the future and the tools we have deployed create much excitement but also some challenges.
Most visitors agree they should automate the procurement process but they also concede that the interdepartmental cooperation to make these tools work in concert with the mission could be lacking. That makes the issue one of awareness as much as execution.
If we process map the print buyer's process this might be typical.
1. Estimate or budget calculations
2. File prep/transfer
3. Proof review/edit/review/edit/approve
4. Print date assignment
5. Finishing
6. Ship/Track/POD
Tomorrow's printer must create the digital network(s) with customer facing dashboards (web based) to reveal:
1. Overview status of estimate and on-the-fly AA costs
2. PDF images of active and previous images/jobs with digital edit/approval trail and variable data upload/revise/review
3. Production information by job w/spec. chg. capability until press time
4. Print/bind/ship/mail schedules updated by CSR's on a real time basis w/proof of delivery
5. Inventory/drop ship tools
6. Electronic invoice distributed to various accounts
All of this must be 24X7, secure and hierarchical.
At Ross, we have most of these tools in place for use now. We have also found not all buyers want all tools. Let us create an automated print management model for you. It would be hard to argue the cost reductions were not quickly visible.
posted by Alan Ross
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