Product category:
Management and Administration Software and Systems
News Release from: Optimus | Subject: Optimus 2020
Edited by the Printingtalk Editorial
Team on 07 March 2006
Management Software Enables B2B Print
Growth
February was a busy month for West Sussex (UK) firm Weald Print Solutions, which changed its name to A Local Printer as part of an expansion of its services and customer base.
February was a busy month for West Sussex (UK) firm Weald Print Solutions, which changed its name to A Local Printer as part of an expansion of its services and customer base The result of a great deal of planning and work also came to fruition last month when the company started e-commerce trading with two key customers
This article was originally published on Printingtalk on 11 Mar 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
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"Our Optimus 2020 MIS system had nothing to do with the name change but everything to do with our ability to offer a business-to-business service," said A Local Printer's managing director Ray Burn.
He added: "Optimus has been superb at helping us set up this facility, working closely with our technical staff to tailor software and create templates.
It was a significant event when we went live with two of our major customers on the same day and we're now talking to others." Burn said that the benefits to are significant, with faster turn-around of work, reduced costs, greater accuracy and a general improvement in efficiency throughout the plant.
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Sheet-Fed Printer Selects Optimus 2020 MIS System
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Digital print specialist CSL Digital Print in Basingstoke (UK) has installed an Optimus 2020 MIS system from Optichrome as part of its development plans.
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Following the latest enhancement to its Optimus 2020 MIS system, customers of Paragon Group UK are placing over 700 print orders a day over the internet, cutting costs and speeding turn-around.
He predicted that administration on jobs handled via the e-commerce route will be reduced by 80 per cent, with the frm's Optimus 2020 system at its heart.
The company began installation of its first Optimus 2020 modules only a few months ago, following a decision to replace its out of date managment information system (MIS).
Estimating and invoicing modules are now fully operational and over the coming months A Local Printer will be implementing the stock control and shopfloor data collection elements of Optimus 2020.
Ray Burn added: "Optimus 2020 is a phenomenally powerful MIS system so you have to integrate it in to the factory one stage at a time.
It's made a huge difference to the efficiency of the company and the B2B service will enable us to become even closer to our customers." One of the two clients to take up the e-commerce option operates multiple sites across the UK, with every site requiring stationery overprinted with the branch address.
For much of this work A Local Printer has created templates for each branch, which are held on its database at the Storrington site, along with thumbnails of jobs, which help identification.
Individual branches can simply place repeat orders via email or log on the site to call up and change a job themselves.
Proofs are sent back via email as PDF files and the customer can make further changes or place the order - all electronically.
Burn explained: "We've created pre-agreed prices on jobs for this customer so that a branch ordering 2,000 A4 letterheads already knows what the cost will be and doesn't have to request an estimate or get approval for the purchase.
All the client needs is a normal web browser - everything else is set up at our end.
This particular customer has more than 60 stationery items and we expect the lack of re-keying required on most jobs will lead to far fewer mistakes and the inevitable subsequent loss in time and money." A Local Printer will also hold printed and part printed stock for customers and automation will be instigated when the Optimus 2020 stock control module is implemented during the Spring.
Burn commented further: "The support from Optimus throughout this project has been tremendous.
We're looking forward to working with Optimus to help grow the business in the future." A Local Printer has also created a separate 'retail' website of printed items and product explanations to make it easier for companies that are unfamiliar with printing terminology to identify what they require.
And Burn described an additional function of the company's new operations, in terms of helping people understand print better.
He observed: "People sometimes don't know if they should have a leaflet or a brochure or even what they difference is.
The site makes it very simple for someone to see a picture against an explanation and understand how best to achieve what they need.
Prices are published for a range of quantities for every product and there is the ability to place an order, pay on-line by credit card and upload artwork.".
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