At a well-attended open day at the offices of Leicestershire based Data Image, Esko and Clarity Software demonstrated their latest product offerings.
The focus on the event was to show how Esko’s powerful Automation Engine software can be integrated with Clarity, to create significant efficiency and automation for all processes within the digital workflow, from customer quotes to invoice and despatch.
Also supporting the event was CMYUK, who exclusively distribute Esko Kongsberg digital cutting solutions for the UK Sign & Graphics market. We caught up with managing director, Robin East, who said: “All too often we see customers investing further in faster printers and finishing equipment, when the real ‘achilles heel’ resides within their clunky manual artwork to press processes. Today demonstrates what can be achieved by integrating Esko’s Automation Engine with CRM, eliminating many administrative tasks and greatly reducing artwork to press time.”
“Generally, large format print providers have been slower to realise the benefits of effective production software,” says East, adding: “with increasing pressure on pricing and ever tightening deadlines, workflow automation provides time and cost savings that lead to increased profitability. For example, client approval for artwork can often create a significant bottleneck in production. Esko’s WebCentre solution integrates the design process with a direct communication channel that means clients can view visuals in outline and 3D format and request changes and give approval in realtime from within the system. This also provides a fully audited approval process that can be used to resolve any conflicts when the job is completed.”
Integrating Automation Engine to Clarity’s Job Costing and CRM modules enables client / job data to be utilised for all production processes throughout the workflow. Once these processes have been set up once, they become repeatable and adaptable for future jobs. “The software makes businesses more efficient and scalable. In a nutshell, this combined solution allows companies to take on more work without adding more people,” says East.
To help end users get started on the journey of automation and integrated workflows, Esko has launched a range of Quick Start products. “Changing your entire Business Processes in one go can be overwhelming and Esko is keen to gives companies the chance to take their first steps into automation. They have identified the key elements that are a crucial first step to effective automation and then offer the building blocks to take companies to the next level as and when they are ready,” concludes Robin East.
LFR will be visiting the CMYUK Demo Centre shortly to see and review in greater detail an entire workflow that manages to integrate Mimaki, HP, VUTEk and Kongsberg hardware into a seamless and fully integrated workflow.
