When you talk to companies about spending money on technology, two questions always arise: how much will it cost and what is my return on investment (ROI)?
One of the roadblocks to automating your document factory has been the perception that the total costs would be overwhelming – and too difficult to prove the necessary ROI. Company wide improvements to achieve some vague, soft dollar savings is not enough in this tight market
Advances in technology, especially with new, open software management products allow needed improvements to be reconsidered.
I recently spoke with Bill Riley, President of Ironsides Technology about piece level tracking solutions.
SKIP: Bill, just what do you mean by ” Bring your own document factory”…
BILL: Skip; There are some systems today that plug and play with existing print and mail equipment. Some degree of plug and play has always been there, yet today there are more choices with better options and lower costs
Customers are trying to do more with less, to satisfy increasing customer expectations. They are looking for new automated solutions. Every document producer must meet integrity, and piece level audits driven by the need to protect consumers’ private and personal data – and to provide proof of performance within SLA terms. This is no longer the concern of just the huge national service bureaus – it is a real concern with every in-house, and outsource transactional, TransPromo and even the more advanced DM shops. Customers demand accountability and proof – and now, visibility to your process.
SKIP: How have changes in technology brought these solutions within reach of small to mid-size operations? We presume they work just as well for the large shops as well…
BILL: The solutions can work across the entire spectrum, smaller- mid-size and large document production operations. The key today is that software need not require custom development or lots of professional service costs to be effective. In fact, thanks to years of experience within the document production field, software as product – ready to plug and play – is available, right now. This “software as a product” model greatly reduces costs, and further, will work today on your existing production footprint - any print, finish or inserting platform.
SKIP: So you are saying that any producer, can quickly and economically add automated controls and piece level tracking – using their current equipment?
BILL: Skip that is exactly the point. While some users will buy new equipment, the fact is most are doing quite well with what they have. The cost avoidance of new inserters, for example, is significant. And when those dollars are re-purposed, the positive impact is multiplied.
When they can make their current machines more intelligent and create an automated tracking workflow built on current production systems that is a huge plus. Those shops add very visible technology to protect their current customers, and attract new revenue with a more efficient and transparent system. All can be done at a lower cost, and faster deployment - using their own print-mail factory. They can see the features working and enjoy the benefits of automation – immediately.
SKIP: Any closing thoughts?
BILL: I am speaking and exhibiting at Xplor 30th Annual Global Conference in March, where I will be delighted to speak about this in more detail. Or I can be reached at: bill.riley@ironsidestech.com or check out my session description here.
For more information on the 2010 Xplor Global Document Conference &Vendor Forum click here. To view the event digital brochure click here or call 1-800-ON-XPLOR
