Print businesses have been increasingly adopting automation, with several automated tools offering flexibility, scalability, and cost savings.
Print businesses have been increasingly adopting automation, with several automated tools offering flexibility, scalability, and cost savings.
Introducing automation into the print workflow helps streamline routines, improve efficiency, and boost productivity.
But how do you know when to introduce automation to your workflow? Here are five key signs that show it's time for a managed print system.
Contents
- Inefficient production processes
- Lack of visibility
- Increasing bottlenecks
- Growing demand
- Rising operational costs
- Choosing the right print workflow automation
1. Inefficient production processes
Production inefficiency is a significant drain on a print business, impacting costs, timelines, and sometimes employee morale. Manual tasks introduce frequent delays, adding unnecessary labor costs and increasing the risk of errors.
While smaller print businesses may find it manageable to work around inefficiencies, issues can compound as businesses grow, making bad habits and outdated processes difficult and costly to overcome. Scaling a business without addressing inefficiencies can magnify these issues, slowing production and increasing frustration for staff and clients.
Good data integration, a clear view of workflows and job schedules, and real-time visibility into operations are essential to combat this. These tools help printers identify and eliminate bottlenecks, streamline tasks, and create a more efficient and motivated workforce, positioning the business for sustainable growth and improved profitability.
2. Lack of visibility
Enhanced visibility enables data-driven decisions, enabling leaders to make faster, more confident decisions. A managed print system offers a clear understanding of business data and operations, enabling proactive management, reducing errors, and improving productivity.
Imprint Group’s Managing Director, David Bullivant needed a clearer view of its operations to adapt to their clients' needs. Pace has enhanced visibility for their operations, providing valuable insights and real-time data that empowers them to make informed decisions and optimize workflows.
3. Increasing bottlenecks
Bottlenecks in print production can disrupt workflows, leading to delayed jobs and frustrated clients. They tie up skilled staff with problem-solving tasks rather than high-value activities, reducing overall efficiency. With resources stretched thin to resolve production delays, deadlines slip, and clients experience service disruptions. For print businesses, bottlenecks slow down production, harm customer satisfaction, and ultimately impact profitability.
Identifying key areas where automation can reduce bottlenecks is essential for streamlining operations. By automating repetitive tasks and improving communication, print businesses can reduce errors, enhance visibility across the workflow, and ensure timely delivery, boosting efficiency and client satisfaction.
4. Growing demand
As demand for print services grows, many printers need the efficiency of automation to scale their operations.
Without investments in automation and process control, increased demand can emphasize existing bottlenecks, slowing down workflows in areas like estimating, production, shipping, and invoicing. Businesses relying on manual operations can struggle to keep pace and are often only able to scale with additional recruitment.
This reliance on labor-intensive processes limits growth and increases the risk of errors and delays, impacting both profitability and customer satisfaction.
5. Rising operational costs
Rising operational costs are a growing challenge in the print industry, with raw material expenses, such as paper and ink, climbing steadily. Labor costs continue to increase as skilled workers become harder to find, and energy costs add further strain to budgets.
For many printers, adopting sustainable practices offers a solution that reduces waste and improves efficiency. Achieving true sustainability requires more than isolated changes; it demands a well-designed workflow and end-to-end data integration.
By tracking resource usage in real-time and optimizing each step of the production process, printers can minimize waste, cut costs, and lessen environmental impact. An integrated, sustainable approach reduces reliance on excess resources, helping businesses to thrive in a cost-sensitive, competitive market.
Choosing the right print workflow automation for your business
When choosing an automation and workflow solution for your print business, finding one that meets your current needs and can scale with you as your business grows is crucial. Many print MIS vendors are small companies, so it's essential to ensure they have a strong, stable business with a commitment to ongoing updates and support—changing solutions down the line is both costly and time-consuming.
Look for a solution that’s intuitive and user-friendly to minimize the investment in training and onboarding your staff, as this can quickly become a significant expense.
Also, integration is key; your MIS should seamlessly connect with your existing tech stack, including web-to-print platforms, accounting software, shipping solutions, and CRM systems. The lack of integration between these critical systems is often the biggest obstacle to achieving true automation.
By choosing a well-supported, comprehensive solution that integrates with your entire operation, you’ll be better positioned to streamline processes, boost efficiency, and adapt to future demands.
