Digital process management? Process management all well and good. And digital too, of course. After all, we are no longer in the 90s…. But what does that mean in concrete terms?
Digital process management generally describes the application of digital technologies and processes for the efficient management and control of orders, projects, enquiries, etc., as well as other business-relevant processes. It encompasses various aspects that can optimise the entire workflow from enquiry or order acceptance to delivery, billing and accounting with the help of digital support and automation.
The printing industry in particular is undergoing a strong and ongoing transformation as a result of advancing digitalisation. The trend from print to online for books and media as well as for office or business equipment, and the change in demand to ever more demanding projects with rising energy and raw material prices are major challenges for the industry. The demands are increasing, the requirements for flexibility are extremely high. Digital transformation – i.e. the shift towards working with digital support – in businesses is now a must if you want to keep up with competition and demand.
Below you will find 10 key areas as examples for the use of digital process management in printing companies:
1. Distribution / sales
All customer data and order information are digitally available in one system. Potentials, sales opportunities, follow-ups, (old) orders, calculations. Your sales staff have everything at a glance here. All information on customers and interested parties, their orders, enquiries and offers can be accessed at any time and from anywhere.
2. Order management
Through the use of digital systems, print jobs can be recorded, managed and tracked electronically. Customer data, order details, print files and specific requirements can be stored centrally to ensure efficient order processing. Order data entered in the online shop is digitally transferred to your software and can be directly processed further – without manual readjustment or copy & paste.
3. Offer preparation and calculation
Digital process management enables automated creation of quotations and estimates based on customer specifications. By using print calculation software, material costs, labour times and other factors can be taken into account for accurate pricing. Quotation generation at the push of a button! (see also article “Digital printing calculation: How to keep your costs under control”).
4. Pre-press
In pre-press, the print data is prepared and optimised. With the help of digital process management, you can automatically check the print data for errors, adjust colour profiles or even convert it to the correct print format. This helps to avoid errors and to use resources efficiently.
5. Production planning and control
Digital process management enables efficient planning and control of print production. Production orders can be generated automatically, schedules created and resources such as presses and labour optimally allocated. This leads to better utilisation and shortening of throughput times.
6. Quality control
Digital technologies support quality assurance in print shops. Colour deviations can be monitored and corrected through the use of colour management systems. Automated inspection systems help to detect printing errors to ensure high print quality.
7. Warehouse management
Digital process management can also be used in inventory management. It enables accurate inventory management of printing materials, inks and other resources. In this way, stocks can be managed efficiently and reordered in time. In advanter, for example, you can get an overview of your stock at any time via a reorder point query. When you define your critical minimum stock levels, you receive proactive feedback and can enter the reorder process directly from the overview.
8. Customer communication
Digital solutions facilitate communication with customers throughout the order process. Customers can view the status of their orders online, make changes and provide feedback. This improves customer satisfaction and enables transparent order processing.
9. Logistics and order tracking
After completion of the orders, the shipping label for the connected carrier specified in the order is printed out automatically. Shipping data is transmitted automatically. After delivery, the corresponding status is automatically fed back into the system.
10. Invoicing
The projects and orders are digitally recorded. As soon as the order status is set accordingly, the invoice can be sent automatically. Naturally digitally, as a simple PDF or also as an X- or ZUGFeRD invoice.
The application of digital process management in print shops offers numerous advantages. Countless administrative tasks that take up too much of your valuable time can be saved. You can use the free capacities more effectively for complex projects and tasks that cannot be handled according to a standard. You increase your efficiency, reduce errors and increase your quality. You work more productively, reduce your costs, increase competitiveness and secure your margins.
A prerequisite for the efficiency of digitalisation is the avoidance of isolated solutions. A sea of individual digital solutions will not get you anywhere. The digital systems must work together holistically. Systems connected via interfaces should be seamlessly integrated and cooperate with each other without friction losses.
How can we support you?
Experience in a personal online live demo how you can use advanter in your business and also optimise your processes. We are happy to support you in sharpening your view of the big picture or even the smallest details.
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