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How a more streamlined workflow benefits businesses
The goal for many organizations is the ability to perform their core functions as quickly and cost-effectively as possible, while still maintaining high quality standards. However, this objective remains elusive for most companies because the strategies put in place involve adding personnel to handle high volumes of work orders more rapidly, a situation that results in greater costs in terms of compensating staff. As a result, the gains a business makes in serving more clients are tempered by overhead costs in performing higher quality work with significant speed.
Yet, technology has proved to be a differentiating factor for many organizations because it not only allows them to create more streamlined workflows, but doesn't necessarily add to payroll costs. In fact, many of the redundant administrative tasks that regularly occur in business environments can be reduced or eliminated.
How can the process be applied in a print organization?
According to a recent post in Business 2 Community, the more complexity and people involved in a workflow, the slower it will ultimately become. With respect to the printing industry, there's now an expectation of rapid ordering and production, meaning shop owners can't belabor an order and hope to retain a strong client base.
Traditionally, a workflow requires a sequence of monitoring and checking of procedures to ensure employees are following a prescriptive standard. There's nothing inherently wrong with this strategy. In fact, it helps companies reduce errors in their operations, which can be harmful to both customer satisfaction and brand reputation. It's crucial for a respectable and sustainable business to be as accurate as possible, but there's also much to be said for business agility.
What should organizations think about ahead of time?
When deciding how to improve workflows, print shop owners need to assess their current processes and recognize areas that need improvement. At the same time, this can't be a top-down initiative, meaning leadership should think about staff members who'll be affected by a change to workflow processes. Changes to technology can be an especially sensitive issue for employees who may not be comfortable with different software. The individuals who will have the most interaction with a platform like print MIS software should be consulted ahead of time before the print shop makes the update, upgrade or migration.
On the other side of the equation, clients play a big role in ensuring workflow optimization works out as planned. For instance, a print MIS solution is truly only effective when clients grow accustomed to the technology as well. As a Web-based tool, print MIS systems are accessible for both the printer and its customers. Both parties can also take advantage of a digital platform for managing orders, asking for and creating estimates, and inventory management.
In considering a technological solution to workflow issues, print organizations should look for a tool that's flexible enough to handle both digital and offset printing needs without having to create multiple workflows. At the same time, the vendor and customers should be on the same page, as this will yield the most successful results.
