- Elisha Kasinskas
- |
- February 08, 2016
Here are three must know tips you cannot afford to miss that will improve your automation and entice your customers to bring business back to your shop. Recently, one Higher Education in-plant recognized a 30 percent improvement in expense control in just 90 days with workflow attention. Customers are returning because of the service improvements and more predictable turnarounds.
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3 Workflow Automation Tips for In-Plant Printers
1. Nail Down Order Intake Automation
Make ordering simple and rich in service provided to include quick pricing, complete and accurate information, and offer easy to train routines for your team and users. It impacts every project. Listen to this Communications Director's Assistant: "You know my job is more important than anyone else in the organization. The VPs are constantly on us to respond to the sales teams. Why can't you make ordering easier and faster for ME. Of course I can outsource it to someone else. But I understand that I'm supposed to look to in-source first."
2. Develop Business Intelligence
Analyze the voice of your customer. Through an online engine like WebCRD you can capture customer information on how they order, what they order and in what quantities. Use data to plan staffing, justify equipment, reporting details back to customers, and offer intelligence at annual service reviews. Take notes on this comment from the VP of Facilities Management: "I'm tasked with cutting costs. You should be giving me historical information so I can anticipate supply needs. Standing inventory can be lowered and I can demonstrate value to management during my quarterly budget meetings."
3. Implement Real Time Tracking
Job requestors and your team can see real time into orders. Integration from point of order through every step in your process can be seamless. Attach bar code tracking and eliminate black holes in production. Make customers happy with real time visibility. Here's what this EVP of Sales thinks: "I don't want to hear about your problems. Just make it happen. Price is not nearly as important to me as "speed to market." If your team can demonstrate higher levels of accountability I'm more than happy to give our sales collateral and customer facing materials solely to you."
Want additional tips and ideas for improving your workflow automation?
Download our "17 Ways In-plants Can Reduce Costs and Increase Efficiency" white paper to learn 17 ways that workflow software automates print production.