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There is much in your control when it comes to choosing the right print software package for your business. It has nothing to do with counting features. It has everything to do with your approach to engaging with the vendor, learning from other printers who already have the solution, and choosing your team wisely.
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About Jennifer Matt
Jennifer Matt is the managing editor of WhatTheyThink’s Print Software section as well as President of Web2Print Experts, Inc. a technology-independent print software consulting firm helping printers with web-to-print and print MIS solutions.
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Discussion
By Chuck Thornburg on Mar 16, 2022
Hi Jennifer, you are right on here. Software that works in the print environment can be a total end-to-end solution or can be what we call "middle-ware". It fits between the web store or MIS and the press. Regardless of which software you are looking at the questions are the same. Can it do what I/we need it to do? Is it flexible, can it grow with the company? Can it fill that role in any vertical market that we grow into? Such as a sheet printer jumping into the wide-format business. Can it save me time and money?
Having a team comprised of IT and your print production principals is required in order to successfully implement new technology. Each has its role in getting it right. In my experience, no two printers are the same and require unique integrations in order to grow their business. Canned solutions are just that, they are comprised of a set of specific rules and processes, and may not fit into every company. Make sure that any solution you look at can grow dynamically with you. Not force you into a box that you eventually outgrow and have to begin looking for another solution in a few years.
One important aspect of any software purchase is, "Can we learn this software and create our own workflow or do we need to pay a consulting/development fee every time something is changed?" This question is often overlooked and needs to be considered as part of the overall cost of any decision.
Great article, keep them coming!