Rob Munz serves as President and CEO of PROOF-it-ONLINE, a technology company that provides idea, concept and proof approval and review solutions. Prior to founding the company in 1999, Mr. Munz lead the Internet technology and development team for a leading e-commerce and web services company. In 1988 Mr. Munz founded Graphic Accents, a graphic design, signage and print brokerage firm.

PROOF-it-ONLINE brought together his expertise from the two areas to resolve a common problem in the creative process - getting work approved quickly and efficiently so that it can be moved out the door. The approval process is more than simply visually presenting a document, design or layout. A reviewer needs to be able to communicate directly their likes, dislikes and to communicate changes. PROOF-it-ONLINE's web-based application solves this challenge, allowing businesses to present and manage concepts and proofs online for clients to review, mark-up and approve, all through a simple Internet connection.

Tell our subscribers about the history of PROOF-it-ONLINE.

It has been quite exciting. Initially, PROOF-it-ONLINE was developed to allow businesses to obtain approvals for brochures, letterhead, business cards, and similar printed items. After soft launching in 1999 and receiving an overwhelmingly positive response from printers, publishers, ad agencies, designers, forms companies, packaging houses and corporate communications departments, PROOF-it-ONLINE’s management team realized the full potential and broad appeal of the application.

The development team began focusing on functionality and features that users were inquiring about. These functions included proof tracking, automatic alerts, PDF support, multi-page uploads, encryption and a host of other functions not found in e-mailing or posting to ftp sites and certainly not available through traditional methods like faxing and overnight letters. Currently leading edge businesses are using PROOF-it-ONLINE to present for approval everything from advertisements, packaging, P-O-P, postcards, brochures, custom forms, labels, web site designs, newspapers, magazines, catalogues, letterhead, signs, posters, and a multitude of other creative products. If something needs client or colleague approval it has been on PROOF-it-ONLINE.

Explain your pricing model.

PROOF-it-ONLINE’s guarantee is simple: Small investment, big dividends. PROOF-it-ONLINE requires no IT overhead and no software purchases for those posting or reviewing. Our self-serve hosted application is a subscription-based model that can be seamlessly integrated into a members existing web presence. Members choose a program or package that fits their creative workflow demand. Programs begin at $24.95 per month for the posting of an unlimited number of proofs. For high volume customers, PROOF-it-ONLINE provides customized solutions. The core technology is tailored to meet the corporation’s specific workflow and database requirements, server needs and branding preferences.

What hardware or software does your product or service require to be effective and how long does it take to implement?

We found that those charged with reviewing a document, layout or designs are not interested in downloading, installing and learning special viewing/collaboration software or purchasing hardware. In many cases a reviewers own corporate IT Departments won’t allow the install of programs without going through a use review and IT Department approvals. Any solution that requires such annoyance is not going to be well received. There are additional hassles and problems when it comes to adding new functions or upgrades to these kind of solution.

These solutions lack the promise that we offer of being able to review from anywhere. A disdain for downloads is nearly universal on the reviewers side. While more tolerant of plugins and software downloads creatives still would prefer to pass on adding software to their workstations. PROOF-it-ONLINE requires no software purchases for either those posting proofs or those responsible for proofing. We have created a totally browser based solution. As to how long it takes to implement; most companies can be up and receiving approvals in minutes. It is very intuitive and requires no training.

What major challenges do you see in relation to current economic conditions?

PROOF-it-ONLINE is a privately held and funded company that has been generating revenues since inception. The pull back in the capital markets, while detrimental to many who have not found their footing has not affected us. The uncertainty in the economy in general is a bit unsettling but the reality is businesses are undergoing change and change offers opportunity to those who have the intelligence to make good decisions today for the sake of the future.

Across all the industries we serve, pursuit of additional corporate cost cutting and a search for more efficient ways to operate and manage day-to-day operations is the immediate response companies are having to the swing in the economy. As companies work with smaller staffs and put more demands on their employees the solutions that can stretch capabilities and free up time are in high demand. Since PROOF-it-ONLINE promises both cost savings and a more timely and efficient way of doing business, there has become an increased enthusiasm and a more rapid adoption rate for the PROOF-it-ONLINE solution.

Others have cut staff to reduce expenses. Has PROOF-it-ONLINE experienced layoffs?

No, we continue to execute on our Sales, Marketing and Business plan with outlined personnel requirements. As layoffs have occurred in other "new economy" businesses we are even optimistic that the best and brightest will learn that there may be a place for them at a solid and successful PROOF-it-ONLINE.

What are you doing to ensure that PROOF-it-ONLINE continues its leadership position in what appears to be a crowded field?

PROOF-it-ONLINE continues to focus on developing its application to meet the real-world challenges of all users. We in fact serve two audiences – the creative and that creative’s client. The solution needs to be quick and easy to use for the creative and friendly on the end of the individual charged with submitting the approval. We have the advantage of being able to build from the feedback from our users and from their customers as well. They are our real development staff. A great deal of our success has to do with setting realistic expectations for users.

We realize that online approvals and monitor based proofing and approvals have some limitations. We play to the strengths of a web-based solution and continue to develop for the future as bandwidth, color and fidelity challenges are answered by technological advancements. Additionally we are very proactive with regards to servicing our users. Being there to support the solution, as their "approvals partner" is what is important. Our member companies recognize that there is comfort in dealing with the industry leader, as they know we will continue to thrive, serve their needs and be there in the future.

Comment on how your company differs from others in your space.

There is the benefit to having been first but more importantly for having chosen an easily understood and universally demanded solution. In October 1999, when PROOF-it-ONLINE soft launched at Graph Expo, we were one of three Internet-based applications showcasing. Six months later, procurement sites, portals, online supply companies, online print catalogues and online print services began popping up everywhere. There were buy side and sell side applications. Many were overwhelming and many more were the webification of some already existing solutions that weren’t broken in the first place.

Throughout all the mergers, acquisitions and start-ups, we’ve always maintained our original focus of providing an online proofing application for designers and their clients that easily compliment the way creatives work today and into the future. We help creative businesses capitalize on what the web does best – improve the communication process with the customer. Most companies already have a computer based estimating program, most have production workflow software, many have their storage needs addressed. PROOF-it-ONLINE is focused on providing the missing link in the creative approval process.

Content management appears to be the biggest challenge for most designers, publishers and document creators. How do your products plan to help in those areas?

We intend to continue are focus on our core value proposition – improving the client to vendor relationship as it applies to the approval process. We certainly compliment the other products and services that surround this space but we are not currently looking to step into content management. Our concentration is within the creative workflow. Some very interesting things are happening within the production workflow process and as much as we can compliment existing services we will do that. We continue to offer our best-of-breed solution to other companies looking to improve their offering as well.

PROOF-it-ONLINE has a somewhat new brand. How can you compete with all the noise in the e-Space?

The proofing process has always been a thorn in the side of anyone who designs and requires approvals. It’s not all that different on the other side of the table. Buyers are often frustrated by the communication hassles and delays. Online proofing is still in the awareness stage of marketing but both sides are demanding a better way. They have they are attentive to smart solutions. We believe it’s important to continue with direct sales, affiliate programs and online media placements to let them know there is an effective, inexpensive solution right on their desktop. It is called PROOF-it-ONLINE.

An additional sales avenue that cannot be overlooked and one in which we are most proud is the uncompensated recruitment by our customers of their peers. Members share their successes. The fact that members are willing to endorse PROOF-it-ONLINE is a direct result of our providing service like a partner rather than a vendor. Customers are always surprised when we give them a courtesy call to answer any questions they may have with our service or to help them realize additional benefits.

What other areas can you expand into?

As innovators ourselves we like to see new innovations or new uses for existing tools. We are always looking at what is being developed and what impact it will have on our customers and our solution. Is it something we can employ? Does it work with today’s infrastructure – and I’m talking about psychologically as well as technologically meaning are users ready for it? Thanks to our strong relationship with our existing members they are our sounding board and as I mentioned earlier the real authors of our solution. Quite frankly it’s less what we might only speculate and much more what they think and what they would employ. We have been asking questions and getting some very interesting feedback, especially with regards to resolution and color issues.

As an apparent survivor in today’s market, what are your thoughts about what’s happening in the e-print space today?

This time last year everything was Internet, Internet, Internet. At times the noise was so loud that all it did was confuse. Many of the offerings in the graphic arts space could not be differentiated – what exactly were they offering? "Oh, it’s some sort of buying, selling, ordering, managing, auctioning, bidding, collaborating, push a button and change the world of print, thing tied to the web?" I felt sorry for those walking the floors at various trade shows or reading through trade journals. Some of the recent failures, and closings across the technology sector have made many cautious for sure but it has also brought the level of noise down. Now we can be heard. You’re a printer, publisher ad agency. You have a problem that a third of your day is wasted chasing approvals and signoffs. We are PROOF-it-ONLINE. We have the solution that gives you one-third of your day back. Not much confusion in that.