In early February, Ricoh and Avanti announced that Allegra Network had chosen Avanti Slingshot as the core of its WorkStream™ integrated web storefront to MIS workflow automation solution that will be offered across its North American network of 270 marketing and print communications franchises. Our readers may remember that I visited Allegra Network headquarters in Plymouth MI three years ago to get a look at the new facility and the impressive Marketing Resource Center the franchise network had already put in place to support its franchisees.

Now the company is taking that support to an entirely new level with the ongoing development of WorkStream™, its integrated workflow automation solution.

Chief Executive Officer Mike Marcantonio explains that the driver behind WorkStream™ is the company’s Blue Ocean Strategy. “Our strategy to differentiate our members is for them to become sales-driven solutions providers,” he says. “We want them to be consultative. They need to be out meeting with clients, understanding what they are trying to accomplish, and proposing solutions that help them achieve a goal or solve a problem. We want to free them from having such a complicated business, and we believe that our WorkStream system is the way to do that. A fully integrated system greatly streamlines all aspects of order entry, accounting and production. It saves money and time so more time can be spent on managing and growing customer relationships.”