Imagine you’re the coach of a sports team. You’ve got a dozen or more people to manage, schedules to keep, and game plans to develop— not to mention the not-small task of guiding those players through training and development.
Now consider how impossible all of that would be without any systems or structures in place. It’d be utter chaos— and you’re not likely to win many games.
Replace those athletes with print clients and the many print jobs they send your way, and you have the same issue: without the right systems and structures, business is chaotic, and you’re struggling to win.
If you’re tired of the overwhelming chaos of organizing people and processes without a unified software solution, a print management information system (print MIS) is the key.
Print MIS software is proven more cost-effective and efficient than relying on human touchpoints and manual processes. But with all the options out there, which one is right for you?
Or perhaps you’re already using a print management solution, but it isn’t:
- Delivering promised results
- Helping you overcome your persistent process challenges
- A truly unified print management system
…so, you’re looking for a new print management solution—one that actually meets your needs.
In either case, these five things to consider will help you choose the right print management solution.
5 Considerations for Any Print Management Solution
Implementing a new print MIS is an investment of time and resources, so it’s crucial to make the decision right. Use these five elements to guide your selection process:
1. Customization and integration
Your print business has unique requirements, so a one-size-fits-all approach is bound to create complications. Look for a truly customizable solution that can seamlessly fit into your current workflow without disrupting production. Find a print MIS that allows full integration into your existing systems and processes, streamlining your system instead of making it more complicated.
2. Scalability
The print industry is evolving rapidly, and your business must evolve along with it. Part of this evolution ideally includes growth. As your business grows, you'll want a print MIS that can scale with you. If you’re looking for a print management solution that can solve your current business’ needs, you must also consider a solution for enhancing your opportunity to scale your business.
A good print MIS will give you added functionality when you need it. For instance, as you gain customers, implementing a print management solution with an integrated CRM can offset the costs and human error involved with administrative chores.
Want to learn more about how an integrated CRM is the life of a healthy print shop? Get our eBook!
3. User-friendliness
A print MIS could have near-unlimited features and scalability, but none of that matters without a quality user interface. If a solution requires a 120-hour training period to understand or its user interface is impossible to navigate, chances are good that your team won’t benefit from all those bells and whistles. It may cause more friction than congruence.
Choose a solution that is easy to use and navigate, with intuitive controls and features that make it simple for your team to get up to speed and work efficiently.
4. Support and training
At the same time, even with the most user-friendly print MIS, you'll need some support and training to get the most out of it. Look for a solution that offers comprehensive support resources, including documentation, tutorials, and customer service, to ensure you have the help you need to get up and running smoothly.
And be sure to find out what after-installation support looks like. If you have a problem down the road, will your print management software provider be there to help? Or will you be left to solve the problem by looking for forums created by other agitated customers?
5. Cost
Finally, consider the costs associated with implementing and maintaining a print MIS. Upgrading is never free, so choosing a solution that meets your needs and budget is important.
And keep in mind that investing in a high-quality, feature-rich print MIS can pay off in the long run by streamlining your operations and improving efficiency—often at a scale that delivers an ROI practically unimaginable to those operating using siloed or manual processes.
Avanti Slingshot™ Print MIS
Here at Avanti, we’ve designed a print management software solution that checks all those boxes. Avanti Slingshot™ Print MIS integrates seamlessly with your existing systems and processes and offers a customizable, scalable, and user-friendly print MIS. We also provide comprehensive support and training resources to ensure you get the most out of the print management software.
Avanti’s print MIS hits all five considerations by providing industry-leading and intuitive customization that connects your systems and helps you manage documents, assets, and much more. Avanti Slingshot gives you an edge by providing:
- Job and workflow management: Avanti Slingshot Print MIS streamlines the production process by managing jobs and workflow, including quotes, orders, scheduling, production tracking, and so much more.
- Inventory control: Avanti's print MIS helps you manage and track inventory levels, including raw materials, finished goods, and consumables, to optimize production and minimize waste.
- Cost tracking: Avanti's print MIS tracks costs, including labor, materials, and overhead, to help you better understand your margins and make informed pricing decisions.
- Customer relationship management: Avanti's print MIS is also a powerful CRM tool that helps you manage customer relationships, including quotes, orders, invoicing, and more. Avanti Slingshot helps print businesses improve communication and strengthen customer loyalty.
- Data analysis and reporting: Avanti's print MIS provides robust data analysis and reporting capabilities to help you track performance and make informed business decisions leveraging the power of real-time data.
The Bottom Line
To take your business to the next level, you need a print management solution that is customizable, scalable, and user-friendly. You also need appropriate support and training, and your solution needs to deliver significant ROI.
Avanti Slingshot Print MIS does all of this and more. Whether you’re implementing unified print management software for the first time or looking for something better than your current solution, Slingshot gives you everything you need to optimize your operations and drive growth.
See the power of Avanti Slingshot for yourself by requesting a free online demo. Our experts will work directly with you and customize the demo using your actual job samples so you can see exactly how Slingshot will improve operations in your shop.
Opportunity is knocking—don’t miss out! Request a demo now!
