Australian and New Zealand owned and operated print MIS provider IQ has partnered with Enfocus to fill a critical gap in the automation between prepress production and MIS. IQ provides its customers with an out-of-the-box solution that streamlines print production workflows using Enfocus Switch, PitStop Server and various other PDF solutions.
printIQ, a 100% web-based print management system, integrates seamlessly with Enfocus Switch and Enfocus PitStop Server using the IQconnect – Enfocus Switch Module. The addition of Enfocus Pitstop and Switch technology within the printIQ workflow means IQ can now offer a fully integrated workflow solution that combines best in class OEM technologies with its own powerful set of integrated tools.
IQ director and product development manager Mick Rowan says:“Not only does this provide us with a competitive edge as a web based MIS provider to the digital offset, signage and wide format markets, it also brings added value to our customers by automating the checking, reporting and correcting of web-to-print orders immediately upon delivery to the printer. The other massive benefit for our clients is the opportunity to replace disparate legacy software and outdated workflows."
By integrating the printIQ MIS directly with prepress workflows it is possible to take an order online, accept payment, pre-flight files, proof, impose and send directly to the press without operator intervention. The result is a highly automated, and cost effective, paperless workflow working off real time data.
Rowan explains: “A gap has always existed in the market between the traditional MIS and the prepress workflow. Our aim was to combine our own product with the best preflight and workflow automation tools on the market, to realise the key quest to automate to the press and provide a ‘lights-out’ workflow.
“Partnering with Enfocus offers printIQ customers a revolutionary change in workflow. One size certainly doesn’t fit all. The market is dynamic and changes continuously, demanding more flexibility from customers to adapt their production processes to the new needs. Now, with Enfocus Switch automation and PitStop Server PDF preflight and correction integration being offered through the IQconnect – Enfocus Switch Module, we have been able to extend our capabilities even further to a solution that can quickly and easily adapt to these changes.”
IQconnect uses Enfocus Switch to automate repetitive tasks and reduces the number of touch points, while using PitStop Server to automatically verify PDF files and correct them when needed. Preflight reports are generated and available within printIQ to inform staff about any issues which impact the quality of the printed result, or which will cause productioni ssues downstream. IQconnect also automates the delivery of proofs, the imposition, and management of print queues.
Rowan continues, “There has been a dearth of solutions to support the entirety of the business process in the printing industries. In some cases, print only makes up 30% of the sale. So it’s critical that the MIS of the future be able to extend beyond the current capabilities. The goal at IQ has been to address all of the weak points of the traditional print company with the goal of building an MIS that transitions a business into an efficient and modern print company in today’s print market."
An important element of the success of this relationship is the symbiotic ethos of both businesses, says Angelo Manno, Enfocus global account manager, Crossroads and OEM: “Both IQ and Enfocus are committed to listening to customer feedback and responding with solutions that mirror market demands to create operational opportunities. This level of cultural alignment is critical to the long-term success of a partnership designed to help customers both innovate and automate.”