The service that printing companies offer both businesses and consumers likewise appears relatively clear-cut on the surface – they require images files and print them. That is nonetheless, as you’d expect a very simplistic summary of the business processes a printing company goes through to create the ultimate product.
The business process follows a specific pattern which is precisely the same across most printing businesses. Someone requiring magazine, business cards, a brochure or some other file will make contact with the printer. Only at that point the printer anticipates the receipt of a file in the customer, but how?
Many printers have received files as email attachments. Nevertheless, with the increasing difficulties due to email attachment limitations, no promise of delivery and frequent file corruption taking place, email is just not suitable for this purpose. These systems don’t tend to be especially user friendly although many printers now happily use FTP for receiving files. Possibly more significantly they don’t offer much in the way of integration capabilities, depending upon the alternative and the way in which it’s been deployed.
So, which are the essential considerations for a printer when executing a file transfer alternative. Well there certainly are several things to take into account, these are;
1. Ensure that it stays straightforward
It will cater for a broad variety of customers with different technical skills, when implementing a remedy. Normally a web browser based system is considered better for user adoption, which also offers branding opportunities than FTP.
2. Flexibility is vital
A range of delivery protocols is essential for non technical customers.
3. Make sure your customers info is secure
Customers may send commercially sensitive documents or depending on the type of charge card statements, financial records, reports and accounts, printer and much more. Providing a safe file transfer solution is essential after delivery must be taken into consideration and consideration for the security of information whilst in transit and at rest.
4. Auditing & notification
Logging and tracking when and who sent what, is a requirement for companies that are printing. Often, disputes can arise relating to not, or when a file was sent in, specifically if they’ve missed a deadline or a print run. Any dispute is negated by a complete audit trail and when coupled with automated email notifications and file manifests on reception of files, the printer can rest assured the results will be better relationships with their customers.
5. Automation using XML/JDF
The difficulty that lots of printing companies have with their existing FTP options is the insufficient integration capabilities. Providing workflow forwarding and XML/JDF Job Tickets and MIS systems or CTP workflows to integrate is more often than not a necessity, as opposed to a nice to have.
6. File sending
Once files have been received, usually the printer must send preflight report, a PDF proof or the file back to the customer for changes to be produced. Using links that are embedded within emails to get a straightforward one-click download is regarded as the standard and when it may be integrated together with the workflow to additional automation better.
The technology in many instances will probably be deemed to reach your goals, if your printer manages to tick all of the above mentioned boxes when executing a file transfer option. Instead of proving to be the bottleneck to the company, which many affordable online services are inclined to be, the file transfer option becomes an intrinsic technology that helps them in providing a more streamlined and automated business workflow.
File transfer Info 