What is pre-press workflow software?
Pre-press workflow software is software that helps automate some aspects of the printing process. It allows commercial print business owners to streamline their work and take on bigger, more complex projects while delivering better turnaround times than before.
Handling big print jobs quickly is a high priority for custom packaging printers of all sizes. The commercial printing business owner can benefit from automating some processes so that they can handle ambitious jobs quickly and efficiently. From taking orders through different channels to organizing staff workflow, pre-press workflow software can handle a wide range of tasks from commercial printing, publishing, and newsprint.
Here are just a few things to think about:
You can avoid bottlenecks
Moving your business to file preparation and workflow automation helps to avoid messy bottlenecks in your commercial printing press business. As printing and finishing machines become faster and more efficient, the old-fashioned bottleneck in a printing company’s production line–where work came to a halt–can be avoided with automation that reduces the need for manual user input, allowing pre-press staff to use time more effectively.
Streamlining the creation of quotations and preparation of production and print files will save time and stress for your team. Even time-consuming tasks like the creation of varnish masks can be managed when pre-press staff are aware of incoming orders and have time to plan their work. Although the number and quality of incoming files is always unpredictable, software helps commercial printing presses manage internal workflow and deliver high-quality products on tight deadlines without interrupting pre-press printing tasks.
Good pre-press workflow helps reduce waste
Each print is important and no commercial printing business likes to create waste. Improving your production workflow allows you to optimize each print. You can minimize press downtime by reducing potential substrate issues and managing multiple paper paths, depending on ink coverage and drying needs. Combined with its variable-speed capability, pre-press workflow software can greatly reduce paper waste – both during press setup and press stops. The number of unnecessary reprints is also reduced by checking prints automatically.
You can lower prices for your customers
If you know your customers are price shopping when looking for the best deal on a print job, automating some of your pre-press workflow systems is one way to increase efficiency and make your business more competitive. Print customers looking for good value in printed products will see real benefits to quality prints delivered quickly by a commercial printing business. If pre-press staff have to manage jobs one by one, staff time increases, which makes business less efficient and increases costs for print customers. Automating pre-press processes helps to improve the bottom line and provide cost savings on almost all print jobs by shortening pre-press production times.
Improve delivery times
As modern consumers have gotten used to short delivery times for all kinds of customized products, print customers also expect shorter and shorter turnaround times on even the most elaborate print orders at commercial print houses. Even when jobs are bigger and more complicated, short delivery times are still a high priority. When your team can efficiently manage everything from print orders to project workflow and completion, print customers will experience shorter delivery times.
You can increase print volumes
It’s not unusual for commercial printing businesses to receive more than one big order at a time. Demand for personalized seasonal greeting cards or graduation invitations can increase work orders suddenly for print houses. Automation of pre-press workflow can help commercial printing businesses increase print volumes while still managing pre-press labor. Shorter production and turnaround times allow printers to complete more jobs for more customers. Handling web-to-print orders using software allows you to reliably increase print volumes without increasing or overworking your pre-press staff.
You can optimize your business
Managing recurring tasks through pre-press workflow software can free up staff to focus on responding to customers and providing answers to questions about complex printing projects. Saving time while increasing overall printing efficiency will help commercial printing businesses increase their customer satisfaction and loyalty.
