Written by Tony Curcio
Do these scenarios sound familiar?
- - Your CFO wants to know which print projects in the past year have the highest ROI.
- - A long-time client needs to review every sales item you’ve printed for his firm in the past 5 years.
- - You need to replenish specific stock in your warehouse or you won’t be able to meet deadlines.
- - A customer with several managers across different branches is having print-approval issues.
- - A valuable new client wants to see several designs of a poster without paying extra for creative.
- - Your prepress department is quickly becoming the biggest bottleneck in your company.
- - Getting your IT, sales reps, art department and production staffers together is almost impossible.
These are just a few issues that print providers, their clients and other companies might have to deal with every single day. However, problems like these that would normally take days and even weeks to address, can now be solved in a few hours or mere minutes by using Brand iQ software.
Brand iQ has over 40 years of experience within the printing industry. Its software was originally built based on the need to provide a brand-management platform that’s not only a front-end tool, but also a complete solution to run an entire print operation. Brand iQ began officially 8 years ago (in 2013) with one simple objective that the company continues to follow – to provide clients with a platform to manage every aspect of their brand online, in addition to a complete set of tools to automate and drive efficiency from a production perspective.
Manroland customers and other printers will reap the benefits of the new partnership
Now, Manroland Sheetfed, one the world’s leading offset press manufacturers headquartered in Offenbach, Germany, is bringing Brand iQ technology to North America after its highly successful partnership with the software provider in the UK. “We're excited to offer Brand iQ software with all new press installations in Canada and the U.S., as well as to our current customers and to other printers,” said Sean Springett, CEO and Managing Director, Manroland Sheetfed USA and Canada.
Under the new agreement, Brand iQ specialists will deploy the software, train print-shop staff and provide ongoing technical support and service. Manroland Sheetfed experts will partner with Brand iQ in the implementation process from start to finish, to ensure a fast and seamless integration. “Brand iQ technology not only streamlines just about every process in a print shop, but will also enable that printer to become a valued marketing services provider for its own clients. It’s a win-win partnership that saves time, money and valuable resources – and it’s the best and most complete brand-management system I’ve ever seen,” Springett added.
Brand iQ’s SaaS (Software as a Service) technology allows companies to manage virtually all aspects of their operation from one central, easy-to-use hub. Its software manages digital files, and can automate in-house workflows and artwork creation. There is also an option to print and fulfill your orders through Brand iQ’s Print Centre that supports localized print production in every corner of the globe – which is ideal for firms with locations worldwide. Orders are processed faster and errors are reduced. “Brand iQ will give Manroland’s customers and other printers, better control over their operations – enabling them to better manage their own clients, continuously grow their customer base, and earn new business,” said Jamie Booth, CSO at Brand iQ.
What Brand iQ can do for Manroland Sheetfed clients and other commercial printers
- - Brand iQ software provides an unprecedented level of visibility and total control over every process that’s vital to the success of your business. Brand iQ:
- - Automates all in-shop production processes – from concept, to design, to approvals, to printing and delivery. ✔ Manages every stage of a print project much more efficiently, reducing downtime and human errors.
- - Speeds up the approvals process significantly by collaborating in real time with clients, sales, IT staff and creative teams all at once – facilitating helpful input and feedback from every team member.
- - Easily retrieves, catalogues and shares all of a client’s printed materials and other digital assets in minutes.
- - Automates artwork creation with Template Designer. Users can access hundreds of pre-designed templates to create artwork faster, update existing designs, reduce time spent on client changes, and use that extra time to produce speculative campaigns that will attract new business.
- - Orders, monitors and delivers printed materials, warehoused products and other physical items much faster through the Brand iQ Fulfillment Hub.
- - Better manages financial teams, budgets and spending using the Brand iQ Insight Dashboard.
- - Prints and fulfils your orders through Brand iQ’s Print Centre that supports localised print production in every corner of the globe – which is ideal for firms with locations worldwide. Orders are processed faster and errors are reduced.