Setting Up An E-Print Program

BFMAMarch 22, 2001

What Is An E-Print Program?• Electronic Printing has Many Aspects.

– Desk top printing– Distribute then print– Network printing– Production printing– Production publishing (i.e. Docutech)

• Common need is managing digital files

Why Should You Do It?

• Saves money• Saves time• Better customer service• More flexible print capability• Flexible marketing• Takes advantage of the Internet

What Are The Desired Outcomes?• Cost

– inventory reduction– obsolescence reduction– freight reduction

• Service– faster availability– always the latest edition– more reliable

What Are The Desired Outcomes?• More Revenue

– help your salespeople sell more– one-to-one marketing– faster time to market

What Does It take?

• Start with an enterprise strategy• Set clear, measurable objectives• Don’t force it - take what you can

get• Work towards end-to-end capability• Technology? - not a lot• Change management

Think Future - Act Present

• Organize your data for planning• Innovation - share resources peer-

to-peer• Build a digital asset management

system• Convert existing documents• Sell “digital color”• Become a knowledge leader in digital

Getting Started

• Define specifications for digital• Review existing forms• Work with form owners and users• Get IT involved early• Survey users on potential candidates • Be a change agent• remember-print is not the enemy

How To Use The Internet

• Understand how printing on the Internet works

• Standardize on PDF• Use e-mail for distribution• Build a catalog for the Intranet• Find print partners

Some Examples

• webprint.com• kinkonet• iprint.com