By DPS Staff
Part 3 of 4
Print 18 took place from September 30 to October 2, 2018 at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL. Print professionals convened to investigate the latest technologies. Of note is the workflow and software solutions designed to improve the efficiency and profitability of print. Several vendors displayed software and workflow tools.
On the Floor
Accuzip, Inc. featured its AccuEngage product, a professional service designed to help users set up and manage Informed Delivery Campaigns. The company also featured its Direct Mail RESTful API with data enhancement services.
Aleyant demonstrated a suite of integrated, cloud-based solutions designed to improve print shop productivity and profitability. At the show, visitors could see an automated print workflow, from job submission to output that reduces manual touches, errors, and production time for print shops of all sizes.
Amazing Print Tech featured its ePrintDesigner web to print (W2P) software. ePrintDesigner features the most templates and images of any other W2P software, a simple design engine and checkout experience, the most precise text positioning and options for quick response codes, logo uploads, or background uploads.
Aurigma, Inc. featured its Customer’s Canvas Packaging software. The software features a powerful online editor designed to bring the entire ordering experience for packaging products to a new level.
Artifex featured its CobaltPrint solution.
Avanti highlighted several features of its flagship Slingshot end-to-end workflow solution, including Slingshot Automated Fulfillment Contract Management, Avanti Slingshot Integration with BCC Mail Manager, Avanti Slingshot Integration with XMPie StoreFlow Inventory level, Avanti Slingshot Mobile Fulfillment, Avanti Slingshot Integration with Enfocus Switch 2018, and Avanti Slingshot Integration with HP PrintOS Site Flow.
Canon featured its PRISMAprepare v7 solution. PRISMAprepare version 7 is the company’s next generation of make-ready tools, building on the success of PRISMAprepare version 6.3. This new version provides features and functionality that are designed to help increase productivity, reduce turnaround times, and enhance personalized services. These include a new production workspace, new product configurations, and smart and editable automated workflows.
CHILI publish showcased CHILI Publisher, its Universal Graphics Engine.
ChromaChecker Corporation featured connectivity to HP Indigo Color Beat.
CloudLab offered its printQ 3D Packaging Design solution. The software is designed to streamline the cost-intensive, complex process of designing and ordering personalized die cut packaging products and bringing in flexibility.
ColorLogic highlighted a range of solutions, including the Touch7 Neon Suite.
Crawford Technologies highlighted its quality assurance (QA) in the cloud solution. The company offers automation in the QA process for document testing by leveraging its own regression testing tools for a suite of products that serve a range of production QA needs.
DirectMail 2.0 demonstrated Integrated Direct Mail Marketing Platform for Printers. The marketing solution is designed to track, enhance, and report on direct mail campaigns by seamlessly adding new features to any direct mail campaign.
DocketManager highlighted DocumentManager MIS/Web to Print v3.12. DocketManager is built from the ground up by printers for printers. It is a software as a service-based print management solution with a fully integrated W2P system.
Enfocus demonstrated the latest version of PitStop Pro. This year PitStop Pro 2018 is released with many noteworthy feature additions. The Action List Visualizer allows users to see the results of each action as it executes, providing insight for an intuitive user experience. A dashboard is available on an opt-in basis to provide a graphic representation of PitStop activities, showing production metrics. Barcode creation is incorporated into PitStop as well as many other improvements such as better Pantone color handling, line art cropping, and more advanced vector editing tools.
HP featured a variety of workflow solutions in addition to equipment, including HP Indigo HDFM screen and HP SmartStream Collage.
Infigo Software highlighted the latest updates and success stories from its live pricing integration with Tharstern.
Lake Image Systems, Inc. demonstrated its DISCOVERY PharmaPQ solution.
Lytrod Software showcased its Intellicut solution.
Marketing Ideas for Printers featured Odyssey and Websites for Printers.
MindFire, Inc. announced Da Vinci marketing technology. Built on top of MindFire’s flagship Studio product, which was launched in 2012, Da Vinci is a simple web-based interface that guides non-technical users through the planning and launch of sophisticated multi-channel campaigns.
NearStar Inc. demonstrated its automated document factory, including DataServer 7 and ATOM.
Presswise by Smartsoft demonstrated new features based on input received from customers. New developments include enhancing the user interface to make information easier to find and use on a daily basis, updating reports, expanding finishing calculations, and simplifying the setup process.
Propago LLC highlighted V6 2018 edition.
Quadient demonstrated Omni-Channel Coordination at the show. The solution provides a simple business user interface to manage the available channels and associated attributes. Combined with an intuitive GUI design, this allows the channels to be assembled into powerful Delivery Rules, which define how the channels are used to manage the delivery of the communications. Omni-Channel Coordination seamlessly links to Messenger to distribute emails and SMS messages and, through Inspire Scaler, also controls on premise applications. Delivery rules are fully reusable to ensure rapid onboarding of all your omni-channel delivery needs.
Radix Software, OnPrintShop, demonstrated its personalized products W2P solution.
Ricoh debuted two new offerings to enhance overall print operations, both delivered via Ricoh’s secured, cloud-hosted applications platform, offering an instant upgradability subscription-based pricing, RICOH Communications Manager and RICOH Supervisor. Communications Manager equips printers with a centralized, standardized access point into multiple enterprise customer’s communications and surrounding information. Supervisor is a cloud-hosted, vendor-agnostic solution that empowers printers to accurately and quickly gather high-value data from across their operation to increase profitability and productivity.
Rochester Software Associates showcased new software releases, featuring live demonstrations of WebCRD W2P software, QDirect output manager, and the latest release—ReadyPrint.
Rods and Cones showcased its Linkz intelligent marketing tool.
Solimar Systems showcased Chemistry Workflow Automation and Oversight Platform.
SpencerMetrics featured the CONNECT multi-vendor automated data collector and real-time production analytics tool. Additionally, the company announced the incorporation of legacy equipment via Automater. Connect’s Automater is designed to enable analytics from almost any non-digital legacy equipment and may also be appropriate for devices that require expensive upgrades to support network connectivity.
TEC Mailing Solutions LLC highlighted its TEC Web Services API version 4.
Ultimate TechoGraphics Inc. displayed its Ultimate InfoStrip 2019 technology.
XMPie, a Xerox company, featured Adobe Sign Integration as well as Circle PersonalEffect Edition. The company also featured its StoreFlow and MyVirtualCSR Integration.
Consider Workflow
For those looking to improve efficiency and profitability with an investment in workflow, the Print 18 trade show offered a great resource. From W2P to print MIS and everything in between, print-related software vendors were well represented on the show floor.
Next week, we conclude our series with a look at consumable solutions showcased at Print 18.
Click here to read part four of this exclusive online series, Inks and Substrates.
Oct2018, DPS Magazine
