Output Management: Central Hub in Customer Communication
Document Output on All Digital and Analog Channels
Nothing is worse than a slow-loading PDF viewed on a mobile phone. Omnichannel communication means getting away from a frozen page format (8 1/2 x 11, A4, etc) so that every document can be output on every channel without "expensive" detours such as de-formatting, etc.
Minimal formatting is the key
In other words: The choice of the respective delivery channel is newly decided with each new business transaction. This means we must separate the creation and sending of documents from one another.
It also allows for the creation of a customer communication hub that is not limited by technology or business criteria to a single or even a few chosen channels. On the basis of defined rules and criteria of the various specialist departments (e.g. sales, marketing, service), the "hub" decides which data is output in which layout and format for which channel; of course always in relation to the preferences of the respective recipient.
And: With a centralized Customer Communication hub controlled by a Output Management Software you are more flexible when connecting new communication channels. Nothing is silo'd.
Nothing works without data
Output management has many facets. This always involves the central provision of consistent and easily available information as a prerequisite for a high degree of automation. More about the importance of a central output management system see also:
- Merging Input and Output Data Processing
- All facets of customer communication:
Customer Communication Management - Automated creation of accessible PDF documents
- Software solutions for all document processes:
DocBridge® Production Suite
Creating, Formatting, Converting and Outputting of Documents
Traditionally, the creating, formatting, converting and outputting of documents was a complex interaction of many different programs, which do not always work together smoothly and must be reconfigured with every change, even minor changes, making the process cumbersome and expensive.
This is not the case if you automate and control the processes with our software.
The advantages for the user:
- Flexible processing of all work steps within the scope of the specifications
- Parallel processing of several orders
- Priority processing of time-critical orders
- Freely definable stops for manual interventions and releases
- Optimal utilization of all software and hardware resources across all sites
- Cross-program log file analysis for fast troubleshooting
- Modular structure for adaptation to existing processes
- Easy creation of new workflows
Why process control?
Document workflow management systems link and control the individual steps required for complex production into a fully automated process.
More about the possibilities of automated process control can be found on the following page.
- Software solutions for all document processes:
DocBridge® Production Suite
Monitoring and Measuring in Document Output Management
Key figures for production control and optimization in real time and at a glance.
Why monitor and measure?
You can't manage it if you can't measure it. You can't measure it unless you monitor it.
No more poking in the fog! Instead of manual sampling and estimation, professional software tools can be used to monitor and track the entire document production process. They provide statistical evaluations and detailed reports including meaningful key figures (throughput, paper consumption, postage costs, error frequency/type, processing time, etc.).
These key figures (KPI) are a basic decision-making aid for companies in order to permanently optimize document production, for example to save paper and postage.
They also provide important information for the early identification of trends. At the same time, they are an important factor for production planning, as peak and low times can be better identified for optimum machine utilization.
Auditing
Seamless traceability and high responsiveness combined with increased personalization in customer communication: The IT-based auditing of document production keeps you in the picture at all times. Read more about the role of end-to-end monitoring:
- Monitoring in output management with DocBridge® Auditrack software for comprehensive auditing in document production
Metadata as the Basis for Automation and Accessibility
Data - the "engine oil" of customer communication
Data is the "engine oil" of customer communication. The semantic quality of documents also plays an important role regardless of legal requirements. Take, for example, omnichannel communication. Today, the receiver determines the communication channel, based on his or her personal preference at the moment of interaction.
This means that document creation and dispatch must not only be decoupled but also detached from a certain page size found in print ("81/2 x 11 or A4 ") so that the content can also be conveniently made available for other media. However, this is not possible without detailed information that is added to the document on the way to issue.
Big data and artificial intelligence
In view of big data, artificial intelligence (AI) and other current technologies, usable data and how to deal with it are already moving into the focus of any serious digital transformation. There is no need to talk about standardization and automation in document and output management if the necessary metadata is not available.
The point is to have not only the text itself, but also the content as data available in such a way that it can be automatically correlated with each other.
This is what makes information research over several levels possible in the first place. Instead of searching a document manually for specific information, the Web provides the answer itself. This is not about simple search results, but about complex results that can only be generated by linking different data.
Documents – data in action
More about the role of data in customer communication including accessibility see also:
- Transforming existing documents into PDF/UA:
Digital accessibility in archives - Digitization means preparation and enrichment of data for automated customer communications and AI:
Data - the eyes and ears of AI - The importance of structural information for document processing:
Smart digital documents
Spooling in Production Printing
Modern print spool systems with various postpress functions ensure higher productivity and lower costs in production printing.
Where are the vulnerabilities?
Efficiently controlling different print jobs and processing them while making the best possible use of existing resources is only possible with a powerful spool system.
However, the interaction between spooler and printer often does not work - especially if both systems come from different manufacturers. What is missing is a spooling solution that communicates equally well and reliably with all printers.
One Spooler for all: Universal, integrative and reliable
If you want to be on the safe side when purchasing new printers, you usually buy the spool system from the same manufacturer. In this way, the risk of spoolers and printers not harmonizing with each other remains low. But seldom are there only printers from one and the same manufacturer in the company. The world of printers is typically heterogeneous and so is spooling.
Only - does that have to be? Why buy a suitable spooler for every new printer? Why not use a universal spool system that communicates reliably with all printers?
What's more, modern print pool solutions offer functions that go far beyond what spooling itself must be able to do. In addition to conversion and IT franking, this also includes various features for color printing and archiving.
Performance and automation
Spooling, color management, job bundling - despite all the digitalization, companies still print predominantly. This results in various requirements for the output management system (OMS).
For more background information on production-relevant factors, see also:
- Controlling and optimizing print production with DocBridge® Spool
- Implementation of central color management in the output management system
- Print production workflows controlling print streams and print jobs