Service Bureaus and Corporate Output Centers
Service bureaus and corporate output centers are expected to handle a growing diversity of data formats and to update their service offerings continously. As to the software, this translates into flexible solutions for processing incoming data: raw data, databases and print files.
In addition to the 'traditional' fulfillment of print and mail, customers demand support for
- new distribution channels,
- reporting on the actually processed mailpieces,
- status information regarding the order,
- copies of the processed documents for archiving, or
- web-based archiving functionality for customer service and/or re-printing.
In addition to the above customer focused aspects, there are new software solutions which address the specific requirements for service bureaus and output centers. For instance, there is growing demand for process management software specific for output environments, which help to implement, manage and maintain production processes in a flexible and intuitive manner. There is also out-of-the-box software available to extract production data from printers, inserters and other hardware in order to provide a real-time dashboard for operators as well as statistics and reports on various levels for the management.
Below we show you how Document Dialog can help you with the above issues.
Scenario 1: Raw data
In many cases the customer sends data files, like XML, CSV, Excel, SAP RDI etc., and expects the service bureau to produce documents and do the fulfillment. Consequently, service bureaus have to be very flexible as to handling sometimes very specific data- and file formats.
Document Dialog provides flexible document formatting tools, like DOC1 and BDOC, which run on various platforms (Windows, multiple UNIX, Linux, OS/400 and z/OS). The design environment of these tools provide WYSIWYG support, integrated version management for templates, paragraphs, images etc. and workflows for proofing, annotations and deployment. These design environments are very intuitive, and you could even think about handing over content-related tasks to your clients - if this fits your business model.
Scenario 2: Print files
In this case your client drops print-ready files and it is up to the service bureau to make these files fit for their infrastructure: OMR or barcodes for the inserters, re-print IDs, address cleansing and postal sorting.
If the required information is not included in a sidefile, it must be extracted from the print file. In addition it might be necessary to convert the print file to a different printer language. Document Dialog provides tools for print stream conversion and manipulation, like StreamWeaver, Solimar and d2e. We also provide trainings in these products as well as print streams and maintain a support desk.
Complementing Services
In addition to print and mail fulfillment, service bureaus have the opportunity to provide complementary document-related services.
Multi-channel Delivery
Sending out documents electronically via fax or e-mail can reduce costs and improve customer service. Document Dialog provides out-of-the-box solutions to set-up your multi-channel infrastructure. If you are considering e-mail for sending sensitive information, Document Dialog can help with solutions for secure e-mail and other aspects of Outbound Communciation Compliance.
Archiving
You could provide a web-based archiving service. If your client wants to use his own archiving system, you could send back archive-ready files. These could be PDF/A files together with the necessary index information. PDF/A is a relatively new ISO-standard and Document Dialog provides tools, like Xenos' d2e, to convert print files into PDF/A. You can find more information on the Key Technology page on PDF/A.
Electronic Document Presentment
You client would like to provide web-based document access and viewing functionalities to his call center representatives and/or his customers via the customer self-service portal. The tools from Document Dialog allow you to create such a service and to manage such an infrastructure. Take a look at Group 1's e2 Suite, ASG-Cypress and Xenos' infoWEB.
Process Management and Printroom Optimisation
The document processes within service bureaus and in-house printshops are their primary processes en deserve to be implemented and managed accoordingly. Key requirements are: flexibility, easy implementation and administration, real-time operator dash-board view, production statics and trend reports for management.
Document Dialog provides a number of solutions addressing this issue. They provide graphical user-interfaces for intuitive process modelling, maximum overview and full control of the shopfloor.
Take a look at exmtex's OptionPROM and Macro 4's solutions for Business Critical Output (BCO).
