If you want to become more efficient, you should automate

The advantages of automation for presses and finishing equipment have been obvious for a long time now. More recently, the printing industry has been expending much more effort in automating workflow. This started at the back end but now the focus is very much about what happens at the beginning of the journey, from sales through order placement and the checking and delivery of correct files.

A few years ago, print resellers and smaller printing companies would have found very little reason to invest in software. Now all that is changing. Solutions are available that help smaller companies improve relationships with customers, take better control of the buyer journey and achieve better profit levels. The most important of these is the right level of online print store. A good print store helps attract new customers, build stronger relationships with existing clients and even make more traditional buyers more efficient. [LINK TO FEATURE 2]

Companies that take the view that an online print store is not for them risk losing customers and alienating new business. They will also find that transactions are more manual and time consuming, increasing costs and reducing profits.

Here are six ways an online print store increases efficiency

Generates more leads in less time

With the right SEO strategy, an online print store can act as a lead magnet for new business. This is not about attracting lots of prospects who want the cheapest price for a business card. Instead, SEO should concentrate on those who are looking for local suppliers or printing companies who service particular types of business. These prospects are much more specific in their search and are therefore more likely to convert.

Quicker sales lead times

If prospects and customers are looking for common standard products, the need for lots of emails or calls between sales people and buyers is avoided. Buyers can receive instant pricing and make quick decisions.

Reduced estimating

There is no longer any need for individual estimates to be created manually for most products. These are all created automatically by the print store. In addition, Instant Print Store will even find a range of prices online and highlight the most competitive price depending on the delivery turnround.

Better cashflow

Online ordering means paying upfront. That not only improves cashflow but also prevents the need for constant chasing for payment.

Automating job upload

Customers can now upload their files easily and quickly online. There is no need for manual intervention as it can be done at the same time as placing an order.   This also speeds up the process for seller and buyer.

Automated job progress updates

As jobs progress through production or outsourcing, customers can be quickly updated with templated emails that can be sent instantly when a job status changes. There is no longer any need for them to chase the progress of jobs. Admin time at print sellers is reduced.

Automated invoicing

All successfully completed orders can be regularly exported on a csv file and imported into most accounts systems. This speeds up the whole invoicing process and reduces a lot of manual admin work.

But, for smaller companies, automation is not about saving costs

For large printing companies, the cost savings from workflow automation can be very worthwhile. For companies with a smaller turnover, automation often does not create great cost savings. For instance, these companies often do not have enough people for automation to create staff reduction.

What automation does create for smaller companies is more time. The amount of administration and manual intervention is reduced significantly. There will always be jobs that cannot be fully automated. But these will become the exception rather than the rule. This means that staff can be reallocated to other jobs that may never have been carried out before.

Here are three profitable ways to spend the time that automation creates

Spend more time with prospects and customers

Have you had enquiries from interesting new prospects? Seen possible new customers signing up to your online print store? As automation frees up your time, you may finally have the chance to make proactive sales communication with them. You can also sit down with your key customers. How could you work together better? What else could you be doing for them? They will appreciate the attention that you give them.

Spend more time selling and marketing

When did you last reach out to new prospects? Or update your social media? More time allows you to start thinking about building business. There’s another way you can do this as well.

Spend more time developing new products and services

Are there ways you could create more business with your best customers? What did they tell you when you sat down with them? Could you create partnerships with other companies to broaden your range of services? Do you finally have the time to look into investing in new equipment?

Automation allows you to expand your business more quickly

In simple terms, you carry out less unprofitable administrative work and can spend more time on profitable business growth activities.

How do you automate affordably?

Instant Print Store allows you to create a website with all the functionality mentioned in this article in less than 30 minutes! And you don’t need any specialist technical knowledge. It’s available for a surprising low monthly subscription. Find out more and book a demo now!