93 September / October 2024 - Issue 350 www.printmonthly.co.uk MIS SYSTEMS MAKING A DIFFERENCE WITH MIS Perhaps one of the unsung heroes of the print production process, we take a closer look at management information systems (MIS) and find out how new advancements can support print companies As print service providers (PSPs) will be all too aware, hardware is only one part of the print production process. You could invest in and install the best equipment available to the market, but without the proper management, you will not be getting the best out of these machines and your overall workflow could suffer as a result. For this reason, a quality management information system, or MIS if you prefer, is hugely important to the modern print business. Without such a solution in place, you run the risk of losing control of print production and not being anywhere near as efficient as you would be with a reliable MIS system. Here, we speak with several providers in the MIS market to find out more about their latest solutions and products, as well as how these developments can give PSPs even more control over their business. Achieve Your Goals First up is Accura, whose managing director, Trevor Cocks, says PSPs should make sure their old MIS is not holding their business back. “You should be setting goals for your business for the next five years, whether that is an improved online presence/ web-to-print, better sales and marketing, or better customer service/interaction,” Cocks says, adding: “Step back and look at whether your current MIS still serves you well. Has it kept pace with change? What is your relationship with the system supplier? Do you get good support and regular upgrades?” If you are happy with your current system and supplier and choosing not to upgrade to a newer version out of fear of disruption, bugs, or having to learn new things, Cocks says to “bite the bullet”. He explains at one time, the entire system was new, and you did that, with the upgrade being an evolutionary change only. However, if you are looking at a new and improved version, Cocks recommends checking the release notes to see what it offers. “MIS is an integral part of any progressive print business in 2024; it is so multi-faceted and expansive it touches all aspects of how the company operates administratively,” Cocks says, continuing: “Holding back on upgrades will hold back
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjM0NDIxOA==