Winner of a 2012 MUST SEE ’EMS award in the Management Systems category, Kodak INSITE Prepress Portal System (Booth 1221) has been providing secure Web access into prepress for more than a decade. Over this time, Kodak has made it increasingly easier for print buyers, prepress operators, and service representatives to submit jobs, track progress, collaborate on changes, and proof and approve work.

Software features

INSITE Prepress Portal Software version 6.5 features a new iPad application, which is designed for today’s increasingly mobile workers. Because the tablet will only run programs approved by Apple and distributed via the Apple iTunes Application Store, Kodak has developed this special app based on the award-winning Kodak Smart Review System. Features include an overview of all jobs on the INSITE Server, visibility into review and approval status for all stakeholders, and the ability to mark up and annotate on-screen. Once a job is approved in the iPad application, INSITE Software can automatically begin processing the files in Kodak PRINERGY Workflow. The application is available at no charge to customers who upgrade to version 6.5.

“The INSITE Software Application for the iPad tablet allows businesses to adapt to and take advantage of today’s on-the-run lifestyle. The ability to review and approve print jobs while on the road or at home, 24/7, can increase employee productivity and provide faster turnaround,” says Jon Bracken, General Manager of Kodak’s Unified Workflow Solutions.

Additional features in INSITE Software 6.5 include a new document uploader based on the popular Adobe Flash Platform, as well as enhancements that allow quicker job status review, more efficient preflighting and easier user management.

Increased profitability

So how does INSITE Prepress Portal affect the profitability of a printer? There are four areas that the software helps the most: sales, service, and prepress labor along with proofing.

With INSITE Prepress Portal, customers are less dependent on sales for extra help. It is not uncommon for sales reps to spend their time on menial tasks such as picking up and delivering proofs—not an efficient use of time, as sales needs to be selling. Meanwhile, customer service reps (CSRs) will spend less time on the phone with customers and checking the status of jobs. With INSITE Software, customers are able to get select information themselves. In prepress, INSITE Software automates the receiving, uploading, and processing of files when integrated with the PRINERGY Workflow. For a mid-size printer, sales, CSR and prepress labor conservatively represents 10% of a printer’s costs. What would it mean to the bottom line if it was reduced by just 1 or 2%?

Add to that the reduction in proofing costs. In commercial accounts, hard proofing can be eliminated entirely, thanks to the INSITE System’s color-accurate monitor proofing. In packaging, where customers still want to see a final hard proof, the initial rounds of proofing can be done online. Only when they’re happy with the artwork do they need a hard proof.

“Today’s print buyer is not always familiar with the terminology of printing, so INSITE Software provides visual feedback that is easy to understand and shows what’s going on with the file. They’ll know immediately whether the file uploaded correctly or if there’s an issue, and will know when the job is in production,” added Bracken.

Being able to reduce these costs with INSITE Prepress Portal means money that can be used to reinvest in the growth of the business. Kodak focuses on the big picture by making efficiency improvements where it counts.