SmartStream for HP Indigo digital presses

As HP Indigo’s digital labels and packaging printing capabilities expand and become more sophisticated, HP Indigo technology has become the leading mainstream solution in the market, marking a turning point in the industry.

Utilizing these innovative technologies, print providers can now produce runs efficiently and cost-effectively, and deliver the innovative products that marketing agencies need to  communicate with customers. Seasonal messaging, market test designs, on-package offers, customized and personalized products, and multiple language editions are just a few examples of the steadily growing need for versioned, multi-SKU printing.

To efficiently meet these challenges and ensure business success, it is crucial to adopt workflow automation solutions. Workflow automation eliminates the re-entry of job information, thereby reducing error rates and improving productivity. It also enables more efficient communication from point of order to fulfillment, as well as real-time job tracking and reporting. Ultimately, it helps converters become more competitive and profitable.

HP SmartStream Labels and Packaging solutions create a complete ecosystem that offers total workflow automation. HP Indigo has teamed with market-leading partners to offer an array of well-integrated solutions designed for the unique needs of labels and packaging converters. This ecosystem drives superior quality, efficiency, and profitability by enabling converters to increase the number of jobs produced per shift without the expense of additional staff.

In a highly competitive printing market, the ability to deliver fast, high-quality solutions and competitive prices is the key to success.

The growing need for shorter runs makes this task even more challenging as it requires handling of hundreds of SKUs per day. This makes a dedicated management information system (MIS) specializing in label printing very important. Such a system provides overall end-to-end business management, production control, and monitoring through all steps of label and packaging production.

Label Traxx and CERM—HP Indigo’s recommended MIS vendors for label production

Both Label Traxx and CERM collaborate with HP Indigo and its partners to ensure a fully integrated and connected workflow via complete business MIS and automation solutions. The systems include planning and scheduling modules, over-the-web interface for business-to-business relationships, order submissions, job tracking, and most importantly—output of a job ticket for all job production steps through fulfillment. This eliminates the need to retype job information following the point of order, automating the whole process up to the press print queue. The Label Traxx and CERM systems are compatible with industry standard formats and are open to any job order source to enable further automation of the end-to-end process. Both solutions have a JDF (Job Definition Format) workflow link with HP SmartStream Labels and Packaging Print Server, helping HP Indigo customers to streamline administration, eliminate errors, reduce overheads, and increase profits.

Enhanced profitability through web-to-print services

Web-to-print services allow customers to make new, structured orders or customize and reorder frequently purchased products with minimal intervention, while protecting brand identity and observing internal procurement rules. Giving customers their own branded print procurement portal, with a simple and effective ordering solution, reduces the internal cost of sales with a corresponding increase in margin. It frequently generates a positive impact on order volume and customer loyalty.

PrintSYS Catalog and PrintSYS PrintShare by Prisme Technologies make up the PrintSYS platform, forming a simple and intuitive cloudbased job definition, customization, and ordering system. This gives customers access to ordering and quoting tools and their static or customizable catalog items through any browser. Offered as a Software-as-a-Managed-Service (SaaMS) and customized for the labels and packaging market, PrintSYS can be integrated with an existing MIS and with workflow software for an end-to-end solution. Prisme Technologies offers a fully managed services support structure for implementing and managing affordable web-to-print solutions.