A new partnership between Vpress and MIS developer Time Harvest is allowing print service providers to build their online capabilities and remain active despite the impact of the pandemic.
The partnership, which sees technology from both companies integrated into one platform, has been particularly useful at MJCP, a Central London printer specialising in wide-format applications alongside leaflets, brochures and specialist reprographics.
The company was initially attracted to Vpress Coreprint not just because it was a user-friendly and powerful tool, but also because its variable data capabilities could be leveraged across MJCP’s broad base of products. Operations director Ray Barber explained, ‘We won a big care home client, which was largely based on the fact that we had a system like Vpress that could integrate with our existing Time Harvest MIS.
‘Streamlining the orders our care home client had for print items across 300 locations has made a very big difference to the efficiency of their operation. Not only can they control their brand identity, but they can also now ensure there is uniform communications and marketing being produced across the group.
‘Their staff can now just login, specify and personalise the products they want and go. It has made a big difference to their operation. All that variable data is no longer an arduous time heavy job to process, they now have an extremely user-friendly interface that goes straight through to our production lines.’
Mr Barber went on to stress that a key component of any successful print company is being adaptable. ‘Where Vpress and Time Harvest help,’ he explained, ‘is they have allowed us to streamline the businesses, automate a lot more of our systems, and enable us to be competitive at speed – which is critical – especially in today’s environment.
‘Without that presence online backed up by solid back office systems, you don’t capture that next generation of customers. Having a web presence and having that shop front available, with excellent service behind it, is absolutely critical.’
He concluded by adding that without partners such as Vpress and Time Harvest, which make automation and online ordering so simple, ‘We really would be struggling. Both systems are very simple to use and the customer service as well as support from them is really excellent.
‘Vpress orders now go live into the Time Harvest solution, taking away manual job bag booking, and from our perspective it is fantastic and has saved a lot of time.’
