HOW TO GET AHEAD OF YOUR WORKFLOW SOFTWARE IN 2027 In a world in which so much of our daily lives are digital, it is hard to image a business operating without a form of workflow software. With AI now in the fold automating tasks and processes, workflow software can play a huge role in streamlining your business, in whatever shape or form it may take. Workflow software can also help growing businesses to manage different procedures and teams, especially as printers can often work across different departments and locations. With printers having to deal with multiple files, requests, deadlines, and changes, workflow software needs to constantly evolve in order to stay relevant and not become outdated in the ever-changing software landscape. In this feature we’ll hear from various workflow specialists and providers of software to find out what is new in this space, and the new challenges workflow systems are trying to solve. A Flexible Approach When it comes to accessing new customers, web-to-print solutions are still vital for many businesses that operate both locally and nationally (sometimes even globally). Francis Whiteley, managing director at Flex4, says one of the biggest challenges facing printers and workflow providers is the need for everyone to do “more with less”. “What we hear from a lot of customers and prospects is that their average order values are decreasing, with a higher volume of smaller orders – but each order requires a similar amount of admin time to process it.” Whiteley adds: “A key opportunity is reducing the number of manual touchpoints between receiving an order and getting it ready for production. This includes data entry, payment processing, artwork upload, and shipment information. Flex4 OPS enables customers to place orders online 24/7, while completing much of the administrative work themselves. They can enter their billing and delivery details, pay upfront, and upload artwork against the products they order. This means the printer receives much of the information needed to process the order without having to collect it manually.” Flex4 OPS is just one example of a solution that is looking to help printers remain competitive while solving several solutions at once, as mentioned previously by As software and business priorities continue to evolve at rapid pace, David Osgar gets the advice of several software and hardware experts when it comes to implementing effective workflow software in your print or print-related business Whitely’s ‘more with less’ comment. “We have a wide range of third-party integrations with OPS, allowing order data and artwork to be passed automatically into the printer's existing workflow,” says Whitely, who adds: “The objective is to eliminate unnecessary admin work, reduce manual handling, and free up staff to focus on tasks where they can add the most value.” Speaking about new challenges, Whitely refers to the expectations of print customers for convenient, responsive, and easy online experiences, which print service providers (PSPs) need to balance with managing costs and maintaining profitability. “A particular challenge is that many printers have already invested in MIS, RIP software, production management, accounting, and other business systems, but these systems don't necessarily communicate seamlessly with one another. This can leave staff manually transferring information between platforms, even when parts of the process have already been digitised.” A solution to this challenge, says Whiteley, is to connect the customerfacing ordering process with the systems managing the business behind the scenes. “Automation needs to go beyond simply 55 www.printmonthly.co.uk Issue 363 - November | December 2026 WORKFLOW SOFTWARE | DAVID OSGAR
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