Scaling Print Volumes with XMPie Web-to-Print and Optimus MIS IntegrationRESOURCES

Scaling Print Volumes with XMPie Web-to-Print and Optimus MIS Integration

CASE STUDY

Scaling Print Volumes with XMPie Web-to-Print and Optimus MIS Integration

Learn how Thirst Creative, a London-based agency specialising in print production and personalised marketing, transformed its workflows, maximised productivity, enhanced customer experience, and ensured scalability by integrating XMPie Web2Print software and Optimus MIS.

The integration gave us the tools to play with the big boys. It's scary to embrace change, but once you've done it, you'll never look back. These systems have given us the confidence to scale without fear of being held back by inefficiencies.
Jay Mustafa
Co-owner of Thirst Creative

At A Glance

The Challenge

Integrate a Web-to-print workflow into the business to evolve, diversify, win new projects from existing and new clients, and survive in this new era for print providers.

The Solution

XMPie’s StoreFlow – an all-in-one Web-to-Print software solution for creating and managing online stores and marketing portals. Integrated with Optimus dash MIS, a flexible print planning and Management Information System.

The Results

  • Increased productivity by over 70%.

  • Achieved annual time savings of 21 days in estimating and job creation.

  • Ensured enhanced accuracy, preventing missed or under-invoiced jobs.

  • Printed 3-4 times the volume compared to previous levels.
  • Diversified work and print capabilities.
  • Gained trust to perform a consultative role, offering the best marketing avenues for clients’ brands.
  • Reduced overhead costs.

Background

Thirst Creative is a UK print service provider specialising in designing, printing and producing high-quality corporate and marketing literature and online communications.

Founded in 1999 by Jay Mustafa and Kostas Chrysandrea, the business has grown from its humble beginnings as a local small design and print shop, when Jay and Kostas would knock on doors to get new design print jobs. By 2014, Thirst Creative had grown into a bustling business with ten staff members, including four talented designers. They were well-known in the local community for their impressive trade work and trusted with more extensive print campaigns. However, they were missing out on everyday print jobs like business cards, stationery, and Point of Sale (POS) materials. As more work went up for tender, Thirst Creative lost out because they didn’t have an e-commerce Web-to-Print system. Jay realised that without this system, there was nothing to set Thirst Creative apart from the competition, and it was holding back the business from further growth.

Challenge

Jayʹs challenge was finding a robust Web-to-print solution so his clients could open their marketing portals to visitors 24/7. His company needed this software to evolve, diversify, win new projects from existing and new clients and survive in this new era for print providers.

Jay needed to prove to his clients that Thirst Creative was the print provider to turn to for all print communications – especially when brands needed print-on-demand.

The Solution

“Having both XMPie and Optimus software has saved us 21 days per year just in estimating and job creation. Its freed us to spend more time with clients.”

Jay Mustafa, Co-Owner of Thirst Creative. Tweet

Jay installed StoreFlow from XMPie, diving into learning the new system. XMPie StoreFlow, built for maximum software integration via APIs, is an all-in-one Web-to-Print software solution for creating and managing online stores and marketing portals.

It removes the need for human-led sales, ordering, preparation, and production, making brand-enhancing print services supremely efficient and accessible. At its core is XMPie’s document composition engine PersonalEffect, which, integrated with Adobe InDesign, offers unrivalled personalisation capabilities.

Four months after installation, they won their first Web-to-print customer, Westmill Foods, one of the largest suppliers of flour, rice, spices, sauces, edible oils, and noodles to the UK and European ethnic wholesaler market, food service, industrial sectors, and grocery supermarkets. When the Westmill Foods site launched, it opened to over 150 registered users, enabling them to print all their brand collateral on demand. Users could order ready-made templates or customise documents to their specific needs and submit orders for immediate printing. The sales team, equipped with tablets, met directly with buyers, customising items for particular stores and printing on demand as needed. 

The site offered a diverse selection of over 580 products, including point-of-sale displays, pull-up banners, bus-stop adverts, and much more.

The simplicity of StoreFlow has meant that Jay’s time has been freed up to secure new clients, including the nationwide restaurant & bar chain Barrio Bars, multi-award-winning Italian food distributors DiSotto Foods and one of Europe’s leading casino companies, Caesars Entertainment.

Adding Optimus dash Print MIS

While XMPie StoreFlow solved customer-facing issues and transformed the ordering flow, managing and processing orders internally still posed challenges. To tackle these, Thirst Creative integrated Optimus dash, a versatile print planning and Management Information System that automated processes from order entry to invoicing, eliminating time-consuming manual tasks.

This bi-directional automation synchronised pricing and inventory with order status feedback, ensuring orders placed through StoreFlow were seamlessly integrated into Optimus dash MIS, thereby streamlining production and reducing manual work. Additionally, Optimus dash connected with the company’s accounting system, turning the monthly invoicing process from a week-long task into one that took just minutes. Optimus dash also provided detailed reporting, ensuring all jobs were profitable and efficiently managed.

This is the future for us small printers, there's no question. XMPie has completely transformed the way we do business, and we're not even touching the cross-media side of things yet. This is the way forward.
Jay Mustafa
Co-owner of Thirst Creative

Results

"Because Westmill Foods is such a big brand, our other prospects are sitting up and taking note."

Kostas Chrysandrea, Co-Owner of Thirst Creative Tweet
  • Increased productivity by over 70%.
  • Achieved annual time savings of 21 days in estimating and job creation.
  • Reduced overhead costs.
  • Ensured enhanced accuracy, preventing missed or under-invoiced jobs.
  • Printed 3-4 times the volume compared to previous levels.
  • Diversified work and print capabilities.
  • Gained trust to perform a consultative role, offering the best marketing avenues for clients’ brands.

Critical Success Factors

  1. Integrated Complementary Technology: Implemented XMPie StoreFlow and Optimus dash Print MIS to streamline operations and maximise productivity.

  2. Strategic Client Acquisition: Secured high-profile clients like Westmill Foods and Caesars Entertainment, boosting reputation and attracting new business.

  3. Efficiency Enhancement: Automated processes to save time, improve accuracy, and reduce overhead cost.

Lessons Learned

  1. By offering value-added services beyond just print, Thirst Creative became more relevant to their clients, leading to new conversations and opportunities.

  2. Recognising and addressing market gaps, such as the need for a Web-to-Print system, helped Thirst Creative stand out from competitors and drive growth.

  3. Success with one large customer can pave the way for generating new business with other brands, demonstrating that success breeds success.

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