Not only does the mail require more of your time and attention, but the documents themselves are becoming more complicated all the time. This is a good thing, in that we now have access to the data and the technology that allows us to compose high-quality color documents that include precisely-targeted messaging. This makes the documents more effective. But it comes with a price.
 
Document centers used to be able to just slap some fairly consistent data on top of pre-printed forms, fold, insert, and mail. The most significant variable in a statement job was the number of pages per account. The majority of statement printers handled targeted messaging by segmenting the list and inserting different envelope stuffers.
 
The requirements of today's documents can't really be supported by the workflows that have been widely used in production environments for the last two or three decades. No longer is the transactional, or even the direct mail, document business a simple matter of "hang and print".
 
Unfortunately, the need to gear up to support more complex documents and the development of more demanding standards for accuracy and timing have come at the same time as an economic recession. Document centers are experiencing slashed budgets and bare bones staffing. Mail center managers simply do not have the resources to do the more in-depth research and analysis that is necessary to prepare their operations for the future - or even the present!
 
What to do, what to do?
It's critical that document centers take a hard look at what their customers expect the mail to do for them. This means talking to them! Sitting down in the basement and waiting for work to come through the pipeline is no longer an option. Today's document operations managers must be probing and proactive.
 
Once you know what's required, then you can review your current capabilities and start making plans for improving those areas that are inadequate. Along the way, we advise clients to clean up any existing inefficiencies in their production workflows. You may find savings that will pay for the additional training, consulting, or other resources that you'll need.
 
Nobody expects document center managers to be able to handle all this themselves. While this might have been possible in the past, the business has gotten too complex, too quickly for anyone to keep up and still manage the daily challenges that come up in this line of work. Companies all over are calling upon experts to provide them with an outside perspective, do some of the legwork, or actually help them to manage those essential improvement projects in their shops.
 
Yes, we can help!
If you are a regular reader of our newsletters, you know that subscribers have an open invitation to call or email us to ask questions or discuss challenges they are facing in document operations. We LOVE to hear from you! This is why we started our company in the first place - to assist great people in document operations that may need a little help to get their organization to the level of productivity and professionalism that it needs to be.
 
People that call always get my personal attention. I listen to their stories, give them some thoughtful feedback, offer some tips, or point them to other resources that might be helpful. AND THERE'S NEVER ANY CHARGE OR OBLIGATION.
 
I know people are hesitant to call a "consultant". In a lot of people's minds, this occupation has some negative images of a running meter and lots of dollar signs. Of course Print/Mail Consultants would like to do business with your company. But that doesn't mean that we're hard-sell or that we won't help out a fellow document professional without charging an arm and a leg - or requesting the surrender of any other body parts.
 
Here's a thought for you...
If you could call your doctor to get his expert advice about some irritating medical condition, or a lawyer about a legal question, or an accountant about tax strategies and know you'd get honest and sincere help for free, wouldn't you do it? Sure you would! How many times have you gone to Google looking for free advice? I do it all the time!
 
Well, I'd like to think that when it comes to specific knowledge about document operations issues that are important to you, we're better than Google. You are not likely to find a white paper or business example on the internet that matches your situation exactly. We can give you individual attention (with no vendor bias) that you can't get anywhere else. Just give us a try.
 
In fact, I've made it really easy to do just that. Click on the link below to be taken to our appointment scheduling page. Choose a date and time where you'll be available and you'll get a call from me, personally. Again, there is absolutely no charge and no obligation to buy a thing. We'll just chat about what is on your mind and hopefully give you some direction on what you can do next.
 
You have nothing to lose. Isn't it worth 45 minutes out of your day to get a rare, fresh perspective on your document processing challenges? I've had people who we introduced to some resource or approach that they never had considered before. One short conversation changed their whole perspective on their problem! That might be all you need.
 
I know you've got challenges: budget cuts, quality problems, regulatory compliance, environmental concerns, postal issues, Transpromo, integrated multi-channel marketing, electronic document delivery, new technology, and outsourcing decisions are some common topics that come up. Just give me a call to talk about these issues or anything else that is keeping you up at night!