In 2008, Polestar’s business-critical mail division, Polestar Applied Solutions, wanted to take the next step in optimised print and evolve into an end-to-end communications partner for its customers. It installed the UK’s first Océ JetStream 2200, using PRISMAproduction software as the cornerstone of its new production environment, which has transformed the former mailing house into a market leader in full-colour transactional, regulatory and business critical mail services.
Challenge
To respond to market trends and changing customer requirements, it became clear to Polestar that its traditional ‘mailing operation’ business model needed to be more flexible. The company recognised a need to create more valuable and effective solutions, with enhanced creative design and composition software and the development of new data systems.
“Our previous production environment was a closed infrastructure,” explains Geoff Mordt, Managing Director, Polestar Applied Solutions. “This was sufficient when there were only a limited number of file types being submitted by customers. However we started to receive a wider range of different files that we had to convert each time to produce. This was a cumbersome and expensive process. The new system had to increase production capacity and resilience, streamline efficiencies and move us to a more advanced data handling capability, while at the same time adopting and managing our legacy applications for existing customers. This wasn’t just a simple purchasing decision.”
Solution
Owing to Polestar’s use of Océ VarioStream technology for continuous feed cut sheet production in monochrome, the company had a good relationship with Canon. Mordt explains: “We had been impressed with both the Océ technology and accompanying support. It made sense to discuss our business strategy with them.”
Canon initiated a comprehensive three-month audit of the Polestar division, analysing the company’s entire workflow to understand Polestar’s business objectives. The JetStream was subsequently installed alongside an upgrade on the existing toner-based Océ VarioStream technology, as well as an Océ VarioPrint sheetfed press for additional output and enhanced productivity. “The installation included workshops and training for both our customers and employees to demonstrate the capabilities of the JetStream,” explains Mordt. “Everyone was educated on what the JetStream meant for the Polestar business as a whole.”
Mordt highlights the importance of software in the workflow:
The GMC Inspire software enables us to effectively compose files in-house, while the Océ PRISMAproduction software introduces a new flexible architecture that can handle multiple data. This would allow us to transform our company into a fully-fledged communications and marketing services provider and meet our full Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) compliance needs. We’re currently one of the very few UK businesses that offer this level of compliancy for transactional documents.
Achievements
The new environment was an instant success, with software playing an integral role. “The quality and effectiveness of print is only as good as the data behind it,” says Mordt.
To offer an end-to-end communications service to our customers, we have to ensure that we are fully equipped with the processing power required to produce 2,500 unique, variable data-applied A4 pages-per-minute. Canon’s software provides the superior data handling, composition and processing capabilities to do this, including the ability to offer a true white paper solution.
In 2014, Polestar invested in an Océ ColorStream and refreshed its toner-based lines, as well as upgrading the PRISMAproduction software. Mordt concludes:
We can now offer non-stop production of documents with 100% variability, as well as take a customer’s raw data and manage an entire marketing campaign from start to finish. Canon’s business development team visits regularly to check up on us, advising us on new media, inks, file optimisation, workflow efficiencies, maximising quality and so forth. Following one such visit, we promptly won two new contracts on the back of that consultation. This sort of supplier relationship is invaluable.
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