Softwares

Softwares now play a predominant role in graphic arts companies in association with, in addition to, and sometimes in place of machines.

• DTP and graphics creation softwares;
• Accounting and payroll softwares;
• Softwares integrated in prepress flows (e.g. colour management, imposition);
• Variable data softwares;
• Cross-media softwares;
• Inventory management softwares;
• Databases;
• Data transfer softwares;
• Web softwares.

All these softwares are designed to accelerate information processing. The next step is to ensure communication between the systems, and this is the major challenge of workflow automation projects.

By minimizing manual operations, workflow automation ensures productivity and competitiveness gains.

Interoperability is the connection and communication of systems between themselves, or of operations between themselves. An automated workflow connects together management and production operations to ensure seamless operation of the production and decision chain.

In all areas computerized operations are gaining ground in the graphics industry. Softwares therefore seem to have good future prospects throughout the graphic workflow.

By Patrick CAHUET,  market expert and GRAPHITEC consultant