Case Study

Improving Print Pricing Process

The Issue

The advanced technology division of a large document technology company wanted a consistent method for estimating personalized printing service (PPS) requests from customers. This involved working with complicated cost accounting calculations, which the PPS manager preferred that the staff not have to learn.

The Solution

We collaborated with the PPS manager and the cost accounting manager to learn how the company's pricing worked, and to ensure that the computer-based solution we designed calculated pricing accurately and automatically every time.

We designed the pricing system to work in three stages. First, an estimator entered the specifics of the printing request into the pricing system through a front-end screen. Second, the pricing system estimated the cost of the printing order based on the cost accounting calculations stored within the system. Third, the pricing system printed out a professionally designed estimate ready for delivery to the requesting customer.

The Result

The improved process cut the estimators' response time from five business days to one business day or less. PPS became more competitive with other departments and with outside competitors due to rapid turnaround time and consistent pricing based on accepted cost accounting guidelines.