From disk to distribution

Etrinsic are true print management specialists, taking care of everything from original artwork and data handling to storage, distribution and fulfilment.

Etrinsic's mission is to reduce costs, add value and deliver the best service there is.

Based in Solihull and ranked among the UK's top 15 print management companies, etrinsic offers a full spectrum of print and logistics services including design, printing, direct mail, storage and distribution.

The company handles everything from complex marketing and POS material to business forms and corporate stationery, managing more than 650 m printed documents annually for clients.

Key sectors include transport, retail, leisure and hospitality, finance and utilities.

Large plcs who spend in excess of GBP250,000 pa on print are at the core of the customer base with the biggest client spending nearly GBP5 million pa.

Top names on the client roster include LV= (formerly Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society), National Express Group, Sainsbury's supermarket, Telewest, Topps Tiles, Thames Trains, Hayes Personnel Services, Calor, Anglian Windows and Certegy Card Services.

"Successful print management is not just about saving money on like-for-like printing costs," explained Matt Bird, the company's Managing Director.

"It's a complete package of services which, combined, can create enormous efficiencies in a company's printed material output.

"The trick is to drive down costs by challenging requirements and providing a wide range of electronic supply chain management tools that save time, money and effort.

"Control is the watchword - not just control of costs, but of vital assets such as brand identities and images".

Delivering major cost benefits and efficiencies etrinsic re-engineers clients' printed material to generate major cost savings.

This includes a full analysis of business processes, and tactics such as the elimination of obsolete documents, the combination of documents, conversion to electronic formats and, of course, the purchase of print at competitive rates.

Technological innovation is a key driving force for etrinsic.

Online services include customer ordering, print buying and electronic information reporting.

In recent years, the company has invested more than GBP5m in computer software and equipment.

COOOL (Call off orders online) is a web-based ordering system.

In addition to ordering existing stock, this system also allows clients to create, proof and order their own personalised corporate stationery such as business cards and compliments slips.

OASIS (Obtain A Source in Seconds) is etrinsic's intelligent procurement system.

The system automatically and impartially analyses requirements for a print job and selects the most appropriate supplier.

The company has more than 250 different printers on its supplier list.

Electronic Information Reporting enables clients to access real-time information concerning any aspect of their job at any time from anywhere in the world.

Docugraphic is etrinsic's Digital Asset Library - a virtual collection of images and artwork stored on behalf of each client - which is also used as a proofing tool.

Direct Mail etrinsic's Direct Mail operation has grown enormously over the last five years and now accounts for around 40 per cent of turnover.

"The mass market is changing and increasing fragmentation s creating the need to provide more specialised solutions to engage with smaller and smaller groups of customers," said Bird.

"Our philosophy is print less, target more".

Etrinsic is accredited for ISO 14001, the environmental management standard.

It operates an ethical code of conduct for suppliers which requires them to commit to continuous improvement towards compliance with labour and environmental standards within in their own company and within their own supply chain.

This includes monitoring and tracing of material supply, waste management and recycling, working conditions and energy use.

The company works closely with clients to advise on the purchase of paper with the best environmental pedigree relevant to their needs.

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