Product category:
Media
News Release from: Z Mags | Subject: e-publishing software
Edited by the Marketingservicestalk Editorial
Team on 22 April 2008
How to choose e-publishing software
A raft of products are out there promising to put your catalogues, sales material and brochures online. Jotham Danquah, Managing Director (UK) at Zmags, says choose your supplier carefully.
There is now a concerted rush by mainstream brands, both large and small, to put their catalogues, sales material and brochures online - bad news for print companies maybe, but fantastic news for e-publishers, customers and the environment So where's the problem? As with any new technological revolution, the problem lies in sifting through the hype, clutter and half truths to reveal the really brilliant technological solutions and discover how to implement them properly
This article was originally published on Marketingservicestalk on 23 Jan 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
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You see, when any new technology emerges to become mainstream, the initial stages of the evolution are fraught with poorly designed solutions and ill-thought-through strategies.
This can cost companies many tens of thousands of pounds - witness the money thrown at CRM solutions in the mid-1990s.
So what are the key dos and don'ts in choosing and selecting an e-publishing software solution? 1 Is the software solution easy to read and load? Try the software as though you were a consumer, then ask yourself if it is easy to install and whether the interface is user-friendly and works effectively as an exciting user experience.
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2 How big is the software vendor? You should feel comfortable asking the turnover of any e-publishing provider.
This is an important question because it will give you an idea of how big and successful the company is.
If it is well established it will provide solid turnover figures and give you the confidence to know that the software has been tried and tested in many territories under many different conditions.
The last thing you want is a new solution full of glitches from a small company based in a technological park in an EU development area: don't risk it.
3 Ask for a list of clients.
If an e-publishing solution can demonstrate a lengthy list of international and UK clients, many of which can be found in the Fortune 500 and FTSE 250, then it is safe to assume that the e-publishing vendor is well established, reputable and delivers an outstanding e-publishing solution.
4 Does the software vendor have a UK presence? If the solutions provider is based abroad it must have a UK presence for you to contact for any problems or advice requests.
This is essential because I can guarantee that there will be points in the e-publishing process where you will need your hand held.
When problems occur, having an e-publishing provider based solely in Bangalore or Kentucky can become a major hurdle.
5 Does the software vendor have UK phone-based customer support? When questions arise, it's vital that you can pick up the phone and be able to talk to an informed software advisor.
Email question forms take on average 36 hours to receive replies - far too long when today's commercial demands require instant answers.
6 Has the software been tried and tested over a lengthy period? New solutions might have many bells and whistles but have they been tested in the field for long enough? Why become a guinea pig for a company's latest software version? The longer an e-publishing solution has been established, the more likely it is to be glitch-free and deliver on its promises.
7 Is the software able to take volume? Many people forget that even if an e-publishing solution is well-designed, it must still be able to deal with considerable user volume at any one time.
I've lost count of the tales of superb solutions failing because user volume crashed the software capabilities.
Electronic publishing offers considerable benefits to almost everyone concerned.
It is cost-effective, accessible, easy to change in real time and importantly offers benefits not just to consumers but to the environment as well.
Jump on board but choose your supplier carefully.
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