Connect 5 Key Features

Connect acts as multi-channel communication software adding value to most common business processes. It takes an organisation from paper-based document management processes to powerful, automated digital processes without having to overhaul the entire business.

With Connect it is possible to print anything. Capturing and extracting data from the print streams of any ERP or business system, Connect enhances all document management processes, improving communication downstream. Connect can send any data from any print stream to any device for printing or further processing in an existing ECM solution. Read about the five key features of Connect below.

People at work

Document Enhancement

Connect - Features

Ideal Documents

  • Invoices
  • Statements
  • Collection letters
  • Reminder letters

Key Industries

  • Financial Services
  • Legal / Insurance
  • Manufacturing
  • Distribution

Document Enhancement

Overview

Making frequent changes to documents within a business is a common requirement. The reasons for making changes vary from a change of address or adding a new logo to adding promotional messages or statutory or legal information. Often the change is straightforward, but on occasion, it requires a complete alteration of the layout. With existing business systems, these minor changes become time-consuming and costly because a consultant might be required to undertake the task.

Solution

With many existing document management solutions and business automation tools, consultants are needed to make changes to documents. Connect eliminates this requirement as changes to documents take place outside the systems and no modification or programming is required. By capturing the output from the systems in use, any necessary changes can be applied and then distributed in the required format (print, PDF, email or web).

Key

Easy changes on the fly do not disrupt day to day operations and activity, and you remain in complete control of your document management process. The result is increased productivity, and reduced costs are saved through digitised distribution and reduced paper use.

Automated Distribution

Connect - Features

Ideal Documents

  • Invoices
  • Purchase orders
  • Reminder letters
  • Welcome letters

Key Industries

  • Manufacturing
  • Distribution
  • Financial Services
  • Government
  • Healthcare

Automated Distribution

Overview

Effective communication techniques with clients, suppliers and stakeholders are key to business success today. Print is still one of the most common channels of communication, but for more effective and manageable communication the use of email and being able to publish information directly to the web are key business drivers. Unfortunately, implementing this business automation strategy to send transactional information is often held back or prevented because existing systems are rigid and the cost of replacing them is high.

Furthermore, because of the growing amounts of data and information that need to be communicated personally becomes almost impossible. Therefore the strategy for more personal client interaction is not implemented.

Solution

Connect produces documents that can be printed or published in digital format in line with customer preferences. The result is automated distribution of large volumes of transactional documents which saves time previously spent on doing it manually.

Key

Automation of any communication channel is made possible with Connect, including web publishing, email or conventional printed mail utilising advanced barcoding technology.

Mail Preparation

Connect - Features

Ideal Documents

  • Invoices
  • Purchase orders
  • Reminder letters
  • Welcome letters

Key Industries

  • Retail
  • Financial Services Government

Mail Preparation

Overview

Printing documents and then mailing them to clients, suppliers and stakeholders continues to be a major component of a business communication strategy.

The print and mailing process in many companies is full of risks as mailing lists are often out of date. Lists can become duplicated and amended by various departments within an organisation, and the changes are often not recorded between departments. The process is cumbersome and time consuming whereby employees must manually check whether the correct information has been sent to the right person to the most recent address. Very often it is difficult to personalise the mailing and much of the information sent can end up as irrelevant and therefore not personal to the recipient.

Solution

Connect makes mail preparation easy and less time consuming by automating each step in the process and optimising mail efficiency. With Connect, data can be extracted from multiple streams to produce clean information – ensuring duplicate mailings are avoided. Furthermore, an automated business process solution means information intended for the same person can be easily identified and merged into one mailing, to reduce mailing costs.

Mail preparation is further automated through the use of variable barcoding marks which indicate that the page count is variable or inserts, for example, should be included. The mail preparation is optimised by eliminating manual paper inserters and folders. Postal service requirements can easily be met, and mailing discounts can be achieved by sorting addresses and adding postal barcoding, which reduces the need for franking machines.

Key

Connect optimises mail preparation, which saves time, labour costs, paper and postage fees. Postal discounts can be easily accessed so giving a quick return on investment.

Document Mobility

Connect - Features

Ideal Documents

  • Invoices
  • Purchase orders
  • Delivery slips
  • Shipping notes

Key Industries

  • Logistics
  • Transport
  • Manufacturing

Document Mobility

Overview

Because all organisations use computers, any document is in a digital format before it is printed. Most companies manually scan the digital copy to facilitate sending to the correct individual and archiving the item. This costly process is also inefficient, especially with transactional documents. Payment cycles are slowed, and cash flow is restricted simply because of a lack of data mobility.

Solution

Connect captures the information in any document before the printing step. Analysing the extracted data from the print stream, it is then converted from multi-channel communication. With the information to hand the decision can be made whether to produce a paper printed or a digital document.

By automating document mobility, sending and archiving documents as well as the ability to pay bills can both become programmable actions. As a result, the content and design of all digital documents is improved – and no changes occur in how transactional documents are produced and delivered. Connect gives you the choice to print the document or use it in electronic format via email, for example.

Key

Gradual automation of business processes can be introduced which dramatically simplifies and improves business communication. Information is easily found, handling errors are reduced and procedures are expedited with the introduction of electronic archiving. Less time is spent on repetitive manual tasks improving productivity and cash flow.

Automated Archiving

Connect - Features

Ideal Documents

  • Invoices
  • Proof of delivery
  • Proof of payment

Key Industries

  • Manufacturing
  • Distribution
  • Financial Services
  • Government
  • Healthcare

Automated Archiving

Overview

In line with regulation, companies must comply with document archiving as part of their document life-cycle and management processes. Information must be stored for easy future access and reference, as well as for audit purposes. For larger companies this means archiving tremendous volumes of documents and information that includes: invoices, delivery slips, return slips, purchase orders as well as contracts, activity reports and other business documentation. Many companies still use paper-based archiving methods or store electronic documents within a difficult to access EDM system.
Effective and efficient archiving has many challenges. For most companies, the greatest challenge is accessing stored documents and information. Manual scanning and human data entry lead to loss of time and illegible files being stored when email archiving is less (or not at all) automated. Even digital documents are still printed for manual archiving or because the system used is not fully integrated. When using manual archiving it is difficult to track documents and even more challenging to retrieve them.

Dispute resolution and debt collection become difficult without reliable and effective automated archiving. This can lead to a poor customer experience through delays and lost information; it is also costly as many hours are wasted finding information.

Solution

Connect creates a data stream of transactions that can be automatically stored and indexed in digital format for easy tracking and retrieving.

With Connect, documents that require a signature can be signed and scanned back into the digital archive using advanced barcode technology.

Key

Automated archiving ensures safe storage of documents in any EDM system. Connect eliminates errors and delays associated with document retrieval.

Connect - The UK's Trusted Business Process Automation Software site

Connect – The UK's Trusted Business Process Automation Software site